accuracy the present elevation of the existing marks above the level of the sea, and to make new marks in the rocks at known heights, to serve for future observations.

CRITERION OF DEATH.

It is known that physiologists have not hitherto agreed as to any certain test by which the event of death is rendered certain; or, in other words, no recognized distinction exists between the human body immediately before and immediately after death. A correspondent of the French academy has lately intimated that he has found that the blood taken from the body after death is distinguished from the blood before death by its being non-coagulable.

ALBINISM IN A SWALLOW.

One of the foreign journals announces that there is preserved in the museum of Carcassonne a young swallow of the purest white, without a feather of any other colour, which was recently killed in that city. This bird was one of a brood of four, of which the three others were of the common kind. It presents, in the most perfect manner, all the characters of albinism: the claws and beak are red, and red circles surround the eyes.

NEW ALLOY OF ZINC AND COPPER.

A committee of the French academy of sciences is engaged in investigating a new alloy of zinc and copper, which is said to possess qualities which fit it for extensive use in the arts and manufactures. Its cost will be little more than that of zinc. The pure metal of zinc oxidizes with great facility, which renders it unfit for a multitude of uses; the alloy, however, is oxidized with great difficulty. It will resist, for example, sulphuric acid of twenty degrees of concentration. Hence it may be used for mineral waters, for pipes and tubes through which acid liquids flow, and, in navigation, for the sheathing of vessels.

The composition of the alloy depends on the

A late number of the Bibliotheque Universelle contains some remarkable and well-ascertained instances of animal sagacity, from which we select the following:

A person lodging in one of the fauxbourgs observed daily, for several weeks, six dogs, who used to come regularly at the same hour, and assemble in an adjacent meadow, where they sported and amused themselves. The motive of their assembly was as obviously the purpose of sport as that of persons who go to a ball or to a spectacle, at an appointed hour.

An attempt was made to teach a dog to mount a ladder; but the animal was soon fatigued with the exercise, and escaped. But the next day he was seen to return to the ladder alone, and voluntarily endeavour to succeed in mounting it, as if the motive of ambition impelled him to renew the attempt.

A milkman, who used to go before the break of day, in winter, to fetch milk from a farmer who supplied him, had a dog whom he employed to carry his lantern. One morning this dog was accidentally locked up at the time his master departed. The moment he was liberated, however, he followed him; and, when he overtook him, finding that his master had not the lantern, immediately returned home; and seizing the lantern, followed his master with it.

A tame pigeon, who had been domesticated in a kitchen, happened to see a fowl killed; on witnessing this, the bird immediately took flight, and never returned to the kitchen.

Travels in Arabia. By Lieut. J. R. WELLSTED, F. R.S. Indian Navy. In 2 vols. 8vo. London: 1838.

This work is a valuable contribution to geography, statistics, and manners. It is the production of an enterprising and intelligent officer who has been already favourably known to science by his contributions to the Memoirs of the Geographical Society, To Mr. Wellsted we are indebted for much information connected with the steam-route to India by the Red Sea, and for a survey of the island of Socotra, which has been swelled into importance by the opening of that line of communication.

We regret that our limits do not allow us to present an analysis of this work, suitable to its interest and importance. The first volume contains the diary of a journey undertaken by Mr. Wellsted, under the sanction and authority of the Bombay government, through the tract of country extending along the Arabian coast, from Ras el Had to the mouth of the Persian Gulf, a region hitherto untrodden by Europeans; and the second contains his researches in the

peninsula jutting into the northern extremity of the Red Sea, and included between the gulf of Suez and the gulf of Akabah. This peninsula is rendered interesting by the presence of Mount Sinai in its centre, and by many sacred and historical associations.

We confidently recommend these volumes as a source of instruction and entertainment, not less interesting to the geographer, naturalist, and antiquarian, than to the general reader.

South America and the Pacific; comprising a Journey across the Pampas and the Andes, from Buenos Ayres to Valparaiso, Lima, and Panama; with Remarks upon the Isthmus. By the Hon. P. CAMPBELL SCARLETT. To which are annexed, Plans and Statements for Establishing Steam Navigation on the Pacific. In 2 vols. post 8vo. London: 1838.

The author of these volumes was attached to the mission of Mr. Hamilton to the court o Brazil, and embarked with that gentleman for Rio Janeiro and Buenos Ayres in August, 1834. He crossed the South American continent, from

Buenos Ayres to Valparaiso, on the western coast; and, proceeding northward from thence, visited Lima and Panama. His narrative of this journey is written without affectation or exaggeration; and, though it does not offer any important contributions to physical or geographical knowledge, will be read with interest.

To us the most important part of the volumes is that part in which the author, with the assistance and information supplied by Mr. Wheelwright, advocates the opening of a direct route by steam navigation from Britain to the Pacific. A straight line drawn from Falmouth to the isthmus of Panama, connecting the two American continents, would touch the Azores and St. Domingo, by which the voyage would be divided into stages. The journey across the isthmus, even in the present rude state of internal communication, varies from one to three days, according to the season; but with steamers on the river Chagres, and an improved road, it might be considerably shortened. From Panama an easy communication coastways would be made with Guyaquil, Payta, Lima, Valparaiso, and all the other points of commercial importance on that coast. Our settlements in Australia would also be accessible by steamers from the isthmus.

Of the practicability of the project there cannot be any doubt. Its profitable results are another question.

Narrative of an Expedition into the Interior of Africa, by the River Niger, in the Steam Vessels Quorra and Alburkah, in 1832, 1833, and 1834. By MACGREGOR LAIRD and R. A. K. OLDFIELD, Surviving Officers of the Expedition. 2 vols. 8vo. London: 1837.

These volumes contain the narrative of a bold but unsuccessful experiment to establish a commercial intercourse with the interior of Africa by the river Niger. About one third of the work is appropriated to the narrative of Mr. Laird, who was, in fact, the chief of the Expedition, and the remainder is occupied by the journal of Mr. Oldfield. Mr. Laird, who had long and earnestly advocated the use of iron vessels, and had succeeded in establishing them in many cases on lakes and rivers, made on this occasion the novel experiment of a sea-going iron steamer, apparently with complete success. The Alburkah, a vessel of seventy feet length, thirteen feet beam, and six and a half feet depth, was, with the exception of her decks, constructed entirely of wrought iron. Between the interior of this vessel and the waters of the ocean there was interposed only sheet iron, varying from an eighth to a quarter of an inch in thickness!

The river Quorra, above Boussa, had been examined by Park and Clapperton; and, after the death of the latter, his servant Lander descended the river to its mouth, at the Bight of Benin. This was the road through which it was proposed that the expedition should attempt to open a commerce with the interior; and accordingly the river was ascended as far as Fundah, whence Mr. Laird descended to the mouth, but Mr. Oldfield continued the ascent to Rabbah.

The result was most unfortunate; nearly the whole of the officers and crew having fallen victims, as we are told, to the unhealthiness of the country; only three of all who departed from England having survived! To the pestilential character of the banks of the river, Mr. Laird ascribes the total failure of the expedition, and tacitly infers the hopelessness of ever establishing any advantageous commercial intercourse with the interior by that route.

If our

space permitted us we could easily show the fallacy of this conclusion, and prove that the fatalities of the expedition, under Mr. Laird, are

to be ascribed to the want of unity of purpose, or mutual subordination; of discretion, temper, and experience among the leaders, and, consequently, of discipline, prudence, and temperance among the men, more than to any pernicious qualities of the climate.

The book will be read with interest, as a narrative of the adventures and reverses of the unfortunate sufferers, and without much risk of leading to erroneous conclusions, as we believe the real causes of failure are sufficiently apparent, even on the showing of the narrators.

The Confessions of an Elderly Lady, illustrated by Eight Portraits from highly-finished Drawings by E. T. PARRIS. By the COUNTESS of BLESSINGTON. London: Longman & Co. 1838.

This is one of the many elegant contributions to the drawing-room table, for which we are indebted to the united taste and talents of Lady Blessington and Mr. Charles Heath. The embellishments are not so numerous nor so good as might be wished, and are somewhat monotonous. This, however, is more than compensated by the libretto, which is greatly superior to the staple of the illustrated" books of the

season.

lated from the French of Le Sage, by T. SMOLLETT. Embellished with 600 Engravings on Wood, from the Designs of JEAN GIGOUX. 2 vols. Imperial 8vo. London: 1838. The same in French, with the same Illustrations. 1 vol. imperial 8vo.

This elegant addition to our foreign classical literature is one of the fruits of the amicable connection between us and foreign nations, which has grown and strengthened under the influence of the general peace. It is also a foretaste of some of the benefits to be expected from the international copyright law now in contemplation. The beautiful illustrations in wood designed by Gigoux, give a virtual copy-' right to the publishers, and have enabled them to offer the work for sale in England, without fear of having their enterprise ruined by piracy. The same blocks which were used for the Paris edition became available, without further expense, for the London publication; and they are too beautiful to be imitated, except at a cost which would render the fraud unprofitable.

Don Quixote, and other standard works, are in progress, which we shall notice as they appear.

The Prisoners of Abd el Kader. By M. A. LË FRANCE. Translated by R. F. PORTER. 1 Vol. 12mo. London: 1838.

In August, 1836, the French brig-of-war Loiret, was moored near Arzew, a port on the African coast, between Algiers and Oran, which was occupied by the French. A party of the officers and men ventured one day to amuse themselves in the space immediately adjoining the lines. They were suddenly surprised by a troop of Arab horsemen, who rushed from a neighbouring ravine, and several were noosed by a rope passed round their body, and dragged away at full gallop by their captors. One of these was M. Le France, a lieutenant of the Loiret. He was detained a prisoner for five months, during which time he and his companions endured the most rigorous treatment. The present volume is a plain and inartificial narrative of their captivity, written by one who was unskilled in the art of composition, and tells an unvarnished tale. The book, while it bears internal evidence of its truth, has much of the interest of a romance. It author was at length exchanged.