166 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
Gibraltar, Cape de Gat, St. Antonio, Cape Crux, 
the Balearic Isles & Cape Bon where the changes 
of wind are sudden and local currents of air are 
induced, these phenomena are of such frequent oc- 
currence, that Beete states that he knew of a vessel 
that was becalmed with no less than seven water- 
spouts around her all of which were seen moving 
in different directions at the same time. The 
formation of two and three at once is a common 
occurrence. 
Dwelling on the triumphs of spectroscopic pho- 
tography, Sir Jiober Ball mentions that the move- 
ments of the stars in a direct line towards or from 
us, which were not noticeable on merely telescopic 
examination, are now measured with wonderful 
exactness. It is to the spectroscope also that we 
are indebted for putting the measuring tape round 
the girth of a star. Stars at such a distance that 
if they were brought ten times nearer us would 
still be too far away for measurement by the 
ordinary processes of the observatory, have now 
their diameter guaged. Of the dark satellite of 
the variable Algol so much has been deduced 
that Sir Robert is able to say: “.Here is an 
object which we never have seen and apparently 
never can expect to see, but yet we have been 
able not only to weigh it and to measure it, but 
also to determine its movements.” 
Grape-stones Industries informs us are now 
being made the subject of a series of chemical 
investigations for the purpose of ascertaining to 
what uses they can be put. The result has been 
to show" that the oil is by no means dissimilar to 
castor oil, resembling that substance in its high 
acetye number and iodine number, a resemblance 
which extends to its property of yielding Turkey 
red oil on treatment with sulphuric acid. Direct 
dyeing tests have shown the value of the discovery. 
The confirmation of this result will, no doubt, 
give rise to a lucrative industry. 
At the last annual dinner of the Meteorological 
Society Mr. G. J. Symons said he had observed that 
meteorological observations seemed to have a won- 
derful effect in promoting longevity; and in proof 
of his statement, said that the average age of obser- 
vers in correspondence with him was nearly 70 
years. 
As our readers probably know there is a large 
army of private individuals who undertake such 
observations as a labour of love, and who regularly 
report to the central authority. We are glad to 
learn that the work is so conducive to long life a 
fact wdiich cannot fail in securing many others 
willing to make records on such favourable terms. 
A very singular manna-like substance, says the 
Scientific American is that known as “Trehala” in 
Syria and as “Shuggar Tigal” in India. 
These have been considered as distinct products 
though closely allied. The so-called manna con- 
sists of oval shaped cases, averaging \ inch to £ 
inch in length, externally rough and irregular, 
hard and brittle, of a grayish white color and with 
a sweetish taste. 
These cases are found attached by one side to 
twigs of a species of JEchinops in Syria, and are 
constructed by a small beetle which has been 
described as Larinus subrugosus. The larva of 
this insect collects a considerable quantity of sac- 
charine aud amylaceous matter from the Ecliinops 
and it constructs its dwelling by disgorging this 
matter and moulding it in the form to cover itself. 
Each case contains one insect only, and when this 
has attained its perfect form, emerges at the upper 
end. Analysis of these peculiar cocoons or nests 
has proved them to contain gum, starch, and 
sugar. Placed in water at an ordinary tempera- 
ture they swell, partly dissolve, and become con- 
verted into a pasty mass. They are collected in 
Turkej r and Syria, and used as food, and they are 
also exported in quantity to Constantinople and 
other Turkish cities. 
The glaciers of the Alps, according to Herr von 
E. Richter, are now showing marked indications 
of increase in size, after having been, diminishing 
quite rapidly for about 30 years, with the excep- 
tion of a transitory extension about 1875. From 
the historical records of about three centuries, it 
appears that the glaciers have had alternate pe- 
riods of growth and diminution. In this time no 
less than eight marked epochs of growth can be 
traced, the first having begun in 1592, and the 
last, excluding the slight one of 1875, in 1835, — 
each having been followed by a period of glacier 
retreat. The intervals between the epochs vary 
from 20 to 47 years. 
