300 



Scicn Hfic In tclligcn cc. 



[NO. 4, NKW SERIES, 



been most satisfactory. M. Dumas slates that the eggs produced in France, 

 Spain. Piedmont, and Lombardy have in general failed, as well as many 



of those imported from the Eeat, but it is suspected that the latter were 



produced in infected countries and sent to the Mast to he sold as if produc- 

 ed there. Toe eggs from Adrianople, Lebanon, and the Roman States 

 were remarkably successful. Whenever M. Dumas could ascertain the 

 origin of the sound egg-; he universally found that 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 what 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 mountain of St, Germain, 

 near Alais. Four years since he used eggs brought from Italy, and his 

 success was complete. While all 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 says, 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 should prove favourable, the experience now gained will 

 enable the breeders to resume the course of their ancient prosperity." 



The Volvox Glohalor. 



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 glolator — which has always hitherto 

 been classed among the Infusokia 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 that such a limit was ob- 

 tained by the presence pr absence in the organism of a power of 



