and was thus enabled to prove that the substance in question was a new metal, to which he gives the name Vanadium, after an ancient Scandinavian deity. We have had communicated to us the following additional notice. Humboldt presented to the Institute specimens of Vanadium, the new metal recently discovered in the iron of Estersholm by Mr Sestrom, and which also exists in Mexico in a brown ore of lead of Zimapan. M. del Rio, Professor in the School of Mines of Mexico, had extracted from that ore a substance, which, to his apprehension, resembled a new metal, to which he gave the name of Erythronium. M. Collet Descotils, to whom he sent a specimen, could not agree in erythronium being a simple substance, and believed he had demonstrated that it was an impure chrome. It would appear that Professor del Rio agreed in this opinion, and there was not longer any idea of its being a new metal. But since the discovery of Sestrom was known to Voller, he, struck with the resemblances which exist between the properties of vanadium and that which the Mexican chemist attributes to his erythronium, has repeated the analysis of the brown ore of lead of Zimapan, and from which he has obtained a simple body, perfectly identical with that of the iron ore of d'Esterholm. It is worthy of remark that so rare a metal should have been discovered in two places so far asunder as Scandinavia and Mexico. ZOOLOGY. 19. Four-spined Stickleback.-A variety of the Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) with four spines on the back, was discovered in a pond in the Meadows by Mr John Stark, in September 1830. The common three spined stickleback was numerous in the same pond; and, of a number taken in a net at random, about one in ten or twelve proved to be of the fourspined variety. This variety (or perhaps species), does not appear to have been previously noticed. It is somewhat smaller than the common three-spined stickleback when full grown, the specimens procured not exceeding one-fourth of an inch in length. The arrangement of the spines is also different, being placed in twos at regular distances, corresponding to the length of the spines. The two anterior spines are much longer than the other two, the second longest-Stark. 20. Himala Ornithology.We learn, in regard to the ornitho logy of the Himala, that its principal features are the brilliancy of plumage of the Gallina-the size and power of the Accipitres-and the almost infinite number of the Pies. BOTANY. 21. Crystals in Living Vegetables.-Various naturalists have taken notice of the appearance of crystals in the internal parts of vegetable tissues, but nothing very explicit and certain has been stated respecting them. M. Turpin has discovered, in the cellular tissue of an old trunk of the Cereus Peruvianus, in the Garden of Plants at Paris, where it had been growing one hun→ dred and thirty years, an immense quantity of agglomerations of crystals of oxalate of lime. They are found in the cellular tissue of the pith and bark. They are white, transparent, foursided prisms, with pyramidal terminations, collected in radiant groups. 22. Native Country of Maize, or Indian Corn.—This grain, so important to the agricultural interests of the United States, appears to be of uncertain origin. Fuchs very early maintained that it came from the east; and Mathioli affirmed that it was from America. Regmir and Gregory have presented fresh arguments in favour of its eastern origin. Among them is the name by which it has been long known in Europe, Blé de Turquie; and varieties, it is said, have been brought from the Isle of France, or from China. Moreau de Jonnés, on the contrary, has recently maintained, in a memoir read before the Academy of Sciences, that its origin was in America. The name Blé de Turquie no more proves it to be of Turkish origin, than the name of the Italian Poplar proves that that tree grew wild in Italy. It can only signify that it spread from Turkey into the neighbouring countries. Its general cultivation in southern Europe, and the production of some new varieties, proves nothing with regard to the country of the species. In favour of its American origin, is the fact that it was found in a state of cultivation, in every place where the first navigators landed. In Mexico according to Hernandez, and in Brazil according to Zeri; and that in the various countries it had proper names, such as Maize, Flaolli, &c.; while, in the Old World, its names were either all of American origin, or names of the neighbour ing region, whence it was immediately derived; and that, immediately after the discovery of America, it spread rapidly in the Old World, and soon became common, a fact not reconcileIable with the idea of its former existence there. To these proofs Aug. de Saint Hilaire has added another. He has received from M. de Larranhaga of Monte Video, a new variety of maize, distinguished by the name of Tunicata; because, instead of having the grains naked, they are entirely covered by the glumes. This variety is from Paraguay, where it is cultivated by the Guaycurus Indians, a people in the lowest scale of civilization, and where, according to the direct testimony of one of them, it grows in the humid forests as a native production. GEOGRAPHY. 23. Tables for Converting French Toises and Metres into English Feet, and the contrary.-Readers of philosophical works and foreign journals frequently meet with dimensions expressed in French measures. To enable such to convert them readily into English measures, the following Tables have been computed. The lengths of a Toise and a Metre in English measure, which are the foundation of the Tables, have been taken from Baily's Astronomical Tables and Formule, and he deduced them from their lengths, as given in the Base du Systême Métrique, vol. iii. and Captain Kater's paper on the Length of the French Metre in the Phil. Trans. for 1818. TABLE I. 1 French Toise = 1.949036 French Metres 6.394950 English Feet. 1 French Metre = .513074 Toise 1 English Foot -.156373 Toise = 3.280899 English Feet. = .304794 French Metre. TABLE II. FOR CONVERTING FRENCH TOISES INTO ENGLISH FEET. Toises. English Toises. Feet. English T. English T. Eng. T. Eng. T. Eng. Feet. Feet. Feet. 1000 6394.95 100 639.50 10 63.95 1 6.39 .1 .64 .01 .06 2000 12789.90 200 1278.99 20 127.90| 2 | 12.79 || .2 1.28.02.13 3000 19184.85 300 1918.49 30 191.85 3 19.18.3 1.92|| .03.19 2557.98||40 255.80 4 25.58.4 2.56|| .04 .26 3197.48 50 319.75 5 31.97.5 3.20.05.32 3836.9760 383.70 638.37 .6 3.84 .06 .38 4476.47 70 447.65 7 44.76.7 4.48 .07 .45 5115.96 80 511.60 8 51.16.8 5.12 .08 .51 4000 25579.80 400 5000 31974.75 500 6000 38369.70 600 7000 44764.65 700 8000 51159.60 800 9000 57554.55 900 5755.45 90 575.55 9 57.55.9 5.76 .09 .58 TABLE III. FOR CONVERTING FRENCH METRES INTO ENGLISH FEET. By Sections and Views Illustrative of Geological Phenomena. HENRY DE LA BECHE, F. R. S. F. G. S. London, 1830. 4to. We recommend to the particular attention of the numerous cultivators of geology throughout Britain, these valuable sections and views. They are selected with judgment from many expensive works, which few have an opportunity of purchasing, and many of never seeing at all. List of Patents granted in England from 27th November to 13th December 1830. 1830. Nov. 27. To J. REVERE, Weybridge, Surrey, M. D., for " a new and im proved method of protecting iron chain-cables, iron-boilers, and iron tanks, from the corrosion produced upon them by the action of water." 29. To W. CHURCH, Haywood House, Warwickshire, for "certain improvements in apparatus applicable to propelling boats and driving machinery by the agency of steam, part of which improvements are also applicable to the purposes of evaporation." 1830. Dec. 6. To H. BLUNDELL, Kensington-upon-Hull, for ❝ improvements in a machine for grinding or crushing seeds, and other oleaginous substances, for the purpose of abstracting oil therefrom, and which machine, with certain improvements or alterations, is applicable to other useful purposes." To R. DALGLISH, Glasgow, calico-printer, for "improvements in ma- To Captain S. BROWN, Biliter Square, London, for “ certain im- 13. To J. DICKSON, Wolverhampton, and J. VARDY of the same place, for "certain improvements in cocks for drawing off liquids.” Dec. 6. To T. WALMSLEY, Manchester, manufacturer, for "improvements in the manufacture of cotton, linen, silk, and other fibrous substances, into a fabric or fabrics applicable to various useful purposes." To W. NEEDHAM, Longour, Staffordshire, for "certain improvements in machinery for spinning, doubling, and twisting silk and other fibrous substances." To S. PARLOUR, Croydon, Surrey, for "certain improvements on lamps," which he denominates "Parlour's improved Table Lamp." 13. To J. L. BENHAM, Wigmore Street, Middlesex, ironmonger, for "certain improvements on shower and other baths, communicated by a foreigner. To R. WITTY, Basford, in the parish of Wolstanton, Staffordshire, engineer, for" certain improvements in apparatus for propelling carriages, boats, or vessels for other purposes, by the power of steam. List of Patents granted in Scotland from 20th December 1830, to 4th March 1831. 1830. d Dec. 20. TO THOMAS WALMSLEY of Manchester, manufacturer, for the invention of "improvements in the manufacture of cotton, linen, silk, and other fibrous substances, into a fabric or fabrics applicable to various useful purposes." |