522 POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
their capabilities in the plains of the Camp of Chalons, and compare their 
acquirements with the birds of his own training. 
Simple Net for the Capture of Oceanic Animals. — In a paper read before 
the Microscopical Society of London on the fauna of mid-ocean, Major S. R. 
Owen gives the following directions for the preparation of a simple form of 
net for the above purpose, and which may be rigged out at a few hours’ 
notice. A grummet * should be made for the mouth, to which three cords 
may be attached to connect it with the towing-line ; that line should be a 
good stout piece of stuff, and capable of bearing a great strain. To the 
grummet should be attached, first, a bag, the upper part of which may be 
made of a thin canvas, the lower part of strong jean, ending in a piece of 
close calico or linen ; the bottom must be left open, and tied round with a 
tape when used : this will be found convenient for taking out the contents ; 
and by leaving it open and towing it so for a short time it can be thoroughly 
washed. Over the whole an outer covering of the strongest sail-cloth should 
be put, the upper part, in like manner, attached to the grummet, the lower 
part left open, and a portion for a foot or eighteen inches of the seam left 
to be coarsely laced up with a piece of cord, the same being done for the 
bottom itself. If necessary, a third covering may be put between these of 
any strong but rather porous material ; but this in its turn should be left 
open at the bottom, and only tied when required for use. Its length should 
be so adjusted, when tied, that the inner lining of calico may rest against 
it, and be relieved from the strain. The outer sail-cloth should, in like 
manner, be laced up to receive and support the whole. 
Works about to be published by the Bay Society. — From the Report of the 
Ray Society for the present year, we learn that the next work to be issued is 
a translation of Nitzsch’s important treatise on Pterylography, edited by the 
distinguished secretary of the Zoological Society, Dr. P. L. Sclater. The 
Council have accepted a proposal by Mr. W. K. Parker for a work “ On the 
Structure and Development of the Shoulder-girdle and the Sternum in the 
Yertebrata generally.” This, which will be illustrated by thirty plates, 
imperial quarto, will be a very valuable contribution to science, and the 
Committee of the Government Grant Fund of the Royal Society has shown 
its high opinion of the proposed work, by voting <£100 in aid of its execution. 
Other volumes in preparation are Messrs. Alder and Hancock on the “ British 
Tunicate Professor Allman on the “ British Corynidse Mr. Bates on the 
“ Mantidse,” with illustrations by Professor Westwood ; the remaining volumes 
of a complete edition of the works of the late Robert Brown, edited by J. J. 
Bennett, F.R.S. ; Messrs. Douglas and Scott on the “ British Hemiptera 
Homoptera Dr. Gaertner on “ Hybridism in Plants ” (Bastarderzeugung), 
translated from the German by W. Carruthers, F.L.S. ; Dr. MTntosh on the 
“ British Annelids Dr. Masters on “ Vegetable Teratology Mr. Andrew 
Murray on the “ Coniferse and a Synopsis of the Fauna and Flora of 
Palestine, by the Rev. H. B. Tristram, F.L.S. 
The Brain of Fishes. — On this important branch of comparative anatomy 
* Major Owen states that any nautical friend will explain to the reader 
the nature of a grummet. 
