623 NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 
WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ARTS AND LETTERS. — The first 
meeting of this new society was held July 19th, at Madison, Wisconsin. 
The president, Dr. J. W. Hoyt, reported the preparation sha publication 
of the first number of the Academy’s ** Bulletin." It was also stated that 
a bill had passed the Legislature for a topographical survey of the lead 
region of the State under the direction of the Academy. A paper was 
read on the “ Classification of the Sciences," by Rev. A. O. Wright. Mr. 
Englemann and Judge Knapp spoke on the destruction of the forest trees, 
the latter concluding that the pine forests of Michigan and Wisconsin 
would be wholly destroyed in twenty-five years, if their present reckless 
E 
studies on the fish of Lake Michigan, and of the recent dredgings in the 
lake in connection with Drs. Thompson and Lapham, vage in the 
eee number of the Wines Other papers were 
e have also to note the existence of a flourishing Mid History 
heir in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
TO MOUNT SPIDERS FOR CABINETS. — In M. Thorell’s fine 4to on 
emos Spiders, which singularly enough, is published in Upsala, and 
yet printed in the English language, the following instructions are given: 
— '' The spider is first killed, either by the vapor of ether or by heat, and 
is impaled by an insect-pin, which is passed through the right side of the 
cephalothorax; the abdomen is then cut off close to the cephalothorax, 
and the cut surface dried with blotting-paper. The head of another 
insect-pin is cut off, and the blunt extremity introduced through the inci- 
sion into the abdomen, up to the spinners. The abdomen thus spitted is 
inserted into a large test-tube held over the flame of a candle, the prepa- 
ration being constantly rotated till dry, avoiding the extremes of too 
much or too little heat — the firmness of the abdomen being tested every 
now and then with a fine needle, till it is so firm as not to yield to pres- 
sure; the front extremity of the pin is now cut off obliquely, and the 
point thus made inserted into the cephalothorax, the two halves of the 
body being thus again brought into Sahat The animal may then be 
mounted as usual.” — Popular Science Rev ` 
Tovcaw's BEAK. — Permit a few words in answer to the question 
* Wherefore such a beak” for the Toucan. On page 306, of that most 
lively and interesting book for a denizen pro tem., or longer, of the tropics 
* The Andes and the Amazon," by Professor J. Orton, the author has & 
rather piquant discussion of this question. I answer it by saying, to feed 
th, to be sure. What else? Perhaps also for defence and pluming. 
heavy, serrated mandibles. Like the shovel-nosed tribe, or the digger- 
