The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-05-25
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
written expressly for the GAZETTE by celebrated
Eastern Scientist.
Mr.. Max Buchner notes that insects form
an important food of the Baetus, tribe OF
negroes inhabiting southeastern Africa.
black caterpillar is harvested whenever it
appears in considerable numbers, large par,
ties of the negroes leaving their villages and
camping for weeks in the wilderness to Sc
cure the crop, which is preserved for use
by pressing out the intestines. driving Be
fore fire, and rolling in fresh leaves.
White ants, Certain subterranean cricket
and coleopterous larva living in hollow
trees are highly relished when roasted.
Snakes, frogs and izards-which these
people might be expected to include in their
bill of fare-are refused even in times of
famine.
DR. n. w. H.rkness has submitted to
the California Academy of Science the fol-
lowing description of a hitherto undecribed
species of man, to which the fossil footprints
of the State prison quarry at Carson, Ne
vada, are attributed: Homo Neuodensis.
darkness. Length of track, Isl inches;
width at the ball OF the foot, s inches;
width of heel, 6 inches; average length of
step, p inches; length of stride, 81 inches;
width of trackway, Is inches, measured
from the center of the SANDAL to the center
of the corresponding one. Angle with the
median line, about Is degrees. Each track
is being modified i'll form by a sandal, or
other protection to the foot" These few
differences drawn from the rocks are what
has thus far been learned of the extinct
Nevada man." whose probable history and
characteristics will doubtless form theme
of scientific discussion for years to come.
The experiments in acclimating the tea
plant in southern France are giving encour-
aging results.
The assertion that audible sounds are
sometimes produce by the aurora is not a
new one, but the evidence supporting such
statement has not been entirely satisfac-
tory. The testimony of a careful observer
is now added. Capt. Dawson, commander
of the British Circumpolar Expedition at
Fort Rae, reports that while his party was
travelling northward from Winnepeg an
aurora was observed-evidently very near
which was accompanied by a distinct
swishiug noise like that of a sharp squall in
ships rigging or that made by whip in
passing through the air. He is led to be-
ieve that the sound is heard occasionally,
though rarely, but that it would be more
frequently noticed were it not that the au-
rora is generally at too great height.
Lecturing recently upon the geological
history Of Palestine, Prof. E. Hull, F. R.
s., mentioned that the physical phenomenon
which renders the Holy Land unique among
all countries is the remarkable depression Of
the Deap Sea, the surface OF which is no less
than 1900 feet below the level of the Med
iterfanean. As the sea can have no outlet
saline matters gather in g. eat quantity, and
24.57 pounds of salts are found to exist in
each hundred pounds of surface water, while
the ATLANTIC contains but six pounds in
each hundred.
Mr.. c. E. Bessey estimates that parasitic
fungi damage the wheat, oats, barley and
Indian corn crops OF the United States to
the extent of at least $50, 900, 600 to $780,
600, 600 annually. He therefore insists up
on the great Importance of a thorough in
vestigation of destructive fungi by the De-
partment of Agriculture.
In paper read before the London Geolo.
gists' Association, Mr.. w. F. Stanley at
tributes the rising and falling of the land
surface of the globe chiefly to the pressure
of snow and ice at the~pofes. It is supposed
that the glacial accumulation has now
reached a great thickness at the south pole,
and it is Mr.. Stanley's opinion that the
weight of the vast mass upon the crust of
the earth causes the extensive submergence
of the southern hemisphere which now ex-
lists. He shows that Dr. Croll's theory
that the earth's centre is shifted by the un-
equal polar accumulations is somewhat in
consistent with facts which have been oh.
served.
The worlds largest animals are d's1prear-
ing The elephant is said to be rapidly
approaching extinction, and in the interest
Of science it is suggested that the British
Government interfere to prevent the further
destruction of this gigantic creature in
India.
Mons. Reiset has investigated 4 remark
able alteration of milk which superstitious
French peasants seem to think is due to
some bewitching influence. The new milk
has normal appearance. but after it has
been exposed to the air fer about thirty-six
hours blue spots appear upon Che surface,
and it is then known as ''blue milk But
ter obtained from the affected liquid has a
str6ng, disagreeable, smell, and greenish
color. The spots prove to be due to kind
of mold, which may be avoided by adding a
little acetic acid to the mill.
Tie Swedish Government, which is mfst
liberal in aiding scientific work, has granted
Mr. A. Darlsson $3.50 for the study of
English agricuitafsS during the present sea-
son.
Fhe parting gives me pain" as the
man said when he had a troublesome
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