262 



SCIENTIFIC NEVS^S. 



[Mar. 16, I S 



circumstances, I was soon able to remark that something 

 unusual was taking place within me. I paid close attention 

 to it, and still the sensation can be described only by simili- 

 tude. It appeared as if you were in some extremely hot 

 place, and, at the same time, quite penetrated by the heat of 

 it, so that you feel yourself, as it were, quite one with the 

 element in which you are. The eyes lose nothing of their 

 strength or clearness ; but it is as if the world had a kind of 

 brown-red tint, which makes the situation, as well as the 

 surrounding objects, more impressive. I was unable to 

 perceive any agitation of the blood ; but everything seemed 

 rather to be swallowed up in the glow of which I speak. 

 From this, then, it is clear in what sense this condition can 

 be called a fever. It is remarkable, however, that the horrible, 

 uneasy feeling arising from it is produced in us solely through 

 the ears ; for the cannon-thunder, the howling, and crashing 

 of the balls through the air is the real cause of these sensa- 

 tions." W. 



THE "SCREECHING WATER-BEETLE." 

 Amongst the many inhabitants of my aquarium is a small 

 aquatic beetle which, when taken from the water, often 

 emits a sound somewhat resembling a piece of paper drawn 

 over the large teeth of a comb. Its name (the only one I 

 know it by) is the " screech-beetle," and I am at a loss to 

 discover its scientific title. It swims with an easy, gliding 

 motion, and is exceedingly fond of concealing itself among 

 shells, stones, etc. The legs are fringed with hairs, and each 

 wing-case has a black mark on it ; a small bubble of air is 

 generally seen attached above the tail. It will eat small 

 worms, and is about an inch long. I should be obliged to 

 any of your correspondents if they would tell me the 

 scientific name of this species. F. P. P. 



HEIGHTS OF WATERFALLS. 

 In the interesting list of the highest waterfalls given in 

 the number of the Scientific News for 2nd of March, there 

 is an addition required of the " Yosemite Fall," in Yosemite 

 Valley, California. This fall, which I have seen, is a high 

 leap of 1,500 ft. (the highest in the world), followed by a 

 second leap of 400 ft., and a third of 500 ft. ; the walls of the 

 valley being more than half a mile in vertical height. The 

 quantity of water in the fall is comparatively small, the width 

 at top being only about 30 ft. ; and the result is that the 

 water of the great fall is floated about by the wind almost like 

 a gauze veil, producing specially lovely effects in bright sun- 

 shine. W. 



THE TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL OF 1887. 

 In answer to "A Member of the Liverpool Astronomical 

 Society," I beg to state that my place of observation is 

 Handsworth, Birmingham. As I duly appended it to my 

 letter, the fault of its omission lies with the printer — not with 

 me. B. A. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 M. C. V. Macleod. — Thanks for communication. We are 

 devoid of the prejudice to which you allude, but we are 

 unable to insert your article, as it is too speculative and 

 not sufficiently accurate. 



• ■►^rt^^iif^ ■ 



Effects of the Atmosphere on Bricks. — Mr. G. R. 

 Burnell, writing to the Architect, shows that the influence 

 of the atmosphere upon bricks, etc., to depend both 

 upon the composition of the clay and on the degree of 

 burning. Portions of carbonate of lime are converted 

 into quicklime, and, when wetted, expand and disinte- 

 grate the mass. Both brick and stone are acted upon 

 most rapidly where there are frequent changes from 

 dampness to dryness. The foundations of buildings do 

 not suffer as much as parts of the wall from one to three 

 feet above the surface. 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list has been compiled especially for the SCIENTIFIC 

 News by Messrs. W. P. Thompson a7id Boult, Patent Agents, of 

 T,2T„ High Holborn, Londo7i, W.C- ; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

 "Row, Nottingham ; Ducie Buildings, Bank Street, Manchester ; 

 and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Spring Balance. — Mr. E Edwards, on behalf of M. L. 

 Martane, Paris, France, has patented a spring weighing 

 scale. Two springs of exactly the same form are sus- 

 pended from a fixed beam and carry the scalepans. 

 Each is provided with a pointer, and the standard is 

 graduated to serve as a check against the use of false 

 weights. Two sets of such spring scales may be 

 carried by the same standard, and in some cases a single 

 spring may be used, the reading being shown by the 

 graduations. 



Life-Saving Seat. — Mr. J. G.Willcox, 2, Clyde-terrace, 

 Southampton, has patented a life-saving seat. The seat 

 is mainly composed of segments hinged together on the 

 outer side, and when shut together form the required 

 seat. The deck seat is supported by legs, which are 

 made to turn back or slide up, and when used as a life 

 belt, the seat is turned inside out, and in that form can 

 be placed round the body, elastic fastenings being pro- 

 vided on the inside for holding the belt in its place.' 

 Shoulder straps are also provided, which cross over each 

 shoulder. 



Repeating Watch. — Mr. J. Robinson, Church Street,. 

 Maryport, Cumberland, has patented a watch. The 

 keyless mechanism is modified so that on winding, the 

 number of clicks made by a spring pawl on a toothed 

 wheel will indicate the time since the watch was last 

 wound, and thus give the time in the dark. In the 

 arrangement described the pinion on the winding stem 

 has twelve teeth, and carries a pin actuating a lever, every 

 revolution of which is equivalent to twelve minutes. The 

 lever strikes a gong, five taps being given for each hour. 

 A number of pins for actuating the gong lever may be 

 mounted on the face of a wheel driven by the pinion. 



Coffee and Tea Pot Strainer. — Mr. A. H. Bowman, 

 Grand Promenade, London, has patented a coffee and tea 

 pot strainer. In carrying out this invention a cap with 

 a flange is provided, which is preferably made by stamp- 

 ing out fine wire gauze, the cap being of sufficient dia- 

 meter to cover the fixed strainer, and concaved in 

 relation to the same in order to present a larger straining 

 surface than that possessed by the fixed strainer. Fixing 

 wires attached to the strainer are provided ; they pass 

 through the fixed strainer, and are made to protrude 

 through the outer end of the spout, when they are pulled 

 until the flange is brought close up to the inner surface 

 of the pot, and then turned back upon the spout, and 

 retain the flange in such a position. 



Automatic Valve. — A valve for inflating life belts has 

 been patented by Mr. R. D. Kay, 275, Catherine Terrace, 

 Latchford, near Warrington, Lancashire. The object of 

 this invention is to produce a valve for inflating life 

 belts, boxing gloves, etc., which opens and becomes auto- 

 matic in its action, upon the user depressing with his 

 mouth the front portion thereof, thus permitting the air 



