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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
solution, the eye interfering only in a secondary mannner in the observation 
of the phenomenon. When M. Soret made known to the author his fluor- 
escent eye-piece, with which the spectrum may be regarded under condi- 
tions of direct transmission, apparently more favourable, he pointed out to 
him this application of his ingenious instrument. The author has noticed, 
in the “ Comptes Rendus ” of October 11, a paragraph showing that this 
application has been successfully tried by MM. Soret and Sarazin ; but these 
physicists have not been able to extend their observations beyond the ray N, 
which shows that the absorption by transmission is still more injurious than 
the loss of light by epipolic dispersion. 
ZOOLOGY AND COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 
The Anatomy of the Giraffe. — Although this subject has been examined 
before by Professor Owen, F.R.S., Dr. H. C. Chapman has published some 
observations on it before the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- 
delphia. They were made upon an animal which died a short time ago in 
the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens. He had pleasure in saying that he 
found the internal organs as described by Professor Owen, save in reference 
to the manner in which the great blood-vessels spring from the aorta. In 
the example dissected by Dr. Chapman there was an innominate artery 
which gave off the left subclavian, the right subclavian, the right vertebral 
and the common trunk of the carotids, the left vertebral springing alone 
from the aorta ; whereas in Professor Owen’s example, according to the 
description, the left subclavian, as well as the left vertebral, came off 
separately from the aorta, while the right vertebral came from right 
subclavian. It is possible that in the former the disposition of the blood- 
vessels was an anomalous one. He would also mention that there was^in 
entire absence of a gall-bladder, which was noticed twice out of three times 
in the cases studied by Professor Owen. For the reason above given he 
did not refer to the brain, alimentary canal, &c. ; to those who may be 
interested, he would simply state that these organs may be seen in the 
museum of the University of Pennsylvania. 
The Meteorological Aspects of the Flight of Grasshoppers. — In some parts of 
the Southern States of America great flights of grasshoppers take place at 
certain seasons ; and a curious fact has been recently observed in connection 
with their flight, which would seem to give them the power of forecasting 
the state of the weather. Mr. J. Wilson states that lately, on a cloudy 
afternoon, the insects were on the wing, high in the air, in countless multi- 
tudes. A party of several persons was riding in a carriage, and the question 
of probable rain was discussed. Suddenly the grasshoppers, with great 
unanimity, descended to the ground, the scene reminding one of a furious 
snowstorm. In two or three minutes no grasshopper could be seen in the 
air, and in a short time it commenced to rain. Soon after the rain ceased 
to fall the insects took flight again, but in the course of half an hour, 
without any particular indication of rain, they suddenly plunged to the 
earth again. Soon after this it rained again. This process was repeated 
three times on that afternoon, and each descent was followed by a fall of rain. 
