i88 3 .] 
Notes . 
437 
We find that some persons who are particularly sensitive to 
the bites of gnats and midges experience a return of the original 
irritation at regular intervals of twelve or of twenty-four hours. 
This facff seems to corroborate the view that gnats and mosqui- 
toes are the bearers of malarial fever. 
According to “ Light ” the Pope has fulminated against Spirit- 
ualists a curse little inferior in intensity to that which bears the 
name of Ernulphus. 
A new journal, the name of which it is not necessary for us to 
mention, is winning favourable opinions in certain quarters by 
taking up a position unfriendly to Science, and talking about 
“ Professor Hoaxley.” 
M. L. de Wecker (“ Comptes Rendus ”) shows that the in- 
fusion of the seed of the jequirity ( Abrus precatorius) contains 
a bacillus which, if applied to the human eye, produces purulent 
ophthalmia. This is the first instance of the transmission of an 
infectious disease by a plant. 
Dr. O. Dammer (“ Isis ”) has been engaged with experiments 
on the changes of colour produced in flowers by ammonia and 
sulphurous acid. He does not appear to have studied, like Mr. 
Nesbit, the action of other reagents. 
The French ship Talisman set out on June ist for the purpose 
of exploring the zoology of the regions of the Atlantic extending 
from the coasts of Morocco and the Canaries to the Cape Verde 
Islands, the Sargassian Sea, and the Azores. The head of the 
expedition is, as might have been expected, M. Milne Edwards. 
According to “ Science ” the European sparrow displays much 
adroitness in robbing the American robin of its booty of earth- 
worms. 
A “ familiar ” of a certain Department thinks that if the fish- 
salesmen were compelled to pass a “ stiff exam.” before exer- 
cising their trade, the ring and its monopoly would come to an 
end. Possibly so ; we have heard less likely results anticipated 
from examinations. 
The Bestiarians held a conference at Edinburgh on May 26th, 
and expressed their “ alarm ” at the sensible conduct of the 
Home Secretary. May their alarm increase ! 
MM. Dujardin-Beaumetz and Audige (“ Comptes Rendus ”), 
in a series of experiments, have confirmed the specially dan- 
gerous nature of absinthe as compared with ordinary alcoholic 
liquids. 
M„ Chicandard (“ Comptes Rendus ”) shows that the ferment- 
ation of bread does not consist in a hydration of the starch, and 
is not occasioned by a Saccharomyces , but depends on a trans* 
