Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-09-27
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.


British Circumpolar Expedition, stated
that winter really set in at that place
latitude go 80 north) on the frs, OF
December. when the thermometer sank
to $40 below zero. In January the tenn
perature approached 500 below, bat dur
ing storm in the carly part of February
it rose to 20o above. 1t afterwards fell
again, reaching 39' below on the 23rd
Of March. He thinks it probable that
go below zero is not uncommon tenn
perature during severe winters. at is
strange" bis letter says, show much less
ono feels this extreme cold than might
Be imagined. For the FIRST day OF two
it was unpleasant, but after that the sys-
tenn seemed to accommodate itself to it,
50 that day when the temperature was
anywhere above--lj' felt quite warm
and pleasant To-day, for instance, | am
writing with my window open, although
the thermometer is several degrees below
scro, and there is light breeze"
Prof. Milne, Of Toxic, called attention
to hitherto almost overlooked class Of
phenomena which he terms "earth pulsa
tons" He refers to movements Of the
earth's surface 50 slow as TO escape ordi-
nary observation. The measre evidence
thus far collected makes it appear prob
able that variations Of atmospheric pres
sure causes motions OF the earth's crust,
while it has been calculated that the tides
which twice day load our shores produce
risings and fallings Of the land in simi
lar manner. 1t is quite certainly proven
that such slow and imperceptible pulsa-
tons are often spread from earthquake
ccntcrs.
A shark of the genus scymnus is &C
cording to Weidemann, phosphorcsccnt
under surface, with the exception Of q
black stripe on the neck. Its back is non
luminous.
However beneficial as exercise, nc
amusement il free from drawbacks. In .
paper entitled Remarks ON One Form
Of Tennis Knee," DR.. c. Mansell Moulin
assistant surgeon to the London Hospital
shoys that lawn tennis players are liable
to peculiar forms Of knee-sprains, which
may be painful aud difficult to treat.
An apparatus for registering eartl
currents has been made by Berlin phys
icist. 1t consists Of very delicate valv
anometer enclosed in case with clock
work arrangement for giving photo
graphic plate steady downward motion
A fine ray of light is focused from tn
galvanometer mirror on the photograph
plate. The latter moves at the rate o
about three inches per hour, and tn
mark traced by the point Of light show
the observer the variations Of the galvan
ometer from minute to minute.
From experiments at Caracas, Venezu
Ella, Mons. V. Marcano concludes that tn
sap of tropical vegetation circulates com
pletely through the plants within perio
of "a hours
Two Scotch scientists have started up
on dredging expedition in the Mora
Firth, one Of their chief objects being t
study the habits Of the herring.
A drawing Of the skeleton of the gigan
tic fossil reptile known as Brontoaauru
excelsus has been made by Prof. o. {
Marsh. Nearly all the bones illustrate
belonged to = single individual, whic
was nearly or quite so feet in length whe
alive, and must have weighed more tina
20 tons. 1t had small head, massiv
feet and legs, and large tail Its sma
brain indicates that ii was \ stupid, slow
moving animal. 1t was more or less an
phibious, and its food was probably aqua
ic plants.
Mr.. Thomas Urquhart has made
careful comparison Of the cost Of woot
anthracite coal and petroleum refuse 8
fuel for locomotives on Russian railwa,
and finds that the petroleum is at lea,
80 per cent. more economical than eithe
wood or coal. The oil presents the flu
Their advantage of giving rise to niue
less smoke and dirt than the other kline
Of fuel.
A telegraphic weather-service has bee
established in Japan by the Imperi
Meteorological Observatory, and receiv,
reports from twenty-five well-distribute
stations. 1t issues maps and bulletin
three times a day, but will not atteml
forecasts until the experience of the Sc
vice has given better knowledge of tn
conditions governing japanese weathel
The Granton quarry, on the east Goa.