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with a less numerous, but braver, army; and the Flemings, being mostly weavers, and other tradesmen, were broken in an instant, ten thousand of them put to the sword, and the rest were glad to compound for a safe retreat into their own country. It is therefore probable that these were the slain of the victorious party, from the careful yet singular manner in which the bodies were deposited; and that, after the earth was heaped over them, the ash was planted to mark the spot. If this supposition be correct, it affords a striking instance of the longevity of trees. Single bodies, bones, and remnants of arms and armour, have been not unfrequently found in the same neighbourhood; but it is rather remarkable that on the present occasion no warlike implements were discovered,

A few weeks ago, in digging a field near Hallyclare, in Ireland, there was found an earthern vessel, containing upward of 1000 silver pennies, of Kings Edward I. and II., the greater part of which had been coined in London, York, and Canterbury. Among them there were a number stamped in the following places: Newcastle, Durham, Lincoln, Bristol, St. Edmundsbury, Hadley, Exeter, Chester, and Oxford. There were also a few Irish pennies, with the triangle, coined in Dublin and Waterford. From the time that we may fairly infer these coins were in circulation, and the tract of country in which they were found-lying between the ancient city of Connor and the venerable fortress of Carrickfergus it is highly probable that they had been hidden during the invasion of Lord Edward Bruce, in 1315, and perhaps buried during the retreat of the English army from the former place, where they had been defeated on the 10th of September, the fugitives retreating to Carrickfergus, followed by the victors. The hypothesis is the more likely, as at different times, within memory, small parcels of the like coins have been also found in caves in the same direction, with some silver coins of the Alexanders, kings of Scotland.

THE SCOTTISH COVENANT.-The original copy of the celebrated Scottish Covenant, or Confession of Faith, signed in 1638, was lately put up to sale, together with several autograph letters and other manuscripts, said to be chiefly derived from the royal archives of France. The Confession of Faith is on a large skin of parchment, and the signatures are very numerous. The title runs thus: -"The Confessioun of Faith subscryvit first by the Kingis Majestie and the household, in the Year 1580; thairefter by personnes of all rankis, in Year of God 1581, by ordinance of the Lordis of Secret Counseill and actis of General Assemblies; subscryvit againe by all sortis of personnes, in the Year of God 1590, by ane new ordinance of Coun, sell, at the desire of the General Assemblie, wth ane generall band for the maintenaunce of the true Religioun, and of the Kingis Majestie; and now subscryvit in the Year of God 1638, by we, Noblemen, Barronnes, Gentlemen, Burgessis, Ministers, and Commones un

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dersubscryving, togidder wh our resolutioun and pronnes for the causis escerpit. To maintain the true Religioun and the Kingis Majestie, according to the Confessioun foresaid," &c.

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OPENING OF A MUMMY.-The opening of the mummy which makes part of the collection of Egyptian antiquities which M. Passalacqua has just sold to the King of Prussia, took place lately in the grand hall of the Sorbonne, at Paris. After the removal of the outer envelope, composed of linen, hardened with animal glue, the whole of the body was found wrapped with bandages, which had completely kept their forms; these bandages unrolled, laid open a second set of envelopes of brown linen, impregnated with a strong aromatic bituminous odour, and adhering, in a great degree, one to another. At length, on the removal of these, the body was discovered, with the hands joined, the position ordinarily observed in the embalming of young females. Between the knees were two small rolls of papyrus, in perfect preservation, but which, in the absence of M. de Champollion, could not be deciphered. Beside these rolls was a kind of little bag, wrapped up in bandages, like the mummy itself, in which it was hoped that something curious and important would be discovered; but it contained nothing but grains of wheat, a number of which had germinated. Extraordinary as this fact may seem, we give it exactly as it has been made public. The chest was covered with an inscription on papyrus, which could neither be removed nor read, which is so much the more to be regretted, as it was from that papyrus that the most important discoveries were expected. The last thing examined was the cranium, which it was thought would be filled with bits of linen and bitumen, as in other mummies, but it was empty. The head was furnished with flaxen coloured hair, in perfect preservation; and as the whole of the teeth were found complete, and very small, it was naturally concluded that the person must have been a young man. The inscriptions found on the envelope, and the circumstances observed in the opening, prove that this mummy was one of a priest of Isis, who had died in his thirtieth year.

COLUMBUS AND HIS DISCOVERIES.-Some new documents relative to Columbus have recently been published, by authority of the Spanish government, by D. Martin Fernandez de Navarrete, to whom access has been allowed to all the archives of the government, and of the most noble houses of Spain. Among much that is curious and interesting we think the following remarks worthy of insertion here, as setting at rest a question which has given rise to much conjecture, viz. the island which Columbus first discovered in America. gave it the name of San Salvador; and it has generally been supposed to be the island now called St. Salvador, or Cat Island. The position of this island not agreeing perfectly with the admiral's course and description, Munoz conjectured that Watling's Island was the true

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Guanahani. But Sen. Navarrete adduces very strong reasons for believing it to be the largest of the Turk's Islands. The course of Columbus, from Guanahani, is Cat Island, which lies nearly due north of Nipe. Beside, the great Bahama bank, and a long chain of bays, called Cayos de la Cadena, stretching between St. Salvador and Cuba, interpose a most serious obstacle to holding such a westerly course as Columbus pursued. But by setting out from Nipe, and proceeding in a retrograde direction along his course, as he very particularly describes it in his journal, we may easily trace his path, and shall be convinced that Guanahani is no other than Turk's Island. Add to this, that his description of it accords exactly with the latter, especially in the circumstance of there being a large lake in the middle of it. This point is perhaps of no great consequence, but it is satisfactory to know precisely what spot in America was first revealed to the eyes Europeans.

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ENTOMOLOGY.-Two very interesting insects, hitherto unrecorded as inhabitants of our island, have lately been added to the collection of Mr. J. O. Westwood, of Chelsea. Psilus boscii of Jurine-a small four-winged ichneumon-like fly, with a black body; possesses great singularity, in having a long, thick, and curved black horn arising from the upper side of the first segment of the abdomen, and extending its defence over the back of the thorax and head, which are both channeled to receive it when the insect is at rest. The other appears to be the Dryinus formicarius of Labreille, and (as the name implies) considerably resembles a small ant: its thorax is composed of two parts, resembling knots; and each of the fore-feet is armed with a pair of very long claws, which are turned back, and which are apparently used by the insect as nippers.

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-The weekly lectures at this society during the late season were eminently attractive. On the 30th of June, Mr. Vigors, in an interesting and eloquent lecture, illustrated the affinities that connect the birds that feed by suction on vegetable juices. On the 13th of July, Mr. Brookes concluded his scientific discourses on comparative anatomy, by demonstrating the thoracic and abdominal viscera of the ostrich. Various interesting and important facts were illustrated in this lecture; which Mr. Brookes concluded by expressing his readiness to continue his observations whenever an opportunity shall offer itself for promoting the views of the society. Mr. Vigors delivered his final lecture for the present season on the 20th of July, by continuing his remarks on the affinities of birds. Among the company assembled on the occasion, the Prince of Musignano (Charles Lucien Bonaparte) was present. Mr. Vigors, after addressing the meeting on the prospects of the society, and the success attending upon its plans, proceeded to point out the characteristics that distinguish the five orders of birds, as described in a diagram exhibited for that purpose; viz., the perching birds,

that take their food on trees; the gallinaceous birds, that feed upon the ground; the wading birds, existing partially on land, and partially on water; the oceanic birds, those exclusively of the water; and the birds of prey, that support themselves alike on trees and on the air. Of these, the gallinaceous birds formed the subject selected on this occasion for particular illustration; and Mr. Vigors clearly and successfully traced the leading affinities and analogies that connect the groups of this order. Various interesting and beautiful specimens were also exhibited, illustrative of the peculiar structure and character of the gallinaceous birds.

FASCINATION OF SNAKES.-A writer, in a late American paper, gives the following curious additional particulars respecting the fascination exercised by snakes upon birds, and the causes by which that fascination is produced:

"I had often heard stories about the power that snakes have to charm birds and animals, which, to say the least, I always treated with the coldness of scepticism, nor could I believe them until con vinced by ocular demonstration. A case, however, has occurred in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, one mile south of the house of public worship, which has removed my incredulity. As I was walking in the road at noon-day, my attention was drawn to the fence by the fluttering and hopping of a robin-redbreast and a cat-bird, which, upon my approach, flew up, and perched on a sapling two or three rods distant. At this instant a large black snake reared his head from the ground near the fence. I immediately stepped back a little, and sat down upon an eminence; the snake, in a few moments, slunk again to the earth, with a calm, placid appearance; and the birds soon after returned, and lighted upon the ground near the snake, first stretching their wings upon the ground and spreading their tails; they commenced fluttering round the snake, drawing nearer at almost every step, until they stepped near or across the snake, which would often move a little, or throw himself into a different posture, apparently to seize his prey; which movement, I noticed, seemed to frighten the birds, and they would veer off a few feet, but return again as soon as the snake was motionless. All that was wanting for the snake to secure the victims seemed to be, that the birds should pass near his head, which they would probably have soon done, but at this moment a waggon drove up, and stopped. This frightened the snake, and it crawled across the fence into the grass; notwithstanding, the birds flew over the fence into the grass also, and appeared to be bewitched, to flutter around their charmer; and it was not until an attempt was made to kill the snake, that the birds would avail themselves of their wings, and fly into a forest 100 rods distant.

"The movements of the birds, while around the snake, seemed to be voluntary, and without the least constraint; nor did they utter any distressing cries, or appear enraged, as I have often seen them when squirrels, hawks, and mischievous boys attempted to rob their

nests, or catch their young ones; but they seemed to be drawn by some allurement or enticement (and not by any constraining or provoking power); indeed, I thoroughly searched all the fences and trees in the vicinity, to find some nest of young birds, but could find

none.

"What this fascinating power is, whether it be the look or effluvium, or the singing by the vibration of the tail of the snake, or any thing else, I will not attempt to determine; possibly this power máy be owing to different causes in different kinds of snakes. But so far as the black snake is concerned, it seems to be nothing more than an enticement or allurement with which the snake is endowed to procure his food.

"P.S.-Since this case occurred, I have heard several respectable people, who have also seen birds charmed, observe that they have heard music occasioned by the vibrations of the snake's tail, which they, being near, could see. That snakes make music thus, I know and also that birds are extremely captivated with music; but whether this is the only means that the snake uses, or whether all kinds of snakes use it, I am not prepared to say.”

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BOTANY.-An institution has been established in Germany, of which the professed aim is, to employ zealous and properly educated botanists, in Germany and other European nations, to collect rare plants, both in a living and dried state, and seeds. Two or more collectors will be employed annually; but their number must be regulated by the means of the establishment. The members of the society will constitute two classes: 1. Honorary members; that is, such as give it their support by voluntary contributions, arising from a desire of promoting its views. To these will be granted the privilege of selecting from the annual collections, (of which a public account will always be given), rare seeds or living plants for their gardens, or splendid specimens for their herbraria; and they will be allowed to give directions in regard to other objects of natural history which they may desire; but they will not share in the regular annual distributions. 2. There will be ordinary members, who will divide among themselves, according to the amount of their subscriptions, the collections, after the honorary members have received their portions; and the subscribers are particularly requested to specify whether they prefer dried plants, living plants, or seeds. The annual contribution is fifteen florins Rhenish (the louis-d'or being reckoned as eleven florins), something short of thirty shillings English; and the sum must be forwarded at the beginning of each year. Persons subscribing to twice or thrice that amount, will receive plants in proportion, and will have more of the rarest kinds, of which only a few may have been gathered. The directors bind themselves to the continuance of the establishment for

five years to come. For the accommodation of English botanists, communications may be addressed to a gentleman well known to every naturalist," John Hunnemann, Esq., No. 9 Queen Street, Soho ;"

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