296 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



naling, and the interval was noted by the ordinary methods 

 of the chronograph. The reaction time ranged between 

 thirteen and thirty-six hundredths of a second, and seems in- 

 dependent of age, being shortest in those who have the habit 

 of concentration. The tables also show it to have been 

 shortest when the stimulation was applied to the eye by 

 means of an electric shock ; and then follow, in order, an 

 electric shock given to the finger of the left hand, a sudden 

 sound, an electric shock to the forehead, a shock to the right- 

 hand finger, the sight of an electric spark, and, lastly, a shock 

 communicated to the toes of the left foot. 12 A, IX., 115. 



THE SEA-SERPENT ON THE SCOTCH COAST. 



The latest sea-serpent story is that of Mr. James M. Jouass, 

 as communicated to Mr. Francis Francis, the well-known tish- 

 culturist, and published in the London Field for the 15th of 

 November. This gentleman is vouched for by Mr. Francis 

 as being a man of science, and not easily duped. The first 

 appearance of the animal was about the middle of September, 

 near Lothbeg, in Scotland, when it was seen by two ladies. 

 The next morning an animal about forty or fifty feet long 

 was seen by Dr. Soutar rushing along near the shore, and 

 occasionally raising its head to a height of about four feet 

 above the water. The next day at noon, on a calm sea, Mr. 

 Jouass saw, through a glass, about half a mile out, a floating 

 object which was certainly part of some sort of beast, dead 

 or basking. It drifted along with the tide, but at no time 

 did it raise itself higher than when first seen. The color 

 was brown and light yellow, the apparent size about eight 

 or ten feet. The cut accompanying the communication in 

 The Field shows a not very distant resemblance to some of 

 the sketches heretofore made of the so-called sea-serpent. 

 19 A, November 15, 1873, 511. 



A NEW BONE CAVE IN SWITZERLAND. 



In the early part of the year 1874, in the canton of SchafF- 

 hausen, some children, when on a botanical excursion, made 

 the interesting discovery of a bone cave near Thaingen, full 

 of bones and flint implements, which were subjected to the 

 criticism of Dr. Keller. Among these were numerous bones 

 bearing drawings executed with a sharp flint, one of which 



