The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-09-15
FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS.
TIE full capacity of the lungs is abou
800 cubic inches

The full capacity of the lungs is about
320 cubic inches.
ABOUT two-thirds of pint of air is in
hailed at each breath in ordinary respira-
ton.
The skin contains pore than 2,000,-
600 openings, which are the outlets for
an equal number of sweat glands.
The little sea animal called the pholas
penetrates into the hardest rocks /; and
yet its boring apparatus is simply a
feshy substance some what resembling
tongue, soft and yielding.
MUssELs swim by a slight opening
and closing of the shells. They grow
by line particles which form around the
edge. These lines are said to indicate
the yearly growth of the creature.
The star-fish is believed to commit
suicide. Edward Forbes is responsible
for the statement that star-fish found
in the Mediterranean, when attacked, If
unable to defend itself, escapes by drop
ing to pieces. First the arms break off
one after the other, then the disk breaks
itself into fragments. Not being able
to defend itself, as whole, it kills itself
In detail.
L h1SiCALL1 tuS ape 10 hhO I"
man to be his brother. The skeleton of
apes generally, if we except the tail, has
about the same number of bones as man.
The proportions of its parts, except in
minor instances, are also such as in man.
Nor are their shapes, except those of the
jaws and haunch bones, greatly differ
ent. The same rule of resemblance
holds throughout all their structure.
The effects of professions and trades
on mortality are great, the term OF life
varying from IS years IL months for
clergymen to 40 years and 10 months for
lithographers and copper engravers. In
England, according to the census-office
statistics, the duration of life has been
| found most defective among the steel
workers, polishers and grinders, and
next to these the life of the collier-that
| fearless deliver in the bowels of the earth
is least secure, owing greatly, no
| doubt, to the occurrence of accidents In
| mines.
| A CALIFORNIA hunter had occasion to
cross very wide and rapid stream.
| Among his dogs were terrier and New
| foundland. The terrier refused to enter
the water, and the Newfoundland tried
several times to lead him in, by bodily
plunging ia and wagging his tail in a
confident manner, but the terrier only
kept further from the stream. At last,
disguised by the timidity Of the little
cur, the big dog rushed at the alarmed
terrier, seized him by the neck and
jumped into the torrent with him. The
terrier yelled "murder and "police p"
in the most expletive language known
to the canine tongue, until the New
foundland deposited him safely on the
other side.
THE Icelanders are said, at one time,
to have taught bears to jump into the
sea and catch seals. The China birds
are equally well trained /; for at signal
they dive into the lakes and bring up
large fish, grasped in their bills. In
Greece the fishermen use branches of
pine, stepped in pitch, and lighted; the
inhabitants of Amorgos used cypress
leaved cedar, which served, when light
ed, as tiambeau and the Chinese fish
in the night with white painted boards,
placed in manner to reflect the rays
of the moon upon the water doubly.
These attract the fish to the boat; when
the men cast large net, and seldom
fail to draw out considerable quantities.
Anchovies are fished for also in a similar
manner