116 NOTES AND MEMORANDA. ['S?n^l, aSTiS^ 
NOTES AND MEMOEANDA. 
Preserving Insects. — A writer id one of the American journals 
states that the ravages of the beetle Dermestes lardarius may best be 
arrested by placing a few crystals of carbolic acid in the cases. He 
states that the evaporation from them will kill all insects in the vicinity. 
TricMna spiralis— A Prize Essay .—The following notice of the 
Boston Natural History Society may interest those engaged in the 
investigation of Entozoa : — By the provisions of the late Dr. William 
J. Walker's foundation, two prizes are annually offered by the Boston 
Society of Natural History for the best memoirs, written in the 
English language, on subjects proposed by a committee appointed by 
the council. Eor the best memoir presented, a prize of sixty dollars 
may be awarded; if, however, the memoir be one of marked merit, 
the amount may be increased, at the discretion of the Committee, to 
one hundred dollars. For the memoir next in value a sum not ex- 
ceeding fifty dollars may be given ; but neither of these prizes are to 
be awarded unless the papers under consideration are deemed of 
adequate merits. Memoirs offered in competition for these prizes 
must be forwarded on or before April 1st, of the year specified below, 
prepaid, and addressed " Boston Society of Natural History, for the 
Committee on the Walker Prizes, Boston, Mass." Each memoir 
must be accompanied by a sealed envelope enclosing the author's 
name, and superscribed by a motto corresponding to one borne by 
the manuscript. Subject of the Annual Prize for 1870, " The repro- 
duction and migration of Trichina spiralis." 
Browning's Miniature Spectroscope.— We have had this marvel- 
lously cheap and handy pocket-spectroscope in use for some time, and 
find it answer most of the purposes for which the spectroscope is 
employed. It is especially useful for the examination of the absorp- 
tions produced by certain coloured (and colourless) fluids. We 
especially commend it to the physician. In the out-patients' room of 
an hospital, where it is difficult to employ a microscope for the detec- 
tion of blood in urine, this little instrument of Mr. Browning's will 
afford the means of diagnosis almost in a moment. In optical quali- 
ties it leaves — considering its small size, which enables it to fit in 
the waistcoat pocket — little to be desired. 
