EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 383 



In the ' Transactions and Annual Report of the Manchester Micro- 

 scopical Society ' for 1898 is a paper by Mr. A. T. Gillanders on " Scale 

 Insects," from which we extract as follows : — " In many parts of the country 

 the trunks and larger branches of beech trees will be found coated with a 

 white covering, presenting the appearance of a shower of snow having 

 frozen. This pest has been graphically termed the ' Felt Scale ' by Miss 

 Ormerod, and the coccid itself is named Crypto coccus fag L Where the 

 pest is but sparsely distributed on the stem little damage accrues ; but it is 

 sometimes found about a quarter to half an inch in thickness, and when 

 such is the case the bark separates from the stem, and the tree ultimately 

 dies in consequence. A most interesting and successful remedial measure 

 has been brought under the writer's notice at Blagdon, in Northumberland. 

 With an i-in. auger bore three holes at about equal distance right into the 

 centre of the trunk, about three feet from the ground, and sloping slightly 

 towards the root of the tree. Into these holes place as much tlower of 

 sulphur as can be conveniently got in, and then cork them firmly up with 

 a plug of soft wood. This should be done in the autumn, and will be found 

 successful. It was first adopted about thirty years ago, and the trees which 

 were then operated on are now in comparatively good condition. Prior to 

 the experiment they were covered with the scale, were very sickly-looking, 

 and shed their leaves prematurely." 



Mr. Matthias Dunn has contributed to the August number of the 



I Contemporary Review ' a very interesting article on " The Seven Senses 

 of Fishes." These senses are considered and described as sight, touch, 

 taste, hearing, smell, electric dermal sense, and magnetic dermal sense. 

 The " electric dermal sense " affords fishes premonitory warnings of coming 

 storms, and they then — Herrings have been observed — leave the shores 

 " sometimes ten or twelve hours before the coming storm." The " mag- 

 netic dermal sense " is a guiding principle. Mackerel, Herring, and 

 Pilchards " swim without error to their desired spawning-beds, sheltered 

 homes, and pleasant feeding grounds. Now, these fishes cannot, like man, 

 have objects to guide them to their desired haven, in the shape of high 

 lands, lights, and sea-marks ; nor can they be aided by telescopic sight in 

 going these long distances, for in the obscure sea, as before shown, this is 

 impossible ; hence we conclude that some magnetic principle must assist 

 in guiding them." 



The ' Wombat,' just received (May, 1899), gives " Ornithological 

 Results during 1898," which reports that during the season just closed 



II steady progress has been made in Australian ornithology and oology." 



