724 NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 
omy is dawning, since comparative anatomy and embryology will 
aid in recognizing the nature of pathological processes and for- 
mations. Dohrn insists that ‘‘in addition to anatomy and physi- 
ology, which are subjects of equal importance, embryology and 
comparative anatomy should also be regarded as absolutely essen- 
tial to the completion of medical education” and urges that a new 
and special chair be devoted to these subjects in medical univer- 
sities and schools; and if this be a necessity for Germany, where 
the study of the history of development has of late years received 
such great extension, it holds still more for England, where 
scarcely any embryology is taught or made an object of study. 
How lamentably deficient our own medical schools are in these 
branches is sufficiently apparent. 
CAUSE oF PHOSPHORESCENCE IN ANiIMALS.—M. Panceri pre- 
sented to the recent congress of naturalists and physicians at 
Turin (Italy) the results of some investigations as to the cause of 
phosphorescence in animals, and especially in fishes. He has 
come to the conclusion that the cause of this phenomenon is the 
slow oxidation of fat, which he finds to be always present when 
the phosphorescence is observed in animal substances. In the 
case of fish the oxygen of the air very readily penetrates the skin, 
and acts upon the subcutaneous adipose tissue. The phenomenon 
is promoted by placing the phosphorescent substance in oxygen, 
but is entirely arrested by its immersion in carbonic acid, fresh 
water, alcohol, or any solution not containing oxygen. Phospho- 
rescence usually commences immediately after death, and contin- 
ues until decomposition sets in, with disengagement of ammonia, 
when it invariably ceases.— A. W. B. 
Piers RAPH Parasrre. — It will doubtless be an interesting 
item of intelligence to many of the readers of the Narurarsr, that 
the parasite, so anxiously looked for, as the only hope of preserv- 
ing the cabbage crop of our country from the destruction threat- 
ened it by the ravages of Pieris rape, has already entered upon 
its labors, and in so efficient a manner as to promise immediate 
beneficial results. 
During the latter part of September, I was informed that a num- 
ber of chrysalides of ‘P. rape which had been collected by a gen- 
tleman in this city, with a view of obtaining specimens of the 
