Notes. 
1883.] 
55 
ground which has always been inundated or subjedl to periodical 
inundations. They rest generally on Silurian rocks. 
The Aurora Borealis of November 17th is reported as having 
been observed over a great part of Europe, and as having been 
accompanied by striking eledtric and magnetic disturbances. 
M. G. Calmels (“ Comptes Rendus ”) has studied and described 
the poison-glands which are found in the skin of the upper sur- 
face of the trunk and the limbs of the toad. The skin-glands of 
the lower surface do not secrete poison. 
M. E. Dauwe, of Maldeghem, near Bruges, observed a lunar 
rainbow on Odtober 29th last. 
Mr. G. S. Gardner, F.G.S. (“ Geological Magazine ”) chal- 
lenges the generally accepted theory of the permanence of oceans 
and continents on the faith of fadts connedted with the distribu- 
tion of plants and of land-mollusks. 
The “ Gardeners’ Chronicle” gives an interesting account of 
the effects of the stinging tree, Laportea gigas. The pain pro- 
duced by the sting of a single hair on the right hand gave rise 
to remarkable symptoms, the pain being confined to the right 
side of the body and being succeeded by a numbness and slight 
paralysis. Besides the pain, a sensation of losing the senses, or 
rather of becoming insane, was experienced. The severe 
symptoms lasted two hours ; the spot pricked remaining con- 
stantly painful for nearly a month after being stung. There is 
here scope for research, both chemical and physiological, — the 
latter of course not in this “ free ” and favoured country. 
M. Beketoff, a Russian sanitarian, has come forward as the 
advocate of a vegetarian diet. He maintains that, even in Aus- 
tralia, the number of cattle tends to decrease daily. 
“ Les Mondes ” claims explicitly the discovery of the pulmo- 
nary circulation of the blood for Andrea Cesalpino. 
Dr. O. Loew (“ Archiv. f. d. ges. Physiologie ”) concludes, 
from a series of recent investigations, that the unformed fer- 
ments have not been proved in any case to be other than 
albumenoids. The peptic and amylolytic ferment of the pan- 
creas, and also the diastase of malt, are albumenoids of the 
peptone character, and agree in this respedt with the papaine of 
Wurtz. 
According to E. L. Larkin (“ Observatory ”), on the 16th of 
April last there occurred simultaneously a magnetic storm, an 
aurora of unusual splendour, and an extraordinary agitation in 
the sun, hi spots having been counted during the day. 
At the December meeting of the Entomological Society there 
was exhibited a supposed viviparous moth (Tinea), sent by Dr. 
