Vol. XXV. No. 8.] 
POPTJLAE SCIENCE NEWS. 
115 
ments on the effects of oil-hardening and anneal- 
ing. A nine-inch plate of steel was cut into two 
plates, each four feet square. One piece was left 
untreated and the other was oil-hardened and an- 
nealed, 'i'hey were fired at by the six-inch gun 
with Firth steel projectiles weighing 100 pounds. 
The striking energy of the blow upon the un- 
treated plate was 2,389-foot tons, and the energy 
Of the blow upon that which had been treated was 
2,378.5-foot tons. It is reported that in the latter 
case the projectile made an indentation of ten and 
a half inches, so that light was just visible through 
the center of the bulge at the back of the plate. 
The projectile rebounded, broken into three pieces. 
The plate was cracked through, but was whole, 
«nd no material was splintered out either at its 
front or back. In the case of the untreated plate, 
the shot passed through, and the splintering of 
the steel aroimd the hole in front of the plate 
spread over a space of fifteen inches across. The 
gplintering around the hole at the back of the 
plate covered a space of thirty-one inches across. 
The plate did not remain whole, but went into six 
f pieces. 
'■ +♦» 
SCIEXTIFIC BREVITIES. 
Large Rubies. — Three rubies of unusual size 
were sold at auction in London recently. They 
were the property of the Burmah Ruby Mine 
Company, Limited. The first, weighing 1,185 
carets, irregular in form and deep red in color, 
gold for £400. The second, yellowish red in 
color, weighed 302 carets and sold for £65. The 
third weighed 281 carets, was dull red in color, 
and brought £33 12s. 
Depth of Watkk in the Indian Ocean.— An 
area having depths of 3,000 fathoms and more 
exists ott' tlie northwest coast of Australia. In 
dition to earlier observations between meridians 
100° and 100° E., and parallels of 18° and 25° 
, new results were obtained in 1888 by the East- 
ern Telegraph Co.'s steamship "Recorder," under 
f'apt. C. (). Madge. The depths found were from 
:!,015 to 3,393 fathoms, between the latitudes 13° 
40' and 11° 22', and the meridians 118° 42' and 
110°. 
New Markings on Saturn.— >L-. A. Stanley 
Williams, of Burgess Hill, Sussex, has discovered 
tliree delicate but distinct markings in the equato- 
rial region of Saturn. The first and third of these 
are round bright spots, somewhat brighter than 
tlie white equatorial zone in wliich they occur. 
The second is a smaller dark marking on the equa- 
torial edge of the shaded belt which forms the 
southern boundar)'^ of the wliite zone. Mr. Wil- 
liams has obtained abundant in-oot of the reality 
of these markings, but points out that it requires 
patience and practice to see them readily. 
Woods That Sink in Water.— There are 413 
icies of trees found within the limits of the 
ited States and territories, sixteen of which, 
en perfectly seasoned, will sink in water. The 
aviest of these is the black ironwood (Condalia 
'errca), found only in Southern Florida, which is 
ore than 30 per cent, heavier than water. Of 
other fifteen, the best known are the lignum 
ttB {Guaiacum sanctum) and the mangrove {Hhi- 
fophora maiujle). Texas and New' Mexico lands, 
1 of queer, creeping, crawling, walking, and 
nimate things, are the homes' of a species of 
{Quercus grisea), which is about one and one- 
'Urth times heavier than water, and which, when 
en, will sink almost as quickly as a bar of iron, 
grows only in mountain regions, and has been 
lund westward as far as the Colorado desert, 
'here it grows at an elevation of 10,000 feet. 
©he ©at -©©or ia^orld. 
Edited by HARLAN H. BALLARD, 
President of the Agassiz Association. 
[P. O. Address, Pittsfield* Mass.] 
EX UNO DISCE OMNES. 
The old Latin proverb that from the study of 
one typical specimen much may be learned of the 
entire group to which that specimen belongs, is 
true. It would be a mistake, however, to suppose 
that from a study of any one Chapter of the Agas- 
siz Association a correct understanding of all 
others can be obtained, because the absolute free- 
dom granted by our constitution to each Chapter 
— in other words, the "local option" given to all 
our l)ranches — has resulted in an iudividuality, 
and a variety both of organization and methods 
of work, which constitutes one of the greatest 
charms of our society. In our case, therefore, 
the old rule fails, and it is only from a knowledge 
of the history of each Chapter that an under- 
standing of the whole Association can be had. It 
is with peculiar pleasure, then, that we present 
the following record of one of our most faithful 
(Chapters — not as a typical specimen of our local 
societies, but as an illustration of one of the many 
and exceedingly difterent ways in which the spirit 
of our Association works itself out in original and 
practical study and work. ITie history of this 
"Cuvier Society" is full of interest and rich in 
helpful suggestion, and was printed by the Chap- 
ter on March 5, 1891 — the date of its tenth anni- 
versary. It seems best to publish it without 
alteration, as the gradual change from the some- 
what inexact and enthusiastic language of boy- 
hood used in drafting its original constitution and 
by-laws, to the later dignified and accurate style 
of expression, is one of its most interesting feat- 
ures. 
«♦> 
CUVIER NATURAL HISTORV SOCIETY. 
This being the tenth anniversary of the Cuvier 
Natural History Society, it has been deemed advis- 
able to publish a brief outline of the history of 
the Society, stating the plan of work and showing 
what has been done in this time. 
The Society was formed in Salem, Mass., Mar. 5, 
1881, under the name of the Nature Club, by three 
boys about twelve years of age, who were inter- 
rested in Natural History, to aid one another in 
forming collections. New members were shortly 
after admitted, and, although a few withdrew, the 
number has gradually increased, until at the pres- 
ent time the membership numbers nine. 
The charter members of the Society were Max- 
well A. Kilvert, Oliver Tliayer, 2d, and S. Herrick 
Cruikshank. George A. Webb was admitted on 
Mar. 11, 1881, and Louis F. Gavet on Mar. 18. To 
become a member one had satisfactorily to answer 
the following questions: 1. What is the object 
of the Nature Club? 2. Do you agree to keep the 
rules of the Club? 3. Do you agree to the quali- 
fications for membership which are stated in the 
rules of the Club ? 4. Do you think you can meet 
those qualifications? 5. Do you think that you 
will be afraid to go on such expeditions as the 
Club may undertake? Also to sign the following 
Clincher: "I promise to enter the Nature Club 
under the rules now in force ; to abide by these 
and all other rules of the Club ; not to tell of the 
doings of the Club, if so doing would hurt the 
Club, its members, or its objects, or if the mem- 
bers do not wish the doings told ; and to help the 
Club in the attainments of its aims." 
When the Club was formed but little attention 
was given to meetings, those that were held being 
solely for business, the most of our gatherings 
taking the shape of "Expeditions," so called, in 
search of specimens. But to show the object of 
the Club and also to give an idea of what restric- 
tions we were under, the following set of rules, 
adopted at the first meeting, is here introduced : 
CLUB RULES. 
1. ITie object of this Club is to study Natural 
History, and to apply it ; to study Botany, Con- 
chology, Mineralogy, and Antiquities, and apply 
all the sciences ; also to make collections. 
2. The members will be expected to help one 
another in collecting and hunting after specimens, 
and also they will be expected to exchange If they 
have duplicates. They will be expected to help 
one another in all ways. 
3. Members are not always bound to exchange, 
but they will be expected to favor one another 
more than outsiders. 
4. When persons wish to join this Club they 
will be required : to fire with some accuracy with 
a sling-shot ; to be able to name the parts of a 
pistol, load, unload, and fire it ; to be able to climb 
and run ; to have some strength and not be afraid 
to go on such expeditions as the < lub may under- 
take ; to possess a pole-knife, a sling-shot, and a 
net, and be prepared to keep the insects caught, 
in a box prepared for the purpose; to answer 
certain questions which will be submitted to every 
candidate for membership ; and to sign the Clin- 
cher. 
5. All members will be expected to obey the 
rules of the Club, and if any member does not, 
such pimishment may be inflicted upon him as a 
majority of the members think best. 
6. A member may not be expelled unless he re- 
fuses to obey the laws of the Club, and under 
those circumstances he may be expelled by a 
unanimous vote of the members (not counting the 
member who is under consideration). 
7. The Club shall have no formal meetings 
and shall have no officers. 
8. When all or any of the members wish to go 
on any tramp or expedition they may do so, and 
it is not necessary that all the memljers should go 
or be informed of the expedition, if it is not con- 
venient ; but it is desirable that the members who 
do go should make a report of the expedition to 
be read to the other members. 
9. All reports, records, etc., of the Club, shall 
be kept at the Club Rooms, and all the members 
shall have free access to both. 
10. It is desirable that all the members should 
go off together at least once a week, if possible. 
11. When on expeditions, all members are to 
be governed by the " Hunting Rules." 
12. Additional rules may be made by the unan- 
imous consent of the members. 
13. All members will be required to sign the 
rules of the Club, on entering the Club ; and on 
doing so, and on signing the " Clincher," a certi- 
ficate of membership will be given them. 
THE "hunting RULES." 
1. There shall be no wantonness in the Club. 
2. No member shall point his pistol, or sling- 
shot, or bow and arrow at any other member — 
even if he knows the weapon not to be loaded, or 
not in a condition to go off. There shall be no 
fooling at shooting, hitting with the pole-knife, or 
anything of the sort. 
3. The Club shall not shoot the domestic birds. 
4. It is desirable that at least once a fortnight, 
during the summer season, the Club should take a 
long tramp and follow out in general some fixed 
course. The maps of these courses slwll be kept 
