Notes. 
iSSi.j 
5 of 
frog. He finds that tadpoles of one brood develope very differ- 
ently, according to the nourishment which they receive. The 
articles used in the experiments favour the development of the 
tadpoles in the following order : — Beef, fish, coagulated white of 
hen’s eggs, albumenoid matter of frogs’ eggs, and Algae. The 
two latter do not suffice for the transformation of the tadpole 
into a frog. 
According to M. Jolyet the “ picote” of pigeons is true 
variola. 
The liquid ejedled by the oak eggar ( Bombyx Quercus ), on 
emerging from the pupa, is opaque, of a yellowish buff colour, 
and has a well-marked acid reaction. 
H. Horvath (“ Physic. Med. Gesellsch. Wurzburg ”) concludes 
an experimental investigation on the hybernation of animals with 
the decision that “ hybernation is not sleep, and has no connec- 
tion with winter.” 
Prof. Seeley (“ Geological Magazine ”) criticises Prof. Carl 
Vogt’s views on the Archczopteryx. He rejedls the supposition 
that this species forms a marked intermediate type between birds 
and reptiles. 
According to reports collected by Mr. Glashier, extending over 
thirty-two consecutive years, the proportion of dry warm seasons 
during the hay and corn harvest is about one in ten. This fadt 
shows the importance, or rather the necessity, of the Gibbs hay 
and corn drying machine. 
We are happy to learn that the Perthshire Natural-History 
Museum has become a reality. The institution is to be confined 
to the zoology, botany, and geology of Perthshire. We could 
wish that a similar museum for local Natural History could be 
founded in every county. 
Prof. Semper has been examining the effedt of differences in 
light upon young axolotls. In the dark they do not become 
white, but very dark ; almost as dark in red light, rather paler in 
yellow light, and palest of all in full daylight. 
The “ Scottish Naturalist ” for July contains the continuation 
of a most interesting biography of the meritorious Scottish 
botanist George Don. 
The same journal gives a list of many plants, in the neigh- 
bourhood of Leith, which have either been killed or greatly 
damaged by the past severe winter. 
Among the many and discordant voices now raised against 
Science must be counted that of Mr. Ruskin, who (“ Fors Clavi- 
gera,” Letter 53, pp. 138, 139) is guilty of this strange utter- 
ance : — “ The instindt for the study of . . . the lower forms of 
