Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 10.djvu/527

 The author describes also the behavior of copper in sulphate-of-copper solution, and the behavior of silver, tin, brass, zinc, platinum; which metals were examined in the same way.

American Vine-Stocks and the Phylloxera.—In a communication to the Paris Academy of Sciences, M. Boutin gives an account of researches made by him to ascertain the reason why some American vine stocks resist the attacks of the Phylloxera vastatrix, while others succumb. The author has discovered in the resistant stocks a certain resinoid principle in proportion about a third greater than that in which it occurs in American non-resistant stocks, and in about double the proportion found in French stocks. M. Boutin considers it essential for resistance that the resinoid principle should occur in the proportion of 8 per cent, for the entire root, and 14 to 15 per cent. in the bark alone. He says that the incision made by the insect, while producing nodosities in the root, is cicatrized by the exudation of the resinous product, and this prevents the escape or loss of the nutritive sap of the plant. In non-resistant stocks, on the other hand, there is no cicatrization, as the resinoid principle is not in sufficient quantity to produce this effect.

Naturalists' Report of the British Arctic Expedition.—The results obtained by the naturalists attached to the British North Polar Expedition may be briefly summed up as follows: The mammals found farthest north, on the shore of the great Polar Basin, were the arctic fox, wolf, ermine, polar hare, lemming, and musk-ox. Bird-life was present as far as the land extended, the outlying species being the snowy owl, snow bunting, and ptarmigan. Of fishes few marine species were procured, but an interesting small salmonoid was found in freshwater lakes up to about latitude 82° 35'. Insect-life was more abundant than could have been expected, and a goodly number of species were obtained. Over twenty species of phasnogamic plants were discovered between latitudes 82° and 83°, and the cryptogamic flora was of course much more varied and abundant. The whole west coast, of Smith's Sound, from Cape Isabella to Cape Union, was fully surveyed and mapped, and large collections made of both fossils and rock-specimens; while the sled-parties, which explored the shores of the Polar Basin both to east and west, brought back sufficient material to determine the geological character of the country. Silurian limestones, richly fossiliferous, were the prevailing rocks along Smith's Sound. From the shales and sandstones of this formation a beautiful series of leaf-impressions were collected, illustrating the characteristic flora of the epoch, and presenting a remarkable demonstration of the existence of a temperate climate within 500 miles of the present pole, at a comparatively recent geological time. Lastly, very interesting and suggestive observations were made on glaciation and on ice action in general.

The Berlin Gorilla.—At the recent meeting of the German Association of Naturalists, Dr. Hermes, as we are informed by Nature, described some interesting characteristics of the young gorilla in the Berlin Aquarium. He nods and claps his hands to visitors; wakes up like a man and stretches himself. His keeper must always be beside him and eat with him; he eats what his keeper eats; they share dinner and supper; the keeper must remain by him till he goes to sleep, his sleep lasting eight hours. His easy life has increased his weight in a few months from thirty-one to thirty-seven pounds. For some weeks he had inflammation of the lungs, when his old friend Dr. Falkenstein was fetched, who treated him with quinine and Ems-water, which made him better. When Dr. Hermes left the gorilla on the previous Sunday, the latter showed the doctor his tongue, clapped his hands, and squeezed the hand of the doctor as an indication, the latter believed, of his recovery. For Pungu, as the gorilla is called, a large plate-glass palace has been erected in the aquarium in connection with the palm-house.

Lightning in a Telegraph-Office.—A telegraph-operator, in an office on the Boston and Providence Railroad, was lately killed by lightning. This is said to be the only case on record of an operator killed by lightning while in the office. Remarking upon this casualty, the Telegraphic Journal says that,