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SCIENTIFIC NEW^S. 



[Mar. 23, i88'8 



and grass crops, but also of the numerous important 

 practical lessons which these experiments teach. 



The volume treats of the cultivation of the crops in 

 question under various conditions of season, climate, 

 and manuring. It shows the effects of such cultivation 

 on the quantity of the crops produced ; on the quality of 

 the grain, straw, and hay ; on the proportions of the 

 chemical constituents of the harvested plants ; and, in 

 the case of hay, on the botanical characteristics of the 

 entire annual produce. When we add that in all cases 

 crops were grown without manure, with mineral ma- 

 nures alone, with nitrogenous manures alone, with various 

 complex manurial mixtures, with farmyard manure, and 

 with different proportions of these manures, our readers 

 will easily understand how extensive and varied is the 

 information in this book. It must interest all who wish 

 to understand the application of science to the discovery 

 of the subtle operations of nature which are going on 

 around us and produce such valuable results to mankind. 

 Noting some facts, we see that artificial manures, 

 judiciously applied, are more economical than farmyard 

 manure. Hence 5 lbs. of nitrogen, in the form of 

 ammoniacal salts, will produce an increase of i bushel of 

 60 lbs. of wheat grain, or 2J bushels= 122 lbs. of barley 

 grain, whilst 12 lbs. of nitrogen, as farmyard manure, 

 would be required to produce the same effect ; hence 

 400 lbs. of the former are equal to 14 tons of the latter in 

 effect. Numerous other points of much interest are 

 discussed. 



We cannot possibly do justice to this volume in this 

 short notice, and therefore we hope to call attention to 

 this interesting work again in the near future ; but in the 

 meantime we recommend it to our readers as a most 

 valuable little book on the subjects of which it treats. 



We consider much credit is due to the author for the 

 zeal and thoroughness with which he has accompUshed 

 his task ; the tables, index, and prominent sub-headings 

 all strike us as very useful, and illustrate the care and 

 forethought he has exercised in this compilation. 



Sir John Lawes and Dr. J. H. Gilbert have accepted 

 the dedication of the volume, and in doing so testify the 

 satisfaction they feel with the author's rendering of their 

 valuable contributions to science. 



Proceedings of the United States National Museum. Vol. 



IX. 1886. Published under the direction of the 



Smithsonian Institution. Washington : Government 



Printing Office. 



This goodly volume gives full proof of the activity of 



the United States National Museum. 



We notice in particular a paper by Mr. T. W. Blakiston 

 on the " Water-Birds of Japan." The writer considers 

 that so far as its fresh- water birds are concerned Japan is 

 Eurasian (probably patearctic), and as regards its marine 

 birds, " Asio-Pacific " — a term which we cannot identify 

 with any of the Sclater-Wallace regions in animal 

 geography. We find here also the curious remark that 

 Japan's " water-ornis " is as it should be. The term 

 " ornis " may be judged from the connection and from its 

 etymology to mean " bird-fauna." But it strikes us as a 

 needless neologism. 



Senor Fernando Ferrari-Perez communicatesa catalogue 

 of animals collected by the Mexican Exploring Commission. 

 We note here a most unfortunate accident. A steamer 

 conveying 123 boxes of specimens on their way to be 

 identified by comparison with specimens in the Wash- 

 ington Museum was destroyed by fire. Among the 



mammals only two feline species are recorded,f«& tigrina 

 and Lynx rufus, popularly known as the short-tailed 

 mountain-cat. No bear is mentioned. 



Among the birds we find recorded nine specimens of 

 humming-birds, including, of course, the common Tro- 

 chilus colubris. There are three trogons and three 

 parrots. 



There is no mention of a harpy eagle, which might 

 have been expected to occur. 



The serpents are fairly numerous, including Boa 

 imperator, five Crotalidae, and three species of coral snake 

 {Elaps) 



Among the lizards we find no mention of the genus 

 Heloderma, some species of which are reputed as veno- 

 mous. Under the Crocodiledae figures only Alligator 

 Americanus, here confusingly styled Crocodilus. In non- 

 vertebrate animals, which present a much wider scope 

 for research, nothing seems to have been done. 



Mr. Leonhard Stegneger recognises the British marsh- 

 tit under the name Parus Britannicits as a species dis- 

 tinct from Pants palustris. 



Mr. J. B. Smith gives a revision of the Lepidopterous 

 family Saturnidae, under which he recognises two sub- 

 families, Attacinae and Saturninae. The former group, 

 which the author considers as reaching the highest point 

 in Bombycide development, are divided into the genera 

 Samia and Attacus, whilst the latter group includes the 

 genera Actias, Telea, Saturnia proper, Calosatiirnia, Hy- 

 perchiria, and Coloradia. 



Cleveland Institution of Engineers. Session 1887-88. No. 2. 



This issue contains an important paper by Mr. Jer. 

 Head on the " Iron Mines of Bilbao." It appears that 

 the substitution of steel for wrought-iron in the manu- 

 facture of rails, in ship-building, etc., has had some 

 results not altogether of a favourable character. Of the 

 iron-ore raised in Britain in 1885, not more than one- 

 sixth was of a quality suitable for conversion into steel. 

 Hence, many of our mines are idle. The high-class 

 ores, haematites produced in this country amounted only 

 to 2,678,000 tons, whilst 2,817,000 tons were imported 

 from abroad. Of this quantity 73 per cent, came from 

 Bilbao. Hence the iron mines of that district are 

 naturally a subject of interest to all persons connected 

 with engineering operations. 



College Hall. — This hall, which is situated in Byng- 

 place, Gordon-square, was instituted for the purpose of pro- 

 viding for women students of the University College and the 

 London School of Medicine the advantages of a collegiate resi- 

 dence. Byng-place consists of three large and commodious 

 houses, of which two have for some time been in the posses- 

 sion of the founders of the Hall. The third house has been 

 recently acquired, and the three are now capable of accom- 

 modating thirty-three students. There is a library, a dining 

 hall, and a spare room, which can be isolated in case of sick- 

 ness ; and a recent report shows that fifty-four students have 

 resided in the Hall since its opening, including a few 

 " occasional students " for the period of their examination. 

 Besides the course of study pursued by the lady residents 

 outside its precincts, private tuition is given in the Hall in 

 Latin, German, physics, and physiology. The debt owing 

 by the Council for the alterations and additions to the 

 premises now amounts to £1,100, and it is hoped the public, 

 "having now received proof of the value to women students 

 in London of the collegiate life supplied by the Hall, will 

 give substantial support " to their appeal. 



