SCIENCE. 



235 



and fixed purpose ; that it was specially adapted to its 

 original design ; and, finally, fixed where its adaptation 

 had fullest scope. This view was strongly opposed by 

 arguments based upon parasitism, showing that there had 

 been a gradual variation in design as different circum- 

 stances arose, and fresh materials came to hand. 



NEW SPECIES OF 



MOLLUSCA 



DERMS. 



AND ECHINO- 



Professor A. E. Verrill describes in detail, in the last 

 number of the American yournal of Science, many new 

 species of Marine Fauna, discovered on the southern coast 

 of New England, during the present season by the large 

 party, under the auspices of the U. S. Fish Commission, 

 of which Professor Spencer F. Baird is a Commissioner. 



The following is a list of the new species, described by 

 Professor A. E. Verrill and Mr. Sanderson Smith, with the 

 exception of Luidia elegans, described by Perrier. 



MOLLUSCA. 



Heteroteuthis tenera, sp. now — Calliteuthis, gen. nov. 

 Calliteuthis rnersa, sp. now — Allofiosus, gen. nov. Alloposus 

 mollis, sp. nov. — Cymbulia calceola, sp. nov. — PUurotoma 

 Agassizii, sp. nov. — PUurotoma Carpenteri , sp. nov. Scalaria 

 Pourtalesii, sp. nov. — Scalaria Dalliana, sp. nov. — Lamel- 

 laria pellucida, sp. nov. Lepetella, gen. nov. Lepetella 

 tubicola, sp. nov. — Lovenella Whiteavesii, sp. nov. — Callios- 

 toma Bairdii, sp. nov. Margarita regalis, sp. nov. Marga- 

 rita lamellosa, sp. nov. Turbonilla Rathhuni, sp. nov. 

 Turbonilla fatmosa, sp. nov. — Plcurobranchcea tarda, sp. nov. 

 Philine amabilis, sp. nov. Diaphana ( Utriculus) gemma, 

 sp. nov. Doris complanata, sp. nov. Cadulus Pandionis, 

 sp. nov. Ijyripes lens, sp. nov. Modiola polita, sp. nov. 

 Pec ten fcne stratus 1?) 



ECHINODERMS. 



Asterias Tanmri, sp. nov. Odontaster. gen. nov. Od&n- 

 taster hispidus. sp. nov. Archaster Americantts, sp. nov. 

 Archaster Agassizii, sp. nov. Luidia elegans. 



A POISONOUS PRODUCT OF FERMENTED 

 INDIAN CORN. 

 If the grains of Maize, or Indian Corn, be subjected to 

 fermentation, they become dark in color without changing 

 form, and are found to contain, in considerable amount, a 

 body which may be extracted by alcohol. After the remo- 

 val of the alcohol by distillation, there is obtained a resi- 

 due, from which, after long standing, an oil separates. 

 This oil is brown in color, has a sharp, bitter taste, and a 

 sp. gr. of 0.925. It forms soaps with alkalies, is soluble 

 in alcohol and ether, and becomes resinous when exposed 

 to the air. It acts as a poison on the animal system, and 

 in certain other properties is very similar to strychnia. — 

 Coeytaux, Chemikcr-Zeitung. 



TAXIDERMY. 



Mr. Herman E. Davidson suggests an improvement in 

 the art or method of mounting skins of fishes, which con- 

 sists in forming a rigid mold of plastic material on the sur- 

 face of the skin to be mounted before it is detached from 

 the body of the fish, and thereafter removing the soft por- 

 tion from the skin and stuffing or filling before it is removed 

 from the mold, whereby the natural form and convexity of 

 the fish are preserved. 



A Phylloxera Congress was held last month in 

 Spain, at Saragossa, for the consideration of all topics 

 connected with the grape Phylloxera. The American 

 Entomologist, basing its opinion on the recover) 7 of vines 

 in Solano County. Cal., asserts its belief that the ravages 

 of Phylloxera will have its day, and that from causes, 

 not far to seek, the vine will again grow on the very 

 lands which have been lately ravaged. For fear of the 

 Phylloxera the Turkish Government have forbidden the 

 introduction of any plants whatever in o the territories 

 of the Sultan. 



It is said that the Cochineal insect, which is a native 

 of Mexico and Central America, thrives well in Florida. 



Crystals of H.emine.— F. Hogyes has examined crystals 

 from the blood of men, oxen, swine, sheep, dogs, cats, 

 rabbits, guinea-pigs, mice, pole cats, poultry, pigeons, 

 geese, ducks, Rana esculenta and tnj»iwii, All have one 

 crystalline form only. They belong either to the monoclinar 

 or triclinar system, probably the former. 



This improvement may be understood by the annexed 

 drawing. It will be seen that Mr. Davidson takes a mold- 

 board having a portion removed corresponding with the 

 oudine of the body of the fish, exclusive of median fins, and 

 inserts the body of the fish in the opening, the median fins 

 resting against the face of the board, and forming a mold of 

 plastic material upon the body of the fish projecting bevond 

 the other face previous to removing the soft pans and stuff- 

 ing the skin. The soft pans are then removed from the 

 skin resting in the mold, and plastic material, adapted to 

 solidify, is then poured in. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disea ; ?- 

 for October, 1880. Office No. 70 Monroe street! 

 Chicago, and G P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 



The opening article is by Dr. S. V. Clavenger, con- 

 sisting of his paper read before the Amencan Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science, entitled " Plan of 

 the Cerebro-spinal Nervous System." An abstract of 

 this paper was furnished to " Science." by Dr. Clevenger, 

 and appeared in this jonmal of the nth of September 

 last. Specialists should not tail to read the paper now- 

 presented in detail, as it forms an :mportant addition to 

 the literature of this subject. Dr. Edward C. Spitzka 

 contributes two papers, the first a continuation of his 

 " Contributions to Nervous and Mental Pathology," and 

 " Contributions to Encepnalic Anarony." In the latter 

 article Dr. Spitzka takes up the subject'and methods of a 

 study of the Ichthyopsidean brain. As we shall probablv 

 reproduce this article for the benefit of the reacr 

 •• Science, - ' tunher reference to it at present is un- 

 necessary. We cannot, however, refrain from express- 

 ing our satisfaction at finding that Dr. Spitzka continues to 

 devote his attention to original research in this direction ; 

 our knowledge of human anatomy has been °reatlv ex- 

 tended by the investigation, ot naturalists, intcTtne lower 

 forms of life, and if higher results are attained, it will be 

 by such indefatigable and intelligent work as is man- 

 ifested in this paper of Dr. Spitzka. Tne other articles 

 in this number are, " Contributions 10 Psvchiatrv bv 

 James G. K;emin, M. D. A cise of Diffuse Myelitis, 

 by Dr. J. C. Shaw, and Dr. John S. Wo^dside. A case 

 of Acute Myelitis, by S. G. Webber. M. D.. and a case 

 of Meningo-encephalitis, by H. M. Bannister, M. D. 



