Notes. 
348 
Session. Without great care this will be made an occasion for 
increasing the power and influence of the Science and Art 
Department. 
According to P. Shiemeny (“ American Naturalist ”) the sup- 
posed olfadtory mucous gland in insedts secretes saliva. 
With a view to the complete study of the migration of birds 
in the Neardtic Region the whole of the United States and 
British North America have been mapped out into thirteen dis- 
tricts, in each of which is a Superintendent whose duty it is to 
collect information from observers and transmit it to Mr. C. Hart 
Merriam, Chairman of Committee on Migration, Locust Grove, 
Lewis County, New York. Birds are classed in five categories, 
permanent residents, winter visitants, transient (spring and 
autumn) visitants, summer residents, and stragglers. Ornitho- 
logical movements are to be noted in connection with meteoro- 
logical phenomena and with the changes in the vegetable world. 
According to T. R. Peale (“ American Naturalist ”) the inha- 
bitants of Fanna Loa eat their food raw, and appeared terrified 
at fire, even on so small a scale as a lighted cigar. No traces of 
charcoal, ashes, or other signs of cooking, were found near their 
houses. Hence the command over fire and the use of cooked 
food can no longer be put forward as general characteristics dis- 
tinguishing man from the lower animals. 
We have to express our pleasure at learning that Prof. Bryce 
is about to introduce a Bill into Parliament for throwing open 
the mountains, moors, &c., of the Highlands, to geologists, 
botanists, entomologists, artists, &c., on the simple condition 
that they shall not be accompanied by dogs, and shall do no 
damage. This Bill deserves the warmest support of all lovers 
of Nature. 
Dr. F. V. Hayden (“ Science ”) warns all whom it may con- 
cern against a swindler who introduces himself to scientific men 
as a colleague, professes to be preparing memoirs on some spe- 
cial subjects, and steals books and specimens, or, if this is 
impracticable, borrows them and never returns them. He has 
robbed several museums, libraries, &c. Should he visit Europe 
we recommend our friends to be on their guard. 
According to Prof. A. Graham Bell congenital deafness and 
epilepsy, instead of being rarer, are more common among the 
Negro and Negroid population of the United States than among 
the Aryans. 
