54 The West American Scientist. 
A TuHorny PatH—This morning I found under a piece ot 
cactus in a canyon a beautiful mottled shell of Helix Stearnsiana. 
The original tenent had not moved from this little home and I 
soon transferred both house and lodger to my basket. I added 
a few fungi, some other shells, and two or three plants of the fish 
hook cactus to the contents of the basket. Ina short time I 
noticed that the snail was restless, and, after investigating the 
newspaper that lined the basket. as well as the fungi, he found the 
cactus which was evidently a pleasant discovery to him. The 
heads of the cacti were closely set with clusters of fine white 
spines and larger central hooked spines which give the variety 
the name of the fish hook cactus. Carefully feeling his way, the 
snail ventured upon this sea of spines soon drawing his shell after 
him, and leisurely crossed the several heads over the needle 
points of the spines (on which the reader would doubtless hesi- 
to rest a finger) and evidently without the least inconvenience. 
Reaching the spineless base of the farther plant, he rested from 
his travels—content to remain near the friendly cactus, which fury 
nishes both food and shelter to our Californian snails. C.2.O. 
MicHEL EuGENE CHEVREUL.—The distinguished French 
‘chemist, Michel Eugene Chevreul/died in Panis @aapaiiouas ile 
was born before the outbreak of the French revolution, studied 
at Angers with the young Wellington and Napoleon, and went 
to Paris to push his fortunes a year before the latter became Em- 
peror. Chevreul was born August 31, 1786, in Angers, and 
lived to see France twice an empire, twicea monarchy and thrice 
a republic. His father was a well-to-do physician in Angers, 
professor in the medical faculty and a talented writer. Chevreul 
was a very tall man, square in the shoulders and walked quite 
erect and straight. 
In 1803, Chevreul entcred Vauquelin’s laboratory in Paris, 
where his aptitudes were quickly noticed, and in 1806 he was ap- 
pointed the director of the laboratory, and professor in the 
Lycee Charlemagne. In 1810 he was appointed azde-naturaliste 
in the Museum of Natural History, then examiner for the cole 
Polptechnique; and at thirty he was professor of chemistry in 
the Gobelins, the world-known manufactory of tapestry, and 
director of the department of tinctorial baths. In 1826, after 
the death of Proust, Chevreul was appointed member of the 
Academy of Sciences, Not one of his colleagues at that time is 
now living. He never missed a meeting of the Academy, up 
to his hundredth birthday, and it is not long since he might have 
been seen walking to the Institute, hat in hand, and nands behind 
his back. 
As a man, Chevreul had a pleasant expression, amiable, kind- 
hearted and good-natured, devoid of pedantic manners. His 
life was a very quiet one, devoted wholly to work and study. 
