{*3} The Mammoth Cave of Kentucky

{*4} In Iceland, 1783

{*5} "During the eruption of Hecla, in 1766, clouds kind produced such degree of darkness that, at Glaumba, more than fifty leagues mountain, people could only find their way by groping During the eruption of Vesuvius, in 1794, at Caserta, four leagues distant, people could only walk light of torches first of May, 1812, cloud of volcanic ashes and sand, coming from volcano island of St Vincent, covered the whole of Barbadoes, spreading over it so intense darkness that, at mid-day, open air, one perceive the trees or other objects near him, or even white handkerchief placed distance of six inches eye " -- Murray, p 215, Phil edit

{*6} year 1790, Caraccas during an earthquake portion granite soil sank and left lake eight hundred yards in diameter, and from eighty to hundred feet deep part forest of Aripao which sank, trees remained green for under the water " -- Murray_, p 221

{*7} The hardest steel ever manufactured may, under the action of blowpipe, be reduced to an impalpable powder, which will float readily atmospheric air

{*8} The region Niger See Simmona's Colonial Magazine

{*9} The Myrmeleon-lion-ant The term "monster" is equally applicable to small abnormal things and to great, while such epithets as "vast" are merely comparative The cavern myrmeleon is vast in comparison hole common red ant grain of silex is also "rock "

{*10} The Epidendron, Flos Aeris, family Orchideae_, grows with merely the surface roots attached to tree or other object, it derives no nutriment -- subsisting altogether upon air

{*11} The Parasites, such wonderful Rafflesia Arnaldii

{*12} Schouw advocates class of plants that grow upon living animals -- the Plantae Epizoae class are the Fuci and _Algae

_Mr J B Williams, of Salem, Mass , presented the "National Institute" with an insect from New Zealand, following description: " '_The Hotte_,a decided caterpillar, or worm, is found gnawing root Rota tree, with plant growing out head This most peculiar and extraordinary insect travels up both the Rota and Ferriri trees, and entering top, eats its way, perforating the trunk trees until it reaches the root, and dies, or remains dormant, plant propagates out head; the body remains perfect and entire, of harder substance than when alive insect the natives make coloring for tattooing

{*13} In mines and natural caves species of cryptogamous _fungus that emits an intense phosphorescence

{*14} The orchis, scabius and valisneria

{*15} The corolla flower (_Aristolochia Clematitis_), tubular, but terminating upwards in ligulate limb, is inflated into globular figure base The tubular part is internally beset with stiff hairs, pointing downwards The globular part contains the pistil, which consists merely of germen and stigma, together surrounding stamens But the stamens, being shorter germen, cannot discharge the pollen so throw it stigma, flower stands always upright till after impregnation And hence, without some additional and peculiar aid, the pollen must necessarily fan down bottom flower Now, the aid that nature has furnished in , _Tiputa Pennicornis_, small insect, which entering the tube corrolla in quest of honey, descends bottom, and rummages about till it becomes quite covered with pollen; but not being able to force its way out again, owing downward position hairs, which converge to point like the wires of mouse-trap, and being somewhat impatient confinement it brushes backwards and forwards, trying every corner, till, after repeatedly traversing the stigma, it covers it with pollen sufficient for its impregnation, in consequence the flower soon begins to droop, hairs to shrink sides tube, effecting an easy passage escape insect " --_Rev P Keith-System of Physiological Botany

{*16} The bees -- bees were -- constructing their cells with just such sides, in just such number, and at just such inclinations, demonstrated (in problem involving the profoundest mathematical principles) are the very sides, very number, and very angles, which will afford the creatures the most room compatible greatest stability of structure

During the latter part last century, the question arose among mathematicians--"to determine the best form given sails of windmill, according varying distances revolving vanes , and likewise centres revoloution " an excessively complex problem, is, in other words, the best possible position at an infinity of varied distances and at an infinity of points arm There were thousand futile attempts to answer the query most illustrious mathematicians, and when , an undeniable solution was discovered, men found wings of bird had given it with absolute precision the first bird had traversed the air

{*17} He observed flock of pigeons passing betwixt Frankfort Indian territory, one mile in breadth; it took up four hours in passing, which, rate of one mile per minute, gives length of 240 miles; and, supposing three pigeons to each square yard, gives 2,230,272,000 Pigeons -- "_Travels in Canada United States," by Lieut F Hall

{*18} The earth is upheld by cow of blue color, having horns four hundred in number " -- Sale's Koran

{*19} "The Entozoa_, or intestinal worms, have repeatedly been observed muscles, and cerebral substance of men " -- See Wyatt's Physiology, p 143

{*20} Great Western Railway, between London and Exeter, speed of 71 miles per hour attained train weighing 90 tons was whirled from Paddington to Didcot (53 miles) in 51 minutes

{*21} The Eccalobeion_

{*22} Maelzel's Automaton Chess-player

{*23} Babbage's Calculating Machine

{*24} Chabert_, and since him, hundred others

{*25} The Electrotype

{*26} Wollaston made of platinum field of views in telescope wire one eighteen-thousandth part of an inch in thickness It seen only microscope

{*27} Newton demonstrated retina beneath the influence violet ray spectrum, vibrated 900,000,000 of times in second

{*28} Voltaic pile

{*29} The Electro Telegraph Printing Apparatus

{*30} The Electro telegraph transmits intelligence instantaneously- at as regards any distance earth

{*31} Common experiments in Natural Philosophy If two red rays from two luminous points be admitted into dark chamber so as on white surface, and differ in their length by 0 0000258 of an inch, their intensity is doubled So also difference in length be any whole-number multiple fraction multiple by 2 1/4, 3 1/4, &c , gives an intensity equal to one ray only; but multiple by 2 1/2, 3 1/2, &c , gives the result of total darkness In violet rays similar effects arise difference in length is 0 000157 of an inch; and with all other rays the results are the same -- the difference varying with uniform increase violet red

{*32} Place platina crucible over spirit lamp, and keep it red heat; pour in some sulphuric acid, which, though the most volatile of bodies at common temperature, found completely fixed in hot crucible, and not drop evaporates -- being surrounded by an atmosphere own, it , , touch the sides few drops of water are now introduced, acid, immediately coming in contact heated sides crucible, flies off in sulphurous acid vapor, and so rapid is its progress, caloric water passes off with it, which falls lump of ice bottom; by taking advantage moment allowed to remelt, it turned out lump of ice from red-hot vessel

{*33} The Daguerreotype

{*34) Although light travels 167,000 miles in second, the distance of 61 Cygni (the only star whose distance is ascertained) is so inconceivably great, that its rays would require more than ten years to reach the earth For stars beyond this, 20 -- or even 1000 years -- moderate estimate Thus, annihilated 20, or 1000 , still see them to-day light which started from their surfaces 20 or 1000 years time That many which we see daily are really extinct, impossible -- not even improbable