December 29, 1898] 



NA TURE 



207 



life-history and habits of wasps. His paper contains an account 

 of observations made by him of wasps in their natural state, 

 extending over a number of years, and it thus possesses the 

 merit of original work. In the course of the paper Mr. Murray 

 remarks : " There is one thing which puzzles me much, namely, 

 how a blackbird can stand at the side of a hanging wasps' nesti 

 and tear it to pieces to devour the larva, and yet not be stung 

 to death. The bird does not seem to be annoyed in any way, 

 but if I venture to see what is going on, I am certain to be very 

 much stung — I suppose, for not minding my own business." 

 Among the other papers in the Transactions is one by Messrs. 

 T. Scott and J. Lindsay, in which further results of the in- 

 vestigation of the micro-flora and micro-fauna of the Upper 

 Elf Loch, Braids, are given. The paper illustrates the scientific 

 benefits to be derived from a continuous examination of a par- 

 ticular loch or pond. 



At the Whitechapel Free Public Library and Museum, the 

 following free science lectures (with lantern illustrations) have 

 been arranged : — January lo, " How we digest our dinner," by 

 Dr. E. H. Starling; February 7, " A piece of limestone," by 

 Mr. F. A. Bather ; March 7, '" How animals warn their 

 enemies and signal to their friends," by Cora B. Sanders. 



We have received the Christmas numbers of the Gardeners^ 

 Magazine and Amateur Gardening, both with very beautiful 

 coloured illustrations, and a marvel of cheapness. Each period- 

 cal is also illustrated with photographs taken in well-known 

 gardens at home and abroad, drawings of fruits and flowers, 

 and others that will commend themselves to the gardener and 

 horticulturist. 



Thk works from the library of the late Prof. Mariano de la 

 Paz Graells are offered for sale by Herr Felix L. Dames, Berlin. 

 A catalogue (No. 44) containing a list of works on natural 

 history and zoology, vertebrates, anthropology, travels, and 

 rare Spanish books on the chase and falconry, has just been 

 issued. Lists of papers, &c. , on invertebrates, botany, and 

 e ntomology will be given in future catalogues. 



It will interest microscopists to knov,' that Mr. Charles 

 Eaker, maker of optical and surgical instruments and acces- 

 sories, proposes to commence a new department for lending 

 microscopic specimens, much on the same lines as a lending 

 library. The arrangement should be of service to many 

 amateur microscopists, especially beginners and those living 

 in districts where there'are no microscopical clubs or societies. 



The .-igriculliiral Gazette of New South Wales for September 

 is largely occupied with an account of the different species or 

 varieties of Opunlia, or prickly pear, that have been introduced 

 into the Colony, and the various modes of exterminating them. 

 So great a pest to the farmers has this plant become, that the 

 Colonial Legislature passed, in 1896, a stringent Act imposing 

 heavy penalties on the growth of it, or on failure to extirpate it 

 on cultivated land. 



Mr.W. J. C. Miller, who was for many years registrar of the 

 General Medical Council, and had to resign his duties owing 

 to a sudden breakdown, is, we are informed, now in a satis- 

 factory state of health. In announcing his forthcoming work 

 on "Nature Studies" (p. 155), he was referred to as the late 

 Mr. Miller, and we are glad to be able to correct the wrong 

 impression thus conveyed. 



A BUNDLE of papers upon the methods and results of teach- 

 ing speech and the knowledge of language to deaf-mutes has 

 been received from the Volta Bureau, Washington, D.C. It 

 may be remembered that this Bureau was founded in the year 

 1880 by Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, with the Volta prize of 

 fifty thousand francs received by him for the invention of the 

 NO. 1522, VOL. 59] 



telephone. It his for its objects the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge relating to the deaf, and performs most useful work 

 in furtherance of them. The publications issued by the Bureau 

 show that astonishing results are obtained by systematic in- 

 struction on sound principles. 



The yournal of the Royal Microscopical Society iot'Dtcemhex 

 contains a continuation of Mr. Millett's report on the recent 

 Foraminifera of the Malay Archipelago collected by Mr. Durrand, 

 as well as the usual summary of recent researches in zoology, 

 botany, and microscopy. In the latter department the Pre- 

 sident, Mr. Nelson, gives an interesting account of a binocular 

 microscope designed and made by an amateur, and of an old 

 microscope ..lade by Mr. J. Cuff about the year 1760. This 

 number also contains the very useful list of new terms in zoology 

 and botany introduced during the year into scientific term- 

 inology. 



For the purpose of understanding the effects produced on 

 cultivation and hygiene by the variations of the weather and the 

 changes in the composition of the atmospheric air, the Mont- 

 souris Observatory was charged to carry on experiments and 

 investigate problems connected with the climate and hygiene 

 of Paris. The work of the observatory is divided into three 

 sections, which may be roughly described under the headings : 

 physics and meteorology, chemistry, and micrography. Every 

 year the observatory issues a small volume, "Annuaire de 

 rObservatoire Municipal de Paris," in which is embodied much 

 valuable information based upon the researches and observations 

 carried on under its direction. Containing, as it does, a mine 

 of facts which should prove very useful to scientific workers, 

 the volume for 1899, which includes an account of the work 

 accomplished in 1897, will be welcomed by many. 



The British Journal Photographic Almanac has steadily 

 increased in size for the past few years, and the new number for 

 1899 contains no less than 150S pages ; this, of course, includes 

 the host of advertisements, which by themselves are of interest 

 to the photographer. Many of our readers are probably 

 familiar with this annual publication, and will therefore know 

 how diflicult it is to make selections from the large amount of 

 useful information given in it. We may say, with the editor, 

 that the principal features of last year's volume have been 

 repeated, and that all tables, formuUi;, and other necessary 

 facts for the photographer have been inserted and brought up to 

 date. The volume contains, as usual, several specimens of 

 reproduction processes, and illustrations of rapid shutter work, 

 but they do not seem to be so numerous as in the previous 

 publications. The Almanac should, however, be found in every 

 studio, for the numerous facts contained in it will frequently be 

 found of service. 



The compact little annual of the Bureau des Longitudes for 

 1899, published yearly by the National Convention to " propre 

 a regler ceux de toute la Republique," is as interesting and 

 complete as ever. It is unnecessary to refer to the detailed 

 contents of the volume, but a statement of the alterations and 

 additions that have been made in the present issue should be of 

 interest. In the astronomical section the list of minor planets 

 is brought up to September 13, 1S9S, and many details of these 

 bodies, such as name, discoverer, date of discovery, duration of 

 sidereal revolution, mean distance from sun, eccentricity and 

 inclination are given. The table showing the elements of 

 periodic comets has been revised, and a brief history is given 

 of the comets which appeared in 1897. In the section devoted 

 to geography and statistics, new values for the area of France, 

 obtained from the Army Geographical Service, are inserted. 

 M. Cornu has revised his article on electricity, and added a 

 valuable note on electrical units as used in practice. The 



