The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-04-21

i0IS0 d JUG open p6lms WHOI0 AA0
feathers are covered with u thick, yell
low powder, that is easily shaken of,
and evidently exudes from the body at
this spot as a secretion, drying into q
powder when exposed to the air. The
bird stands motionless in the water, and
the spot is undoubtedly used for, or ac-
complishes the end Of, attracting the
smaller fishes within reach of the bird;
and, if it is decoy, it is most re-
markable provision of nature.
Many fishes are ornamented win
rows Of fiery spots that CLEAN and
sparkle as they rush through the water.
The so.called firefiies of tropical coun-
tries afford interesting examples of
this wonderful faculty. If the lumin-
GUS spot that glows with seeming white
heat is examined under glass it will
be seen that the yellow tissue is made
up evidently of fat globules that are
intersected by many delicate veins or
trachee that contain air. and the light
may be explained by the union of tho
carbon of the fat and the oxygen of the
air thus introduced, which produces
temperature. That this is possible is
proved by the successful experiment.
within-a few weeks, Of Mr.. Kerding,
a Hungarian. He uses u mineral SUBJ
stance in a liquid form. He pours a
quantity of the fluid on his hat and
calmly sets fire to il. A mass of lurid
flame rises instantly almost to the cell
ing, but M. Kerdig, in no wise discon-
certed, places his hat on his head. and
waits until the flame gradually dies
out. He then exhibits the hat trium-
phantly to the audience. 1t is unin-
jured. He next sets fire to the floor,
then to his handkerchief, saturated
with the substance, and finally goes SO
far as to pour some of it into the palm
of his hand and light it; but the floor,
the handkerchief and the hand are I'M
harmed. The vapor of the mineral
substance possesses considerable ex-
pansive force, SO that, in reality. it is
the vapor which burns and not the
fluid. This may explain the curious
lights that are frequently seen floating
over the sea, especially near Block
Island, and considered phantom ships
by many of the superstitious islanders.
Such lights are undoubtedly caused by
the gases arising from the millions of
mossbunkers that are found there in
schools, the gas becoming luminous at
times when coming in contact with the
oxygen of the outer air.
1t has been observed that the lights,
when abdominal, as in our FREELY, are
Involuntary, while in those insects that
show thoracic CLEANS its appearance
seems subject to the will of the animal.
An interesting case of the latter is seen
in the cucuo or pyrophorus of the West
Indies, beetle two inches long. The
light issues from two oval spots on each
side OF the thorax or fore part of the
body, and when at rest the spot CLEANS
with a rich yellow glow. but when in
the air it assumes q dark red appear
ance, and with thousands of them fly
ing through the air the sight is ex-
tremely beautiful. The writer recently
secured beetle of the genus elater
through the mail from Cuba. and after
its long voyage it had lost none of its
power: The light was so powerful that
it cast shadow on the wall at a short
distance, and when placed on a book
and irritated it could be read from the
light, although, of course, disconnect-
edly. A dozen confined in glass
would give ample light for reading.
Ladies use them as decorations for the
hair in southern countries. the bright
CLEANS of red, blue and yellow being
exceedingly effectiv en- Y San.