Notes. 
[December, 
758 
M. l’Abbe Moigno writes (“ Les Mondes,” OCt. 6th), “ Le jeune 
animal sauve sa vie, l’enfant au berceau meurt sans sa mere.” 
He forgets that the young of the higher apes are as helpless as 
human children. 
The value of potassium permanganate as a remedy for snake- 
bites is ably discussed in the “ Medical Press and Circular,” and 
pronounced not proven. 
On October 26th we had the pleasure of visiting the Aylesbury 
Sewage Works, where the process of the Native Guano is being 
carried on with striking success. The exhibition of agricultural 
and horticultural produce grown with the sewage manure was 
pronounced by competent authorities most satisfactory. 
At the November meeting of the Entomological Society were 
exhibited certain tubes constructed of weathered dogs’ dung by 
a Lepidopterous larva, of a species as yet not determined. This 
is the first decided instance of coprophagous habits in the entire 
order. 
According to M. A. Laveran (“ Comptes Rendus ”) marsh- 
fevers are occasioned by the introduction into the blood of para- 
sites, which the author describes at length. The curative aCtion 
of quinine is due to its being a poison to these intruders. 
Sir Wyville Thompson will shortly vacate the chair of Natural 
History at the University of Edinburgh. It is hoped that Dr. 
Alleyne Nicholson will be appointed as his successor. 
Dr. J. Burdon-Sanderson pronounces the “final cause of an 
animal, whether human or other,” to be muscular aCtion. 
Profs. Rutherford and Greenfield, in opening their classes^at 
the University of Edinburgh, referred to the value of vivisection, 
and exposed the folly of the present sentimental agitation for its 
suppression. 
MM. Arloing, Cornevin, and Thomas have investigated the 
well-known immunity of adult cattle from baCterian anthrax in 
the infeCted districts. They ascribe this immunity to a gradual 
and infinitesimal vaccination which they have undergone, since 
aged cows and oxen, from districts where anthrax is not common, 
if brought into an infeCted part of the country succumb as readily 
as calves. 
This summer some common hive-bees built a comb against the 
flat wall of a house in Dorsetshire. Some pieces exhibited at 
the November meeting of the Entomological Society had evi- 
dently contained bee-grubs. This is an unexampled departure 
from the habits of the species. 
Prof. Helmholtz makes the following significant remark : — 
“ Our generation has suffered under the influence of spiritualistic 
