142 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [May 



Bacteria in Arctic Regions. — Dr. Levin (Ann. Inst. 

 Past. 13 : 558) who has made an investigation of bacteria 

 in the arctic circle finds only a small number of organ- 

 isms present in water, ice and snow. Deep sea soundings 

 show a greater number than on the surface. At to intest- 

 inal bacteria of white bear, seal, shark, eider duck and 

 other animals, it was found that in most cases they were 

 sterile. 



Prolonged Vitality of Organisms in 70 Per Cent 

 Alcohol. — The Velays state that after three years they 

 could still obtain cultures of micro-organisms in rum 

 which contained 70 per cent of alcohol (Nature 61 : 468). 



Cucurbitaria Aqu^eductum. — Zacharias describes a 

 musk fungus occurring in plankton of seas. Thus far no 

 fungus has been found in the plankton. That the odor is 

 of musk is also an interesting fact. (Biolog. Centralbl. 

 1899:285.) 



Variability of Bacteria. — Dr. Conn before the re- 

 cent meeting of the Society of American bacteriologists 

 exhibited cultures of a variable Micrococcus which he had 

 isolated from milk. Its color ranged from pure white to 

 a deep orange. It also varied greatly from its power of 

 rapid liquefaction to a form without liquefaction. These 

 forms were produced replaiting many times and the nse- 

 feeting. 



Parasitism in Bacteria. — According to Theobald 

 Smith (Science N. S. 11 :455) the evolution of parasitic 

 from saprophytic bacteria is very slow and gradual. Spe- 

 cial advantages especially environment may offer more 

 frequent passages through susceptible species and may 

 give certain saprophytes an impulse towards parasitism. 

 Such species possess at the outset certain characteristics 

 as the production of toxines. 



Bacillus Coli and B. Cloaca. — Dr. Jordan (Science 

 N. S. 11 :458) calls attention to the fact that a variety of 



