The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-05-14
Scientific Miscellany.

The pitcher plant of Borneo has been
found to be natural insect trap, incurv-
ing ridges efectually preventing the
escape of any creeping insects which
may enter. In order to safely reach the
prisoners thus entrapped species OF
black ant ingeniously perforates the
stalk of the plant, providing in this man
ner highway by means of which ready
access is had to q sumptuous fare OF dead
and decaying insects.
The hats of natives of British Colnm-
bia are adorned with figures resembling
tattoo marks. DR.. Daily has discovered
that these marks all have definite mean
ing, being, in fact, records of events
which have taken place in the lives OF
the wearers. Each individual thus dis
plays his history upon his head.
An estimate has lately been made by
Herr Salzer, placing the number of optic
nerve-ibres at about 438, 900, and the
number of retinal cones at 1880, 900, in
each human eye. -
M. Raoud Pictet suggests the use. OF
the great parabolic mirror thirty-fve feet
in diameter, as a means of concentrating
the suns rays and securing degree of
heat far greater than any ever produced
artifcially. He suspects certain sub
stances now considered as elementary to
the compounds, and he believes they
may be divided into three elements by
the application of the intense heat in the
mirrors focus.
The idea was long prevalent that the
living bodies of human being and ami
mails might, under certain circum-
stances, take fire spontaneously and be
more or less completely consumed.
Alleged cases of this kind were even
placed on record. The utter impossi-
bility of any such result was demon
strated by Liebig, who showed that no
amount Of fat, alcohol or phosphorous,
which living body could possibly con-
tain would render it combustible.
A remarkable discovery was lately
made in the region of the Pyrenees. In
cave of the paleolithic or "old stone
period there were found teeth of tie
cave bear adorned with drawings, some
of which represent human beings COW
cred with long hair. These rude pic
lures must date many thousand years be-
fore the dawn of historic times.
1t has been claimed by several writers
that more than one of the so-called San
nual rings" of trees may be formed in a
single season, but the question has never
tions of Mr. L. Kay in England last year
formed in the small branches of O tree
ton of growth in summer causing the
division of these rings is too slight to ex-
tend to the trunk. Consequently, it may
be considered that The number of concen-
trio rings of wood in the trunks of trees
represents very nearly their actual age
in years.
A peculiar substance has been found
by Professor A. Scacchi in the lava
which issued from Vesuvius during the
year 1881. He supposes it to be a new
metal, and gives it the name resbium.
An analysis has been made of the soil
OF a cemetery in which no interment has
been made for thirty years, and the pro.
duets of animal decomposition are found
to be still present.
A small quantity of the essential oils
of aloes was recently exhibited in Edin-
/ burgh. It is believed to be the only
specimen in the world. The oil exists
only in very minute quantity in aloes
but two fluid drachms having been OBJ
tanned from five hundred pounds Of
aloes.
Some two years since, according to 6
foreign medical report, girl of seven
teen received a severe fright, which
within a few days threafter resulted in 6
total loss of her hair. None has grown
since, and she remains completely bald
A process has been patented in Ger
many whereby a fur-like material is pro.
duced from feathers in combination with
other textile substances. The product
can be used for a variety of purposes
such as rugs, carpets, and some articles
of clothing. Feathers otherwise value
less can be utilized by this means.
In Prussia one person in every foul
hundred and fifty is insane. A Berlin
scientist attributes this large proportion
to intemperance among the lower class
and to educational examining in early
years among others.
Fragments of papyri are still being
found in Egypt. some of them bearing
epistles in Greek characters.