1836. ] Scientific News. 1075 
— Dr. Isaac Lea, the distinguished conchologist of Philadel- 
phia died recently at an advanced age. He was born in Phila- 
delphia, and during his earlier life was engaged in business 
as abookseller. His interest is science was however always great, 
and he retired from business early with a competence, and devot- 
ed himself to his favorite pursuit. His specialty was conchology, 
and in this field his publications, on both recent and extinct forms, 
are numerous and well known. He was for several years presi- 
dent of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and was 
an honorary member of the numerous illustrious societies, includ- 
ing the most important scientific bodies of England, France, Ger- 
many, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Greece, India and 
Russia. He entertained 200 members of the British Association 
at his Long Branch villa in 1884. 
were formerly common in England. References to the belief 
that these animals would cause injury to the foot of man or beast 
over which they passed, may be found in Bell’s “ British Quad- 
rupeds,” and White’s “ Natural History of Selborne,” where may 
also be found some curious remedies for the lameness resulting.— 
<a. S 
— At the recent meeting of the British Association for the 
Advancement of Science at Birmingham, the following appropria- 
tions for biological research were made: Lymphatic system, 
£25; Naples zodlogical station, £100; Plymouth biological sta- 
tion, £50; Granton biological station, £75 ; Zoological Record, 
#100; flora of China, £75; flora and fauna of the Cameroons, 
475; Migration of birds, £30; British marine area, £5. The 
number attending the meeting was about 2500. 
— One will have to go far to find a more delicious bit of non- 
sense than is contained in the following title of an article which 
appears in one of the scientific journals: “The identification of 
the British inch as the unit of measure of the Mound-builders of 
‘the Ohio valley.” The publication committee must have been 
napping when this article was accepted. 
— Dr. Baur, of the Yale College Peabody Museum narrowly 
escaped serious injury recently by the explosion of a decomposed | 
ostrich egg. The sudden escape of the confined gas knocked him 
_ senseless, but as the egg was wrapped in a cloth his eyes happily 
escaped injury. That the doctor had to submit to a disinfection 
afterwards will surprise no one. 
. —The species of tree moss, Ursea barbata, grows to a consider- 
able length on the south shore of Lake Superior, Specimens re- 
