Average sidereal month

..

D.

H. M.

27

43 12

422

172

synodical month 29 12 44

623

the sun at new moon is, that our supposition is wrong, and the sun is generally a little above or below E 1.The moon moves from 1 to 2. If the sun moved as fast, no part of the enlightened face would ever become Nevertheless, we must not expect to find the real lunavisible; but the revolution of the sun being much slow- tions of the Calendar in exact agreement with the aveer, a part of the western edge of the enlightened face rage last given. In the first place, the motion of the becomes visible, producing the horned appearance visimoon is not perfectly uniform; neither is that of the sun. ble in the young moon, the horns being turned away In the winter, the sun is nearer the earth than in sumfrom the sun. At 3, it is nearly half moon; it would mer, and moves more rapidly. The winter lunations have been quite so, had the sun remained still; but as will therefore be longer than those of the summer, since it is, the half moon will take place a little further on, the moou having described her actual revolution must which we have represented on a smaller scale. At half follow the sun through a greater angle. This cause moon, the boundary diameter of the enlightened hemi-alone makes three or four hours of difference. sphere would pass through the earth, if lengthened.When the moon comes to 4, nearly three-quarters of it, but not quite, will be visible. At 5, it is not quite full moon; which latter phenomenon will not be observed until some time after, as in the smaller moon, which follows 5. Were our diagram strictly true, there would be no full moon, but an eclipse of the moon at that point, since the earth would prevent the sun's rays reaching the moon. The sun is, however, as before observed, generally a little above or below the plane of the paper. The phenomena of the positions 6, 7, and 8, will now be easily seen, but on coming to 1 again, it will not be new moon, since the sun will have moved forward, and the moon must overtake it, as represented in the smaller figure. From this period, the same changes re-commence. During the first half of the month, the horned or unfinished

side of the moon is that which is furthest from the sun :

during the latter half, the unfinished part is nearest the

sun.

We see then that the common month or synodical month is the sidereal month added to the time during which the moon can overtake the sun. This adds more than two days to the sidereal month; in fact, we have

There is a very good illustration of a synodical revolution in the hands of a watch. These are together at twelve o'clock, and would be together at one if the hour-hand remained stationary; but in the mean while the hour-hand has moved through five minutes, and the minute-hand will therefore take something more than five minutes before it overtakes the hour-hand. We shall find exactly how much it must move through, because, changing the numbers, any one who understands arithmetic may then deduce the synodical month from the sidereal month. Whatever the hour-hand moves through, the minute-hand moves through twelve times

as much, because it moves twelve times as fast; but before the minute-hand can overtake the other, it must go completely round, and move through what the other has moved through besides; therefore one complete round

of the minute-hand is eleven times the motion of the

hour-hand before it is overtaken. That is, 60 minutes is eleven times what we are in search of; which latter is therefore 5 1-5 minutes.

Having thus described the phenomena which the moon presents, we shall next proceed to give an account of the moon's influence on the weather.-Penny Mag.

In concluding our observations on leaning towers, teen feet. It is built of marble and granite, and has there only remains for us to notice the celebrated tower eight stories, formed of arches supported by 207 pillars, at Pisa, in Italy. Its height is about 187 feet, it is as- and divided by cornices. Its form and proportions are cended by 355 steps, and contains seven bells. It stands graceful, and its whole appearance, from a short distance, alone, unconnected with the neighbouring buildings, and is remarkably beautiful. Whilst approaching the eity was probably intended as an ornamental belfry. It is (which is situated on an extensive plain) at the distance inclined from the perpendicular rather more than four-of a few miles, the effect, when the tower is seen over

the tops of the trees, between two others which are per-
pendicular, is so striking, that the spectator feels almost
inclined to doubt the evidence of his senses.
It was
erected about A. D. 1174, by Wilhelmus, or William, a
German architect, assisted by two Pisans. From the in-
clination of the stairs, it seems to a person going up or
down hastily to roll like a ship. This beautiful struc-
ture, notwithstanding its inclination, seems to have with-
stood the ravages of time with more than usual success,
as it has now stood for more than 600 years, without any
fissure, or the slightest perceptible sign of decay. Tra-
vellers, antiquaries, and the learned in general have
been perplexed and divided in opinion with respect to
the cause of the inclination: some have argued in favour
of its being accidental; others have merely stated the
different opinions on the subject, without giving their
own; whilst Dr. Arnott, in his popular work "on the
Elements of Physics," distinctly says that it was built
intentionally inclined, to frighten or surprise.

VI. Tardigrada: slow-footed. Want only the inci sive teeth. Sloth-tribes.

The three families belonging to the second or hooffooted order, are the following:

VII. Pachydermata: thick-skinned. More than two toes; more than two hoofs. Elephants, tapirs, hogs, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, and lyrax or damon. VIII. Ruminantia: ruminants. Two toes; two hoofs. Camels, musks, deer, giraffes, goats, sheep,

oxen.

IX. Solipeda: single-hoofed. One toe, one hoof.Horse alone, including the ass tribe.

The two families belonging to the third, or fin-footed order, are the following:

X. Amphibia: amphibials. Four feet. Seals and morses. This family name should be changed, since the same term is also employed by M. Cuvier, after other naturalists, as the name of a distinct class of other

animals.

XI. Cetacea: cetaceous. Feet fin-like. Manates or lamantins, dolphins, cachalots, whales, and narwahls. But we must hasten in our rapid career to the BIRD CLASS, distinguished by having the body covered with feathers and down; protracted and naked jaws: two wings, formed for flight; and biped. This class consists of six orders: accipitres; picæ; anseres; grallæ; gallina; passeres. In English synonyms, birds of prey; pics; web-footed birds; waders; gallinaceous birds; and the mixed class of thrushes, sparrows, and finches. These orders are chiefly distinguished from each other by the peculiar make of the bill, and of the feet. Under M. Cuvier's classification, the divisions, and even the names, are the same, with the exception that for pica or pies, he has given the better appellation of scansores or climbers. Every one of them, or rather every distinct kind under every one of them, might agreeably occupy us through an entire lecture; so curious, so attractive, so interesting, are their structures, their pow

It has remained for the accurate observation of an English lady, who travelled in Italy a few years ago, to set the question at rest, by discovering what had escaped the notice of so many learned gentlemen. "In that part of the Campo Santot," says Mrs. Starke, "in which the life of St. Ranieri is painted, we see the now leaning tower upright." These paintings are supposed to have been done about A. D. 1300, more than one hundred years after the tower was erected: so that it may now be considered as certain, that the inclination was caused by the gradual sinking of the earth, as in all the other instances in Italy. This opinion is confirmed by the circumstances of the lowest row of pillars being sunk deep in the earth, the mouldings not running parallel with the horizon, and the inclination of the stairs. Very accurate models of this tower are frequently beautifully made in alabaster and marble; a shop in the Strand, near Somerset-house, is seldom without one of these elegant ornaments in the window. With these observations, we conclude the subject of Leaning Tow-ers, their habits, their instincts. But all these must be ers.-Saturday Magazine.

NATURAL HISTORY.

From Good's Book of Nature.—Continued.)

ON ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, AND THE DISTINCTIVE CHAR

ACTERS OF ANIMALS.

reserved for subsequent studies. Our only concern at present is to give a glance at the manner in which they are grouped under the Linnæan system. It is the mere alphabet of the science to which we must at present confine ourselves

The ACCIPITRES, or predacious birds, constituting the FIRST ORDER, with a bill somewhat hooked downward, and four claws hooked and sharp-pointed. It conIn M. Cuvier's arrangement, the class of mammals is sists of not more than four genera, the vulture, includentirely recast, and divided into three orders, or princi-ing the coudur (v. Gryphus,) as one of its species: the pal sections, as distinguished by claws or nails, by hoofs, or by fin-like feet; while the whole of these orders are further subdivided into eleven distinct families, of which the first six belong to the first order, the next three to the second, and the last two to the third.

The six families belonging to the first order, the nail

or claw-footed, are these:

1. Bimanum: two-handed. Thumbs separate on the superior extremities only. Designed to include man

alone.

II. Quadrumana: four-handed. Thumbs or great toes separate on each of the four feet. Monkies and

maucaucoes.

falco, including the numerous families of the eagle, falcon, hawk, osprey, buzzard, and kite, together with various others; the owl and the lanius or shrike, of which the butcher-bird (1. Collurio) is one of the chief spe

cies.

ous order. The bill is here compressed and convex, The PICA or PIES, form the SECOND and most numerwhich constitutes the ordinal character. A secondary formed for perching, formed for climbing, or formed for distinction, taken from the feet, divides them into tribes walking. To this order belongs the trochilus or humming-bird, the minutest animal of the bird tribes; which seems to connect the bird with the insect-class. In one

III. Sarcophaga: flesh-feeders. No separate thumbs of its species, trochilus minimus, or least humming bird, or great toes on the anterior extremities. Bats, flying it sometimes does not weigh more than twenty grains, lemurs, hedgehogs, shrews, moles, bears, weasels, civets, nor measure much more than an inch; it is, consequentcats, including the lion and tiger-tribes; dogs, including, less than several of the bee-tribes, and, like the bec, the fox and wolf-tribes, and the opossums.

IV. Rodentia: gnawers. Want the canine teeth only. Cavies, beavers, squirrels, rats of all kinds.

V. Edentata: edentulate. Want both the incisive and canine teeth. Anteaters, pangolins, and armadilloes.

feeds on the nectar of flowers, which it hovers about and extracts while on the wing with a delighted hum.

To this order, also, from similarity of bill and foot. belong the very numerous families of the psittacus or parrot kind, including the proper parrot, maccaw, parrakeet, cockatoo, and lory; equally celebrated for their The Campo Santo, or Holy Field, is a neighboring burying imitative powers, their longevity, and the splendid varie ground, the soil of which was brought from the Holy Land.--ty of their colours; the paradisea or bird of Paradise, The cloisters are ornamented with curious paintings on stucco, and contain some fine monuments and beautiful remains of antiquity. The Diorama in the Regent's Park at present exhibits

a most accurate view of the interior.

chiefly a native of New-Guinea, and distinguished by the long and taper elegance of its bending feathers; the monstrous rhamphastos or toucan, whose bill is, in some

POETRY.

HYMN TO THE NORTH STAR.-Bryant.

THE sad and solemn Night

Has yet her multitude of cheerful fires;

The glorious host of light

Walk the dark hemisphere till she retires;

All through her silent watches, gliding slow,

and Beaumanoir, a Briton, of the party of Charles of Blois. The knights of the two nations came into the field and before the combat began, Beaumanoir called out, that it would be seen that day who had the fairest mistresses. After a bloody combat, the Britons prevailed, and gained for their prize full liberty to boast of their mistresses' beauty. It is remarkable, that two such famous generals as Sir Robert Knowllis and Sir

Her constellations come, and round the heavens, and go. Hugh Calverly drew their swords in this ridiculous con

Day, too, hath many a star

To grace his gorgeous reign, as bright as they :

Through the blue fields afar,

Unseen, they follow in his flaming way.
Many a bright lingerer, as the eve grows dim,
Tells what a radiant troop arose and set with him.

And thou dost see them rise,

Star of the Pole! and thou dost see them set.
Alone, in thy cold skies,

Thou keep'st thy old, unmoving station yet,
Nor join'st the dances of that glittering train,
Nor dip'st thy virgin orb in the blue western main.

There, at Morn's rosy birth,

Thou lookest meekly through the kindling air;
And Eve, that round the earth

Chases the Day, beholds thee watching there;
There Noontide finds thee, and the hour that calls
The shapes of polar flame to scale heaven's azure walls.

PROPENSITY OF THE ENGLISH TO SWEARING. The English were remarkable so early as the fifteenth century, among the nations of Europe, for the absurd and impious practice of swearing in conversation. The Count of Luxembourg, accompanied by the Earls of Warwick and Stafford, visited the maid of Orleans in ber prison at Rouen, where she was chained to the floor. The Count, who had sold her to the English, pretended that he had come to treat with her about her ransom. Viewing him with just resentment and disdain, she cried, "Begone! you have neither the inclination nor the power to ransom me." Then turning her eyes to the two earls, she said, I know that you English are determined to put me to death, and imagine, that after I am dead, you will conquer France. But though there were 100,000 more God-dam-me's in France than there are, they will never conquer that kingdom." So early had the English got this odious nickname, by their frequent use of that imprecation.

Otterbourne, a contemporary historian, who had frequently conversed with Henry VI. mentions it as a very extraordinary peculiarity in the character of that prince, that he did not swear in common conversation, but reproved his ministers and officers of state when he heard them swearing.-Cabinet of Curiosities.

SINGULAR INSTANCE OF CHIVALRIC PROWESS.

About the middle of the fourteenth century, in the reign of Edward III. a singular instance occurred of the prevalence of chivalry and gallantry in the nations of Europe. A solemn duel of thirty knights against shirty was fought between Bembrough, an Englishman,

test. The women not only instigated the champions to these rough, if not bloody, frays of tournaments, but also frequented the tournaments during all the reign of Edward, whose spirit of gallantry encouraged this practice.-Ibid.

There are two modes of establishing our reputation; to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will be invariably accompanied by the latter. His calumniation is not only the greatest benefit a rogue can confer upon us, but it is also the only service that he will perform for nothing.—Lacon.

As we ascend in society, like those who climb a mountain, we shall find that the line of perpetual congelation commences with the higher circles, and the nearer we approach to the grand luminary, the court, the more frgidity and apathy shall we experience.-Ibid.

ITEMS OF NEWS.

Donna Maria has been recognised by the British Government as Queen of Portugal. At the last dates, she had arrived at Havre, from Paris, on her way to take possession of her throne. The charter of the Bank of England has been renewed, as likewise the charter of the East India Company. The Bill for the Abolition of West India Slavery has become a law.

We have the most appalling statements relative to the ravages of the cholera in Mexico. One account states that from 900 to 1000 died daily. A more recent account makes the number amount to 1500; at which rate, the city would be depopulated in less than four months! A letter from that place dated Aug. 27 says, that the deaths already amounted to 15,000, in a population of 180,000.

Hon. Henry Clay and lady are soon expected to visit this city. It is stated that they will proceed as far east as Boston.

Three distinct political parties have at length developed themselves in Massachusetts, and have their respective candidates in nomination for Governor at the November state election, viz. Ex-President Adams of the Anti-Masonic, Hon. John Davis of the National Republican, and Hon. Marcus Morton of the Jacksonian, parties."

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