448 Scientific News. [April, 
wood and cut out by the aid of a small knife. Thus a drawing 
and a model of each section are prepared. The plates thus pre- 
pared can be put together in the proper order, and fastened by 
the aid of a hot spatula applied to the edges. 
:0: 
SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
—A Scientific Swindler—A few weeks ago, a man calling him- 
self W. R. Taggart, and claiming to be a member of the Ohio 
Geological Survey, visited Philadelphia. He called on the prin- 
cipal scientific men of this city, and attended one of the regular 
meetings of the Academy of Natural Sciences. He seemed to 
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rather shabbily dressed. 
himself into the confidence of his intended victims, and then 
he could not steal, he would, under some plausible pretext, borrow 
valuable books or specimens to take to his hotel and forget to a 
turn them. His victims are to be found in nearly every 1mp? of 
faa ee Ey eyes ay 
phia he gave his name as E. Douglas, of Columbus, Ohio, men 
ber of the State Survey. In Auburn, N. Y., hew ri 
under the name of E. D. Whitney, U. S. Geologist, cent 
There he obtained a large quantity of valuable geolog! urg, 
and fossils from Professor Starr. In Harrisburg, Cham dianap™ 
Indianapolis, and Columbus, he was a deaf mute. At Indi 
lis he swindled the State Geologist out of $100 WO aii 
ks, among them Schimper’s “ Palæontologie Vege d private, 
as been permitted access to several museums, publica t them 
from which he has abstracted valuable specimens and 50 e of this i 
Any information in regard to the real name and residenc q 
man is much desired. t Colum- 4 
P. S—I hear from Professor Lesquereux that he as He got d 
bus, that hè has swindled some parties at Day ae Historica! d 
hold of valuable Indian relics from the Clevelan of Athens i 
Society worth $50 or more. From Professor Man and solè 
O., he borrowed some valuable physical instrumen 
them, &c., &c.—F. V. H. „tive notie 
- .— We reprint with pleasure the following apprecia rich Po 
ofthe late Mr. Robert B. Tolles, optician, of Boston, past he ” 
pears in the English Mechanic: During several ee tothe a 
devoted himself to the improvement of the microscoP”s his wo% 
production of telescopes of unusually short focus, 
