COAST. and utilized in various ways; so that the entire | ACTION OF ICE ON THE NORTH AMERICAN animal-blubber, flesh, and bones-will be put to economical purposes. The carcasses of over According to Professor Shaler, due considerathirty whales were heaped up on the island at tion has not been given by American geologists the time of the visit referred to, forming a red to the influence which ice has exerted in shaping hill of very considerable magnitude, visible at a the outline of our coast, since he is convinced great distance. The proprietor stated that the that, among other illustrations of this fact, the factory would not answer its expectations unless eastern portion of Cape Cod has been produced fifty whales could be taken every summer. It by glacial action. Though of recent formation, was thought, however, that there would be com- this feature of the coast is important, in a zooparatively little difficulty in securing this num- logical point of view, as furnishing a well-markber; and in fact, as we learn from later ad- ed boundary line for the fishes, invertebrates, vices, over sixty in all were captured during the and marine plants of the coast. Long Island is likewise, according to Professor Shaler, made up of masses of material laid down in a confused manner under water. These masses came from the north, and are the product of the ice sheets which poured out from the rivers running southerly and emptying into the sound. Chesapeake and Delaware bays also exhibit the action of ice, the material excavated from them having been borne southward so as to form Cape Hatteras, and the bars in the waters of Albemarle Sound. The professor concludes by expressing the opinion that no evidences of glacial action south of Hatteras have been discovered. season. MICROSCOPIC CHARACTER OF IRON AND According to Mr. Schott, the different qualities of iron and steel can readily be distinguished by means of the microscope. Thus the crystals of iron are double pyramids, in which the proportion of the axes to the bases varies with the quality of the iron. The smallness of the crystals, and the height of the pyramids composing each element, are in proportion to the quality and density of the metal, which are seen also in the fineness of the surface. As the proportion of the carbon diminishes in the steel, the pyramids have so much the less height. In pig-iron, and the lower qualities of hard steel, the crystals approach more closely the cubic form. Forged iron has its pyramids flattened and reduced to superposed parallel leaves, whose structure constitutes what is called the nerve of the steel. The best quality of steel has all its crystals disposed in parallel lines, each crystal filling in the interstices between the angles of those adjoining. These crystals have their axes in the direction of the percussion they undergo during the working. Practically, good steel, examined under the microscope, has the appearance of large groups of beautiful crystals, similar to the points of needles, all parallel and disposed in the same direction. DODO PIGEON. A contemporary gives an interesting account of the tooth-billed or dodo pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris), lately sent to London from the Samoan Islands; and we may, perhaps, supplement that account by mentioning the fact that this bird was first collected by the naturalists of the United States exploring expedition under Captain Wilkes, and described by Mr. Titian R. Peale, the veteran zoologist. Two specimens were brought back by Captain Wilkes, one of them now contained in the collections of the National Museum under the charge of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, the other belonging to the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. The species is, as stated in the article referred to, nearly extinct, and will probably be entirely exterminated in a few years, when it will take its place with the great auk, the dodo, and many other species that have disappeared from the surface of the earth within the historical period. The resemblance of the bill of this bird to that of the dodo is quite marked, and by studying its character naturalists were led to refer the giant dodo to the pigeon family, and not to that of the vultures, as had been previously suggested. WEIGHT OF ALLIGATORS. We announced some time ago the desire of Professor Phillips, of Oxford, to obtain the ratio of the weight to the length of living alligators and crocodiles, as stated in Land and Water. This journal has since presented several responses to the query, and from one of them we learn that a North American alligator of eight feet six inches in length weighed one hundred and thirtyfive pounds, while one of two feet three inches weighed only two and a half pounds. THE SPECTROSCOPE FOR TESTING THE Professor Church, of Cirencester, has lately applied the spectroscope to excellent advantage in determining the question of infiltration of sewage into water. In one instance, where several cases of typhoid fever had been developed in a particular neighborhood, which it was suspected had been caused by the use of water contaminated by drainage from a urinal, a few grains of a lithium salt were introduced into the urinal. Two hours after a spectroscopic examination of the well-water referred to showed unmistakably the presence of lithium, while previously no traces of its existence had been found under the same treatment. WESTERN TERTIARY FOSSILS. Professor Meek, in describing recently some species of certain fossils collected by Mr. Clarence King, remarks that the trilobites from Eastern Nevada are decidedly primordial types, and, as far as known to him, the first fossils of that age yet brought in from any locality west of the Black Hills. The collection also establishes the fact that the rich silver mines of the White Pine district occur in Devonian rocks. He also states with regard to the fresh-water tertiary shells collected by Mr. King and others from the interior of the continent that neither the beaks of the bivalves nor the tips of the spire in the univalves are ever in the slightest degree eroded, the most delicate marking of these parts being perfectly preserved, unless broken by some acci- | main unchanged for a long period, thus allowing dent. From this fact Professor Meek infers that a stock of ferment to be continually kept on the waters of the lakes and streams were, during hand. He also remarks that the tissues, by rethe tertiary epoch, more or less alkaline, as is peated application of glycerine, may be exhaustthe case with a large number of those founded of their ferment, and yet be changed but little, there at the present day. if at all, in other respects. GUN-COTTON IN BISULPHIDE OF CARBON. According to Dr. Bleekrode, if gun-cotton be first wet with bisulphide of carbon (a highly inflammable liquid), and an electric spark be passed through it, instead of producing an explosion of the cotton, the bisulphide alone is set fire to, the gun-cotton apparently remaining intact among the burning bisulphide, presenting almost the aspect of a mass of snow slowly melting away. The experiment may be varied by using either benzine or alcohol instead of the bisulphide, and igniting it afterward with any flame. All these liquids yield the same result, and there is no danger in the experiment, even if large quantities are used. This curious phenomenon is explained by Dr. Abel, who says that "these results indicate that if, even for the briefest space of time, the gases resulting from the first action of heat on gun-cotton upon its ignition in open air are impeded from completely enveloping the burning extremity of the gun-cotton twist, their ignition is prevented; and as it is the comparatively high temperature produced by their combustion which effects the rapid and more complete combustion of the gun-cotton, the momentary extinction of the gases, and the continuous abstraction of heat by them as they escape from the point of combustion, render it impossible for the gun-cotton to continue to burn otherwise than in the slow and imperfect manner, undergoing a transformation similar in character to destructive distillation," As a practical application of these facts, it is suggested that if gun-cotton be kept in a flask in a layer of benzine or bisulphide of carbon, the danger of explosion in case of a fire is obviated, since, if the liquid is ignited by any means, the gun-cotton will burn slowly and gradually. When required for use, a brief exposure to the air restores its explosive qualities. REMEDY FOR WHITE ANTS. The ravages of the white ants in tropical countries are familiarly told of in works of travelers, and given as among the most remarkable curiosities of insect life; and much ingenuity has been expended in the attempt to eradicate or destroy them. It is said by a late writer that by scattering common salt around places frequented by them they will soon be made to disappear entirely. IMPROVED PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES. In a late number of Nature we find a concise summary of the most important advances in photographic processes for the last two or three years, in which it is stated that the great point arrived at is in dispensing almost entirely with the silver salts, the action of light upon the bichromates of potash and ammonia being substituted. This is considered a matter of great importance, as replacing a very transitory and uncertain method by one that is permanent, since, as is well known, the silver pictures of a comparatively late date sometimes become almost obliterated. Of the several novel methods referred to the first is the socalled carbon process, as devised especially by Mr. J. W. Swan, and familiar to all photographers. The autotype process of Mr. Johnson is said to be essentially the same in principle. The most satisfactory methods, however, are those in which light is not required at all for the reproduction of successive impressions from the original negative, this being the case in the Albert-type and other methods. The Woodbury process also is especially mentioned as being extremely simple, and at the same time perfect in its work. In this a thin sheet of gelatine is sensitized by impregnation with a bichromate solution and exposed to light under a negative. Subsequent immersion in warm water removes the soluble portion from the surface, and leaves a thin gelatine plate, upon which the image is represented in relief. matrix is then hardened with alum, and placed when dry in a hydraulic press in contact with a plate of type-metal. Under extreme pressure, applied gradually, the type-metal takes the impression of the relief, and thus becomes actually an engraved plate, in which the darkest shadows are represented by the deepest hollows, the half-tones by slight undulations, while in the high lights there is no depression at all. For the purpose of printing copies a little pool of gelatinous ink is poured upon a sheet of white paper, and the metal plate is brought down upon the same with some pressure, all superfluous ink is at once pressed On treating these glycerine extracts, after fil-out, and after a few seconds (to allow the warm tering, with a large excess of alcohol, a precipi-ink to cool) the plate is raised, and a beautifully tate is obtained, which, separated by filtration, and being redissolved in acidulated water, has strong peptic qualities, with very slight proteid reaction. Mr. Foster, in calling attention to this method in Nature, dwells upon the importance of glycerine in this and similar applications in working out the problems of the so-called ferments, as these glycerine extracts seem to re EXTRACTION OF PEPSIN BY GLYCERINE. Among the many applications of glycerine, not the least important is that which has recently been made of it in the extraction of pepsin and other ferments found in animal and vegetable bodies. If the mucous membrane of a pig's stomach be well washed, and, after the removal of the water, be reduced to fine shreds and bruised, and the whole be then covered with pure glycerine, this will be found, after standing twenty-four hours, to have extracted the pepsin in an appreciable quantity so as to readily digest fibrine. The operation may be repeated several times successively with a similar result. This shaded print is seen, in which the shadows and half-tones are formed by layers of ink of different thicknesses. As the matrix can be used in the preparation of several dozen of plates, all of which can be printed simultaneously by having a suitable number of operators, many copies of a given print can be printed daily without involving the use of light in any way. The reprints are so VENTILATING ROOMS. An ingenious and elegant arrangement for ventilating rooms consists in inserting in one of the windows a pane of glass having four round holes cut into it. Upon this pane a second round plate, having also four round holes of the same size, is so attached that it may be easily made to rotate in close contact. To admit fresh air the rotating disk is turned so that both sets of openings coincide; to reduce the amount, or to exclude it, it is only necessary to make a slight turn of the plate. perfect and delicate as to be actually mistaken | transplant no fat, but only the skin, which must sometimes for silver prints, and are at the same be accurately applied to the granulating surtime absolutely permanent. This method is per- face. haps better adapted to the reproduction of photographic prints in large editions than any other that has been devised, and can be applied with equal advantage to all branches of illustration. An establishment for carrying on the Woodbury process has lately been started in Philadelphia, under the direction of Mr. Garbutt, of Chicago, who, it is understood, has purchased the right to use this patent in the United States. The principal objection made to this method is that the prints require to be trimmed and mounted, instead of being made directly upon the plate paper like a lithograph. The Albert process is also being worked in New York under the original patent. The Philadelphia Photographic World for January last contains a portrait of Mr. George W. Childs, printed by the Woodbury process, of which 5000 impressions were made from a single negative in twenty days. PECULIARITIES OF NEW ZEALAND ZOOLOGY. REMEDY FOR CARBOLIC ACID POISONING. Sweet-oil or castor oil, swallowed in large quantity, is recommended as the most efficient antidote to carbolic acid, when taken in a poisonous dose. HEREDITARY DEFORMITIES. Dr. Wetherill furnishes to Nature an interesting contribution on the subject of hereditary deformities. In referring to the former practice of the squaws of the Sioux Indians, in having small disks, from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch in diameter, tattooed upon the prominences of their cheek-bones, he states that, during a visit, some years ago, to the country inhabited by these people, he was informed by a physician of the tribes that sometimes a child was born with these marks; and the statement was confirmed by the Indian agent. We regret that the doctor was unable, as he states, to verify the occurrence by personal observation, as, if true, it would be a Dr. Sclater, the secretary of the Zoological Society of London, in a late paper upon the peculiarities of the vertebrate fauna of New Zealand, remarks that these consist, first, in the absence of all mammals excepting two species of bats; second, the presence of numerous forms of birds not known elsewhere, such as the Apteryx, and others; third, the absence of reptiles, excepting two genera of lizards, and a third form of lizard-like animal, considered by Dr. Gunther to constitute a special order; fourth, the absence of frogs, toads, and salamanders, with the exception of one species of the first-mentioned genus; fifth, a scarcity of fresh-water fishes, which are allied partly to the Australian and partly to ant-fact of extreme interest. arctic American forms; and sixth, the recent presence of a peculiar family (Dinornis) of gigantic birds of the ostrich group, now extinct. PERMANGANATE OF POTASH FOR COLDS IN THE HEAD. NAIL-NIBBLING PROPENSITIES OF THE COCKROACH. Dr. M'Leod, the well-known editor of the Sunday Magazine, in an account of his adventures during a recent trip to India, denies the We find continued mention made in the for-nail-nibbling propensities of the cockroach, poseign journals of the value of permanganate of sibly because he himself had not suffered from potash as a remedy in cases of cold in the head their attacks. His assertion, however, has met attended with severe sneezing. For use in such with a rejoinder from a correspondent of Nacases a solution is prepared of about one and two-ture, who writes that a friend had requested him thirds grains of the permanganate in two fluid ounces of water. Of this solution twenty to sixty drops are to be poured into a tumblerful of water, and a table-spoonful is to be snuffed up the nostrils every two hours; and if there be any soreness in the throat the same liquid is to be used as a gargle. It will, perhaps, be better to apply this solution by means of the fountain syringe, or some other of the methods adopt ed for injecting salt and water, as a cure for catarrh. SKIN-GRAFTING. to state that while passing from Kurachee to Bombay, by sea, he was annoyed one night in his berth by some insect crawling upon his face, and, half asleep, half awake, he put up his hand and sent the insect to the foot of his berth. Shortly afterward he was awakened by a pain at his great toe, and looking at it he discovered that the cockroach had nibbled off all the nail down to the quick. SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. Among the investigations of the past year especially interesting in a scientific point of view Several successful operations of so-called skin- were those upon spontaneous generation, as congrafting have lately been performed in Paris and ducted by Dr. Bastian. It is well known that London, as well as in New York. This consists Professor Huxley, in his address delivered bein transplanting portions of healthy skin from fore the British Association, made special referone part of the body to some other which is in a ence to these inquiries, and came to the concludiseased condition. In one instance fourteen sion that the data upon which Dr. Bastian patches were transferred on the same patient so based his conclusions were incorrect, and that as to produce a very great improvement in her the existence of any thing like spontaneous genpersonal appearance. Care should be taken toeration, if not finally disproved, at least required stronger arguments than had been presented for its acceptance as a law. In a recent number of Nature Dr. Frankland, who has made many experiments for Dr. Bastian, announced that he had lately re-examined the entire subject with more critical precautions than had hitherto been taken, and that he found nothing whatever to show the occurrence of spontaneous generation. It is true that various movements of atoms were observed, as stated by Dr. Bastian, but this movement was found to be a mere Brownian motion, many of the particles being minute splinters of glass, and without the slightest evidence of life in any of them. This observation of Dr. Frankland would seem to settle the question for the present, and render it necessary for the advocates of spontaneous generation to bring forward further arguments, although Dr. Bastian does not appear at all satisfied with the reasoning of Dr. Frankland, to judge from the rejoinder he has published in Nature for January 26. THE FOOD OF THE SEA HERRING. Of the various fishes that inhabit the ocean none have, perhaps, more direct bearing upon the prosperity of the maritime people of the North than the sea herring, the shores of both hemispheres being visited regularly by countless myriads, that furnish an inexhaustible source of food. It is, therefore, not to be wondered at that the attention of fishermen, as well as of statesmen and political economists, has been directed to the different questions connected with the migration and preservation of these fish, and that much research should have been expended in determining the various points connected with their history. Until quite recently, however, one important element of their biography has been unsolved; namely, the precise nature of the food upon which they subsist, at least during the time when they come into the vicinity of the shore, although their varying degree of excellence throughout the year is believed to depend largely upon what they find to eat in the different months. Intimately connected with this same subject of the food of the herring is the fact that at times it is found almost impossible to preserve the fish after being caught, since, notwithstanding the prompt use of salt, decomposition ensues, and spoils the entire catch. Indeed, at certain seasons of the year, it is said that herring can not be preserved at all, except by taking the precaution of retaining them alive in the net for a period of from three to ten days. 66 A very important communication on the food of the herring has lately been published by a Danish author, Mr. Axel Boeck, from which we learn that the herring food or 'meat," consisting almost entirely of minute invertebrate animals, is divided by the Northern fishermen into three classes, the "red," the "yellow," and the "black," the names being derived from the color of this food when living, or else from its appearance when in the stomach of the fish. summer, however, it appears in such immense abundance that the sea is colored red by it. When floating in this way upon the surface it attracts innumerable schools of mackerel, as well as of herring, which are then much less shy than usual, and the scene is one of impressive activity, owing to the number of boats and nets employed in fishing. On a careful examination this substance was found to consist almost entirely of small copepod crustaceans, the largest scarcely the thirtieth of an inch in length, and barely distinguishable by the naked eye. They were mostly species of Calanus, Eikocalanus, Centropages, and Anomalocera. It can hardly be believed that such minute and almost microscopic animals can be of so much importance to the welfare of a nation; but in reality the mackerel and the autumnal herring owe their fatness to them, the microscope revealing through their thin shells the fat, lying in distinct strips between the muscles and intestines. These same crustaceans occur also off Spitzbergen in such abundance as to furnish food to innumerable water-fowl, and even the whales feed upon them to a great extent. If, now, the herring has taken in a large quantity of this red food, and is then captured and killed without its having been fully digested, the animal matter in the stomach of the fish begins to spoil before it can be reached by the salt, and the stomach thus becomes putrid, as well as the large blood-vessel which lies under the back, the coloring matter imparting a reddish tinge to the flesh along the backbone. For this reason it is required by law to keep herring three days in the nets in water, that all the contents of the stomach may be completely digested, while the fish is prevented from taking in a fresh supply. Sometimes, however, the winds drift this herring food into the nets, and furnish to the herring an opportunity which they eagerly embrace, rendering them again liable to the difficulty just mentioned. When a herring on being squeezed discharges a yellow pulp, this is known as "yellow meat," or gulaat. This is not so abundant as the other, but appears, like the "red meat," to be composed in part of transparent copepods, together with the larvae of the tape-worms and other annelids, which occur on the Norwegian coast in immense numbers. It is stated that the surface of the sea is sometimes seen to be completely covered with little worms of about the twentyfourth of an inch in length, swimming actively about by means of certain hairs which encircle their bodies like a girdle. These animals were sufficiently developed to permit their identification as the young of Leucodore ciliata. Herring and mackerel feed largely upon these animals, so that the "yellow meat" consists in greater part of the fine hairs which cover the exterior of the larvæ in question. This kind of food is considered to interfere less with the proper curing of the herring, as it is much more quickly digested. The most objectionable kind of herring food, however, is that which is known as the black meat," or svartaat, sometimes called krutaat, and occurring on the surface of the sea in the form of little granules moving freely about, but which sink on being touched. This is said to be most abundant in rainy seasons, when there is a short interval of fine and clear weather. Herring that have fed on this substance are considered to be entirely unfit for salting, even when kept in the nets for a much longer time than that already mentioned. The salted fish has an extremely disagreeable smell, even after the stomach, with its contents, has been removed. A microscopic examination of this matter showed that it consists entirely of the larval young of small shell-fish found among the seaweed, and belonging to the genus Rissoa. These swim by means of two flippers covered with hairs, which are protruded from a transparent shell having from three to seven turns, or windings. They are about one-tenth of an inch in length, and on being touched draw within the shell and sink to the bottom. When full grown these mollusks lose their flippers, and creep about the seaweed by means of a large foot. Thus it is easy to understand why this "black meat" is more dangerous than the other kinds. While the shells of the animals forming the "red meat" are quite thin and the bodies of the "yellow meat" are very soft, those of the "black meat," on the contrary, being inclosed in hard shells, are not so easily reached by the digestive fluid; so that while the exterior parts, namely, the swimming flippers, are quickly digested, the rest of the body within the shell becomes decomposed. On this account the flesh of the herring, after feeding upon these mollusks, soon becomes tainted by their decomposition, and gives out a disagreeable smell, notwithstanding the application of salt. It may be asked why the summer and autumnal herring feed upon this food, and not the spring herring nor those taken in the open sea, both the latter being capable of preservation without any detention in the nets. The reason of this seems to be that the spring and open-sea herring are captured when under the stimulus of the spawning season, and in the search for a suitable place for the development of their young. At this time the question of food is reduced to zero, or near it, and a careful examination of the stomachs of herring taken under such circumstances shows comparatively little animal matter. Summer and autumnal herring, on the other hand, are specially engaged in seeking for food and bringing up their flesh, and that at a time when the larvæ of the lower animals are found swimming freely about in large quantity upon the surface of the sea. PARTHENOGENESIS IN DIPTERA. | and saw-dust made from very soft wood (rather HUGE FOSSIL ALGÆ. It is stated that certain specimens of supposed fossil wood, considered by Professor Dawson, of Montreal, as the oldest known instance of the occurrence of the conifera, have proved to be really stems of huge alga, vastly exceeding in size the ordinary algae of the present day. It is said, however, that there are forms in the antarctic seas that exhibit the nearest approach to them, some of these being twenty feet high and as thick as a man's thigh. These have not unfrequently been collected by mariners in those seas as fuel, under the belief that they were drift-wood. PREVENTION OF SEA-SICKNESS. It is said that the nausea and vomiting produced by swinging and sea-sickness can be resisted by applying to the epigastrium a layer of wadding dipped in collodion. This, we are informed, should extend over the xiphoid cartilage to the umbilicus, and be left until it falls off. If the adhesion be imperfect, the application should be renewed. According to the discoverer, the action of the peripheral nerves is interrupted by this application, just as the pain of calculi in the bile passages or ureters is sometimes mitigated by the application of castor-oil and collodion. PREHISTORIC ENGRAVINGS ON BONE. Many of our readers are familiar with the magnificent work of Messrs. Lartét and Christy, entitled "Reliquiæ Aquitaniæ,” principally embracing illustrations and descriptions of the remarkable relics of prehistoric times found in the caverns of Aquitaine and other parts of France. It is among these remains, for instance, that A curious instance of parthenogenesis in Chiro-occur the curious engravings, by men of the nomus, a genus of diptera, is mentioned in the reindeer period, of various animals with which memoirs of the Academy of Sciences of St. they were contemporaneous, the most remarkable Petersburg. In spring the larvæ, produced in being one of what is believed to be intended to the ordinary way from eggs, grow rapidly, and represent the hairy mammoth of that period. after the third change of skin attain their full Quite recently other remains of a similar charsize, showing distinct traces of the pupa within acter have been brought to light from the same them. After the pupa stage has been perfected locality, one of the most noticeable being an enthe eggs are produced direct from it. In the graving on a reindeer's horn, representing a male autumn the course of development during the bison pursued by a naked man, the latter grasppreparatory changes is precisely the same. The ing the animal by the tail with one hand, and pupa, however, then changes into the perfect in- with the other plunging a lance into its body. sect, which deposits eggs, probably after copu- The drawing of the man is said to be the best lation, in the usual manner. illustration of the “humanity” of the period that has hitherto been discovered. The absence of clothing is believed to prove that he habitually went naked. The head is brachycephalic, with hair standing stiffly on the cranium, and there is a short, pointed beard on the chin. MORTAR FOR USE IN DAMP PLACES. It is said that a mortar can be prepared, admirably adapted for plastering walls and roofs in moist localities, by mixing freshly slaked lime |