The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-18
Curiosities of Science.
WAVES OF SOUND.

Curiosiues OF science. .arH F.
WAVES OF SOUND.
Experiments prove that sound is simply
snplying force to the air, which moves in
succession of undulatory vibrations. Every
cord spoken is breath force, pushing q
column of air from the exterior of the
mouth. When sound is produced in long
organ pipe or short one, the difference is
made thus: the vibrations are made slow
IN the first and quick in the other. Vibra-
tons of waves are one thousand in a sec
ond in one, for example, and four thousand
IN the other in the same second. But wave
lets of sound move off in space with equal
velocities, and both arrive at the ear at the
same instant.
On this law of acoustics depends the
Measure derived with music. If the notes
aid not travel with equal speed there would
he utter confusion, all harmony being de-
stroyed if one sound arrived too late for
carving on the chain of acoustic vibrations
within the ear. aa
But the apparatus for receiving sound
and Analysing it so as to derive both graft
fcation and instruction from its impulses
IN few threads of nerves finer than the
smallest thread ever spun, is one of the GU
riosities of animal organism.
DISTURBANCE IN THE SUN.
Familiar as we all are with the great
luminary of the solar system, astronomers
at this particular epoch were never so WV
idly excited in regard to its physical char
octer, Since the invention of the spectre.
scope. they have found we have been pro-
foundiy ignorant in branch of science con-
sdered quite firmly established. Within
The past few months observers have wit
messed gigantic displays of force in the me-
talic lustre of the SUMS atmosphere, far
more wonderful than any phenomena here
tofore seen or suspected in far off celestial
regions. There are frequent burstings or ex-
pl0sons on the surface of the sun, appar-
entity, which rend path through its shin
ing envelope at the rate of seventy thou
sand miles in single minute. Electricity
isa slow coach in comparison.
ARCHITECTURE OF BEES.
From immemorial time the economy of
honey bees and the exact system inyaria-
bly, pursued by them in building their comb
cells have been subject of interest.
There is no departure from six-sided cell
and the exact manner OF construction and
the character of the material used is always
the same III ally COuulIy, WhCluCl III noia,
Europe, Africa, or America.
Books abound with detailed accounts Of
the government of hive; the maternal
relations of the queen and the functions Of
drones and workers. How much the I'M
apination has been drawn upon in the natur.
al history of that insect, the honey bee, is
a question that requires some investigation.
That there has been considerable more
romance and fewer facts gathered, in ex.
PLANTATION of how things are managed inside
the hive. admits If no question in the
minds Of we'll informed entomologists.
Perhaps Huber's relations have magniiet
as well as mystified bee matters more thar
any other writer, and yet he was blint
man. He asserts discoveries have been too
generally received as true, without having
been sufficiently verified. Take, for exam.
ple. his war of ants, their system of slavery
making bearers of burdens of poor littl'
captives, not much larger than o grain o
sand Who believes all that finely drawn
poetical nonsense? The question is askct
for the purpose of having it answered.
INSTINCT OF TURTLES.
Audubon, the naturalist, stated that a
certain places on the coast of Florida SCI
turtles, those huge, stupid-looking reptile
on which aldermen are fed at the expens
of the rate-prayers, possess an extraordi
nary faculty of finding places. Working
the way up out of the reach of it'd
water with their fppers, quite deep hol'
is excavated, in which hatch o.
eggs is deposited, and then carefully covere'
up. On reaching the water they not unfre
auently swim three hundred miles out at Sc
foIaging for appropriate food.