Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-02-24
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.


1t has been found by Gustav Hansep
that the sntent % of insects serve as organs
OF smell Ga their removal or when
COATED with paraffine, the insets becom
qui g Indifferent TO the most odorous sub
stances flies, for instance, taking no fur
ther notice of tainted meat
A prize of 5000 in gold has been offered
by Mr.. H. Ii. Warner of Rochester, N. Y,
for the discovery of any comet during
1881. The comet must be unexpected
(With the exception of the comet of 1922
and telescope and Prof Lewis Swift. OF
Rochester, must be Immediately notified
of its discovery.
An old sportsman has carefully pre-
served ia his house a SPIDERS web, which
serves as O novel aud very delicate baron.
eter. When the insect finds it necessary
to shorten the threads which suspend the
web, rain aud wind may be expected; II
reefs be let out, fac weather is certain if
the spider remains inert, rain will probs.
bly, follow within shor. time.
1t is asserted that if person exposes
himself to the electric light for some time
in close inspection of the same, his
hands and cheeks will show--if he be O.
fair complexon--all the symptoms OF
"sunburn,' even in midwinter, and he
will develop freckles on his countenance
as quickly rs when be goes about uppro-
teeted by sun umbrella in midsummer.
1t is generally supposed that the colors
of flowers are due TO so many different
materials, each color being chemical com
bination entirely distinct from the others
Prof. SchuetZler, however, now advances
the theory that chlorophyl (the green
coloriDg matter of lesves) is the only
coloring matter which plants possess, ant
that the varying colors and shades are pro
duced by the action of the scids or alkale
of the plants upon the chlorophyl. Exper
iments confirm this view, to which furlhe
support is given by the quite well estab
lished fact that the changes in color o
leaves in autumn are due to the action O
their tannin upon the chlorophyl.
The changes in level of the earthe sur
face, which must have been rapid an,
vast in early geological ages, are yet il
progress. Aside from paroxysmel changes
such as the volcanic upheaval of an islan,
now and then, great areas of land i
different parts of the globe are undergoip
a slow process of elevation or subsistence
In Greenland, 3 subsistence is taking place
For 600 miles, from Disco bay to the Firt
Of Igaiiko, the coast has been sinking fc
four centuries past. Old buildings an
Islands have been submerged aud tn
Moraviau settlers have had to put dow
new poles for their boats, the old or!
standing, Lyell observes, ''as silent wi
nesses of the change On the Mort
American coast south of Greenland, frol
Labrador TO New Jersey, it is supposed tbs
similar changes are going on, G I
Cook concludes that slov subsistence
IN progress along the coasts Of Ne
Jersey Long Islsud and Martha's Vim
yard; aud according to A. Gesner, the lar
is rising at st. John in Nav Brun-wich
sinking ut the island OF Grand Menan
, rising on the coast opposite. st Bathurst
. sii king about the Bay of Fuudy, whei
, there are regions of stumps submerged ;
feet at high tide; and rising ut Prin
Edwards Island, 1t is believed that
the Pacific Ocean, the region of the Cor
Islands has, in some portions, sunk a
81 than 000 feet during comparative
recent geologic times. Surveys made
Northern Sweden have shown, accordiI
, to Lyell that the coast ut that point
i rising at the rate of about four feet in
, century.