i88o.] 
Notes. 
54i 
The study of Anthropology is beset with difficulties. Even 
the skull of a savage killed in battle is begrudged to Science, 
and is made the subjecft of a “ question ” in Parliament. 
A new poisonous alkaloid, of a pleasant odour, but of very 
deadly properties, has been discovered in the fumes of tobacco. 
It approaches closely to collidine. 
An Acarus of the genus Trombidium has appeared in Vaucluse 
in the welcome character of a destroyer of the Phylloxera. 
According to M. Dieulafait zinc can be detected in all rocks of 
primordial formation, and in the waters of the seas of all ages. 
According to M. H. Filhol a number of new mammalian 
fossils have been discovered in the phosphatic beds of Quercy. 
Among them may be noticed Quercitherium tenebrosum , a carni- 
vorous species approximating to Cynohycenodon. 
M. F. Peuch has proved, by a series of experiments described 
in the “ Comptes Rendus,” the fadt of the transmission of tuber- 
cular disease by the milk of the animals affedled. 
A writer in the “ Druggist’s Circular ” (American) complains 
that the English sparrows introduced into the United States have 
lately (?) acquired a taste for destroying the buds of the peach, 
pear, and apple trees, and even of the garden pink. The editor 
in reply gives the good, but scarcely practicable, advice to apply 
poison to the buds. 
The “ army worm,” often mentioned in American agricultural 
literature as very destructive, is the larva of a Lepidopterous 
insect. It has a peculiar propensity for destroying wheat. 
We regret to learn that in the State of Missouri the office of 
State Entomologist, which has been most ably filled by Prof. 
Riley, has been abolished. 
The evil effects of opium smoking appear on closer examina- 
tion to have been greatly exaggerated. Of the 17 million lbs. 
of opium yearly consumed in China, 5 millions are of native 
growth. 
Dr. Sylvester Marsh, jun., has communicated to the Quekett 
Microscopical Club his experience of the processes used in 
bleaching and washing microscopical sections intended to be 
stained. The objection to alcohol as a bleaching agent is that 
it is very slow in action and uncertain in result. Chloride of 
lime and Labarraque’s solution of chlorinated soda are liable to 
disintegrate and destroy, unless very cautiously used. Dr. Marsh 
prefers euchlorine. The apparatus consists of two of the bottles 
in which an ounce of quinine is usually packed : one is used as 
the gas generator, from which a bent glass tube passes nearly to 
the bottom of the second, containing water, in which the sections 
