ZOOLOGY. 369 



have of living in company with other animals. While recently in Florida, 

 he had found two large rattlesnakes and an opossum living in the same nest 

 Avith the wood rat. 



Life at Great Depths in tJie Ocean. Capt. McClintock, in a recent survey 

 of a submarine telegraph route between the Faroe Island? and Greenland, 

 states, in his report, that during their soundings they brought up from the 

 depth of 1,260 fathoms (7,500 feet) a living star-fish, which had become 

 entangled with the lower portions of the line, which had laid upon the 

 bottom. This fact is particularly interesting as bearing upon the question of 

 the existence of animal life at great depths in the ocean. 



Application of Sugar when Lime has entered the Eye. The Indicateur de 

 Mayence, in relation to cases of workmen becoming blinded by the action of 

 lime which has entered the eye, recommends, as a Avell-approved application 

 in the case of such accidents, a strong solution of sugar, which is to be 

 inserted drop by drop under the eyelids. This application can usually be 

 immediately obtained, and completely prevents the caustic action of the 

 lime. Journal de Chimie Med. 



On the Capacity of the Lungs. Dr. Hutchinson, of England, in a recently 

 published Avork on the vocal organs, asserts that the capacity of the lungs 

 bears a uniform relation to the height of the individual, this conclusion being 

 based upon experiments made upon 1920 male subjects. The same authority 

 asserts that the capacity of the lungs increases eight cubic inches for every 

 inch above five feet. From fifteen to thirty-five the vital capacity increases 

 with the bodily development, and diminishes from thirty-five to sixty-five, at 

 the rate of about one cubic inch per annum. 



ON THE EFFECTS OF ARSENIC ON LARVJE. 



At a recent meeting of the Boston Society of Natural History, Mr. F. H. 

 Storer read the following paper on the poAver possessed by the larvae of 

 various common flies of consuming, without apparent injury to themselves, 

 the flesh of animals Avhieh have died from the effects of arsenic: 



Larvae Avere first observed upon the liver of a subject in Avhose stomach he 

 had previously detected the presence of arsenic; this liver was found on 

 analysis to be saturated Avith arsenic. In order to determine if the larvae 

 were actually nourished by such poisonous flesh, the bodies of several rats 

 killed by arsenious acid were exposed to the flies; in forty-eight hours they 

 Avere completely fly-bloAvn, and in a week all the flesh had been consumed 

 by the larvae; after this they changed into chrysalids. These chrysalids on 

 analysis yielded metallic arsenic. It might be supposed that the arsenic 

 thus obtained had been attracted mechanically to the external surface of 

 the larvae, and had not been swallowed, especially as the denuded bones 

 were covered Avith a Avhite powder resembling arsenic; howeA r er this may 

 be, the larvae must either instinctiA-ely reject the poison, or it is excreted by 

 them after ingestion. A number of these chrysalids Avere kept, in order to 

 ascertain if they Avould undergo metamorphosis, and, if so, whether the 

 perfect insects Avould be healthy and vigorous. Some Avere kept two months, 

 at the end of which time they Avere accidentally lost, undergoing no change, 

 remaining however in a perfect state of preservation and full of pulp; a 

 number of small flies, apparently not ichneumons, Avhieh gained access to 

 them, died almost immediately, as was. supposed from having fed upon 

 them; the empty shells oi' other chrysalids found about the room showed 



