plants, are to be found the most remarkable 

 chemical decompositions, which no chemist can 

 ever produce. Here various bodies are fixed or 

 eliminated, and nourishment supplied to the 

 tissues. Then, as to exhalation — from the green 

 parts of plants we find that oxygen, the chief 

 essential of plants and animals, is given off abun- 

 dantly from those parts which are colored. Car- 

 bonic acid is important to plants ; containing car- 

 bon, a black body resembling charcoal, of which 

 it is the chief constituent. A remarkable instance 

 of the adaptation of birds to their leafy habitations, 

 is, that in singing they give off this body largely, 

 mixed with air. Animals are chiefly fed by 

 plants, containing the same four elements above- 

 mentioned, but modified in their condition. It is 

 a well known fact that, unless we eat and drink, 

 we die; but that while we are eating and drink- 

 ing we are really dying, may appear a paradox. 

 It nevertheless is strictly true. The destruction 

 and reproduction of the particles of the human 

 frame are continually going on ; so that a man at 

 forty years, though apparently the same as at 

 twenty, has not probably a single atom in his 

 body which has not been changed. Respiration 

 itself is, in fact, a species of slow combustion. 

 By this, the vital current is purified and supplied 

 with oxygen ; while a portion of the same body 

 combined with superfluous carbon, is again given 

 off. So that we may truly be said " to die daily," 

 and to enter again upon a kind of new life ; this 

 continues till the vital force finally becomes ex- 

 tinct, when another series of changes are pro- 

 duced. — Chemicus. 



Effect of Electricity on Flowers. — M. Bertho- 

 lon, of Montpelier, announces that he has proved 

 by experiment that flowers on being electrified 

 emit a much stronger odor than usual ; which 

 explains the fact that the atmosphere is generally 

 loaded with fragrance during the prevalence of 

 thunderstorms. — P. T. 



A Beautiful u Dove-like" Flower. — The Panama 

 Star mentions a beautiful lily, with a bulb root, 

 long oval leaves, and a stock four feet in length, 

 found only on one particular part of the Isthmus, 

 near Panama. It is named Espiritu Santo, and 

 is thus described: — "The plant possesses little 

 beauty beyond what is contained in the flower 

 itself, which is of a most elegant and peculiar 

 formation. The outward part, which is smaller 

 than a pigeon's egg, resembles a curiously shaped 

 vase ; on opening the lid of which, the most perfect 

 and beautiful/ac simile of the dove is found within 

 The head is turned over its back, appearing as if 

 it were about to take its farewell of earth, and soar 

 to some brighter region. No person can see this 

 extraordinary flower for the first time without a 

 deep feeling of wonder and admiration at the 

 perfection and beauty displayed in its formation ; 

 and every succeeding time it is met with, the 

 observer gazes upon it with increased admiration 

 and curiosity." — Helen W. 



[The flower is elsewhere styled the " Paradise 

 Flower ;" and if we remember rightly, there is a 

 sonnet to it in a collection of poems, by the Rev. 

 J. W. Burgon, of Oriel College, Oxford.] 



Insects, Lasiocampa, Ruhi, &c. — I am not at all 

 surprised that " Cerura's" friend has been unsuc- 

 cesiul in rearing the larva? of Lasiocampa Rubi. 

 Many years ago, I myself made the same mistake 

 in feeding them on the bramble. They all, of 

 course, died. Experience has made me wiser ; and 

 1 have many a time reared them as mentioned in 

 the March number of our Journal. Bear in 

 mind that I lay down no absolute rule ; I speak of 

 that which I individually have found to be best. 

 Wet food I have always considered objectionable ; 

 for there is generally sufficient moisture in the 

 leaves for the proper nourishment of the larva?. 

 But by all means let " Cerura" follow his own 

 fancy in this matter. " Chacun a sa facon." I 

 shall have pleasure, at the proper season, in 

 sending him through you some eggs of Rotatoria. 

 I did not positively assert that his larva of Ligus- 

 tri was stuck by an ichneumon ; 1 merely sug- 

 gested {ante page 1^5), the probability of such a 

 thing. " Cerura" says he is able readily to decide 

 when a caterpillar is unfortunately so stuck. I 

 confess that I have often been deceived by appear- 

 ances ; and knowing how very liable the larva of 

 Ligustri is to be destroyed by its enemy the ich- 

 neumon, I really did conclude his had fallen a 

 victim to this abominably destructive insect. After 

 all, I have still some slight misgivings as to this 

 matter, more especially as " Cerura" simply affirms 

 his own disbelief, without stating his own opinion 

 of the fact. Is " Cerura" fond of coleopterous 

 insects ? If not, let me recommend him to study 

 them as an additional most instructive recreation 

 (if simply recreation) ; but I would much rather 

 see it made a thorough study. — Bombyx Atlas. 



Thoughts on a Faded Rose: — 



Sweet flow'r ! how fleeting is thy bloom, 



How soon thy beauties fade ; 

 Though lately cull'd from Flora's bow'rs, 



In brightest tints array 'd. 



How great the change a few short hours 



Have wrought upon thy lot ; 

 Those leaves on which the sunbeams smil'd, 



Lie wither'd and forgot ! 



Still beautiful thou art ! tho' death 



Has mark'd thee for his own ; 

 E'en when upon thy blushing cheek 



The glitt'ring dew-drop shone. 



Fair blossom ! while I sadly gaze 



Upon thy fragile form, 

 Methinks thou dost a lesson teach 



That mortals should not scorn. 



Emblem thou art of all the bliss 



This passing world imparts ; 

 Where love, and friendship's silken chain, 



Would fain enthral our hearts. 



Then may we learn from thy frail life, 



To place our hopes above ; 

 For God reigns there, and He alone 



Is worthy of our love. 



R. C. 



To Keep away the Moth.— Before folding up 

 and putting away your winter blankets, furs, and 

 other articles, sprinkle them, or smear them over 

 with a few drops of oil of turpentine ; either alone 



