1883. ] Srientific News. 1207 
next meeting, which will be held at Montreal, has been fixed for 
the 27th of August, 1884. The programme will include a free 
excursion to the Rocky mountains and trips to Quebec and Phil- 
adelphia. The association has decided to invite the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science to become honorary 
members of the association during its visit to Montreal in 1884. 
— The Répertoire de Pharmacie quotes, upon the authority of 
Dr. Nessler, a recipe for an insecticide which is said to have a 
great reputation among German horticulturists. It consists of 
soft-soap, 4 parts; extract of tobacco, 6 parts; amylic alcohol, 5 
parts; methylic alcohol 20 parts ; water to make 1000 parts. e 
extract of tobacco is made by boiling together equal parts of roll 
tobacco and water for half an hour, adding water to make up for 
what is evaporated. The soft-soap is first dissolved in the water 
with the aid of a gentle heat, and the other ingredients are then 
added. The mixture requires to be well stirred before it is used, 
and is applied by means of a brush or a garden syringe fitted 
with a small hose.—Znglish Mechanic. 
— A number of gentlemen met at the American Museum of 
Natural History in New York, Sept. 26, and established the 
American Ornithologists’ Union. Those present were: Dr. Elli- 
ott Coues in the chair; Mr. E. P. Bicknell, secretary pro tem. ; 
Messrs. C. Aldrich, Iowa; C. F. Batchelder, Mass.; Capt. Chas. 
ndire, Oregon; N. C. Brown, Me.; Wm. Brewster, Mass. ; M. 
Chamberlain, New Brunswick; C. B. Cory, Mass.; D. G. Elliott, 
- Y.; Dr. A. K. Fisher, N, Y., Dr. J. B Holder, N Y.; T. 
Mcllwraith; Dr. C. Hart Merriam, N. Y.; Dr. E. A. Mearns, 
N. .-; Dr. D. W. Prentiss, Washington; Robert Ridgway, 
Washington ; Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, La 
date of the despatch, was about to proceed with the last sepa 
of her voyage—the investigation of the Sargasso sea.—Englis 
Mechanic. 
— Under the title of Signal Service Notes, five pamphlets 
relating to the work of the AN have been issued. The "m 
'S on the work of the Signal Service in the Arctic regions, ma 
Sontains the reports of W. M. Beebe of the Relief Expedition to 
Lady Franklin bay, Grinnell Land; of Lt. J. S. Powell of ar 
his work at Point Barrow, from Sept. 16, 1881, to Aug. 25, er 
Powell’s report contains interesting ethnological notes. 
~The muscular nerves of the torpedo or electric eel are, ac 
