other round with a double head and a deep intercostal groove; a clavicle; portions of coracoids; a humerus, the articulatory extremities of which expand to nearly three times the diameter of the centre of the bone; a humerus 7 inches long, 2 inches broad at the superior extremity, and 14 at its inferior; two femurs, one nearly perfect, being 10 inches in length; part of an ischium; a tibia; a fibula; metacarpal or metatarsal bones, with penultimate and ungueal phalanges. In conclusion the authors state that these remains afford further proof of the truth that the more ancient the strata the more the animal remains differ from existing types. A memoir was afterwards read, "On the Ossiferous Cavern of Yealm Bridge, 6 miles south-east from Plymouth." By Capt. Mudge, Royal Engineers, F.G.S., F.R.S., &c. This cavern is situated in a mass of limestone adjoining the village of Yealmpton, near Yealm Bridge, and on the south side of the river. It has been long known, and though large quantities of the bones have been burnt in the limekiln, yet it was not till lately that its contents attracted the attention of the scientific observer. Mr. Bellamy, of Yealmpton, first detected their value, and Capt. Mudge in a visit to Devonshire in the autumn of last year collected the information detailed in the memoir. "There were originally three openings into the cave, each about 12 feet above the river Yealm, and a few yards distant from each other. Large portions of the rock being removed for economical purposes, a considerable part of the cavern has been destroyed, and at the time of Capt. Mudge's visit portions of only the eastern and western chambers remained. The former consisted of a descending shaft to the depth of 10 feet, which turned at right angles and again ascended to the surface, both the descent and the ascent being at an angle of 45°. Of the western cavern, a portion remained uninjured. From the present opening it takes a northerly direction for 43 feet, the height varying from 5 to 6 feet, and the breadth from 4 to 5. It then turns westerly for 25 feet, the height varying from 5 to 12 feet, and the breadth from 3 to 5. The cave contained five, distinct, sedimentary deposits, and where they did not fill it to the roof the uppermost bed was covered by a layer of stalagmite. The order of the deposits was as follows: Top. Loam, containing bones and stones Sand Red clay.. 3+ feet. 6 34 6 to 18. Animal remains have been found only in the uppermost bed, and the author, on the authority of Mr. Clift and Mr. Owen, states that they belong to the elephant, rhinoceros, horse, ox, sheep, hyæna, dog, wolf, fox, bear, hare, water-rat, and a bird of considerable size. Coprolites also occur in the same bed. Many of the bones are splintered, chipped, and gnawed. Of the elephant only two teeth of a young animal have been preserved, and the remains of the rhinoceros are also rare, being confined to teeth and a doubtful bone, but those of the hyæna, particularly teeth, exceed in quantity all the bones of the other animals. Teeth and bones of the horse and ox are very abundant, but the remains of the bear are confined to teeth. It is however stated by the author that it is impossible now to determine what proportions the animals originally bore to each other. The pebbles found in the same bed with the bones are apparently derived from the confines of Dartmoor, and differ from those contained in the bed of the Yealm. In one part, where the roof is a little lower than usual, the limestone is beautifully polished, as if by the friction of the animals which inhabited the cave. There are many other caverns in the neighbourhood, but the one next in importance to that at Yealm Bridge is in the grounds at Ketley. The floor of this cavern rises but little above the present level of the river, and consists of gravel and pebbles corresponding with those in the bed of the Yealm. It has been ascertained that it does not contain bones, and Capt. Mudge therefore concludes that the caverns of Yealm Bridge and Ketley were exposed to very different conditions when the elephant and the hyæna inhabited the southern part of Devonshire. As far as regards space the accommodation in Ketley Cavern was much superior to that of Yealm Bridge Cave, and consequently it may be inferred that at the time when the hyænas inhabited the latter, they were prevented from entering the former either from its having been frequently flooded or permanently under water. LINNEAN SOCIETY. May 24, 1836.-At the Anniversary Meeting held this day, His Grace the Duke of Somerset in the chair, previous to the usual business the Secretary, Dr. Boott, stated that the Society had lost by death during the past year the following 11 Fellows and 2 Associates, viz. Fellows.-G. T. Burnett, Prof. of Botany in King's College; A. Crouch, Esq.; George Harry, Baron Grey of Groby; D. Hosack, Esq., M.D., F.R.S.; E. Jennings, Esq.; J. Macculloch, Esq., M.D., F.R.S.; Mr. Wm. Malcolm; H. Phillips, Esq.; H. Sim, Esq.; W. Smith, Esq., F.R.S.; Rev. G. A. Thursby, M.A., F.R.S. Associates. Mr. T. Drummond; Rev. J. T. Thomson. The Secretary then particularized, in the following terms, some of the deceased members: "Dr. Hosack, without attaining to or claiming any eminence as a botanist, was one of the earlier promoters of that science in America, and formed a botanic garden in the neighbourhood of New York, which was eventually purchased by the State or by one of the colleges of that city; and he undoubtedly would have anticipated many of the discoveries of later observers, had not his attention been necessarily drawn to medicine, from the distinguished reputation which he acquired as a physician. He visited Europe at an early period of life, and made the acquaintance of the more distinguished men of science in this country and in France; and the grateful recollection he ever cherished of the reception he met with in Europe prompted that liberal hospitality to strangers for which he was always honour ably distinguished. He was a generous patron of science and art; and one of those who stood prominently forward in giving that grateful reception to the distinguished leaders in one of the Arctic expeditions. It may be remembered that Sir J. Franklin and Dr. Richardson, and, I believe, Capt. Back, were hailed on their arrival at New York by the mayor and principal citizens of the city, and that they were conveyed to the confines of Canada free of expense, cheered by the sympathies of all around them,-one of those evidences which the heart affords of the cordiality and respect existing between America and England, whatever some writers may say of the contrary. Dr. Hosack published the life of his friend Gen. Clinton, and was the author of various papers on the medical and other branches of science. "I feel that this is not the place for doing full justice to the memory of Mr. Smith, for I am not aware that he particularly directed his attention to any branch of natural history; but as the early, strenuous, and constant advocate of civil and religious liberty he is entitled to the respect and admiration of all those who believe in the capacities of human nature for a progressive advancement in intellectual and moral power. It is well known that Mr. Smith was returned M.P. for Sudbury and Norwich for nearly half a century, and that towards the close of the last century, and up to a comparatively late period of his life, he was one of what originally was comparatively a small band, who, when liberal sentiments were obnoxious to a degree which I believe it to be impossible for us at the present time to conceive of, pleaded for the rights of humanity, when those rights were denied not only to the enslaved African, but to a large portion of the people of this country, especially to the conscientious Dissenter, who was at one time looked upon as hardly a loyal subject of the realm. To those who, in watching the changes which human institutions undergo in the progress of time, are convinced that a chastened and enlightened spirit of liberty, as it has become more and more developed, has in all times given additional dignity to human nature, by enabling it to put forth those inherent energies, allinstructive of good, which, like the branches of the oak, acquire a hardy vigour and nobler growth as they are free to extend themselves in the liberal light and air of heaven,-to such an observer of the eventful period of the last half-century the name of Mr. Smith must often recur as one of the most unquestionable benefactors of mankind. If not distinguished by any of the splendour of genius, or as standing prominently forward in the first ranks of public life, he was more honourably distinguished by the inflexible integrity of his character, the uniform liberality and consistency of his opinions, and the unobtrusive virtues of his private life,-characteristics which, if they fail to give the widest and loudest development of fame, are yet sure of the truest and most lasting. Mr. Smith attained to an advanced period of life, and survived to see many of the great and benevolent objects which he advocated finally accomplished; and I should say, that of the larger award of charity and justice which has been rendered to the Dissenters of this country, of which Mr. Smith was one, not a little of it may be said to have been owing to the evidence which his own life afforded of the peaceable disposition, the unquestionable loyalty, the intelligence and high moral worth which belong to that large portion of the people of England. "In the death of Mr. Drummond we have to lament the loss of a very useful man; one to whom we have been indebted for many years for many rare plants which he collected in the Rocky Mountains during his first expedition to North America, and in the valley of the Mississippi in his last visit to that continent. He was sent out principally through the instrumentality of Sir William J. Hooker, for the purpose of making collections in all the departments of natural history; and there are some present who know how well he accomplished the objects of his mission. His plants were purchased by several naturalists in this country, in France, and America; and I understand from Sir W. Hooker that independent of the sums he had successively paid towards the expenses of Mr.D. in America, and towards the support of his family in Scotland, there is a considerable balance due to his widow. Mr. Drummond died of fever last year at the Havannah; and I feel that his death is scarcely less disastrous than that of Mr. Douglas. "It does not seem to be sufficiently known that the natives of the colder regions inevitably run great hazard of sickness and death in resorting to climes of a high mean temperature. When it is recollected what a remarkable exemption from mortality has uniformly characterized the arctic expeditions under Sir J. Ross, Sir E. Parry, Sir J. Franklin, and Captain Back, and what a frightful destruction of life followed the naval and military expeditions to the West Indies in the war of 1793, and how many excellent men have successively perished in the fatal attempt to explore Africa, it is an irresistible conclusion that a high mean temperature is most prejudicial to the health of those unaccustomed to its influence: and the fact, I believe, is satisfactorily explained by the more prolific sources of disease which may reasonably be supposed to exist in the teeming climes of the south, and the effect which a sudden change of temperature exerts on the human body. When we reflect, for instance, that in this country the mean temperature is about 52°, and that we consequently have a vital energy equivalent to the production of 46° of animal heat to enable us to maintain the blood at its standard heat of 96°; and that a native of Great Britain, by resorting to a clime where the mean temperature is 75° or 80°, cannot accommodate himself at once to this great change of circumstances,—that is, with a power to generate 46°, he cannot at once lose this power, and generate only 21° or 16°, to put himself on a level with the condition of the native of a tropical clime,—it will be evident that if he falls under the influence of the causes of fever, the disease must have in him a violence and a precipitancy highly dangerous to life. I believe this fully explains the nature and fatality of what is called yellow fever; a disease entirely unknown to the natives of the West Indies and the most southern states of North America. Dr. Ramsey of Charleston, South Carolina, shows for a long series of years that the deaths by yellow fever in that city have been confined exclusively to strangers, and that no native physician or nurse was ever known to contract the disease. This liability to a fatal form of fever should at least induce great caution in those who resort to hot climates; and had the principle on which the mortality in those climates depends been fully understood, we might for many years perhaps have reaped advantages from the labours of Mr. Drummond in the cause of science. We owe to him many interesting plants; and like his fellow-labourer Mr. Douglas, his name must ever be honourably associated with the botany of North America." His Grace the Duke of Somerset was re-elected President; E. Forster, Esq., Treasurer; Francis Boott, M.D., Secretary; and Richard Taylor, Esq., Under-Secretary; and the following five gentlemen were elected into the Council, in the room of others going out, agreeably to the By-Laws: viz. William Borrer, Esq.; John Bostock, M.D.; John George Children, Esq.; Archibald Menzies, Esq.; Rev. Thomas Rackett, M.A. XCIV. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. ON THE PROPERTIES OF LIQUID CARBONIC ACID. ACCORDING to M. Thilorier, this liquefied gas presents the strange and paradoxical fact of a liquid more expansible than the gases themselves: from 32° to 86° Fahr., its volume increases from 20 to 29, that is to say, that at 86° Fahr. the increase of volume is nearly equal to half the volume at 32° Fahr. Its expansion is four times greater than that of atmospheric air, which from 32° to 86° Fahr. only expands, whilst the expansion of liquid carbonic acid on the same scale is. If the temperature of a tube containing a portion of liquid carbonic acid is raised, this liquid boils, and the empty space above the liquid is saturated with a greater or less quantity of vapour according to the elevation of the temperature. At 86° Fahr., the quantity of liquid at 32° Fahr. sufficient to saturate the empty space is represented by a portion of liquid equal to one third of the space in which the vaporisation has been effected. At 32° Fahr. the portion of liquid of saturation is only of the space saturated. The pressure of the vapour formed by the liquefied gas from 32° to 86° Fahr., amounts from 36 to 73 atmospheres, which is equivalent to an increase of one atmosphere for every centigrade degree. It is important to observe that the weight or the density of the vapour increases in a much greater proportion than the pressure, and that the law of Mariotte is no longer applicable within the limits of the liquefaction. If the density of the vapour is taken for the base of the pressure, the pressure at 86° Fahr. will be equal to 130 atmospheres, whilst the manoscope will only indicate 73 atmospheres. If a tube of glass containing a portion of liquid and a portion of gas be heated, two contrary effects will take place: 1st, the liquid will augment by expansion; 2nd, the liquid will diminish by vaporisation. The thermoscopic effects are very different according as the por |