i88 3 .] 
( 245 ) 
NOTES. 
Some time ago M. Fouquet described an epidemic among young 
trout occasioned by Ichthyophthirius multifilis , a singular ciliated 
infusorial which lives parasitically on the epidermis of the trout, 
occasioning a fatal inflammation. M. Henneguy (“ Comptes 
Rendus ”) has described another epidemic among young trout 
caused by a flagelliform infusorial which he assigns to the genus 
Bodo , and names Bodo neccitor. Unlike most of its tribe it 
cannot live in impure waters, but prefers the clear well-aerated 
water which is essential to the health of the trout. 
M. Ch. Musset has observed in certain plants a phenomenon 
which he names Selenotropism. They bind and turn towards 
the moon in a clear night, just as they are known to incline to 
the sun by day. 
H. Th. W. Engelmann (“ Pfluger’s Archiv. ”) has observed in 
Bacterium photometricum a well-developed sensibility for light 
and colour. It can even be used for testing the permeability of 
various bodies for the ultra-red rays. He considers that badteria, 
though morphologically plants, are physiologically animals. He 
has observed that all parts of the human eye are transparent for 
the ultra-red rays, which therefore reach the retina without 
affedting it. 
Prof. Berthelot maintains that the true element carbon is as 
yet unknown ; that it must be of a gaseous nature ; and that 
diamond, graphite, &c., are polymeres of the veritable carbon. 
According to MM. Gerlach and Koch (“ Biologisches Central- 
blatt ”), if the shell of an egg is coated over in great part with 
varnish, the embryo is dwarfed, sometimes not reaching a fourth 
part of its normal size, whilst the head is disproportionately 
large. 
Sir W. Hooker (“ Pharm. Journal ”) states that the powdered 
capsules of Puneeria coagulans , a shrub common in Northern 
India, may be used in cheese-making in place of rennet. A 
decodtion of 30 parts of the powder in 1150 parts of water is 
sufficient. A teaspoonful of this liquid is sufficient for a gallon 
of milk. 
At the February meeting of the Entomological Society 
M. Perinier communicated an interesting paper on three species 
of Paussus found in ants’ nests at the Cape of Good Hope. All 
