Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society.., Volume 1Bell & Bradfute, W. Creech, P. Hill, Manners & Miller, A. Constable & Company, W. Blackwood, and J. Ballantyne & Company; and for, 1811 - Science |
Common terms and phrases
Aberlady Bay affixæ anal fin animal Antheræ apice appears beds Ben-Nevis Blaes body calm carbon caudal fin Cepède CHAR clay clay-slate claystone coal coast Collington Collington Woods colour common composed contains Corolla Corona staminea cotemporaneous veins cubic Ditto dorsal fin Dunbar E. J. Maughan examined feet felspar fish Folia opposita foliis Folliculi formation Fresh breezes Fresh gales Frith genus geognostic gneiss granite greenstone Grey HABITUS Hollandia hornblende inches inclining India Orientalis interpetiolares King's Park laciniis Leith Shore length Light airs Linn Linnæus mass Massa pollinis membranâ terminatæ mica mica-slate mountain Narwal nearly Neill Nimbus Noon North observed occur PATRIA Pennant Pentland Hills plants porphyritic quartz rare remarkable rock Sands sandstone Scotland Shell univalve side sienite Slate-clay slaty snow species specific gravity specimen stone Strong gales Strontian substance summit tail thick tion topaz trachea vertebræ volubilis Water of Leith whale Zetland
Popular passages
Page 585 - She is then dangerous to approach ; but affords frequent opportunities for attack. She loses all regard for her own safety, in anxiety for the preservation of her young — dashes through the midst of her enemies — despises the danger that threatens her — and even voluntarily remains with her offspring, after various attacks on herself from the harpoons of the fishers.
Page 547 - Yarrell remarks, appeared as though dead or dying, and floating along on the side, presenting the broad surface of the body to view. ' Dr. Neill says, of one that was brought to him, the fishermen informed him that, when they observed it, it was swimming along sideways, with its back fin frequently above water. It seemed to be a stupid, dull fish: it made little or no attempt to escape, but allowed one of the sailors to put his hands under it and lift it fairly into the boat. The sun-fish has been...
Page 261 - ... are never taken under cover in the winter time ; nor in case of snow, is there any food provided for them. On this latter account, they suffer greatly, having little else to feed upon, for weeks in succession, but the sea- weed growing on the shores, or what has been drifted on the beach by the surf. It is curious to observe with what precision they leave the hills, and betake themselves to the sea-side, at the moment the tide of ebb commences. This I can state to be an absolute fact, although...
Page 177 - Gannet can readily disgorge tho contents of its stomach (for it hasno craw), to satisfy its young. By comparative anatomy, it has been clearly demonstrated, that birds in general are provided with air-vessels in different parts of the body, and that many of their bones are not destitute of this contrivance, admirably fitted for increasing their levity, and...
Page 444 - I am told, were so much terrified at its appearance, that they, in a body, fled from it to the nearest creek for safety. On the passage from Rum to Canna, the crew of one boat saw it coming towards them with the wind, and its head above water.
Page 443 - Its head was somewhat broad, and of form somewhat oval ; its neck somewhat smaller ; its shoulders, if I can so term them, considerably broader, and thence it tapered towards the tail, which last it kept pretty low in the water, so that a view of it could not be taken so distinctly as I wished. It had no fins that I could perceive, and seemed to me to move progressively by undulation up and down.
Page 443 - When nearly in a line betwixt it and the shore, the monster, directing its head, which still continued above water, towards us, plunged violently under water. Certain that he was in chase of us, we plied hard to get ashore. Just as we...
Page 443 - Then I saw it elevated considerably above the level of the sea, and, after a slow movement, distinctly perceived one of its eyes. Alarmed at the unusual appearance and magnitude of the animal, I steered so as to be at no great distance from the shore.
Page 629 - SUPPLEMENT to a Memoir concerning the Fascinating Faculty which has been ascribed to the Rattle-snake, and other American Serpents.
Page 583 - The annexed table shows the quantity of oil a whale of each size of bone will produce at a medium. The blubber of a sucker, when very young, frequently contains little or no oil, but only a kind of milky fluid ; in which case, when the animal is deprived of life, the body sinks to the bottom, as also does the blubber when separated from it ; while the body and blubber of larger individuals always swim. Though the preceding statement be exceedingly near the truth, yet exceptions occur ; for I have...