20 West American Scientist- 



The Queen of Spain has abolished slavery in Cuba. The slave 

 owners are compensated by the government and therefore satis- 

 fied with the edict of emancipation. 



Death from cold may be simulated for a longer time than is 

 usually supposed in the case of the higher animals. Rabbits were 

 shaved by MM. Richet and Rondeau, and inclosed in flexible 

 tubes through which there was a flow of salt water, cooled to 7° 

 C. until breathing and the action of the heart ceased. After suf- 

 fering these mammals to remain in that condition for half an hour 

 vital functions were restored. 



A very heavy force is employed in the construction of the 

 underground telegraphic connection between Marseilles and Paris. 

 A cast iron pipe contains the cable, and it is laid nearly six feet 

 beneath the surface of the earth. At intervals of 550 yards the 

 cable passes through a chamber of cast iron, which is so con- 

 structed that it can be readily inspected whenever there is any 

 necessity for that work. About every no yards the pipes are 

 connected by cast iron boxes, which also enable the wires to be 

 inspected and repaired. The cost in all is about $8,000,000. 



Dragon's blood is a resin which exudes from various trees. It 

 is so called from its red color. 



We cannot determine the sound of a string which makes less 

 than thirty vibrations per second, nor of one which makes more 

 than 7,552. 



LITER A rURE. 



The YoutJis Companion celebrates this year its sixtieth anni- 

 versary, and well deserves its enormous subscription list of nearly 

 400,000 from the unobtrusive moral tone that pervades it and the 

 variety of matter that it gives its readers of interest to both old 

 and young. 



That 'nothing succeeds like success' is proved by the history 

 of the Overland Monthly which has gained a well-earned victory 

 over its famous grizzly, so familiar to all, and has secured a promi- 

 nent place among the great American magazines. 



Science Series is a new venture in the journalistic field by 

 H. M. Downs of Rutland, Vermont. Each number is to contain 

 a complete popular article on some scientific subject. 



Dr. Parry contributes another article to the Proc. Dav. Acad. 

 Sci.. reinstating the genus Lastarriaea, and describing two new 

 species from S. A. 



Rev. E. L. Greene published a new genus of plants related to 

 brodiaeas in die 6th bulletin of the Cal. Acad. Sci., together with 



