of the globe, which has rendered the southern part of Iceland more
accessible to the dreadful cold which is too often produced by those
masses of floating ice which are intercepted and detained by its
northern coasts.--Ibid.

_Why do mountains influence climates?_

Because, although they cannot prevent the general motions of the
atmosphere from taking place, they may, by stopping them in part,
render particular winds more or less frequent throughout a certain
extent of country. Maltebrun observes, there cannot be a doubt that
the Alps contribute in securing to Italy its delightful and happy
climate, its perpetual spring, and its double harvests.

* * * * *



THE NATURALIST.


THE TOAD FISH.


[We quote these interesting details from a paper on the Sargasso
Weed, or gulf weed, with which a certain part of the Atlantic
Ocean is generally covered, and amongst which Toad Fish are
found. The reason of the weed accumulating has given rise to much
difference of opinion, which is the main subject of the above
communication, by Mr. Benet, of Bulstrode-street, to the _Naval