St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-04-29
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

1t has been pointed out that the fra
GRANGE of violets differs widely, being
influenced evidently by the season and
temperature, warmth and shelter being
most conductive to sweetness.
Herr Kraus has lately proved that all
plant organs smell and contract periodi-
cally every day. This phenomenon is
due to variations in the amount of wa
ter contained at different periods du-
ring the twenty-four hours.
The venerable French chemist and
instructor, M. Chevreul, has just cele-
brated his ninety sixth birthday.
For the photography of birds in their
different positions in flying, NJ. Marcy
employs an instrument, like rifle in
shape, giving twelve successive images
per second, each image being taken in
the LOO part of a second. In bright
sunlight the time of exposure is re-
duced to the IL 500 of a second. These
views furnish an analysis of the motion
of birds in flight which could not be
obtained before the perfection of the
processes OF instantaneous photography
Tt is very generally known that the
existence OF a planet between Mercury
and the sun has long been suspected by
astronomers, but if such an object exists
it is ordinarily rendered invisible to
telescopes by the diffusion of the solar
rays. During total eclipse the glare
of the sun is removed, and it is hoped
that the hypothetical planet may be
discovered on such an occasion. With
that purpose in view, many observers
will eagerly scan the heavens about
the sun during the eclipse of May 18th,
which will be chiefly visible in Africa.
It appears to be quite well established
that ants and few other insects have
the highly organized faculty of commu-
nicating their ideas to one another.
The researches of modern observers,
such as Lubbock and McCook, have
confirmed the belief iD such power.
DIR. Franklin shared the belief, and
tested the matter in an interesting ex-
pertinent. He placed small jar, con-
tanning little treacle, in closet, where
number of ants soon collected to prey
upon the vessels contents. When all
the ants, and putting some fresh trea-
Gle in it suspended it by string from a
nail in the ceiling. A single ant re-
manned, which ate until satisfied, and
then sought to find its way out. 1t was
for some time perplexed, but finally
climbed the string to the ceiling, and
escaped down the wall. 1t had been
gone but a short time when large
swarm of ants hocked into the closet,
climbed up the wall to the ceiling, and
then descended by the string into the
jar, where they remained uutil the trea-
Gle was devoured, and then departed by
the string. 1t is hardly possible that
this should have taken place had not the
first ant made some communication to
the others.
The celebrated "Kent's Hole" of the
biologists is located near Torquay, in
Devonshire England. This remarkable
cavern, first scientifically explored in
1894 by a. Catholic clergyman, has given
MP remains of the mammoth, rhinoceros,
hyena, elk, and other animals now ex-
tinct in England, together with many
f1ints and other relics of ancient man.
The earth in the cave has now been ex-
plored to great depth, and the finding
of human jaw far below the surface
has added link to the chain of evil
dence establishing mans great antiqui-
ty.
A new method of preserving meat is
to cause the heart Of the animal toll
pump boracic acid into the tissues. For
example, a sheep is stunned by blow,
and blood being withdrawn from the |
left jugular vein, strong solution of |
horacic acid, kept at blood heat, is in |
iected. The heart of the still living an |
imal quickly pumps the antiseptic fluid |
into all parts of the body, and the sheep |
is then killed by the butcher in the |
usual way. The cost is slight, and the |
meat thus treated will last several |
weeks in the heat of summer.
DR.. scweinfurth has succeeded in
freshening and preserving many of the
on the breasts of mummies discovered
last year at DER ell Bahari. A small
herbarium is thus formed from plants
which grew sometime thirty-fve centu-
ries ago. A number of the species have
been identified with those now found in
the east.
A new Geyser has been discovered
near st. Etienne, France. A vein of hot
water was tapped at depth of 5000
feet, and the result is an intermittent
fountain throwing stream to a
height of nearly 100 feet above the sur
face of the earth.
M. Blavier attributes the disappear
ance of the sardine from the coast of
Brittany, where it was once the source
# large revenue, to change in the
direction of the Gulf Stream. The
question was deemed so important by
he Paris Academy of Sciences that a
pecial committee has been appointed
o Investigate the matter.
A species of temporary color-blind- q
less has been observed as the result Of
ong exposure to dazzling light. t
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A