340 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
Curious Habits of the Capelin . — The following note appears in the u Ame- 
rican Naturalist” (April). The Capelin ( Mallotus villosus), an inhabitant of 
the northern seas of the Atlantic coast of America, is well known as a bait 
for cod-fish. It visits the shores of America during August and Septem- 
ber, for the purpose of spawning, when it is so abundant as to darken the 
sea for miles. There are some peculiarities about the method of its spawn- 
ing ; the females, on approaching the beach, being attended by two males, 
who hold the female between them, by means of the ridge of closely set, 
brush-like scales with which the males alone are provided, so that she is 
almost entirely concealed. In this state the three run together with great 
swiftness upon the sand, and in this act the spawn issues from the female, 
which is simultaneously fertilised. An immense business is carried on in 
the capture of the capelin as bait for the cod, the French fishermen alone 
obtaining, from the fishing-ground off Newfoundland, from sixty thousand 
to seventy thousand hogsheads annually for this purpose. 
Opossum Skins for Gloves . — Considerable purchases, says the 11 South 
Australian Register,” have lately been made of opossum skins, for ship- 
ment to England, for the manufacture of gloves. The Australians appear 
to be very glad, for opossums are a frightful nuisance to gardens, crops, &c. 
j Risso's Dolphin . — At the meeting of the Zoological Society, June 6, Pro- 
fessor Flower, F.R.S., gave a description of a specimen of the so-called 
Risso’s dolphin, which had been taken in a mackerel-net near the Eddystone 
Eighthouse, and of a second specimen of the same dolphin subsequently 
purchased in Billingsgate Market. After a searching investigation of the 
history of this supposed species, Professor Flower came to the conclusion 
that the differences usually held to separate it from the Delphinus griseus of 
Cuvier were untenable, and that the species should be correctly designated 
Grampus griseus. 
Prizes for the Economic Entomology of Great Britain . — The following 
prizes for collections of economic entomology are offered by the Royal Hor- 
ticultural Society: — 1. A prize of 10Z. for the best collection of British 
insects injurious to any one plant, as the oak, pine, cabbage, wheat, &c. (the 
choice of plant to be left to the competitor). The insects to be shown as 
much as possible in their various stages of development — eggs, larva, chry- 
salis, and perfect insect. In judging, a preference will be given to those 
collections which most successfully illustrate the life-history of the insect, 
and exhibit the mischief done, whether shown by specimens, drawings, 
models, or other means. Examples of the application of drawings, models, 
and specimens to this purpose may be seen in the Society’s collection in the 
South Kensington Museum. 2. A second prize of 3 1. for the second-best 
collection. 3. A prize of 51. for the best miscellaneous collection of any 
branch of British economic entomology, similarly illustrated. 4. A second 
pirize of 21. for the second-best collection. The collections to be sent to Mr. 
James Richards, assistant-secretary, Royal Horticultural Society, on or 
before May 1, 1872, each collection bearing a motto, and a separate sealed 
envelope, with the motto on the outside, and the name of the competitor 
inside. The Society is to be entitled to tike from any of the collections sent 
in, whether successful or not, whatever specimens or illustrations they may 
choose, at a price to be fixed by the judges. The judges to have power to 
refrain from awarding the prizes should the collections seem not worthy. 
