694 Scientific News. [ September, 
a trial, and especially to those who make a special study of that 
delightful branch of micro-botany, micro-funyi, I hope it will com- 
mend itself as a thoroughly efficient and simple method.—George 
Clinch, in Science Gossip. 
50% 
` SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
— Died, in Beverly, Massachusetts, Count Louis Frangois de 
Pourtales. Count Pourtales was born in Neufchatel, March 4, 
1823. He belonged to the Swiss branch of an old family which 
has branches also in France, Prussia and Bohemia. He was edu- ' 
cated as an engineer, and came to this country about the same 
time as Agassiz, and became his fellow-worker and pupil. Upon 
the death of Agassiz the Count was appointed Keeper of the 
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, which position he held at the 
time of his death. He had previously entered the service of the 
Government in the Coast Survey. His papers on the physical 
geography of the Caribbean sea and the Gulf stream established 
his reputation in Europe as well as in America. Through the 
death of his father he succeeded to his title, and received a for- 
tune which gave him the opportunity of devoting himself wholly 
to his favorite studies. It is said that his modesty amounted 
— The two first parts of a new botanical work by Dr. Dodelport, 
of Zurich, have just been published by Herr Cæsar Schmidt, of 
‘lower fungi are described in a popular manner. The author un- 
_dertakes to popularize the results hitherto attained in our knowl- 
edge of putrefaction and contagion-fungi. He describes their 
forms, their size, and their manner of propagation ; introduces 
Another chapter treats of miasma and contagions, and gives à- 
