346 
inclusive, 1876, and (2) 96.50 inches at Silver 
Hill, Jamaica, in November, 1909. The In- 
dian station, located upon the Himalayan 
slopes, near the Bay of Bengal, remains the 
wettest spot on the globe. It is reported that 
during one month, August, the rainfall meas- 
ured 884 inches, and it is believed that the 
annual precipitation is over 600 inches. 
A NEW WEATHER SIGNAL 
Since December 1 a new marine signal con- 
sisting of a red pennant has been displayed 
by the United States Weather Bureau to 
signify the approach of high winds which 
would not justify the issue of the regular 
storm warning. It is known as the “small 
craft warning,” as it is designed especially for 
the owners of fishing, towing, motor and 
yachting craft. The pennant is flown from 
the officially designated flagstaffs on the At- 
lantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts, as well as 
along the borders of the Great Lakes. Judg- 
ing from recent press reports the innovation 
is proving of value to those for whom it was 
intended. 
CONCERNING AVIATION FATALITIES 
Amone the suggestions which have been 
offered to explain various fatal accidents in 
aviation recently is that which one aviator de- 
scribes as “ethereal asphyxia, a dreadful 
something which lurks in the upper air and 
ereeps irresistibly upon the senses of the 
aviator, lulling him into a dreamy uncon- 
sciousness.” He declared that it was not due 
to rarefied atmosphere, as there was no stifling, 
choking or pain in the ear-drums, such as 
often results from decreased pressure. The 
falsity of the explanation is apparent to any 
one who considers the matter, for aeronauts 
have, for more than a century, ascended to far 
greater heights than the aeroplane has yet 
reached, and no “mysterious gas” has been 
reported. Soundings of the free air have es- 
tablished the fact that up to the greatest 
height attained by an aeroplane, about two 
miles, the composition of the atmosphere is 
sensibly the same as at the ground. How- 
ever, some of the fatalities occurring can not 
be explained by mechanical defects, gusts of 
SCIENCE 
[N.S. Vou. XXXV. No. 896 
wind, or “ air-holes.” Might not the “ ethereal 
asphyxia” be similar to the drowsiness ex- 
perienced by certain people in windy weather? 
Persons who have climbed to the summits of 
high hills or mountains often express a desire 
to lie down and sleep. Moreover, the cold aloft 
is another factor to be considered. One travel- 
ing in a balloon experiences a perfect calm 
about him and thus is not greatly affected by 
the low temperatures. But every one who has 
sat in the front seat of a rapidly moving auto- 
mobile on which there was no wind-shield can 
readily imagine how chilling must be the air 
encountered by an aviator traveling against 
the wind. Even in mid-summer temperatures 
below freezing are met at a height of two 
miles, and such air, brushing past the aviator 
at a rate of a mile a minute, might soon cause 
temporary paralysis of the limbs, resulting in 
a loss of control of the craft. The heaviest 
clothing yet worn by an aviator could hardly 
give him the protection needed. Accelerated 
heart-action, nervous tension, fatigue and 
other factors doubtless contribute to the avia- 
tor’s distress. The problem is not wholly a 
meteorological one. 
Anprew H. PauMerr 
BLUE HILL OBSERVATORY, 
February 1, 1912 
SPECIAL ARTICLES 
ON THE ORIGIN OF AN ALBINO RACE OF DEER- 
MOUSE 
Tue first case of Mendelian inheritance 
shown to exist among animals was that of 
total albinism in mice. Jn this condition the 
fur is snow-white and the eyes are pink, they 
like the fur being entirely devoid of skin-pig- 
ment. For the pink color of the eyes is due 
to the blood seen through the transparent eye; 
it disappears at death. 
The ordinary white mouse is an albino va- 
riety of the common house mouse, with which 
it crosses readily. Cross-bred offspring (F,) 
are never white, but like the wild parent in 
color. But in the next generation (F.), part 
of the offspring are albinos. On the average 
one fourth are albinos, and these breed true 
in accordance with Mendel’s law. 
