January 22, 1903] 



NA TURE 



279 



have been supposed, primitive. The subject is largely treated 

 from the pakieontological aspect. 



Captain Barrett-Hamilton has sent us a copy of his 

 paper, from the November number of the Zoologist, on the 

 origin of sexual dimorphism and nuptial weapons and orna- 

 ment. It is stated that the recent investigations into the life- 

 history of the salmon, published by the Scotch Fishery Board, 

 confirm the author's view as to the setting free of proteids and 

 other compounds in the breeding salmon, and their transference 

 to various parts of the body. 



As is well known, the typhoid bacillus produces little or no 

 toxin in artificial cultivations, and all attempts to obtain a 

 typhoid antitoxin have hitherto proved failures. Chantemesse, 

 however, by growing the typhoid bacillus in a special culture 

 medium prepared from spleen and bone marrow, claims to have 

 obtained a toxin with which he has been able to immunise 

 horses and to prepare a typhoid antitoxin. Of 179 cases treated 

 with the latter, seven died, a case-mortality of only 37 percent., 

 whereas of 1192 cases treated during the same period on general 

 principles, 2S6 died, a case mortality of I9'3 per cent. (La Presse 

 MiJicaU, December 24, 1902, p. 1227). 



The function of the flagellated body of the malaria parasite 

 was for a long time a disputed question. In 1S9S, MicCallum 

 found that in the Hilteridium, a malaria-like parasite of birds, 

 there were two varieties of the parasite, a granular and a non- 

 granular, and he observed that it was only the latter that 

 developed fligella. He had the good fortune to observe a 

 flagellum from a non-granular parasite enter and fuse with a 

 granular one, and therefore concluded that the flagellum was a 

 fertilising element. It was suggested that the same would hold 

 good for the malaria parasite, and MacCallum staled that he 

 had actually observed this to be the case. Dr. Moore, of the 

 University of Texts, announces that he has been fortunate 

 enough to observe the phenomenon in a case of restivo-autumnal 

 fever. A hyaline or non-granular body was seen to be in active 

 movement, and in a moment four active flagella were extruded. 

 One of these became separated and happened to come in 

 contact with a granular body, and after several attempts entered 

 into this and became fused with it (Johns Hopkins Hosp. Bull., 

 October, 1902, p. 235). 



Following closely upon the revised list of herbaceous 

 plants which was issued last Jane, a welcome adlitiin to the 

 literature originating from the Royal Bjtanic Gardens, Kew, is 

 furnished by a new edition of the " Hand List of Trees and 

 Shrubs Grown in the Arboretum." This does mt include the 

 Coniferae, which are undergoing revision. Previously produced 

 in two parts, the present list includes in the single volume the 

 monocotyledons and all the dicotyledons to the number of about 

 four thousand five hundred. 



The second fasciculus of the supplement to the " Index 

 Kewensis" has been presented by M. T. Durand and Mr. B. 

 Daydon Jackson, having been published, like the first, at 

 Brussels. Included are genera from Cymbidium to Iriha, 

 either new genera or those to which new species or synonyms 

 were added during the decade commencing with the year 1SS6. 

 Cypripedium and Dendrobium are considerably enlarged, chiefly 

 owing to the enumeration of new hybrids; the additions to 

 Hieraciumare principally European, which is accounted for by 

 the fact that during the era many investigators, notably Hanbury 

 in Britain, were working out the variations of this polymorphic 

 genus throughout the continent. 



The development of a somewhat rare Gisteromycete is 

 described by Mr. J. R. Johnston under the name of Caulo- 

 glossum transversarium. A central columella runs throughout, 

 the gleba contains chambers which are lined with bisidia, and 



NO. 1734, VOL. 67] 



the periderm is very thin and ruptures irregularly, exposing the 

 glebal folds. Cauloglossum may be regarded as a synonym for 

 Podaxon, hence the author proposes the name Rhopalogaster 

 and favours affinity with the Hysterangiaceae. The paper 

 appears in the Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts 

 and Sciences, from which source comes also a fifth list of new 

 species of Laboulbeniaceoe, with diagnoses contributed by Prof. 

 Roland Thaxter. These are forms which were found growing 

 on the bodies or appendages of insects. 



One of the last reports issued by the Weather Bureau in 

 Manila describes "the seismic and volcanic centres of the 

 Philippine Archipelago." The author of this report, M. Sad- 

 dera Mas 6, S.J., divides the Archipelago into four districts or 

 sections, and for each of these gives, in chronological order with 

 short descriptions, lists of large earthquakes and volcanic erup- 

 tions. In looking over these records, the earliest of which 

 refers to the year 1599, it is interesting to note the instances in 

 which these two phenomena have agreed in time. The relative 

 frequency of earthquakes in the Archipelago is shown by a 

 coloured map, by tables and by curves. Since 18S0, maxima 

 occurred in 1SS1 and 1S97, with a minimum in 1SS6. The 

 distribution of earthquakes in the rainy season (June to October), 

 the dry cold season (November to February) and the dry hot 

 season (March to May) are in the ratios 100:73:53. Other 

 tables and diagrams refer to distribution of shocks according to 

 years, months and hours, but it cannot be said that they show 

 any marked periodicities. 



Messrs. A. E. Staley and Co. (35 Aldermanbury, E.C.) 

 have sent us a small pamphlet entitled "Mahomet and the 

 Mountain, a Modern Miracle," which they have just published 

 The text is devoted to the elucidation of many points connected 

 with the use of the telephotographic lens, and should be found 

 serviceable to those who are commencing the use of this form 

 of lens. Several typical illustrations are inserted. Those who 

 wish to read this booklet can obtain one from the publishers 

 post free on application. 



The twentieth volume of the Geographical Journal, contain- 

 ing the monthly issues from July to December, 1902, is now 

 available. It commences with the address delivered by the 

 president, Sir Clements Markham, F. R.S., to the Royal 

 Geographical Society at the anniversary meeting. In addition 

 to numerous other articles of interest, the volume contains a 

 summary of the results of his latest journey in Central Asia by 

 Dr. Sven Hedin ; contributions by Mr. Ellsworth Huntington, 

 on a journey through the great canon of the Euphrates River; 

 by Mr. Oscar Neumann, on an expedition from the Somali 

 coast through southern Ethiopia; and by Dr. M. A. Stein, on 

 a journey of geographical and arcfu"edlogical exploration in 

 Chinese Turkestan. Interesting particulars are also to be 

 found concerning the departure of the Morning in search of the 

 Discovery in connection with the National Antarctic expedition. 

 The liberal supply of illustrations, charts and maps make with 

 the papers an instructive and interesting record of geographical 

 work. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Binturong (Arctictu binlurong) from the 

 Malay Peninsula, presented by Mr. M. A Dawes ; an Indian 

 Crow (Corvus splendens) from India, presented by Mr. D. 

 Asbury ; an American Golden Plover (Charadrius americanus), 

 captured at sea, presented by Mr. G. Carrick ; a Blackbird, 

 var. (Tardus merula), a Long Thrush ( Turdus musicus) British, 

 presented by Miss Alice Ellis ; a Coquerel's Mouse Lemur 

 (Chirogaleus coquereli) from Madagascar, six Himalayan 

 Monauls (Lophophorus impcyanus) from the Himalayas, two 

 Brush Turkejs (Talegalla lathami) from Australia, three South 

 Island Robins (Mira albifrons) from New Zealand, deposited. 



