502 
Notes. 
[August, 
contends that here, as well as among the Longicornes, Bupres- 
tidas, &c., the larger species show great individual variation in 
size according to the supply of food. In smaller species, and in 
groups where the larva can seek its own food, the size is approx- 
imately constant. 
Mr. A. R. Wallace has been eledted a foreign member of the 
Dutch Society of Sciences, at Haarlem. 
Dr. Sluiter is endeavouring to establish a zoological station in 
Java, — a locality which will afford ample scope for interesting 
research. 
Drs. Mitchell and Reichert (“ American Naturalist ”) have 
proved that the bite of Holoderma suspiciosum may be fatal. 
The venom, unlike that of serpents, is alkaline. 
According to J. C. Hughes (“ Forest and Stream ”) pigs in 
British Columbia have learnt to dive for salmon in the clear 
rivers. 
As far as scientific eminence and merit are concerned, the 
suitability of Prof. Huxley for the Presidency of the Royal 
Society is universally admitted. 
MM. Carl Vogt and Emile Yung, in their “ Traite d’Anatomie 
comparee,” insist that distindt animal sources may give rise to 
series of beings, some of which may mutually approximate and 
tend to be confounded together. “ Thus we may place in the 
same class, the same order, and even in the same genus, species 
whose ancestors were originally perfedtly distindt.” 
M. H. de Varigny (“ Comptes Rendus ”) has examined the 
influence of the various salts present in sea-water upon fresh- 
water animals. He finds that calcium sulphate and carbonate 
have no influence ; magnesium sulphate and chloride and potas- 
sium chloride (in the proportions present in the sea) very little ; 
the injurious adtion being due to the common salt. 
M. K. Miillenhoff (“ Naturforscher ”) has at last solved the 
question of the cells of bees. He proves that their peculiarities 
are due neither to high intelligence nor to a miraculous 
“ instindl,” but simply to certain physical conditions, which we 
shall explain in full. 
Dr. Burmeister has discovered, in La Plata, a fossil sloth, 
twice the size of any now living, but apparently of arboreal 
habits. 
Dr. C. C. Abbott (“ Science”) records the fadt of crows cap- 
turing mussels at low tide, carrying them inland in the beak 
(not the feet), and letting them fall to break the shell ; then re- 
turning for fresh booty to the shore, until the rise of the tide put 
