Oct. 5, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



359 



Driving Bands of Camels' Hair. — It is said that, ac- 

 cording to experiments made at the Polytechnic Institute 

 of Munich, belts of camels' hair are superior to those of 

 leather, hemp, etc. ; that they work without noise, and 

 are not affected by acids. 



The Destruction of the Phylloxera and the 

 Heterodera Schactii. — M. Willot, in a communication 

 to the Academy of Sciences, states these pests may be 

 destroyed by solutions of common salt, though they are 

 capable of resisting morphine, belladonna, atropine, 

 strychnine, and curare. 



A Tricyle with Sails. — The ancient Chinese inven- 

 tion of light carriages driven by the wind is now being 

 successfully applied iu Europe to tricycles. In open 

 country, when the wind is favourable, the machine may 

 be propelled even up moderate hills without any exer- 

 tion on the part of the rider. 



Temperance Beverages. — According to the Medical 

 Press, the Board of Inland Revenue have lately been 

 examining so-called " teetotal " drinks, with some start- 

 ling results. A sample of elderberry syrup contained 

 more than 8 per cent, of proof-spirit ; a " non-alcoholic " 

 ginger cordial, more than 10 per cent. ; certain " unfer- 

 mented sherry " yielded 17 per cent.; and a "cowslip 

 wine " no less than 28| per cent. ! 



Some Results of the Canal of Suez. — Among the 

 unforeseen consequences of the opening of the Suez 

 Canal is a change of the climate of Lower Egypt, where 

 rain, previously almost unknown, has become relatively 

 frequent. Another result is less satisfactory; the sharks of 

 the Indian Ocean have found their way into the eastern 

 part of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. Sea-bathing 

 at the ports of Fiume and Pola is rendered impracticable. 



The Depths of the Sea. — In the last report of the 

 hydrographic service of the United States on the 

 soundings effected by the Albatross in the Pacific along 

 the coasts of Central America, mention is made of a line 

 passing by n° 45 ' N.L. and 97 3' W. Long., where the 

 water has a depth of 4,518 metres, or about the height 

 from the sea-level to the summit of Mount Shastu, in 

 California. Other soundings gave depths of only 90, 

 95, 104, and no metres. 



New Science and Art Institute. — Sir Charles 

 Forster, M.P. for Walsall, recently opened a new 

 science and art institute which has been built in that 

 town. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of 

 the new structure formed part of the jubilation celebra- 

 tion last year. The total cost of the building, including 

 furnishing and the fitting up of laboratories, is estimated 

 at ^5,500. Towards this, ^4,000 was raised by sub- 

 scriptions, and it was stated that with the Government 

 grant and income derived from other sources the insti- 

 tute would be opened practically free from debt. 



Theoretical Astronomy. — We learn that Professor 

 Newcomb is engaged on an important work dealing with 

 theoretical astronomy. Its general object is the deter- 

 mination of the form, size, and position of the orbits of 

 all the large planets of the solar system, from the best 



a nd most recent observations, and the preparation of 

 entirely new and uniform tables for predicting the future 

 positions of those objects The part of the work now far 

 advanced comprises the four inner planets, Mercury, 

 Venus, the Earth, and Mars, in which fourteen pairs of 

 planets come into play. Twelve of these are completed. 

 There remains but the action of Jupiter on Venus and 

 Mars to be determined. All the observations at Green- 

 wich from 1765 to 1S11 have been reduced with modern 

 data, and the work by Dr. Auwers dealing with an earlier 

 period has also been embodied in Professor Newcombe's 

 researches. 



The English Exploring Expedition in Morocco. — 

 The following telegram despatched from Mogador on 

 September 19th, and transmitted by the Eastern Telegraph 

 Company's cable from Tangier, has been received by the 

 Royal and Royal Geographical Societies : — Left Morocco 

 city August 27th. Driven back from Uricka-valley, but 

 attained object by another route. Made an ascent of 

 main range from Reraya, reaching nearly 13,000 feet. 

 Skirted base of mountains to Imintanut, where we crossed 

 by forced marches into Sous country, through tribes in 

 revolt against Kaid. Nearly besieged in castle of Raid 

 of the Misgina by Howara in revolt. Succeeded in 

 escaping safely to Agadir. Reached Mogador September 

 17th. May return to Hana for a few days. Afterwards 

 go north to Fez and Mequinez. Home probably middle 

 of December. Letters first fortnight, Consul, Rabat ; 

 afterwards Tangier. Perfect health. Successful beyond 

 expectations. — Joseph Thompson, Harold Crichton- 

 Browne. 



Discovery of Prehistoric Remains near Basing- 

 stoke. — A shepherd, in the employ of Sir Nelson 

 Rycroft, Bart., was pitching hurdles in a field adjoining 

 Dummer Clump, when the bar came in contact with a 

 large stone, which on being removed was found to have 

 covered two very rudely-formed vessels, of which the 

 under one was pronounced by Dr. S. Andrews, of 

 Basingstoke, to contain human bones, which had under- 

 gone incineration. Subsequently another urn was re- 

 moved of a much coarser character, bearing a band round 

 the base of the rim ornamented with sunken dots, made 

 apparently with a hollow stick. The whole of the 

 vessels are hand-made, and apparently fire-baked, and 

 the larger ones have suffered some damage from the 

 plough, which must have repeatedly passed over them. 

 Subsequently three other vessels, two large and one 

 small, were found. All are of the same slightly baked 

 clay, ornamented with bands. These are sometimes 

 raised and ornamented with the forefinger or thumb of 

 a woman or boy ; while, in one case at least, a second 

 band of ornament is formed by the indentations made 

 by the tip of a finger. With one exception, all were 

 placed in the ground bottom upwards, the bottoms 

 themselves being in every case wanting, probably de- 

 stroyed by the plough, they being only six or eight 

 inches underground, and they were filled with earth, 

 clay, and a few burnt bones. The only exception is the 

 first found, which was upright, and nearly filled with 

 burnt bones only. On it was placed a small vessel of 

 better baked ware. 



The Public Health. — The Registrar-General's return 

 for the week ending September 22nd shows that the 

 deaths registered during that period in 28 great towns of 



