to Britain; O. Hutchinsiæ, O. speciosum, new to Britain; O. rivulare, O. Lyellii, Neckera pumila, Fontinalis squamosa, in fruit; Hypnum molle, H. salebrosum, H abietinum, H. scorpioides, fruit. The true, Leskea polyanthos, Bryum dealbatum, B. carneum var. Wahlenbergii. B. Zierii, and B. roseum, in fructification. BOTANICAL INTELLIGENCE. Flora Danica. We are extremely happy to be able to contradict a report which has been circulated in this country, that the Flora Danica would termi→ nate with the 30th Fasciculus, by an assurance from the learned author himself, who along with this 30th Fasciculus, sent us the information, that only two-thirds of it are completed, and that during the summer of this year he has been making excursions to collect new materials. Lindley's Collectanea Botanica. An eighth, and we regret to say, a last number of Lindley's valuable Collectanea Botanica may very shortly be expected. Smith's English Flora. We learn by a letter that we have just received from the eminent author of this work, that he is working with unabated ardour at the third volume of his English Flora. He will be able to give an English station, strictly so speaking, for the exceeding rare Woodsia hyperborea; some specimens having been kindly communicated to us very recently by our excellent friend, Mr. James Backhouse of York, which he discovered on the basaltic cliffs, below Caldron Snout in Middleton, Teesdale. He farther adds, that Mr. J. Hailstone has also found it on the top of Falconclint Scaur, in the same district. Hooker's Flora Scotica. This work, for a second edition of which the author is zealously collecting materials, is here brought to the notice of our readers principally for the purpose of soliciting from the botanists of this country notices respecting any new or rare species of plants they may discover, and thus be a means of rendering more perfect the Flora of this part of the British dominions. Already the additions in the author's pos session are very considerable, and whilst he is aided by the labours and the knowledge of such active and able investigators as Dr. Greville, Mr. Arnott, Captain Carmichael, and Mr. Drummond, they will still very materially increase. In a sketch like this, we should want room to enumerate all the new or interesting discoveries that have lately been made. It is hoped that Captain Carmichael may be induced to give his abundant discoveries, principally among the Algae and the Fungi to the public in a separate form. Under the head of Musci Scotici of Mr. Drummond, we have mentioned some of his new discoveries, to which we may add a most important acquisition to the Muscologia of Britain; the Weissia latifolia, which he has within these few days de tected, in the Clova mountains, growing among the roots of the rare Oxytropis campestris; in the same situation as he found the almost equally interesting Didymodon glaucescens. In Dr. Hooker's annual excursion to the Highlands with the students of his class, and accompanied by some scientific friends, this summer, there were several valuable additions made to the Scottish Flora, which are no less gratifying to the Professor, as evincing a spirit of zeal and knowledge in the students in the cause of botany, than interesting as concerns the geographical distribution of plants. Hypnum trifarium of Mohr, (a moss very distinct from H. stramineum, though united with it by Schwaegrichen) H. alpestre of Schwartz, and Didymodon obscurum, must now occupy a place in the British list, as natives of the Breadalbane mountains; and we are still more gratified in being able to add also the Arenaria rubella, only hitherto known as an inhabitant of Lapland, according to Wahlenberg, and of arctic America, where it was first discovered during Captain Parry's voyage. In a botanizing excursion, like that just alluded to, where a considerable number of individuals, animated by the same feeling, are alike eagerly engaged in the pursuit of the same objects, sharing alike in the pleasure and in the toil, it is perhaps scarcely fair to mention any one person as more immediately the discoverer of a plant than another. Yet we are sure that the fellowstudents of Mr. Earl will have a pleasure in his being named as the first who fixed his attention upon the Arenaria rubella, on the highest point of Maelgreadha. The graceful Linnæa borealis was also found to be an inhabitant of Finlarig Park by Killin, where the few flowers of it that were seen, diffused a most delightful odour. Information concerning Botany in France. The study of botany in France is advancing rapidly. M. Kunth, the friend and coadjutor of the great Humboldt, is still engaged in publishing the South American Collections. Aubert du Petit Thouars has given to the world a pamphlet upon his favourite subject, "The Formation of Trees," serving as it were for a continuation of his work, entitled, "Essai sur la Végétation, considérée dans la Réproduction, par bourgeons." Auguste de St. Hilaire, who spent six years in exploring the interior of Brazil in search of plants, has commenced the publication of two important works on the vegetables of that fertile country: the one termed "Plantes usuelles des Braziliens," of which two numbers have appeared; the other "Histoire des Plantes les plus remarquables du Brézil, et du Paraguay," of which four numbers are announced as ready for publication. We know no author more capable of doing jus➡’ tice to such a subject; and we shall not fail to notice the contents of the respective parts of these works. M. La Billardière, so advantageously known by his publication on the * A hill which rises just above Killin, at the head of Loch Tay. plants of New Holland, which were gathered during the voyage in search of La Peyrouse, is engaged in preparing for the press an account of his plants collected in New Caledonia ; and M. Gaudichaud those of the Sandwich Islands, which form part of the herbarium formed during the voyage of Captain Freycinet. These two collections comprise a great number of new and highly interesting species. In the French papers of last year, we had accounts of M. Bonpland's continuing to explore the district of Paraguay in search of its natural productions. But it appears, as indeed we have all along understood from English travellers, that he is still a prisoner. In the Moniteur for June 1824, the following interesting article respecting him is in serted, extracted from a private letter from Rio Janeiro:-"During my stay in this country, I have procured some detailed information upon recent events in Paraguay, which country is still under the command of Dr. Franzia. The following is the most certain news that I was able to collect concerning the fate of M. Bonpland, which has excited so lively an interest in France and England, and indeed whereever the name of this intelligent and courageous traveller is known. It is about two years and a half since M. Bonpland was at Santa-Anna, upon the eastern shore of the Rio-Parana. There he had established some plantations of Paraguay tea. He was seized at noonday by a company of 800 men, belonging to the troops of Dr. Franzia. They destroyed his plantations, which were in a most flourishing state; they took forcible possession of the persons of M. Bonpland and of some Indian families, whom the urbaniity of his manners, and the advantages of rising cultivation had attracted around him. Some of the Indians saved themselves by swimming, others who offered resistance were massacred by the troop. M. Bonpland, carrying on his shoulders a part of his valuable collections of natural history productions, was taken to Assumption, the capital of Paraguay, and thence sent to a fort in quality of physician to the garrison: the period during which he remained in that exile is unknown, but it is asserted that he has been since recalled by Dr. Franzia, the supreme director of Paraguay, and sent in another direction to inspect a commercial communication between Paraguay and Peru, perhaps near the province of Chiquitos and of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. M. Bonpland may there finish the labours of a long journey while he devotes himself to botanical researches. The friends of M. Bonpland flatter themselves with the hope that the steps taken for his liberation by the French government, by the Institute, and by M. de Humboldt, will not prove unsuccessful. General Bolivar has also written to the supreme director of Paraguay a letter, in which he lays claim to M. Bonpland as the friend of his youth, couched in the most affectionate terms. If M. Bor:pland has the good fortune ever to return to his native country, he will be able to give much intelligence respecting districts hitherto wholly unknown.”. ART, XXVI. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. June 6th. There was read at this meeting a paper "On the Natural History and Physical Geography of the districts of the Himalayah Mountains between the river beds of the Jumna and Sutluj." By GEORGE GOVAN, M.D. > This paper, which was illustrated by a map of the country, containing the routes of the author, will appear in the next Number of this Journal. At the same meeting there was communicated to the Society, by the Rev. Dr. FLEMING of Flisk, a paper by the Rev. JOHN MACVICAR, Dundee, entitled, "Observations on the Germination of Ferns.” The Society adjourned its meetings till November. ART. XXVII.-SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. I. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. ASTRONOMY. 1. Observations on the Eclipse of the 26th January 1823, at Casan.M. Simonoff made the following observations on the eclipse at Casan in Russia: 2. Amici's Improvement on Astronomical Instruments.-Baron Zach announces that Professor Amici has communicated to him a new principle, upon which he can construct instruments for taking heights, even to thirds, if the power of the telescope is sufficient. The method is in dependent of all minute subdivisions of the limb, verniers, or wire micrometers. All the measures are taken in the field of the telescope itself, upon an optical principle. We hope to be soon able to give an account of this valuable contrivance. 3. Long absence of the solar spots.-M. Flauguergues observes, in a letter to Baron Zach, dated 10th October 1823, that he has not seen any spots on the sun for the preceding sixteen months. He adds, that the heat of the summer does not seem to have been augmented by this cause. 4. Eclipse of the Moon of July 10th observed at Bushey Heath.-Colo nel Beaufoy observed this eclipse at Bushey Heath, in west longitude 1' 20" 93 in time, and north latitude 51° 37′ 44′′ 3. 15h 29′ 18′′ mean time at Bushey. July 10th Eclipse began{ 15 30 39 Greenwich. 5. Effect of Heat upon the Sextant.-M. Rüppell, while making observations at Dongola, in Nubia, found that the excessive heats affected his sextant in a remarkable manner. The error of collimation changed every instant. The vernier, which embraced 10′ of the limb now occupied 10' 15". When he took the lunar distances, he often found sudden changes of 30" 40" or 50′′, and often of a whole minute. These changes were attributed by M. Rüppell to a sudden expansion in the limb of the instrument, the divisions having been made on silver.-See Zach's Corr. Astron. Vol. ix. No. 1. p. 37. 6. Singular spot on the Sun.-On the 20th December 1823, M. Pons of Marseilles observed several small spots on the sun, forming a mass of spots. On the 23d, this mass was elongated so as to form only a single black spot, so near to the sun's limb that it could be seen on the day fol lowing. At the side of this black spot there was another more extended, with several branches, but it was not black, and might have been taken for a small cloud which passed over the sun's disc. I have never, adds M. Pons, either seen such a spot, or heard any person speak of it.Zach's Corr. Astron. ix. p. 603. 7. Observatory at Buenos Ayres.-It appears from a Journal called the Abeja Argentina for August 1822, that an observatory was erected at Buenos Ayres, the capital of the republic. The latitude of the Place Vittoria is stated at 34° 35′ 45′′, and the longitude at 3h 54' 22 west of Greenwich, as deduced from the eclipse of the moon of the 2d August 1822. The same Journal informs us, that a Society of the Mathemati❤ cal and Physical Sciences is established in the same city.-Zach's Corr. Astron. Vol. x. p. 101. 8. New Comet of 1821, observed only at Buenos Ayres.-In the Journal above mentioned, under the head of Astronomia, are given the following observations on a comet which is said to have escaped the notice of all European astronomers! The observations are as follows: The following elements are said to have been computed according to the method of Dr. Olbers: Passage of the perihelion, 1821, March 23d 1h 57′ M. T. Long. of perihelion, Perihelion distance, 11s 15° 51' 0" 0.186 Os 14° 1' 25" 61 38 42 Direct. |