their pendent bed, and procreant cradle;" but artfully as in these our climates the feathered tenants of the air construct their nests, where the plundering schoolboy is perhaps the worst to be dreaded, we find them far exceeded in ingenuity and contrivance, by the birds of those regions, where the wily snake and the monkey, ever vigilant, are enemies incessantly on the watch: several species affix their nests to the extremity of a slender bending twig, and make them of strong grass and vegetable fibres, well woven together, in shape somewhat resembling an inverted Florence flask, the entrance being at the extremity of the dependent neck, and leading upwards into two or more chambers. On this principle are the nests of the Baya-sparrow in Hindostan, and of numbers besides in the Indies and Africa. The nest of the tailor bird in India exhibits, perhaps, the greatest security of any, joined to the utmost simplicity; the exterior consists simply of two leaves, the one living and growing at the extremity of a slender twig, to which another, often dead, but sometimes green, is sewed by vegetable filaments, and thus forming together a kind of purse, which, lined with feathers and down, constitutes the light and frail habitation, in which the parent bird brings up her young in safety. large community, and for the public good; each individual is a member of a wellordered society, having its work and place assigned, so that, by a division of labour, the accomplishment of the grand design may be facilitated. The community consists of one, two, or three hundred individuals, each bearing a share in the undertaking, for none are allowed to be idle. The first thing done is, to fix upon a spot suitable for the establishment of the colony; this is generally on the flat margin of the river: the next object is to construct a dam: for this purpose, they divide themselves into companies, apparently under the direction of an overseer; and now the work begins: some fell trees of a great size, by gnawing them with their strong teeth; these they then proceed, with surprising labour, to lay across the stream, or fix as firm piles into holes, which others have been employed to make in the bed of the river; they then interweave them with twigs and branches, while others bring earth, stones, or clay, which they amass on the upper side of the barrier next the stream, thus forming a dam, ten or twelve feet thick at the bottom, tapering gradually upwards, and capable of sustaining a vast pressure of water; its length is sometimes a hundred feet. The mole being complete and strong, they next begin to erect their separate dwelling houses; these are in shape like a bee-hive or Hottentots' kraal, having three stories; the lowest below the level of the dam, and full of water; these houses are neatly plastered with clay, and vary in size according to the number of the family or clan, which is generally from ten to thirty. In each house there are two openings in case of surprise, one to the land, the other into the water. Here then, in a dwelling, which for neatness, labour, and ingenuity, far exceeds the efforts of many of the uncivilized races of man, the beaver forms his bed, lays up his winter stores, and provides for all his wants; a reproach to the slothful and the improvident. The bee, in a state of wild independence, chooses the hollow of a tree, or cavity in the rock, having an entrance too small for the admission of a hostile invader, and there constructs her temple of hexagonal cells with mathematical precision. Some animals, burrowing into the ground, excavate a chamber with winding passages, far beneath the surface, line it with soft dried grass and moss, and in this asylum, secure From all that has been advanced, we from the enemy, they find a refuge and a may conclude that instinct is a principle home. Others choose the obscure retreat immediately connected with vitality, that of the thickest woods; or on the topmost it differs in degree, and is modified accor branches of the lofty tree there "hanging to the rank or degree of the o We might here, too, instance those stupendous mansions, perhaps more wonderful, considering the builders, than the pyramids of Egypt, which several species of ants in Africa and South America construct, and of which intelligent and scientific travellers have given many interesting and curious accounts. We might lead our readers to examine the pit-fall of the lion ant (myrmeleon,) or the web of the spider; but the examples which we have adduced, will suffice to shew how refined, how intricate, how unerringly fitted to the end, are these instinctive operations, affecting in so important a manner the well-being of the individual, and how admirably they display the goodness and care of that Being, whose bounty is over all His works. With respect to the general plan and materials of construction, little need be said, as it is evident that each species continues in the beaten track of its progenitors, without alteration, or deviating from the established method, a method completely intuitive, and requiring for its perfection neither previous instruction nor practice. 835 Essays on Physiology: Essay XI. body in the scale of creation, that it is also an active principle, operating in animals through the medium of volition, or the nervous system, and producing uniform and appropriate results. The animal is conscious of its own exertions, but not so the plant; here, instinct, as connected with organic life, produces effects, of which the acting body must be quite unconscious; it governs the plant as circumstances may require; but the plant cannot act through volition; it repairs injuries, or avoids danger, secures itself against the wind, or sends abroad its roots for nourishment, altogether unconsciously, and unallied by sensation to surrounding objects, yet still not without exhibiting faint and low indications of participating in the influence of that mysterious law, which, as it would seem, is ever assoeiated with vital organization. We have now completed our plan; the indulgent reader will perceive that it is but an outline, inviting him, if he has time and opportunity, to fill it up. He will remember that we commenced these essays by dividing into their obvious classes, the natural bodies which come under the cognizance of our senses; that these were described as being two, the organic and the inorganic; that the organic admitted of further division, 1st, into bodies, living, sentient, and generally capable of locomotion, comprehending the animal kingdom; 2d, into bodies living, but neither sentient nor capable of locomotion, embracing the vegetable kingdom; that notwithstanding, there was a point where these subdivisions seemed to coalesce, which led us to specify more particularly the distinctions as indicated by differences in anatomical structure, and chemical composition. We then entered at length upon those laws inherent in organic bodies, which we termed sensibility, (latent and percipient,) irritability, (voluntary and involuntary) and instinct. And having submitted an explanation of the sense in which the terms sensibility and irritability are to be accepted, we exhibited them as the powers by which the operations in the economy of the organic frame are carried on; these operations next came under review, to elucidate which, we glanced over the general structure of the animal frame, its growth by the assimilation of extraneous matter, and its death-the nature and circulation of the blood-and animal | temperature. We then reverted to instinct, as a power also connected with organic life; we have described it as influencing all animated beings, from man to the plant, as being in man under the control of reason, and the precepts of religion, or 836 weakened by habits of dependence and refinement; but in the brute creation, as being a principle wisely implanted in their nature, regulating and directing all impor. tant operations, as they affect the wellbeing of the individual or its offspring, and independent of reason or reflection. We have seen its agency manifested as it respects the choice and change of food and place, the safety of the individual and its offspring, an innate knowledge and fear of natural enemies; and habitation, as chosen, or fashioned, teaching in some mysterious manner, when, how, where, and for what purpose the dwelling or the nest is to be constructed. We have traced it even in plants, influencing, although obscurely, the operations of their economy. Reader! we have opened a page replete with wonders, which demonstrate, in a striking and admirable manner, the care and wisdom of that God who called forth the works of nature, "who spoke, and it was done, who commanded and it stood fast." It is a page too, replete with instruction; it offers to our contemplation a grand and exalted theme, the laws of living bodies, stamped upon them by their Maker, a theme calculated to expand the mind, to teach us our real station, and, by leading us to survey with a closer gaze the range of animated beings, to harmonize our feel, ings, inspire us with kindness and compassion towards all that lives, and subdue the petty selfishness of our nature. Our desire has been to draw our readers to reflect upon a subject too much neg lected, even by the well-informed, and deemed only in the province of "the profession;" and gratified shall we be, if our efforts may, in any measure, have contributed to inspire a thirst to become ac quainted with the laws of organic life; gratified, if we have communicated any information; and still more so, if, by our endeavours (imperfect though they be) to lay before his view the mysteries of organic bodies, and the beauties of organic struc ture, we have induced one reader to consider that great and adorable God, the workmanship of whose hands, full of wisdom and mercy, these so impressively exhibit. It argues well of the man and the philosopher, who sees God in his works, the Creator in the thing created; but after all, how little can we see, how much less can we fathom. Surely we may say Job, "Lo, these are parts of His ways; but how little a portion is heard of Him; but the thunder of His power who can understand!" Hammersmith. with W. MARTIN. MEPHITIC GASES.-NO. IX. (Continued from col. 731.) HAVING dwelt upon the introduction of atmospheric air into mines, we proceed to notice the remaining substances noted in the two first papers on this subject; viz. lime, chlorine, and water. But the first remedy which ought to be prescribed to miners, whose employment brings them in contact with mephitic gases, is CAUTION —PRUDENCE and CAUTION-opposed to fool-hardy adventure and careless indifference. Without these, every means which can be prescribed by man will not avail them; and with these, it is, I conceive, possible to render them much more safe than they are at present. Carbon, it is well known, enters into the substance which we call limestone, largely; nearly one-half thereof being carbon. When limestone is calcined, the carbon evaporates, and leaves the lime in a state of union with latent heat, or caloric, and this is called quicklime. If quicklime is treated with water, the heat, hitherto latent therein, cools, the water and the lime combine, and these form a hydrate of lime. Quicklime, and the hydrate of lime, when dried, are capable of being reduced into fine powders. Between carbon and lime there exists great affinity; and whenever lime is exposed to the action of the atmosphere, or to carbon in any situation, an union takes place between it and carbon. Lime, therefore, in powder, either in the state of quicklime, or the hydrate of lime, but the hydrate of lime is to be preferred, exposed in shallow troughs, with large surfaces, or spread upon slates, or pavement, or even upon the floor of a mine, if it is dry, would absorb carbon; and as the first portions of lime became saturated with this gas, if the troughs were refilled from time to time, and the lime therein frequently stirred up and turned over, so as to present, ever and anon, fresh surfaces of lime to the action of the carbonic acid gas, or choke damp, in a mine, where the infection was most likely to take place, for every place in a mine is seldom, if ever, infested with gas at the same time, these portions of lime would neutralize and bear off a large proportion, if not all, the dangerous portion of carbonic acid gas in a mine. Quicklime, suddenly treated with water upon the floor of a mine, would, in the act of slacking, also absorb carbon; for portions of the lime fly off dry, in fine powder, and part of the water in the form of vapour, amidst the explosions which take place, when water comes suddenly in contact with quick-lime, and these minute particles of lime would penetrate and lodge in the apertures and crevices of the works, where the lime in the troughs could not be introduced, and there neutralize the carbon as it issued from these recesses, and prevent its introduction into the works. Lime and water, also sprinkled largely about, or passed through the rose of a watering-pan perforated with minute holes, so as to resemble fine rain, would bring the lime into contact with carbon, wherever it was lodged in the mine; for the extraneous water would soon evaporate, and leave the lime, in a dry powder, minutely and universally exposed to the action of this gas. A boy would perform these operations, or those subsequently recommended, throughout an ordinary mine, with ease to himself; and the expense to the proprietors of the mine would be trifling. Lime is generally abundant in the neighbourhood of mines; and the refuse of the lime employed for these purposes would, even when saturated with carbon, be as useful for ordinary purposes as before. It is preferable, especially where hydrogen gas prevails, to slack the lime in the mine with sea water instead of fresh water; but if one ounce of common salt is added to every pint of water, used for that purpose, nearly the same effect will be produced; because magnesian lime contains more than sufficient magnesia to compen sate for its absence in common salt. I have witnessed miners, on coming into their works, use a bushy branch of holly, for the purpose of sweeping the carbonic acid gas, or choke damp, out of the working compartments into the wastes, with good success. This brushing sufficed to dislodge the gas from that compartment for the moment; and such is the sluggish nature of this gas, that it was some time ere it returned in sufficient quantities to become dangerous to the miners. The flame of a lamp is not dangerous in mines which are infested with carbonie acid gas, or choke damp, alone, because this gas does not explode, like hydrogen or inflammable gas. Flame may, therefore, be introduced into these mines, as has been already noted, instead of heated irons, recommended in the succeeding portion of this article; and diluted nitric acid, diluted muriatic acid, or any other liquid, may be evaporated therein, either by flame or by means of heated irons, as may best suit the convenience or pleasure of those who direct the works. But many of these shallow works have no director; every thing is left, in several of these small con 839 Mephitic Gases in Mines-No. IX. 840 cerns, to the operatives themselves; while | forcibly for fifteen minutes. If one quarter the owner of the land and mine, unac- of an ounce of bleaching powder is put quainted with mining operations, frequently into one quart of water, or into any quansuffers, and the operatives with him, from tity of water in the same proportion, a the absence of such portions of science as weak solution of the chloride of lime will are within their reach. Many perish for be prepared, by agitating the mixture forlack of knowledge in mines, and in other cibly for ten minutes; and so on, for mixdepartments of life in the natural way; tures of intermediate strength. In some and, alas! in that spiritual portion of their cases, the weak solution will be sufficiently existence, which is the peculiar gift of God efficacious, and in others the strong soluto man, and which distinguishes man from tion will be needful, or even a solution yet every portion of the visible creation. "Oh, stronger. This liquid may be thrown up that men were wise, that they understood against the roof and sides of a mine, by this, that they would consider their latter dipping therein a besom or wisp, and end!" "So teach us, O Lord, to number dashing it upwards, or by passing it through our days, that we may apply our hearts the rose of a watering-pan, perforated with unto wisdom." "Let thy works appear small holes, or, perhaps more efficaciously, unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their by inserting a syringe therein, from time to children; and let the beauty of the Lord time, the end of which is finely perforated, our God be upon us." and squirting this liquid against the roof and sides, and in such directions in the works as are known to be infested with deleterious gases. The miners may also wash their hands and nostrils therein, and place small portions thereof in earthen or tin vessels in the immediate vicinity of their places of working, and cast it about their persons, as an antidote against the deleterious effects of the gases which surround them. Our attention must now be directed to the hydrogen, or inflammable gases in mines. Under this head, chlorine, which has been noted in columns 130 and 131, claims particular attention, as a specific against the deadly action of these gases. Between chlorine and lime an affinity exists, by which they become chemically combined; and this compound is called the chlorine of lime: it consists of 40,00 chlorine, 42,00 lime, and 18,00 water, or thereabouts. Between chlorine and hydrogen, there also exists an affinity, and the union of these two gases is called muriatic acid: the constituents of this last gas are equal volumes of hydrogen and chlorine. If flame, a lighted candle or lamp, for instance, is introduced into muriatic acid gas, it is immediately extinguished: hence, the union of hydrogen with chlorine renders hydrogen gas uninflammable. Muriatić acid also unites largely, and with great rapidity, with water. From these premises, a beam of hope shines upon the mind, rendering visible that upon which clouds and darkness have rested for ages, viz. the inflammable gases may be neutralized, and of course rendered innoxious to miners. The chloride of lime is manufactured upon a large scale, and, under the name of bleaching powder, (see col. 131,) enters into commerce, being used, as its name imports, in bleaching processes: its price is small, and it may be procured in any quantity whatever. The chloride of lime may be applied in a mine infested with gas, with the greatest ease. If one ounce of bleaching powder is put into one quart of water, or into any quantity of water in the same proportion, a strong solution of the chloride of lime will be prepared, by agitating the mixture In the dry way, the chloride of lime may be used, by placing the bleaching powder in shallow troughs near the roofs of mines, and treating it in a manner similar to the mode recommended for hydrate of lime. And in the moist way, also, by dipping linen or other cloths or rags into the solution, and hanging them up in the mine until they become dry. A gentle evaporation of this liquid mixture, or of diluted nitric acid, or diluted muriatic acid, might be effected within a mine with the greatest ease. If solid irons were heated in the fires used upon the surface of the earth, and sent down the shaft, in iron boxes sufficiently close, these irons in these boxes placed beneath vessels which contained the above liquids, would create a vapour therefrom, more or less intense, in proportion to their size and heat; and, being renewed from time to time, would induce an insensible vapour throughout a mine. Or, sudden evaporation might be effected by casting any of these liquids, in small quantities at a time, upon these hot iron boxes, and continuing the operation until the irons were cold. These irons might also be heated in fire-pans, hung up in air pits, whence they could be let down or drawn up at pleasure; or even, in some cases, in a fire of coak beneath the air pit in the mine itself. It would be easy to convert any of these liquids into vapour at the head of the shaft, and send them down | into the mine, through an iron, porcelain, or lead pipe, by which means they might be converted into any part of the works where it was needful to employ them. Chlorine may also be introduced into mines, as a disinfector in another form, viz. combined with soda. This compound, when mingled with water, enters into commerce under the name of the chloro-sodaic solution. In the large way, I conceive the chloride of lime, or bleaching powder, preferable; but of this, let every one judge | for himself, after making a fair experiment with each. The solution of chloride of lime and the chloro-sodaic solution may be used in mines in a way exactly similar; no particular directions being needful for the one, distinct from the other. A whole mine might be filled with vapour in an hour, by employing several hot irons in boxes, each in a different compartment of the mine, and casting small quantities of liquid in succession upon each of these, until they were cold. If a large quantity of liquid was cast at once upon a hot iron box, part of the liquid would be exploded from the iron, without being converted into vapour, and the iron would become immediately too cold to evaporate more. Hot irons in boxes would not cause the inflammable gases to explode, similar to the flame of a lamp, they might, therefore, be used upon the floor of a mine with safety in iron pans, or iron boxes. (To be continued.) ASTRONOMICAL OCCURRENCES FOR THE Sun enters the equinoctial sign Libra The Moon enters her last quarter on the 1st at 38 minutes past 4 in the morning; she is new on the 9th at 34 minutes past 8 in the morning; and enters her first quarter on the 16th at 27 minutes past 11 in the evening: on the 23d at 13 minutes 117.-VOL. X. | | past 2 in the afternoon she is full, and again enters her last quarter on the 30th at 7 minutes past 9 in the evening. On the morning of the 5th she is observed to approach the planets Saturn and Venus, which are noticed to the east of her; she passes Mercury on the 9th, and is seen near the noble planet Jupiter on the evening of the 13th, the conjunction taking place at 6 o'clock: on the evening of the 18th she is observed a considerable distance above Mars. She is in apogee on the 5th, and in perigee on the 21st. The noble planet Jupiter sets on the 1st at 40 minutes past 8 in the evening, and on the 25th at 22 minutes past 7. He is at first observed to the west of a, μ, and 5 Libra gradually approaching them; on the 10th he passes very near 5 Libræ, and is noticed between a and u Libræ on the 17th: on the 18th at 3 in the afternoon he is in conjunction with a Libræ, and he finishes his course at the distance of 2 degrees 18 minutes to the east of it, when he forms an isosceles triangle with this star and a Libra being the summit. In consequence of his unfavourable position, there are none of the eclipses of his satellites visible this month. Libra, Mars sets on the 1st at 14 minutes past 11 in the evening, and on the 25th at 49 minutes past 10. He is still traversing the constellation Sagittarius, being situated on the 1st in a line with p and 25 Sagittarii, he is observed at the same time to form an isosceles triangle with the former star, and w Sagittarii, the latter star being the apex; his course is gradually directed under w Sagittarii, on the 3d he is noticed as the summit of an isosceles triangle w and Sagittarii forming the base; he is also seen in a line with the former star and π Sagittarii; on the following day he is observed in a line with 29 and 30 Sagittarii, and w and o Sagittarii; he is also noticed forming an isosceles triangle with 7 and w Sagittarii, the former star being the apex: on the 5th he is observed in a line with w and g 2 Sagittarii; on the 6th he forms isosceles triangles with w and p, and r and / Sagit |tarii, p and r being the respective summits; he is also noticed in a line with w, and 33 Sagittarii, and between and Sagittarii. He is now observed passing under w Sagittarii, and on the 10th is noticed between this star and Sagittarii, and in a line with g 1 and 2 Sagittarii, directing his course between 7 and Sagittarii, reaching this position on the 14th, when he forms an isosceles triangle with and w Sagittarii, the latter star being the apex: on this day the longitude and latitude of Mars is the | T 3G |