Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/523

 Popular Science Monthly

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��What a Life of Cap- tivity Does to the Lion

SOME interesting facts have been revealed from a study showing the differences between wild- killed lions and those which had died in the National Zoological Park in Wash- ington. It was found that captivity changes the nor- mal buff color of the lion to a darker color, the color deepening for each succes- sive moult for five years at least. Lions captured young and reared in cap- tivity had muscles little developed, and as a result their skulls showed a mark- ed difference from those of wild-killed lions. This was due, say the investigators, to the fact that the skulls of lions are greatly influenced by muscular activity. Using muscles develops them; and disuse de- strovs.

���nq pi

��Absorbent material

���The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the shell spreads the naming gasoline in all directions

��„ Cartridge

Conical recess en- qaqes base

��A Stylish New Blanket-Coat for the Baby Lamb

THE greatest obstacle which stands in the way of providing very young, or new-born lambs with artificial coats or blankets to protect them from sudden changes in temperature or from storms until their own coats are heavy enough to serve the purpose, i the fact that the covering material is likely to de- stroy the lamb odor by which the mother recog- nizes her offspring.

The blanket shown in the illustration leaves enough of the lamb's neck and body exposed to satisfy the mother as to the lamb's identity, and at the same time covers the vital por- tions of the body snugly. It is composed of a water- proof outer canvas, with a soft woolen lining. Four elastic loops fasten it on.

���The blanket is made of waterproof outer canvas lined with soft woolen material

��Firing Shells Charged

with Gasoline Which

Ignites on Impact

IN their great attack upon Messines Ridge, the British brought into play a new weapon, the inflammable shell. "We didn't use gas in the attack," said one correspondent, "but every known form of offensive weapon I think we did supply, including a new horror known in the army as 'oil cans,' or 'boiling oil.' These on concussion burst and scattered conflagration over a wide area. We know from the prisoners taken that they caused terror and did an immense amount of harm."

Light on the nature of these flaming projectiles is given by an American patent which was issued to Henry Dean, of Michigan, early in the war. A cham- ber containing high-ex- plosive powder is situ- ated in back of the solid nose of the shell and right in front of the firing torch. Sur- rounding this highly- inflammable torch is the charge of gasoline which takes up by far the greatest portion of the interior of the projectile. Thus,when the nose of the shell strikes against the trench wall, the concussion sets off the gunpowder.

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