The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-21
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 SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

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 Pale phosphorescent flames of sulphur are often observed during the drying of gunpowder, states Mir. H. Schwartz.
 The sanitary value of towering plants has been shown by Dr. ]. Nj. Anders, who has demonstrated the exhalasion oi ozone from them.
 Statistics published since the late earthquake in England show that total of z55 shocks have been recorded in the British Isles, the severes. having occur red on November I4sh, r3Is.
 A German chemist has obtained new link between the vegetable and animal kingdom in the shape of an animal gum closely resembling the plant gums in its physical and chemical properties.
 A plan for lessening the violence of storms has been submitted to the French Academy of Sciences by Mons. Minard. who proposes to use great number of lightning rods elevated on telegraph posts and connected with the iron tracks of railways.
 According to Prof R. H. Tucker, IT,. between Goo and 700 comets have been recorded, and 7Ss of them have had their orbits determined with greater or less ex- actness. A probable estimate of the number of comets which have come into our solar system since the beginning of the Christian era, under such conditions as to have been visible by the aid of our modern appliances, is 1000.
 French vine growers often protect their vines from frosts by smoke from burning straw and other combustibles. An eiec. tneian has suggested that, in case of sudden and unexpected cold, the fires may be lighted automatically by the electric current, simple contrivance causing the electricity to pass from a battery through wires and ignite the fuel as soon as the thermometer falls to the dangerous temperature.
 British Sea Science.-rhe secretary and treasurer of the new Marine Biolo- gical Association of the United King dom have invited contributions for estab- fishing on the south coast of England a laboratory similar to the Geological Station of Naples and the American Laboratories of Newport and Chesapeake. | the institution being intended for the use of naturalists wishing to investigate | marine life, animal and vegetable, and to study the various conditions affecting the welfare of British food-hshes and mol lusks. It is thought that s5o,ooo will be required to establish the laboratory, and that an income of s7,5oo a year will be necessary to maintain it.
 Libraries Printed by the S,ars.-Prof Lockyer, F. R. A. S., who has just re- turned to England from a visit to the ob. servatories of the continent, expresses the belief that in the future all astronomical observations will be made photographic. ally. the success of Mir. Common in pho tographing the nebula of Orion with the aid of his great telescope having proven that the most minute details may be thus pictured. He imagines the existence, in 100 or 900 years hence, of rooms filled with photographs accurately showing every part of the heavens from the North Pole to the Sosth, and he urges that the work of obtaining such complete photo graphic chart of the celestial bodies should commence at once.
 Drought Forecast in lndia.-From ob- servations extending over q period of eighteen years, it appears that an unusu- ally heavy or late fall of snow in the northwestern Himalayas is followed by season of drought in northwestern and western India, and vice versa, dry north west-or land-winds being produced during the summer months as an effec, of the presence of unmelted snow in the mountains. During the spring of ISs; it became evident that the outer ranges of the Himalayas contained an unusual quantity of snow, and on June 7d varn- ing forecast of dry summer vas pub lished. This forecast is shown to have been justified by the event, the rainfall in July and August over a large portion of India having been much below the aver age.
 Errors Concerning Elephants--Mr. P. G. Sanderson, superintendent of govern ment eiephant-catching operations in Bengal, asserts that his exceptional op- portunities for observing the Asiatic ele- Phant during a period of fifteen years have convinced him that there is no ani- mai reRaYdin0 vhich unore fall, ~i.,r, s,,,