The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-31 00:00:00

HAY

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 12s ; clover,
£5 5s to £6 12s 6d ; and straw, £1 18s to £2 5s per load.
Trade heavy.

CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 12s 04; clover,
£5 5s to £6 12s Od ; and straw, £2 Os to £2 5s per load.
Demand inactive.

WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 12s ; clover,
£5 5s to £6 15s Od ; and straw, £1 18s to £2 5s per load
Trade slow.

TENCH FISHING IN THE LEA..—On Wednesday
last, March 28, Mr. J. Jackson, while angling in Mr
Binningfield's fishery, at Broxbourne, caught six tench,
which weighed altogether 141 b.

CURIOUS THEORY OF THE SKELETON AND OF THE
SKULL.—A correspondent of the Reader, writing from
Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge, remarks that until the
laws of the origin and growths of separate and simple
bones are known, it is premature to consider the theory of
compound bones like the vertebrae. And until the laws
of the development of the parts of vertebrae are deter-
mined, it is not possible to compare vertebrae and the
skull with accuracy. From considerations in mecha-
nics, in pathology, and in comparative anatomy, I con-
clude that a centre of growth appears, developes, and
ossifies, under the influence of pressure and tension,
and that this bone may, and does, under the influ-
ence of pressure and tension, develope upon itself,
wherever the forces act with sufficient power, other
bones which are called epiphyses- which epiphyses
may and do, under the influence of the requisite pressure
and tension, assume the characters of original centres of
growth, and also develope upon themselves other_epiphyses
in any direction. In discussing these principles, reasons
may be given why the bone usually called tarsometa-
tarsus in birds might only be the tarsus. A vertebra is
considered to be a centre of growth, which usually deve-
lopes three pairs of epiphyses, any or all of which may bo
wanting. First, there is a pair of epiphyses at the anterior
and posterior ends of the centrum, being the epiphyses usu-
ally so called. Secondly, there is on the dorsal part of the
centrum a pair of neural-epiphyses which enclose the neural
canal ; and lastly, there is on the ventral part of the
centrum a pair of llama' epiphyses which help to enclose
the viscera. I find the head divided into three parts : (1)
a brain cavity, (2) a breathing cavity, and (3) a feeding
cavity. The brain cavity I regard as a modified vertebra,
in which the parietal segment developes the occipital seg-
ment as its posterior epiphyses and the frontal segment for
its anterior epiphyses. The lower jaw, helping to form the
prehensible end of the digestive canal, I regard as the rib
of the brain-cavity vertebra. Then as the brain cavity is
seen to be the anterior termination of the neural canal, so
the breathing cavity of the skull is seen to be the anterior
termination of the breathing canal. And just as the brain
region is found to be a modifial vertebra, so the breath-
ing circle of bones is interpreted to bo the modified end
of the trachea. Thus the skull is developed and modified
from the plan of a segment of the body, and not from the
neural skeleton only. .

- THE CIGAR Suip.—The nautical problem in-
volved in the launching of Mr. Winans' celebrated
cigar steamer has been at least partially solved. On
Thursday the ship got fairly out into the Channel, and
went round the coast as far as Brighton, where Mr. Wi-
nans resides. About half-past twelve she came up from
the eastward, going very fast. Sho came within a quarter
of a mile of the shore, her strange and ugly appearance
exciting the greatest interest among the crowds who, as
it happened, in consequence of the fine weather, were just
then on the sea-front. When a short distance to the west of
Brighton she turned, and came back again at slow speed
past the town. The sea was calm, but there was a slight
swell on, to which the queer craft moved lightly and easily.
She loft scarcely any rough water behind her, and seemed
to cut cleanly through the tide. After repassing the town
she put on eteam again to the eastward,