1884.] 
Notes. 
ii7 
It is said (“ Science ”) that the powder of the Kola nut renders 
foul water drinkable and harmless. It thus plays in Africa the 
same part as do the seeds of Strychnos potatorum in India. 
M. Dieulafait (“ Comptes Rendus ”), after a prolonged inves- 
tigation, concludes that the gypsums and ophites are independent 
in their origin. 
The “ Zoologischer Garten ” records the birth of a mandrill at 
Hamburg. The facial wrinkles and the brilliant colours of the 
face were not well marked. 
M. J. Chatin (“ Comptes Rendus ”) has been studying a Nema- 
tode which is parasitical not in any animal, but in the onion. 
The species in question belongs to the genus Tylenchus. 
Says “ Light ” — “ We may depend upon it that when Science 
and Theology are both sufficiently awake to see a common enemy 
in Spiritualism, there will be lively times.” 
A correspondent informs us that a dead owl was recently found 
near Emsworth with the tail of a rat protruding from its beak. 
Either the owl had been choked in attempting to swallow the 
rat (?) or the latter when seized had forced itself into the bird’s 
throat in trying to escape. 
Bishop Butler says that communities may go mad as well as 
individuals. Experience says the same. 
The “ Geological Magazine” gives a very able notice of “The 
Connection of the Animal World in Geological Times,” by Prof. 
Gaudry, one of the latest and most important converts from 
Cuvierism to Evolution. 
The late Electrical Exhibition in Vienna has not proved suc- 
cessful from a commercial point of view. The deficiency is said 
to amount to £6000. 
“ Science ” gives an able and appreciative survey of the life 
and work of the late illustrious American entomologist, John 
Lawrence Leconte. 
Among the fishes most commonly eaten the cod is poorest in 
total solid matter, in albuminous compounds, and in fat. 
“ Les Mondes says of a recent French author, “ He is neither 
a German nor an Englishman, in an age quite infedted with 
Germanism and Britonism. He is himself, with the qualities of 
the French mind.” 
M. Delboeuf, a “ Dissenting Positivist,” complains that “ ac- 
credited Science does not scruple to constitute ponderable matter 
of imponderable atoms, polarised matter of non-polarised atoms, 
variable matter of invariable elements.” 
