502 
Notes. 
[August, 
Dr. Testut laid before the French Academy of Sciences an 
account of the dissection of a South African Bushman. Several 
Simian characteristics in the arrangement of the muscles were 
pointed out; yet M. de Quatrefages, strangely enough, thought 
proper to regard these faCts as arguments against the animal 
origin of man ! 
M. V. Marcano (“ Comptes Rendus ”) has observed that plants 
in tropical regions evaporate during the night (from 6 p.m. to 
6 a.m.) a quantity of water equal to that which they exhale by 
day. The daily evaporation takes place chiefly in the morning, 
the maximum being generally between 10.15 a.m. and noon. 
The hygrometric condition of the atmosphere has no decided 
influence on this phenomenon. 
According to Rossi (“ Giornale della Accademia di Medicina ”) 
not only the Cantharidae, hut the Cetoniadae, and hence probably 
other groups of Coleoptera, secrete cantharidine. 
P. Giacosa (“ Revista di Chimica ”) states that beetles (group 
not mentioned) contain 77 per cent of fatty matter, which 
melts at 29 0 to 30° C., and contains 73-6 of carbon and 11-4 of 
hydrogen. 
It is noteworthy that the best solvent for cantharidine is formic 
acid, — a very frequent secretion among inseCts. 
MM. Gautier and Etard consider the odour of the ptomaines 
similar to that of whitethorn or sloe blossom. 
M. F. Krasen (“ Ciel et Terre ” and “ Annuaire Botanique ”) 
seeks to demonstrate that certain anomalies in the distribution 
of plants, according to altitude, must be due to a comparatively 
recent change in the elevation of the mountains on which they 
grow. 
In the official report issued by the Sanitary Board of Paris, 
in view of a possible visitation of cholera, the public are 
cautioned against raw vegetables, especially those cultivated on 
the great sewage-irrigation farm of Gennevilliers ! What will 
be said in Croydon ? 
Mr. L. F. Ward (“ Science ”) asks strangely : — “ Why, then, 
does not politics form a legitimate subjedt of scientific investi- 
gation ? Why might not its discussion in stridtly scientific 
societies and journals be permitted and encouraged?” We 
reply, Because there is already far too much of such discussion ; 
that it already absorbs too great a share of public attention — 
especially since 1876 — to the disadvantage of Science ; and be- 
cause such “ permission and encouragement ” would drive away 
men of things and substitute for them wordmongers. 
