1883 .] Notes . 375 
According to H. J. Brautlecht (“ Naturforscher ”) microbia 
may be found in abundance in the moisture condensing on the 
sides of a bell-glass placed over sand, gravel, or garden-mould 
which had been previously watered with a fluid containing 
badteria. 
Baron Ettingshausen finds that the Tertiary flora of Australia 
is far more nearly allied to the Tertiary floras of the other con- 
tinents than to the living flora of Australia. 
Mr. D. Mackintosh (“ Geological Magazine ”) agrees with the 
late T. Belt in considering that only a few thousand years have 
elapsed since the glacial beds were laid down, thus rendering it 
less remarkable that no new species of animals seem to have 
appeared since the Glacial Age. 
M. Richet has been eledted to the vacancy in the French 
Academy of Science (Sedtion of Medicine and Surgery) by 
32 votes as against 23 polled by M. Brown-Sequard. 
M. P. Megnin (“ Comptes Rendus,”) gives an instance of the 
diredt reproduction of a tape-worm {Tania serrata), in the intes- 
tines of a young dog, without any possible larval migration. 
Dr. C. A. Cameron, at a meeting of the Academy of Medicine 
in Ireland, read a paper showing that consanguineous manages 
were a cause of deaf-mutism. Other medical gentlemen pre- 
sent gave instances of the racial injury occasioned by such 
marriages. 
F. H. Storer (“ Science ”) mentions that a hawk ( Buteo Penn - 
sylvanicus) was found, when shot, to have its stomach entirely 
full of caterpillars. 
S. Kneeland writes to the same journal to say that the house- 
fly is extremely rare in the Philippines. 
According to the Halifax “ Guardian ” that town has been the 
scene of an Anti-Vaccination riot. 
P. P. Deherain (“ Annales Agronomiques ”) finds that during 
germination young plants absorb a considerable quantity of 
mineral matter. Calcium ulmate seems to have in this respedt 
a particularly favourable influence. 
Dr. H. Winnacker (“Naturforscher”) has made a particular 
study of the vegetation of sewers and of drainage channels. He 
finds that the A1 g£e which are harmless flourish best in channels 
which are constantly traversed by clean water. On the other 
hand, the Schizomycetes (including Micrococcus , Bacillus , Spi- 
rillum, and Bacterium ) which are dangerous flourish in water- 
courses which are alternately wet and dry. A green deposit is a 
favourable sign. 
