September 8, 1893.] 



SCIENCE. 



137 



nest containing a Cow-bunting's egg, over which was 

 built another nest containing six eggs of the Goldfinch. 



In the nest of the second form the walls are much thinner, 

 and the general form and structure much resemble a 

 Vireo's nest. These beautiful frail structures, however, 

 are much better adapted to their position on the ends of 

 branches than the thick nests would be if placed in that 

 position. 



The eggs are from three to sis in mumber, most com- 

 monly five, blue, unspotted, save in the instance of two sets 

 evidently belonging to the same pair of birds, which I found, 

 one set in 1890, the other in '91, in the same tree. The 

 eggs were finely spotted with reddish brown forming a 

 wreath around the larger end. I have never heretofore 

 seen an instance of spotted eggs of the Goldfinch noted 

 in ornithological publications, and I believe their occurrence 

 is somewhat uncommon. Paul Van Riper. 



side of the plane of the carbon-oxygen ring; and in the 

 other case to be distributed on both sides. 



EoBEKT B. Warder. 

 Howard University, Washington D. C. 



Physical Chemistry AT the Columbian Congress. 



The recent doctrines of chemical energy are pvishing 

 towards the front. The opening paper on physical 

 chemistry was presented to the Congress by the writer 

 of this report, who called attention to the valuable results 

 arising from "the cross-fertilization of the sciences." The 

 physical properties of substances have long been studied, 

 under the name of chemical physics; such data are indis- 

 pensable in chemical analysis, technology, etc. But, with 

 transposition of the terms, we find more attention given to 

 the properties of energy itself, and to the conditions of 

 equilibrium, and of rapid or slow change. These general- 

 izations promise to be most fruitful of results, and deservin g 

 of general recognition in our universities. 



The second paper, "on chemical energy," was contribut- 

 ed by Professor Ostwald, of Leipsic, who is indefatigable, 

 both in research and in expounding the progress of 

 science. The two factors, eajjacity and intensity, are 

 discussed and illustrated in this paper, with great perspi- 

 cuity. Capacity is proportional to the mass; for two tons 

 of coal, by combustion, will yield twice as much heat as 

 one ton. To estimate the intensity, on the other hand, we 

 may remember that heat conduction always implies some 

 difference in heat intensity; so, a chemical transforniation 

 implies greater intensity of chemical energy in the react- 

 ing bodies than in the reaction products, under compar- 

 able conditions. A "chemometer"anologous to thermome- 

 ter, though not yet complete, is not wholly unlinown. 

 Emphasis is given to the theorem, "two potentials which 

 individually are equal to a third are equal to each other," 

 with important deductions therefrom; and catalytic bodies 

 are discussed in relation to the acceleration of chemical 

 change. 



A third paper, by Prof. J. E. Trevor, of Ithaca, states 

 the fundamental equations of equilibrium, for three lead- 

 ing cases, and presents some extended mathematical 

 deductions. 



Three other communications, assigned to this section, 

 are of more varied character. Prof. E. W. Morley stated 

 by request some of his results in determining the atomic 

 weight of oxygen, with remarkably close agreement, at 

 about 1-5.88; but the work is still in progress. 



Professor Lunge, of Zm-ich (whose genial presence added 

 much to the interest of the CongTess) described apparatus 

 for promoting the interaction of liquids and gases. 

 Perforated earthenware ^jlates, of special form, are so 

 placed as to promote contact of the reacting substances, 

 — as in sulphiu-ic acid manufacture. 



Prof. T. H. Norton communicated a paper from Professor 

 Orndorff, illustrating by models the stereochemistry of 

 paraldehyde and metaldehyde (0211^)3. The tkree 

 methyl groups are assumed in one case to be all on one 



Great Horned Owls in Confinement. 

 While collecting in some dense pine woods early in 

 April, 1886, I saw a great homed owl about every day 

 which flew from a nest in a pine tree. This tree was 

 the tallest of its kind in the vicinity, and the nest was 

 at least seventy-five feet from the ground. Thinking 

 I might secure its eggs or young, I climbed the tree and 

 found, much to my disgust, that the bird used the nest 

 only as a roosting place. 



By patient watching and hunting I discovered its 

 nest April 19, in a large chestnut tree. It was com- 

 posed of coarse sticks and was lined with feathers and 

 down from the parent bird, and had the appearance of 

 having been a deserted hawk's nest. 



Here I found two young birds which were covered 

 with down and were about half grown. Their tail and 

 wing feathers were just starting out. They tried to 

 defend themselves like an adult bird by keeping up a 

 continual hissing and blowing sound, and at the same 

 time snapping their bills and opening and closing their 

 eyes. I noticed that they occasionally made a low, 

 murmuring sound, and also a louder and harsher note, 

 which they make now when hungry. 



In the nest with them were two half-eaten fish, C'atos- 

 tomus communis, and the hinder portion of two brown 

 rats. When in confinement, a week or two later, the}' 

 ate voraciously, and one day I offered one a dead 

 mourning dove. It seized it head first, and in a very 

 few minutes succeeded in swallowing it entire, except 

 the tips of its tail feathers, which protruded from its 

 mouth. I expected then it would fall a victim to its 

 gluttony, but within a very short time the tail feathers 

 had disappeared, and it remained very quiet for two or 

 three hours, after that it showed no discomfort what- 

 ever from its meal. 



April 27 they could walk quite well, and about June 

 15 the feathers started out on the head of the smaller 

 bird, which I believe to be a male, although it was by 

 far the larger when taken from the nest. 



The feathers on the larger, or female bird, did not 

 appear until July 4, and at this date the wing and the 

 tail feathers on both were full grown. After this time 

 they consumed but a small portion of the food they for- 

 merly did, although they occasionally ate voraciously. 

 They seem to prefer rats, mice, birds and are quite 

 partial to beef. 



About the middle of October the larger, and what I 

 believe to be the female bird, began to hoot, but not 

 very loud. This is performed by the bird standing at 

 its full height, with its ear-tufts (which were fully de- 

 veloped October i) erect, but slightly slanting back- 

 ward, and swelling out its throat it gives utterance to 

 the notes, "waugh ho ho ho ho." 



They recognize all strangers, and appear afraid of 

 dogs, horses and cows, but always show fight and act 

 on the defensive. Their way of showing fight is tc 

 lower their head and tail, and spread their wings to 

 nearly their full extent, but arching them so as to protect 

 their body, and at the same time utter a peculiar blow- 

 ing or hissing sound, accompanied with a snapping of 

 their bills. 



They have been confined in a large cage for over 

 seven j^ears, and during this time have showed no in- 

 clination to breed, and when not disturbed have made 

 no attempts to escape, but sit quietly on their perches 

 through the day. Just after dark they move about 

 considerably. 



