62 Scientific News. [ January, 
by W. K. Brooks; A review on the expenditure of energy by 
working muscle, by H. N. Martin; On the formation of the 
female pelvis, by C. Sihler; On the influence of stimulation of the 
optic lobes upon the respiratory center of the frog, by H. 
Martin; Contributions towards a history of the Maryland Cam- 
bari, by P. R. Uhler; The Urodela of North America, by. SF 
Clark. 
— The work of the United States Fish Commission was car- 
ried on with an unusual degree of success at Gloucester, Mass., 
during the past summer. The steamer Speedwell made her last — 
trip September 26th, having been used almost daily in dredging 
trips since the middle of July. Prof. Baird, the commissioner, was 
assisted by Professor Verrill, Mr. Richard Rathbun and Mr. San- 
derson Smith, who paid special attention to the marine inverte- 
brates ; Prof. Farlow studied the algz, Prof. Goode, Dr. Bean and 
Mr. Earle attended to the fishes, while Mr. Asaph Hall, Jr., had 
charge of the temperature observations. A good many new 
fishes, corals and other invertebrates were collected, while much 
that is new regarding food-fishes and fisheries was discovered. 
The energy and success of the manifold operations of this 
important Commission are most apparent. 
— A goose belonging to a Gloucester, Mass., family died last 
week at the advanced age of 70 years. They have another still 
living that is known to be 50 years of age. 
We have not endeavored to substantiate this statement, but 
copy it from the daily papers. Geese of this age certainly 
deserve an obituary notice. Can any one give us authentic 
statements regarding the extreme old age of fowl and quad- 
rupeds ? 
— We learn from Mr. S. H. Scudder that a hymenopterous 
insect (Myrmar) very slightly larger than Pteratomus putnamit, 
being very slightly over one-ninetieth of an inch long, has been 
ound in amber, according to Duisberg’s Zur Bernstein Fauna 
(Schriften K. Phys. Okonomische Gesellschaft zu Königsberg. 
Band .'23). These two insects are members of the same 
family (Proctotrupida) and are the smallest insects yet known. 
— B Westermann & Co. send us the title of an important work 
whose publication has just begun, viz: Buctecker’s Systema En- 
tomologiz sistens Insectorum Classes, Genera, Species. Pars I. 
Odonata (Fabric.) Europ. 42 tabulæ, photograph. floridisque 
coloribus distinctæ. Colored $27.50, plain $13.20 This work 
will be published in fifteen volumes, and its continuation is 
secured, the MS. being all ready. 
`. — We have been repeatedly asked what is the figure on the 
first page of the cover of this magazine. It is copied from a figure 
-~ in Haeckel’s great work on, Radiolaria, of his Aucyrtidium cran- 
