Notes and News. 11g 
but we don’t care to remind her that we overheard these classic 
lines. 
The daily paper recently noted a remarkable curiosity found in 
the vicinity of San Diego, which, it was announced, was to 
enrich the U. S. National Museum. It was nothing less interest- 
ing than a ved bat. whose bite is reputed to be invariably fatal. 
A friend of the editor carefully examined this specimen, and gave 
us an accurate description, which we are pleased to furnish our 
readers in advance of any of our scientific contemporaries. 
(Diagnosis: a brick-bat. ) 
‘«Bre this reaches our readers we expect we shall have wel- 
comed many prominent eastern scientists who have notified us 
of their intending visits to our coast. Dr. George Vasey, botan- 
ist of the Department of Agriculture, Major J. W. Powell, and 
others connected with the scientific work at Washington are 
among the number. We feel greatly encouraged at the present 
indications of an increase in interest and activity in scientific sub- 
jects in the west. 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
. T. V. Munson of Denison, Texas, special agent of the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture and C L. Hopkins assistant pomolog- 
ist of the Department visited San Diego about August Ist, for the 
purpose of investigating the wild grapes and other native fruits 
and nuts of this section. The results will be published in a special 
report for free distribution by the Department. 
Queen & Co., of Philadelphia have issued a new catalogue of 
their clearance sale of microscopes, objectives, etc. —A chance to 
obtain an outfit or accessories and sundries at low cost. 
_ The cotton tree (Rhus cotinoides) is said to ‘‘kill other trees 
and to then commit suicide,’’—hence the planting of this tree 
is not recommended. 
Dr. C. C. Parry has returned to his home in Davenport,Iowa, 
much to the regret of his California friends. 
A genuine midsummer number is 7he Century for August, 
with its opening article on ‘‘The Stream of Pleasure—the River 
Thames’”’ by the Pennells,—husband and wife. Vacationists will 
find matter of interest in Dr. Weir Mitchell’s profusely illustrated 
article on ‘‘The Poison of Serpents’’—a line of inquiry in which 
he has made important discoveries. Remington, artist and writ- 
er, describes with pen and pencil his outing with the Cheyennes; 
and a group of well-known wood-engravers describe with draw- 
ings and engravings by each, a wood-engraver’s camp on the 
Connecticut River, as well as the methods of the American 
school of wood-engraving. 
Dr. Dight,who is Professor of Anatomy in the American Col- 
lege of Beirut, Syria, has made a careful comparison of a collect- 
