G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 269 



such a solution. If the distilled water be previously boiled, 

 no such development ensues. These results show clearly that 

 there is no developmental connection between microzymes 

 and torula cells, and that their apparent association is one of 

 mere juxtaposition. 



There is also in this paper an account of a series of experi- 

 ments with sealed tubes containing organic and other solu- 

 tions, which were, as in Dr. Bastian's well-known experiments, 

 submitted to a high temperature, special experiments being 

 also made with tubes in which more or less perfect vacuum 

 was produced; Dr. Bastian, as it will be remembered, believ- 

 ing he had found that low organisms developed themselves 

 more rapidly in fluids existing in an atmosphere of low ten- 

 sion. Dr. Sanderson's conclusions are entirely at variance 

 with those of Dr. Bastian. In no case where proper precau- 

 tions were taken to exclude and destroy germs did any devel- 

 opment of life whatever take place. 13 A, November 1, 1870, 

 500. 



MICROSCOPIC FORMS IX THE ATMOSPHERE. 



According to a late communication by Ehrenberg to the 

 Academy of Sciences of Berlin, he has succeeded in determin- 

 ing the existence of five hundred and forty-eight species of 

 organic forms, absolutely invisible to the naked eye, and held 

 in suspension in the atmosphere. 15 A, October 21,1871, 531. 



LIVING IXSECTS IN SALT WATER. 



Dr. Packard has lately announced the discovery, by Pro- 

 fessor Verrill, of a dipterous larva of the genus Chironomits, 

 at a depth of one hundred and twenty feet, in the vicinity 

 of Eastport, Maine. He also describes a mite, or Acarics, as 

 occurring at a similar depth. He has not yet ascertained 

 whether, like other species of the genus, the latter lives, in any 

 of its stages, in the gills of the lamellibranchiate mollusca. 



WHITE ANTS IX ST. HELEXA. 



A recent communication to the State Department from the 

 United States Consul at St. Helena states the fact that the 

 white ants, which have effected a lodgment in the island, are 

 rapidly destroying every thing upon it. No wood but teak, 

 and sometimes not even that, escapes their fangs, and num- 



