In the Mina country, each town has its mark, which is put on every inhabitant: as those speaking the Houssa language have a line, with three or four upward branches from each corner of the mouth; those of Kano have as many short perpendicular lines; the Sacatoos, (on a branch of the Niger,) several divergent lines; the Yago or Nariby, opposite them, four horizontal and four perpendicular ones, while their women have a more complicated ornament on the cheeks; the Ashantees, upright lines on the cheeks and forehead; the Calaboos, on the gulf of Benin, near the Niger, two large spotted diamond figures on the breast and stomach; and the Eboes, an arrow over each eye.

There is less tattooing south of these. The Kabindas, on the Congo, use it for ornament, and some of the Sundis or Mayombas, north of Loango, between 3° and 4° S. latitude, have a scarred mark from each shoulder to the centre of the breast, and other arabesque figures of different descriptions.

On the eastern coast, there are but two tribes from the equator to the Hottentots; and of these the Maqua or Mozambique negroes have a horse-shoe mark on the forehead, and one on each temple; and the Caffres, by some unknown process, produce a row of warts or pimples from the middle of the forehead to the end of the nose.

This is is one of the most delicate of all the larger sized shells; and, being also very curious and found in but few localities, it is rarely to be obtained in a perfect state. A friend, who possesses both science and taste, gave us, some time since, an interesting account of an excursion he made in the island of Minorca, to procure specimens of the Paper Nautilus. He took a walk of about four miles, to a retired cove, where, he was informed, the curious animals were most frequently found, and observed numbers lying on the shore, all of them broken. He succeeded in procuring several shells of uncommon size, from a Spanish fisherman, who was in the habit of meeting with them almost every day. Many of our

countrymen, who have visited the Mediterranean, have not had their attention particularly directed to this curious animal, although it has been peculiarly admired by many writers, even from early times.

The shell is single, or univalve, nearly in the form of a semicircle, striated over with lines or channels tending towards the spire, and so formed as to offer a deep and narrow cavity for the body of the animal. This is a mollusca, that is, one of the soft, boneless kind, like most of what we call shellfish. Not being attached to the shell, it has been supposed by many not to be its original proprietor. The Hermit Crab, of the West Indies, and the Hermit Snail of our own sea coast, so well known to natu

ralists, are sea insects, which are produced and live without shells, and have not the power of forming them, yet they are accustomed to enter such as they find unoccupied, of proper size and shape to fit them, and to dwell in them, carrying them about as long as suits their convenience, changing from time to time to another and another.

The opinion, however, appears to gain ground, that the nautilus shell is not the production of some unknown animal at the bottom of the sea, seized upon by a naked mollusca on being thrown up by the waves, after the death and decay of its original proprietor. So thin and delicate a shell could hardly be expected to endure the action of water without the care of an intelligent and cautious steersman, such as is always found in possession of it. The shells occupied by the animals above named are usually hard and substantial, as the buccinum, trochus, &c. Yet it is difficult to account for the production of a shell by an animal not more closely connected with it than, indeed so wholly detached from it. The Paper Nautilus, however, chiefly attracts the attention by its singular habits, so often spoken of, of sailing like a ship upon the surface of the sea.

The animal has two thin, broad, white flying members, which it spreads in the air

in pleasant weather, to catch the breeze, when it blows so gently as scarcely to ruffle the surface of the water; and at the same time trails after it a number of long, stringy arms, which seem to serve the double purpose of capturing its food and steering its course. Few objects in the animal kingdom are more striking and pleasing, than that presented by a fleet of these singular creatures, with sails spread, and gliding away together, like a covey of ducks, or more like a squadron of miniature ships. To ships, indeed, they bear so strong a resemblance, that the ancient tradition respecting them is still repeated, with an acknowledgement of its credibility, viz. that the first idea of navigation was derived from them.

We may add here, that an English lady residing at Leghorn a few years ago, took pains to procure several living specimens of the paper nautilus, which few persons have ever been able to obtain, and ascertained the fact, beyond all doubt, that they are the sole and original occupants and architects of their curious habitations.

The Red Fish.

From Erenmalm's Travels.

The Laplanders of the mountains find on the heights lakes abounding in fish. They never spread their nets without drawing in them several species of fish, but particularly of Red-fish, which they call Rod-fish.

As this species is different in Lapland from many other known elsewhere under the name of Red-fish, I shall here subjoin a description of it:

They took one in our presence; it was only nine inches long, though it sometimes may be two feet in length. This fish, in general, has the form of a trout. On each side are two broad streaks, distinct, of a dusky color, and crossing each other. The first, formed by little points, situated very near to one another, and of a dark green, commences near to the head, and proceeds along the back-bone, terminating about the middle of the tail. The second streak, commencing at the fore part of the fin, which is situated on the back, extends to below the belly, where it is of the color of a lemon: a little beyond is seen a third streak, shorter and of the same color, but not so strong. The back is dyed like that of a small marbled perch, and the belly is of a fire color, which varies in the two great divisions made on each side, by the two streaks which extend to the right and left along the body. This color is more dusky on the fore part of

the back, and clearer towards the other extremity. The edge near the head is of the same color as the back; but it becomes lighter as it approaches the fin, where the color of the pale fire changes by degrees about the navel into a yellowish color. This fish, covered with spots like the trout, also resembles it in the form of the head and the parts composing it; nevertheless, the eyes are larger and a little more elevated, the bone of the upper jaw shorter, and that of the lower longer. Above the jaw it is of a dusky green. The palate is of a blood color; it is divided into four parts-of which the first has twentytwo teeth, and each of the others twenty. The color of the fins is variable, like that of the body of the fish; they have each fourteen joints. The prickles of the back are twelve in number, very pointed, and of a dusky green; the last is double the length of the first. Those beneath the belly are of a bright yellow in front; towards the middle, of a deep brown, the first of which is singular; and towards the extremity, of a fire color: there are nine on each side.

There

Oh yes, sir, I understand it now. was a man whom James's father was telling me of to-day. He was acquainted with business, but did not know much about many other things. One day he visited a college, and one of the professors showed him the laboratory, and he did not know the use of any of the things in it, nor even the meaning of the name of the room. He did not know what laboratory was."

"It lightened, sir," added Edward, starting.

Daughter," said his mother, to a girl who was just then coming down stairs, "is it possible you are afraid of lightning ?"

"Yes ma'am ; I don't like to stay up stairs alone while it lightens."

"You must overcome your fears," said her father: "don't be afraid when you hear a noise which shows that God is Almighty. Don't be afraid when He makes you feel that he is near you. He is near us always, night and day; and you ought to be glad that he is. He is the right kind of Being to be near us; He is just what we want. How bad it would be if He were different from what He isless powerful, or not so kind! What would become of us? I love to hear it thunder, because it makes me think :-Yes, God is just as strong as He says He is; and He is as wise, too, and as good. Great are thy works, Lord God Almighty! just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints!"

In the office of the London Times, hands enough are employed to set up, read and correct a large column of reading matter in eight

minutes.

MINERALS-No. 10.

Charcoal.

This is another of the combustible or burning stones; but it is very seldom found pure. It never was, I believe, until twenty or thirty years ago, when the mines or quarries of hard coal began to be opened in Pennsylvania, and then only in small quantities. If you look carefully at a heap of Anthracite, you may now and then discover a thin layer of black powder on some piece. If it all rubs off easily, however, and leaves a shining surface, it probably is only dust of the Anthracite itself. If you find a piece of mineral charcoal, put it into your cabinet. It is easy to find common charcoal; but that is not proper for a collection of minerals, plainly because it is not a mineral, but the remains of some burnt vegetable substance.

Charcoal is black, brittle, light, takes fire easily, and soon burns away, leaving only a few ashes, which are impurities--that is, something else than charcoal. Where does it go to? That is a question that you cannot answer well, unless you understand the theory of combustion, as learned men call itthat is, how things are burnt up. Now it is not my business to tell you this, while I am describing minerals; but I wish to make you understand and remember three things: 1st, that there is a great deal for every person to learn, even about the most common things; 2d, that you will have no time to read mere tales and novels, as long as you live, unless you neglect something more useful and interesting; and 3d, that men who have taken pains to find out such wonders, and then published them, are deserving of respect and honor for their taste, industry, and generosity. A boy who respects learning, has already begun to be a man.

Now charcoal, as I have said before, is found in almost everything around us; and if you will learn what chemistry teaches us about its compounds, you may find a great deal of amusement in observing them, wherever you may be, even at home, in your room; for almost everthing you can touch or see is partly made of charcoal; and so are you.

In making some excavations near the mouth of Mad river, Ohio, trees were dug up which must have been buried there five hundred years or more. They have been covered with sand by a change in the channel of the river.

MISCELLANEOUS.

BEAUTIFUL EXPERIMENT.-The other day, while making some investigations on the chemical forces of plants and the circulation of the sap, we made some experiments for the purpose of seeing how far the color of flowers was dependant upon the various salts contained in the earth, and which are taken up by the forces which convey the sap.

We took a beautiful white rose, placed the stem of it in a solution of the yellow prussiate of potash, and let it remain there four or five hours. We then placed it in a solution of sulphate of iron, where it remained until morning.

On examining it the next morning, we found the petals changed to a delicate primrose color, the leaves to a dark blueish green, and the wood of the stem to a deep blue. The veins in the petals were also of a deep blue color. The fragrance of the flower remained unchanged, and it looked as fresh as one that was plucked at the same time, and which had been kept in a vase of water.

The rationale of these singular changes seems to be as follows: The prussiate of potash is taken up by capillary attraction, and distributed through every part of the plant. The same is the case with the sulphate of iron. As soon as the two solutions are brought in contact, the iron, acting as a re-agent, revives the Prussian blue, which forms the base of prussiate of potash. This beautiful experiment can be tried by any one, care being taken that the solutions are not too strong. (But they are poisonous!)

The effects noted above will not take place if the solutions are mixed in a vessel before using. The experiment may be varied by using any metallic solutions, the resulting colors of course depending upon the salts made use of.-Cincinnati Atlas.

The Missouri Lead Cave.-The St.Louis Republican, in reply to the statements of the Galena Gazette, which were to the ef fect that the Giant Cave, recently found, was likely to prove unprofitable, thus describes its present operations and prospects:

The operatives are now at work in the cave, the opening of which is about 250 feet from where the discovery was made. The cave is 75 feet in length. The ceiling is of mineral, and it is estimated that there are from 200,000 to 400,000 lbs. ore in sight. It is from 12 to 15 inches in thickness. On the floor, about the centre of the cave, as if falling from the ceiling,

there are pieces or bodies of mineral which are estimated to weigh 40,000 lbs. The Gazette intimates its want of confidence in the statements made, because nothing is said about the quantity of mineral raised. Our information is, that, within the last three months, under a very defective system of operations, an average of ten hands have been able to raise between 250,000 to 400,000 lbs.

A WONDERFUL ENGINE.-A London paper says that "a wonderful engine has lately been constructed by Professor Reinagle, who is securing patents in every civilized country of the earth. The power,

which is self-produced in the engine, is obtained from condensed air, which, though easily manageable, begets an immense force: the present engine, which stands on a space not exceeding two feet square having a power equal to five hundred and sixty-eight horses. For pumping water out of mines it is gravely proposed to use a 10,000 or 20,000 horse power, in order to do the work promptly. It is stated, that, with the present small engine, two hundred and twenty tons can be propelled at a rate of twenty-five to thirty miles per hour. The description of the action of the Machine is very vague, but it is said that several very eminent and scientific men have examined it and expressed their astonishment. Professor Farady, having seen the drawing and heard the theory and practice of this invention explained, complimented the inventor by declaring, that he has discovered perpetual motion of the most terrific, description."

THE GOLD MINES AT THE SOUTH.-A letter from Mr. Gibbons, of the Branch Mint at Charlotte, N. C., published in Silliman's Journal, states that increasing quantities of gold are received at the Mint, from Mines in North Carolina and South Carolina; occasionally, also, from Georgia and Alabama. Gold bullion, to the value of $272,000 was deposited for coinage during the last year, exceeding by nearly one hunded thousand dollars the deposits of any preceding yearly period.

LOCKJAW CURED BY ELECTRICITY.-It ap pears that a remedy for this horrid disease has at last been discovered. The New York Journal of Commerce records a cure by the application of electricity. The patient was a young woman, in whom the disease had been brought on by cold and fatigue, and the jaws closed for five days. The electro-galvanic apparatus was applied to both angles of the jaw, and had not made forty revolutions before the complaint was entirely removed from the patient.

Foreign Items.

According to a Brighton paper, her Majesty has set her face against the polka, and forbidden its being danced in her presence. (Much to her credit!)

Sir James Graham has sent an order to all the prisoners in the kingdom,.directing that all money or property found on convicted prisoners shall, in future, be sent to the Home office, instead of being returned to the prisoners at the expiration of their

sentence.

The Arabs believe that the English are not Christians entirely, but something between Christians and Mahometans.

Two of the horses recently engaged at the steeple-chase at Harrow, fell while attempting a desperate leap, broke their backs, and were shortly afterwards shot. This cruel and senseless amusement ought to be put down.

A correspondent of the Mining Journal says, that steam-boiler explosions may be prevented by the very simple plan of having a small hole drilled in the plate immediately over the fire-place, and filled with a leaden rivet, which will melt only when the water gets below the proper level. [Old.]

LAST ENGLISH PATENTS. From the London Repertory of Patent Inventions for May, 1845-(For the Am. Penny Magazine.)

Improvement in the manufacture of welded iron tubes, by moving the tubes away by a roller, as they are welded.

Improvement in the manufacture of covered buttons: to press the button into form without removal.

Improvement in the manufacture of India rubber to make sheets, &c. for casting and moulding, and also to make leather, &c. waterproof. Gum, resins or bitumens are added, with a mineral preservative.

Improvement in carving substances for inlaying, &c.

To keep provisions by a gas and another substance.

Improvement in making crape, and a sub

stitute.