Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-05-17
SCIENTIFIC kIaCELLAEY.

uDo OF negroes lnhahltln@ hontheatttrh
Africa A black caterpillar is harvested
whenever it appears in considerable num-
hers, large parties of the Negroes leaving
their villages and camping for weeks in
Ne wilderness tn secure the crop, with
h preserved for Use by pressing out the
htestines, drying before fire, and roll
iax fresh leaves. White ants, and Ger
TIN fat subtcrran6an cricket and cole
spterous larva living in hollow frees ale
highly relished when roasted. Snakes,
frog end lizards--whieh these people
night be expected to include in their bill
u fare--sre refused even in times Of
famine.
DR.. Fl. w. Hardness has submitted to
Ne California Academy of Sciences the
following descrip tion of hitherto undo
scsibed species of man, to which the fo>-
ii footprints of the State prison quarry
= Carson, Nevada, are attributed: "llomo
kevadensis. Harkncss Length of track,
1874 inches; width at the ball Of the foot
3 inches; width Of heel, 6 inches; average
lsagth Of step, y inches; length of stride,
u inches; width of trackway, IS inches,
- measured from the center of the san
dal 10 the center of the corresponding one
Aagle with the mcdian line, about Is
degrees. Each track is being modified
N form by sandal, or other protection
70 the foot" These few influences 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 fer years to come
The experiments in aceimating the
tea-plant in Southern France are giving
encouraging results.
The assertion that audible sounds are
sometimes produced by the aurora is not
new one, but the evidence supporting
such statement has not been entirely
satisfactory. The testimony of 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--whlch was accom-
panied by distinct swishing noise like
Mat Of sharp squall in ships rigging
or that made by whip in passing through
the air He is led to believe that the
sound is heard occasionally, though rarely,
but that it would be more frequently
soticed were it not that the aurora is gen
orally at too great a height.
Lecturing recently upon the geological
history Of Palestine, Prof. f. Hull, F..
Il. s., mentioned that the physical phe-
aomenon which renders the Holy Land
unique among all countries is the remark
able depression of the Dead Sea, the sur
face Of which is no less than 1900 feet
below the level of the Mediterranean
As the sea can have no outlet saline
matters gather in great quantity, and
24.57 pounds of salt are found to exist in
each hundred pounds of surface water
while the Atlantic contains but six pounds
in each hundred.
Mr.. G. E. Bessey estimates that para
site fungi damages the wheat, oats, barley
An Indian corn crops of the United States
TO the extent of at least $50,000,0 900 to
$l0o,G00,c30 annually He therefore
insists upon the great Importance of a
thorough investigation of destructive
fungi by the Department of Agriculture.
In a paper read before the London
Biologists Association, Mr.. W. f. Stan
ley attributes the rising and falling of the
land surface Of the globe chiefly to the
pressure Of snow and ice at the poles. 1t
IS supposed that the glacial accumulation
has reached 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 exists. He shows that DIR.
Crolls theory that the earths center is
shifted by the unequal polar aecumula-
tons is somewhat inconsistent with facts
which have been observed.
The worlds largest animals are disap-
pearing. The elephant is said to be rapidly
approaching extinction aud in the interes,
Of science it is suggested that the British
Government interfere to prevent the fur
,hcr destruction of this gigantic creature
in India
Nous. Reisat has investigated re-
Markable alteration of milk which supr-
Afisin,Is French ,Aaasants s,o,,, -. IN 4.