782 NOTES. 
STRUCTURE or Popura Scates.— Dr. J. W. S. Arnold has suc- 
ceeded in throwing off, by means of the electric induction spark, 
some of the “spines” òf the familiar test scale of ‘“ Podura.” 
Preparatory to this experiment the scales are rendered brittle by 
rying in an oven. The detached spines are easily beaded by uni- 
lateral light. 
Dry Ror. — Thomas Taylor, of Washington, D. C., found 
microscopic fungi upon the leaves of a book which was gradually 
perishing by dry rot. After treatment by a strong solution of 
carbolic acid, no further injury occurred. 
: NOTES. 
CAPTAIN Scammon announces the speedy publication by sub- 
scription of a new work on the “Cetaceans and other Marine 
Animals of California.” The plates are to be full and finely 
executed. Professor Agassiz commends it as follows. 
S ; 
_ My Dear Sir: Ihave been delighted to look over the engrav- 
ings of the cetaceans and other marine mammals of the West 
Your practical knowledge of these animals, and the faithfulness 
of detail and excellence of the representations, will make the work 
standard ; and it will give me the greatest pleasure to do every- 
thing in my power to obtain subscribers for you in the Atlantic 
States and in Europe. 
With the deepest interest in your labors, believe me 
ery sincerely yours, L. AGASSIZ. 
_To Capt. C. M. Scammon, U. 5. Revenue Marine, San Fran- 
cisco, California. 
We are able to announce that the work will be published by the : 
Naturalists’ Agency, and that we are ready to receive subscriptions = 
_ at this office and shall soon be able to give further information. 
WE have to record the death, after a short illness, of Andreas S. 
Oersted, Professor of Botany in the University of Copenhagen, 
which occurred on September 3d. He was born on June 21st; 
1816, and his earlier studies were directed to zoology ; in 1841 he 
obtained the gold medal of the university for a thesis on the Danish 
Annelids. During the years 1846-48, Oersted travelled in Costa 
