Fuly 24, 1873] 
THE current part of Mr. Dresser’s “‘ Birds of Europe” com- 
menced with the description of the Imperial Eagle (Agwu:/a 
mogitnik), to which two plates are devoted, in one of which the 
young of that species is contrasted with that of the distinctly 
separated White-shouldered Imperial Eagle (4g. adalberti), from 
Spain. This is followed by illustrated descriptions of the 
Algerian Black-headed Jay (Garrulus cervicalis), the Siberian 
Jay (Perisoreus infaustus), the White Stalk (Crconia alba), 
several Anserine birds, and the Isabelline Lark (Gaéerita 
isabellina), which, by the way, does not occur in Europe. 
Ir is locally stated that among the collections made by the 
Chilian exploring expeditions on the west coast of Patagonia in 
the Chacabuco, is a specimen of the huemul, an animal which 
had altogether been lost sight of. There are five well-prepared 
skins in the National Museam of Chile. Molina mentions it in 
his ‘‘ Natural History of Chile,” published in 1782. He de- 
scribes a species of horse (Zyuus bisulcus), or rather an ass, with 
its hoofs divided like ruminants. He says it inhabits the most 
inaccessible parts of the Andes, and is difficult to be taken. Mr. 
E. C. Reed, of the National Museum of Chile, pronounces it to 
be a stag of the genus Cervus, and as not belonging to any new 
genus. 
THE record of the ‘‘ Astronomical and Meteorological Obser- 
vations made during the year 1870 at the U.S. Naval Observa- 
tory” occupies a bulky quarto volume of about 1000 pages, and 
contains in its numerous carefully-constructed tables sufficient 
evidence of the amount and value of the work done at the 
Observatory. The U.S. Government contribute liberally 
to the support of the Observatory, the work of which is 
performed by an efficient s‘aff. One of the most interesting parts 
of the record of work for 1870 is that describing the details 
of the Transit Circle. 
WE would recommend to all interested in education a pam- 
phlet by Mr. Henry Leedam, a practical teacher, entitled ‘‘Com- 
plete School Education.” It is evidently the result of much 
thought and observation, and of advanced views of what consti- 
tutes 2 complete education even for boys intended for business. 
Weare glad to see that in his system he gives great prominence to 
science, as one of the most efficient instruments in general 
training. 
Tue Liverpool papers report that a sharp shock of earth. 
quake was felt at Southport on the evening of Wednesday, July 
16, accompanied by a loud report. It was thought at first by 
many that a colliery explosion must have taken place in some of 
the collieries near Ormskirk, so loud and distinct was the first 
report. The other three—for there were four shocks—followed 
much quicker after each other than did the second after the first. 
There was no undulatory motion such as accompanied the severe 
- shock which occurred about two years since. 
ON May 10 strong shock of earthquake, lasting two seconds, 
occurred at Opiape, in North Chile. 
A COLLECTION of stone implements from Costa Rica, in Cen- 
tral America, has been sent to the American Museum of Natural 
History in New York. 
Don Cartos MogstTa, formerly Director of the Astronomical 
Observatory at Santiago, in Chile, has been appointed Chilian 
Consul-General in Saxony. 
THE sixth annual report of the Provost of the Peabody Insti- 
tute of Baltimore, to the trustees, dated June 5 of this year, is 
in all respects very satisfactory, and shows that the Institute 
forms an important means of education, literary and scientific, 
in the city to which it belongs, The library is a large one, up- 
wards of 50,000 volumes, and the number of readers has in- 
NATURE 
253 
creased considerably during the year, the proportion of scientific 
works sought for being on the whole, as things go, large. 
During the year 120 lectures were delivered, of which 20 were 
popular, and go special class lectures in particular departments. 
Though scientific lectures seem to be much less attractive than 
lectures in literature, still the Provost rightly thinks they should 
be persisted in, especially as this is one of the main objects of 
the institution, which is well supplied with scientific apparatus. 
We have no doubt that by judicious arrangement of subjects and 
hours, and by securing competent lecturers who know how to 
make their subjects attractive, scientific lectures will become in- 
creasingly popular. 
WE give the following on the authority of the American 
Artisan :—The President of Rutgers College, New Jersey, Dr. 
Campbell, recently found beneath: some of the trees in the 
campus, numerous carpenter bees, each minus its head, Having 
called the attention of Rev. Samuel Lockwood, the eminent 
naturalist, to the fact, careful observations were made with 
interesting results. It was first noted that these bees were all 
of the same species, and were all honey-gatherers. The case at 
first appeared to be one of wanton massacre; the merciless 
executioners being common Baltimore orioles. On making a 
more thorough examination of the headless trunks, it was dis- 
covered that every body was empty, the insect having been 
literally eviscerated at the annular opening made at the neck by 
the separation of the head. The interesting fact disclosed by 
these observations is that these b'rds had learned that the body 
of these pariicular bees—the stingless males—were filled, or 
contained honey sipped from the blossoms of the horse-chestnut ; 
and so they watched the insects until they were fully gorged, then, 
darting upon them, snipped off their heads, and always at one 
place, the articulation, thus showing themselves acquainted with 
the anatomy of their victims as well as their habits, and taking 
advantage of both for the gratification of their love for sweets, 
THE Journal of the Franklin Institute says that the splendid 
telescope designed for the National Observatory at Washington 
will, in all probability, soon be erected and in use. The work 
upon the new tower and dome, intended for its reception, is 
being rapidly brought to completion. The object-glass—the 
largest in the world, twenty-six and a half inches diameter, and 
thirty-two feet focal length—is now finished, and ready for the 
instrument. The cost of the new instrument, with the necessary 
machinery, will be about 30,000 dols., and that of the tower 
and dome, erected to receive it, about 15,000 dols. If to this 
we add the list of new apparatus already acquired or in process 
of construction for the Observatory, for the observation of the 
coming transit of Venus, the Institution will shortly be as well 
or, perhaps, better equipped than any other of its kind in the 
world, 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include two Argus Pheasants (Avgus giganteus) from 
Malacca, presented by his Excellency, Sic H. Ord; a Jaguar 
(Felis onca) from America, preseated by Mr, J. H. Murchison ; 
a Himalayan Bear (Ursus tibetanus) presented by Mr. G. R. 
Taylor ; two Mulita Armaillos (Zu¢usia hvbrida) from Buenos 
Ayres, presented by Mrs. Mackinlay ; two White-crested Guans 
(Pipile jacutinga) from British Honduras, presented by Mr. S. 
Carmichael ; a Patas Monkey (Cercopithecus ruber) from West 
Africa, presented by Mr. E. Hoad; three Black Vultures 
(Cathartes atratus) from America, presented by Mr. C. C. 
Lovesy ; three Fournier’s Capromys (Cafromys pilorides) from 
Cuba, presented by Mr. J. R. Watkins; a Rhesus Monkey 
(Macacus erythreus) from India, presented by Miss E. D. 
Wishart ; a Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger), from South 
Africa, deposited, 
