, 1876-03-29

caused by its weight is observed in the
manner explained. Then the light of tha
candle was tried ia the same way, and il
was found that while the iron weight of q
hundredth of a grain caused a torsion Of
10.021 degrees, the candle caused a-rOrslon
of only 1'629 degrees, or q torsion between
a sixth and a seventh of that due to the
iron bar. In other words, the impulse due
to the light of the candle was weighed.
Mr.. Cro)kes calculates that the force OK.
erted by the SUMS light is equal to 80 grains
on the square foot, or 81 toas OH the
square mile, or three thousand millions OF
tons on the whole earth, a repellent force
which, but. for the far more powerful at
%tractive force of gravitatioa, would drlvo
the earth off into space. AS not a little
of the iuvigorating effect of ine weather
is said to be due to the increased pressure
of the atmosphere, so it is possible that
the stimulus certainly given by light to
the nervous system may be partly due to
this minute pressure.
Sir John Lubbock has baen testing his
ants again, and yet again finding them
wanting. H has placed a glass hive on q
pole, aud on the other side of the pole has
contrived a wooden promenade for the ants.
with paper bridges from it placed at inter-
walls, Leading to three pieces OF glass, on
two Of which there was no food, while the
third contained a supply OF food. Sir
John Lubbock then taught two ~ants-artl-.
f%cially marked with a spot OF colour, SO
as to be recognisable,-thei way to the
food, guiding them over the right bridge.
The creatures soon learnt their way, and
were very diligent in fetching the food;
but of the other ants, which had not been
taught the way, very few reached the food,
most of them going over the wrong bridges
and not apparently getting set right by
the two initiated ants. Sir John believes
that the ants do not hear any such vlbra"
tious as those to which the human ear 10
sensitive, but they turn away their a%ntenne
from scented objects, and he ascribes such
powers OF guiding themselves as they have
in great measure to smell. AS regards
family affection or regard for their species,
he finds the ants deficient. When they
fId a dead ant they usually pass by, like
the priest and the LeVite, on the other side.
But "a few Good Samaritans, who appeared
to feel concern for their drowned fellow.
creatures, he did observe. He was obliged,
however, to regard this as an individual
peculiarity. Perhaps even these few were
not really Good Samlritans, after all, but
rather ants disturbed by the sight of
corpses, only because violent deaths speak
ill tor the safety of the republic. If a
passer-by finds a man garotted, how much
of his concern would be due to his sympa-
thy with the victim, and how much to the
alarm caused by evidence of violence and
OF public dangerf
The American Democratic. Convention
for the nomination of a President has
been called for the 9th of June, the
Republican Convention meets a few
DAYS later, and from that time till No
vember the United States will be occu.
pied in electioneering. At present the
newspapers AMI the State Legislatures
are discussing the names to be submitted
to the Conventions, most, if not ell,
of which will be rejected. The Demo-
Gratis are hanging back, and discuss no
name prominently except that Of Mr.. Til
den. Governor of New York. The Re-