306 
Scientijic Intelligence, 
[no. a, new series, 
been most satisfactory. M. Dumas states that the eggs produced in Eirance, 
Spain, Piedmont, and Lombardy have in general failed, as well as many 
of those imported from the East, but it is suspected that the latter -were 
produced in infected countries and sent to the East to be sold as if produc- 
ed there. The eggs from Adrianople, Lebanon, and the Roman States 
were remarkably successful. Whenever M. Dumas could ascertain the 
origin of the sound eggs he universally found tl^at they were produced in 
a mountainous country — that is, in pure air frequently renewed, and that 
the silkworms were fed on mulberry trees grown in elevated situations. 
One fact demonstrates whai'^ influence an elevated situation exercises on 
the health of the silkworm. !M. Dumas found an intelligent breeder of 
silkworms, named Etienne, living on the small mountaii^ of St. Germain, 
near Alais, Four years since he used eggs brought^ from Italy, and his 
success was complete. While aU the silkworms bred in the low grounds 
died, he again succeeded, and even last year he produced a quantity of 
eggs sufficient for himself and for several other breeders. His success and 
that of the other breeders who made use of his eggs was so great that at 
this moment the entire country is astonished at it. M, Dumas saj-s, in 
conclusion, that this year the breeders have tried every description of egg 
and every system. They were favoured by admirable spring weather and 
faultless mulberry leaves. It may be expected, therefore, that next year, 
if the weather slioidd prove favourable, the experience now gained will 
enable the breedei-s to resume the course of their ancient prosperity." 
The Vohox Glohator. 
In illustration of Mr. Bidie's paper in the present No. on the 
connection between the animal and the plant, we observe by 
recent No. of the Journal of the Microscopical Society that the well 
known animalcule — the Volvox glohator — which has always hitherto 
been classed among the Infusoeia is now proved to belong to 
the Vegetable kingdom. 
In fact the limit between these two great divisions of organised 
forms appears to be indefinable. It has certainly not yet been 
discovered although many attempts have been to prescribe the 
exact boundary that separates them. 
The earlier physiologists considered tliat such a limit was ob- 
tained by the presence or absence in the organism of a power of 
