248 NATURAL SCIENGE: APRIL, 
chloroform materially diminishes the transpiration ; fifteen minutes 
with amyl nitrite sufficed to kill the greater part of a plant, while it 
could withstand a much longer exposure to the other vapours. Ether 
and amyl nitrite reduced the transpiration both in light and dark, and 
the different colours of the spectrum had no effect on the influence of 
ether vapour. Red, yellow, and green lights were obtained by use of 
bell-jars, the hollow walls of which were filled with fuchsine, ‘‘ diamond 
dye” yellow, or a mixture of diamond dye yellow and blue respec- 
tively, the conditions of temperature and moisture being constant. 
The average results of a series of experiments under otherwise normal 
conditions, showed a gradual slowing of the rate of transpiration from 
diffused white light, through yellow, red, and green, to darkness. 
A set of experiments with the potato and a fuchsia showed that 
moisture did not affect the influence of ether and amyl nitrite; more- 
over, at no time, though the atmosphere was practically saturated, did 
the transpiration approach zero. Kohl,on the contrary, claims that in 
the saturated atmosphere it is zero. 
Finally, to show the cause of Jumelle’s apparently erroneous 
conclusions, Schneider made a series of experiments with leaflets of 
the potato. He found that, when exposed to ether for three hours 
or less, either in light or darkness, transpiration, estimated by loss 
of weight, was retarded, but with an exposure of 34 or 6 hours the 
loss of weight increased in both cases. Owing to the long exposures, 
the ether had stopped the protoplasmic activity, and hence increased 
evaporation in both cases, but most in the dark, because in the 
dark the leaflets were killed earlier. 
THe LaNpsLip AT SANDGATE. 
SANDGATE, on the Kentish coast, was a good deal damaged by 
landslips on March 4 and 5, though the accounts of the mischief done 
have been considerably exaggerated. We are informed by Mr. 
Topley, who is intimately acquainted with the geology of the district, 
that the whole town is built on an old landslip, and that the western 
part of this disturbed mass has slipped again, owing principally to 
the exceptionally heavy rainfall experienced during the past winter. 
Mr. Topley will give an account of the landslip, and will exhibit 
photographs, at the meeting of the Geologists’ Association, to be held 
at University College, on April 7. 
TARGET PRACTICE AND FISHERIES. 
From the Report of the Target Practice (Seawards) Committee, 
just issued, we observe that some interesting evidence was given 
by Mr. Calderwood, of the Plymouth Marine Biological Station, as 
to the position of favourite fishing grounds on the South Coast. 
The Committee say: ‘‘ The evidence of Mr. Calderwood ... . satis- 
