June I, i8S8.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



525 



that the library was still in being at the time of the Arab 

 conquest. The probability is that when Bishop Cyril and 

 his monks broke into and sacked the Serapeion, the books 

 were thrown out as rubbish and have been buried under 

 sand-drifts. There are rumours that after high winds sheets 

 of parchment have occasionally been seen projecting out of 

 the sands. R. E. 



CONNECTION BETWEEN COLOURS AND TASTES. 

 Attention has lately been drawn to the connection between 

 colours and sounds, but no one seems to think of a possible 

 connection or relation between taste and colour. Yet it is 

 found that in the vegetable world bitterness is, in numbers of 

 cases, if not universally, connected with a yellow colour. As 

 instances may be mentioned the Eschscholtzia, which is too 

 bitter even for the slugs, the dandelion, the gentian, and many 

 others. Even artificial yellow colouring matters, such as picric 

 acid, are also bitter. The connection of a red colour in fruits 

 with acidify is, of course, understood. J. W. S. 



THE LANTERN FLY. 

 The statements of your correspondent "T." (Scientific 

 News, p. 501) on the luminosity of this insect {Fidgora 

 lantcrnarid) are very interesting. He, as an eye-witness, 

 fully confirms the original account given by Madame Merian, 

 against which merely negative evidence has been produced. 

 The varied colours of the light are most important. Have 

 we here to do with different species, or can one and the same 

 insect vary its light under different conditions, or at pleasure V 

 Never having had the opportunity of meeting with this insect 

 living, I am quite at a loss. An Old Entomologist. 



National Health Society. — The Duchess of Westmin- 

 ster distributed the certificates awarded after the examina- 

 tions and ambulance lectures of this Society, at Grosvenor 

 House, on the 2Sth ult. The Duke of Westminster presided, 

 and in opening the proceedings said that the Society was one 

 the importance of which could not be measured by the 

 slender pecuniary support it had received, far too slender for 

 the object in view. Nevertheless the Society had been of 

 great use, not only in regard to actual work, but also in 

 stimulating public interest on the question. It had been 

 proposed to amalgamate the Parkes Museum of Hygiene 

 with this and kindred societies. If this could be effected he 

 would be happy to place at the disposal of the amalgamated 

 bodies a site in Buckingham Palace-road, although he was 

 afraid he could not altogether give it to them. The certifi- 

 cates having been distributed by her Grace, the proceedings 

 terminated with a vote of thanks to the Duke for presiding. 



Cambridge. — The names of candidates for the office of 

 University Lecturer in Geography, with brief statements of 

 their qualifications and of the methods they would propose 

 to adopt, should be sent to Dr. Ferrers, Master of Gonville 

 and Caius College, not later than June 5th. The stipend is 

 _^2oo per annum, and the appointment is for five years, sub- 

 ject to confirmation by the Senate. 



Paris Water Supply. — According to Industries, Herr 

 Ritter, of Neuchatel, has made a proposal to the munici- 

 pality of Paris to supply that town with water from the 

 Lake of Neuchatel, the level of which is nearly 1,000 11. 

 above that of Paris. The distance is about three 

 hundred miles. The quantity to be supplied is 20 tons 

 per second, and the estimated pressure at Paris, after 

 deducting loss by friction in the supply main, is 50 lb. 

 per square inch. The total energy therefore brought by 

 water to the town of Paris would thus amount to over 

 8,000 h.p. in falling water, or say, 6,000 actual h.p. ob- 

 tainable from water engines. 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list ha^ been compiled esperially for the SCIENTIFIC 

 News Ijy Messrs. W. P. THOMPSON and BOULT, Patent Agents, of 

 Tfili High Holhorn, London, W.C.; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

 How, Nottingham; Ducie Buildings, Bxnk street, Manchester; 

 and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Decanting. — A decanting appliance has been patented 

 by Mr. T. Latimer, of Wakefield, Yorkshire. The 

 bottle is held in a cradle pivoted to a case which con- 

 tains a compartment for a corkscrew. The case is 

 supported by a stand, which can be used as a reading- 

 desk. 



Igniting Fuses. — An appliance for igniting fuses of 

 mining cartridges has been patented by Mr. M. Settle, 

 of Bolton. The invention consists of a shield for cover- 

 ing both the end of the fuse and the platinum bridge 

 carried by the insulated conducting wires, so that when 

 a current passes, the fuse is ignited without exposing 

 flame or sparks. 



Gun Barrels and Projectiles. — An improvement 

 in gun barrels, and projectiles for use therewith, has been 

 patented by Mr. H. E. Newton, being a communication 

 from Mr. Nobel, of Paris. The invention consists in 

 constructing barrels with a choke-bore, to reduce the 

 diameter of the projectiles as they pass down. The bore 

 may be conical and rifled throughout. The cartridge- 

 case contains several projectiles of different lengths, the 

 heaviest being in front, the object being to produce 

 different ranges and trajectories. 



Fire Extinguisher. — A hand fire extinguisher has 

 been patented by Mr. E.G. Maxwell, as a communication 

 from Mr. W. Druyff, of New York. This invention 

 relates to that class of hand fire extinguisher in which a 

 plunger or piston is employed to eject any suitable 

 liquid. In carrying it into effect the reservoir in which 

 the piston works is provided at each end with a suitable 

 cap to hermetically seal the contents, but instead of being 

 screw-threaded, each cap is locked and unlocked by a 

 simple half-turn, similar to a bayonet joint, thus render- 

 ing the piston rod and piston free to work with the least 

 possible delay and trouble. 



Sewage. — An improvement in apparatus for treating 

 sewage has been patented by Mr. F. W. Lacey, Brent- 

 ford. The invention has for its object the oxidation of 

 the sewage, and consists in the introduction of the air 

 into the sewage while it is being pumped from one level 

 to another. To effect this a tap is introduced into the 

 suction pipes of the pump, between the pump plunger 

 and end of the suction pipe, so that the air is drawn with 

 the sewage into the pump barrel, and this thoroughly 

 mixed whilst passing through the pump and during its 

 flow to the outfall. This method also supplies air to the 

 air vessel as required, and can be regulated by an ordi- 

 nary cock. 



Extracting Gold. — An apparatus for the extraction 

 of gold has been patented by Mr. C. D. Abel, being a 

 communication from Messrs. Fisher and Weber, of 

 Berlin. The finely-ground ore, mixed with water or a 

 solution of salt, etc., is placed in a vat lined with amal- 

 gamated plates and containing stirrers. The plates are 



