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��SCIENCE.

��[Vol. v., No. Ill,

���strikinglj exemplified in the case of a recent pamphlet containing ' a few facta about car- pets; ' but the result is the more intereating, since in this one example the analogies of the various stages of percolation are clearly seen. The writer starts with bis pure spiritus vini Qaliici, good in itself, but capable of being considerably changed by the maceration of improper substances. This alcohol is the fact, capable of scientific demonstration, that moths destroy carpets. Thus he runs on: " Moras. — Many are not aware that all the present damage is done when the millers commence to fly, as their verj' presence indicates the absence of the worm. It is to prevent the miller's incubating, that precautions should be taken." The alcohol with the next step begins to be discolored in the following manner, though to a slight extent: "A large proportion of the millers never hatch eggs, but die without causing any barm." We will let it soak awhile, and then this result is found: "The male miller, which does not flj', but runs very rapidly, is easily detected by his triangular- shaped figure; but, keeping liiroself out of sight, he is not so easily found."

Dropping our simile for the moment, we wish to call attention to a peculiar and repre- hensible bit of wickedness of the ' males ' in biding from their lawful ' better halves; ' for, so our autbor says, "bis hiding explains the devious flights of the female in his search." Give ear now, good housewife, and recollect, that, besides protecting your carpets, yon are avenging a great slight upon j'our sex — a slight which brings about a perpetual leap- year — by following out to its fullest extent the suggestion embraced in the following sen- tence, which, to return to our simile, renders our percolate still darker: " The killing of one male is equal to the extinction of many ordi- nary millers." Our alcohol is now almost saturated. Lot us draw the stopper from the percolator, and allow the fluid to run out. It appears as follows: *' The male miller is com- monly known by the name of 'silver-fish.' " TAe proceas ia complete; we have obtained

��our percolate; by d generation our motb hts evolved a thysanure. Our alcohol Is spoiled: what shall we do with it?

A KEWSPAPEK BUUOR fVom Washington, printed in the Boston Adoertiaer last Monday, to the e£fect, that, in consequence of a charge of extravagance in the conduct of the U. S. geological survey, Professor Shaler of Cam- bridge was ' talked of to succeed Major Pow- ell, " brought out an immediate rejoinder from the former on the following day; defending the survey from a charge so injurious and so oatnie. "It is my firm belief," says Mr. Shaler, '*tbat no one of the scientific departments of the government has been so well and economic-Jly managed as the geological survey since it came under the able direction of Major Powell." The same conclusion will be reached by any one who gives the subject any proper attention, or who is acquainted with the character and methods of the able chief of this survey. A change made on such a charge, without honest and open investigation, would be iniquitous: after such investigation, there could be nodoabt of the result.

��LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

��Solar BClipae of March Ifi.

��i

��Tbe solar eclipse was very Bucceasfull; obierred here lo-day, under good atmospheric CDDditiODS. Cumulus clouds were scattered here itud there atinat the sk;, but fortunately iliey did not obarure the sun at &ny critical moment.

The pholograpbic apparatus was in perfect work- ing-order, and about Hfly pictures of the eclipse were secured, with the assistance of Mr. J. L. Lovell. All of these developed well; and the exposures were so distributed with reference to the times of the two contacts, and to the occultBtion of solar spol^ that Ihey may be expected to give good results for the relative imsltlons of the centres of the sun and moon.

The last cont "

��Heredltaiy iibiiorinallty of

Dr. Mason's note on ' Ueredlt

(Science, v. 1885, 189) reminds me

inherited abnormality of sensitlrenesalni is of opposite signs.

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