May 20, 1915] 
“NATURE 
2°99 
III 

body, lays eggs deep in the unripe fruit of the Papaya, 
where the maggots find an abundant and congenial 
food-supply. This mode of feeding, as is well known, 
is practised in oranges, lemons, peaches, etc., by 
larvae of the notorious ‘Mediterranean  fruit-fly”’ 
(Ceratitis capitata), which forms the subject of two 
papers in the Journal (vol. iii., Nos. 4 and 5), by 
E. A. Back and C. E. Pemberton. This fly is now a 
serious pest in the Hawaian Islands, though it has 
not yet been introduced into the United States. At- 
tempts are being made to introduce parasitic and 
predaceous insects that may keep the fruit-fly in check, 
and one of the papers just mentioned deals with this 
aspect of the question. Prof. F. Silvestri made last 
year a special journey to West Africa in order to 
study the natural enemies of fruit-flies, the results of 
which are described in the Boll. Lab. Zool. Scuola 
Agric. Portici (vol. v., 1914). Here may be found 
diagnoses with structural figures of a number of the 
destructive flies and of insects which prey on them, 
most of the latter being small Hymenoptera. 
Our own Bulletin of Entom. Research maintains 
the high standard of its systematic and economic 
papers. In vol. v., pt. 3, lately issued, Dr. W. A. 
Lamborn’s account of agricultural pests in Southern 
Nigeria opens new ground, and is well illustrated 
with a coloured plate of Lepidoptera and_ several 
photographs of injured plants. Stanley Hirst describes 
mites—mostly Dermanyssus and other Gamasida— 
found on rats in Egypt; while Rev. Jas. Waterston, 
turning for a while from Mallophaga, gives an 
account, with interesting structural figures, of new 
Chalcidoid fig-insects from Uganda. In the March 
number (vol. v., No. 4), just received, Mr. Waterston 
describes a number of parasitic Chalcidoids from 
tropical Africa and members of the same group from 
Ceylon. Among several useful papers in this number, 
S. A. Neave’s account of the Tabanidz of Southern 
Nyasaland, with descriptions of the early stages and 
bionomics of the species, is noteworthy. The Review 
of Applied Entomology is continued monthly, and 
contains excellent summaries of papers published in 
all parts of the world, agricultural entomology being 
contained in Series A, medical and veterinary subjects 
in Series B. In placing these publications within the 
reach of all students, the Imperial Bureau of Entomo- 
logy abundantly justifies its existence. Glas Ce 


MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 
Ape annual report upon the mineral resources of 
the Philippine Islands for the year 1913 has just 
been issued at Manila by the Division of Mines of 
the Government of the Philippine Islands. It gives 
evidence of fairly steady progress in the development 
of the mineral resources of these islands under 
American auspices. The value of the mineral produc- 
tion is estimated at just about 400,o00l., an increase 
of about 14 per cent. above that of 1912, but it must be 
remembered that these figures are made up, in accord- 
ance with the usual practice of the United States, from 
a number of items that are not generally included in 
the mineral statistics of other nations, such items as 
clay products, sand and gravel, and lime accounting 
for fully one-fourth of the total value. It is note- 
worthy that no coal was produced in the year under 
review, whereas the output for the year previous had 
been 2700 tons; there seems to be no good reason 
for this complete cessation of coal mining; it is true 
that one of the mines that had produced coal in 1912 
had been drowned out apparently through careless 
driving into broken ground, which seems not to have 
been properly tested before the drift in question was 
put in. 
NO. 2377, VOL. 95] 


Nearly one-half of the total value of the mineral 
output is due to the production of gold, of which 
42,011 ounces were obtained, both quartz mines and 
alluvial mines having contributed to the total. The 
, increase of production over 1912, when 27,582 ounces 
were produced, is relatively important; it is mainly 
due to dredging operations in the Pasacale district, 
where five dredges were at work, and where three 
additional ones were being constructed; it appears 
that the alluvial deposits are quite satisfactory, but 
that a shortage in the fuel supply, which appears 
hitherto to have been wood exclusively, threatens to 
become a serious problem in the near future. 
The output of iron, in the form of castings direct 
from small native blast-furnaces, amounts to 227 tons, 
an increase of practically 50 per cent. above that in 
1912. These castings are almost exclusively plough- 
shares; they were produced in ten furnaces, each of 
which averaged sixty-six days in blast throughout the 
year; they consumed 555 tons of 60 per cent. ore and 
960 tons of charcoal, the iron extracted being thus 
just about two-thirds of the total iron present. It is 
interesting to note that this primitive method of iron- 
smelting is still able to hold its own in the face of 
imports of iron more than ten times as great as the 
total native production. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
Bristo“t.—The University has been concerned since 
its foundation with the question of residential accom- 
modation for its students. Early in its history it 
received an important benefaction for the accommoda- 
tion of women students in the shape of Clifton Hill 
House, to which the adjoining Callander House has 
since been added. During the past: year the Imperial 
Hotel and a large property on Richmond Hill, Clifton, 
have been purchased for conversion into halls of resi- 
dence for men and women training students. The 
University has now taken two houses for the purpose 
of a temporary residential college for men students. 
These houses are being renovated and decorated, and 
will be opened in good time for next term. When 
the arrangements are complete, the temporary college 
will start with accommodation for twenty-nine 
students. 
Giascow.—His Majesty in Council has approved the 
Ordinance of the University Court, empowering the 
University to establish a degree of bachelor of science 
in applied chemistry. In conjunction with the Royal 
Technical College, which is affiliated to the University, 
courses in the various branches of chemistry relating 
to a wide range of arts and industries will be pro- 
vided. The curriculum extends above four years, and 
the examinations will be of an honours standard. 
More than 140 students in arts, law, and pure 
science have volunteered for service in the munition 
factories during the summer vacation. Arrangements 
have been made by the Appointments Committee with 
a number of firms on the Clyde, which are prepared 
to give employment of the kind to students who are 
not eligible for active service with the forces. When 
the sessional examinations are completed at the begin- 
ning of June, it is expected that at least roo more 
students will undertake similar work. 
Lonpon.—A new edition of the University College 
“Pro Patria’ is in course of preparation, and will be 
issued shortly. Past and present students, or their 
relatives and friends on their behalf, are invited to 
send full particulars of the capacity in which they are 
serving the country at the present time. In the case 
of the Army, rank and regiment should be given; in 
