November 29, 1889.] 



SCIENCE. 



377 



results are of great interest. He finds that the Bermudian fauna 

 is essentially a wind-drift and current- drift fauna, whose elements 

 have been received in principal part from the United States and 

 the West Indies. Some portion of the fauna appears to have been 

 •derived from the west coast of Europe and Africa, or from the 

 Azores. The fauna appears to be of considerable antiquity, — a 

 conclusion which is supported by the fact that the predecessor of 

 a group of Pulmojtata now peculiar to the islands is found fossil 

 or sub-fossil in the rocks of these islands. Certain marked ele- 

 ments of the Bermudian fauna are of a distinctively Pacific type, 

 but it seems impossible at the present time to explain this mixed 

 relationship. The book is illustrated with good views from the 

 Bermudas, and a number of plates illustrating the concluding 

 chapters on zoology. 



AMONG THE PUBLISHERS. 



The second part of the " Contributions to the Micro-Pateon- 

 tology of the Cambro-Silurian Rocks of Canada," published by 

 the Canadian Geological and Natural History Survey, is by Mr. E. 

 O. Ulrich of the Geological Survey of Illinois. It consists of a de- 

 scriptive report on some fossil Polyzoa {Bryozoa) and Ostracoda 

 from Manitoba, and is illustrated by two full-page lithographic 

 plates. To facilitate the binding of the present part with Mr. 

 Foord's previously published report, the pagination and numbering 

 of the plates of both have been made consecutive. 



— A new guide-book to Florida, by Charles Ledyard Norton, 

 ■will be published by Longmans, Green, & Co. early in December. 

 The scheme of the volume is similar to that of the well-known 

 Baedecker guides, adapted to requirements of travellers in such a 

 ■country as Florida. Separate maps of the counties with post-roads 

 and the new railway systems are a noteworthy feature of the book. 

 This guide-book is a revival, on a new and more comprehensive 

 plan, of " The Florida Annual " originally published, and most 

 ■favorably received by the public, in 1885. 



— The "Handbook of Precious Stones," by M. D. Rothschild, 

 just published by G. P. Putnam's Sons of this city, is intended for 

 the merchant, workman, and amateur. Mr. Rothschild is a well- 

 known diamond-dealer of this city ; and he was led to write this 

 book by finding how many of those having to do with diamonds, 

 rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, know nothing of these precious 

 stones. The information is given in concise form, we fear even too 

 concisely ; but we trust that Mr. Rothschild's ambition may be 

 gratified, and that a second and larger edition may appear in due time. 



— Mr. Edwin Lassetter Bynner opens the December number of 

 'the Atlantic Monthly with an article of interest to the antiquarian, 

 -and especially to the student of Old Boston. This paper is devoted 

 to " The Old Bunch of Grapes " Tavern, one of the most famous 

 New England hostelries of the last century, and Mr. Bynner gives 

 an amusing account of the various events which took place within 

 its hospitable walls. Mr. Henry Van Brunt's paper on " Archi- 

 tecture in the West " tells about the difficulties which Western 

 architects have to struggle against, and the new school of archi- 

 tecture which is gradually arising to solve the problem of making 

 art keep step with progress without losing the finer and more deli- 

 cate artistic sense. It will be studied by all Western men and all 

 architects with a great deal of interest. Professor N. S. Shaler of 

 Harvard College contributes a paper on " School Vacations ; " and 

 Mr. William Cranston Lawton, whose articles on the Greek drama 

 have been among the best literary papers the Atlantic has lately 

 had, writes about "Delphi: The Locality and its Legends ;" and 

 "Latin and Saxon America" (the relations of this country with 

 South American countries) forms the subject of a paper by Mr. Al- 

 bert G. Browne. 



INDUSTRIAL NOTES. 

 Improved Belt Power Air-Pump and Condenser. 



The air-pump and condenser here illustrated has been newly 

 designed by the builders, Conover & Co., 219 Market Street, New- 

 ark, N.J., in answer to the demands of power-users who are seek- 

 ing the greatest attainable economy in all details of the modern 

 steam-plant. 



With the introduction of high-speed compound engines there is 

 ielt the need of a thoroughly efficient and simple condensing appa- 



ratus. The power required to drive it must be reduced to a mini- 

 mum, and this same power must be of the most economical sort ; 

 otherwise the advantages gained by condensing will be seriously 

 affected, if not wholly counteracted. In fact, it is a matter of rec- 

 ord where tests have proven that certain engines have shown bet- 

 ter economy running non-condensing than when condensing, owing 

 to the very wasteful manner in which the power was applied to the 

 condensing apparatus. 



In presenting this air-pump and condenser to the public, the 

 builders believe that they are offering a highly efficient, simple, and 

 durable arrangement. As will be seen by the engraving, the air- 

 pump is run by belt, which can be direct from the engine-shaft or 

 from a counter-shaft, whichever may be the more convenient. 

 Being driven by the main engine, it is obvious that the power 

 used to operate the air-pump must of necessity be of the same 

 economy as the engine. Thus, if the engine in question be com- 

 pound condensing, running on two pounds of coal per horse-power 

 or less, it necessarily follows that the air-pump will be operated by 

 a similar economy. An examination of the engraving will make 

 the operation of the condenser and air pump quite plain. The 



POWER AIR-PUMP AND CONDENSER. 



spray distributes the injection water in such a manner that every 

 particle of steam must come in contact with the water, and thus 

 effect condensation with a minimum amount of water, and at the 

 same time heat the overflow to the maximum temperature. The 

 opening from the condenser to the air-pump is shaped to allow the 

 greatest quantity of water to flow through a given opening. The 

 pump is made amply large to remove the greatest quantity of water 

 needed for condensing to the full capacity of the condenser. The 

 reciprocating parts are counterbalanced by means of a weight in 

 the wheel, to insure smooth running. As will be seen, the air- 

 pump is vertical and single-acting ; and this the builders believe to 

 be the best form to avoid air-locks. In fact, the design throughout 

 looks to the avoidance of all corners or pockets where air can 

 collect and remain. This condenser is specially adapted to the re- 

 quirements of high-speed compound engines in electric light and 

 power plants, because it can be run at a speed independent of that 

 of the engine, or it may be attached to more than one engine. It 

 is also adapted to be applied to existing plants as a saver of 

 fuel or an increaser of power on the same fuel. The machine 

 is made throughout of the best of the several materials. All wear- 

 ing parts and valve-seats that come in contact with injection water 

 are made of best composition, and the workmanship is of the best. 

 When the air-pump is in operation, the valves and stuffing-box are 

 constantly covered with water, effectually sealing them. All parts 

 are easily accessible without dismounting wheel or shaft. 



