i88ij 
Notes . 
43 $ 
Mr. A. H. Swinton, who is favourably known to many of our 
readers from his work on “ Insedt Variety,” writes as follows to 
“ Science” : — “ It may concern some of your readers to know 
that I have just made the interesting discovery that the multipli- 
cation and migration of the rocky mountain locust [ Caloptenus 
spretus ] has been hitherto in exadt agreement with the minima 
of Wolf’s sun-spot cycles as given in the “ Mem, Astr. Soc.” 
(vols. xlii. and xliii.), and its decrease has as nearly accorded 
with the maxima, there not being a year’s difference. On 
European areas insedt migration but rarely agrees with these 
maxima and minima, the chief periods being obtained by counting 
the elevens since 1846. It would be important to determine the 
multiplication of corn-weevils in relation to the sun-spots. Can- 
not the trade keep diaries ? As the more destructive kind comes 
from the tropics, the minimum period should be dreaded.” 
Lasaulx (“ Mineralog. Mittheil.” n. s., vol. iii., p. 517), after a 
careful examination, pronounces the inorganic portion of the 
atmospheric dust to be of purely terrestrial, and not cosmic, 
origin. 
According to Dr. C. Meineret the proportion of nitrogen ex- 
creted without assimilation is, in meat and eggs, 2*6 per cent; in 
milk, 7; in maccaroni, 17*1 ; in peas, 27-8; in lentils, 40*2; in 
white wheat bread, 19*9; and in brown bread, 42*3 per cent. 
Hence it appears that a much larger proportion of the nutriment 
is utilised in case of animal than of vegetable food. How do the 
vegetarians propose to deal with this consideration ? 
It has been decided in Paris that there can be no binding 
agreement between a patient and his dodtor, the former not being 
regarded as a free agent. 
It is considered probable that Palenque was already de- 
serted and in ruins at the time of the Spanish conquest of 
Mexico. 
Mr. F. A. Ober, after a careful examination of the ornithology 
of the Carribbee Islands, finds that each group has one or more 
species peculiar to itself. He has discovered about twenty birds 
new to Science. 
We are glad to learn, from communications received, that the 
new Technological and Industrial Museum at Sydney will include 
a department of economic entomology, the specimens being so 
arranged as to enable the public to discriminate between insedts 
injurious to man and such as work for his benefit. The insedts 
will be shown in all stages of growth, and along with them spe- 
cimens of the materials spoiled or injured. Where actual speci- 
mens cannot be exhibited, the career of the insedts will be 
illustrated by models and diagrams. 
