Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-06-19
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.
From observations extending over a
period Of eighteen years, it appears that
an unusually 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
northwest-or land-winds being pro-
duced during the summer months as an
effect of the presence of unmelted snow
in the mountains. During the spring OF
1883 it became evident that the outer
ranges of the Himalayas contained an
unusual quantity Of snow, and on june
I'd a warning forecast Of a dry summer
was published. This forecast is shown
to have been justified by the event, the
rainfall in July and August over lare
portion of India having been much be-
low the average.
According to Prof. Il. II. Tucker, Jr.,
between 600 and 700 comets have been
recorded, and 2S5 of them have had their
orbits determined with greater or less
exactness. 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 wine growers often protect
their vines from frosts by smoke from
burning straw and other combustibles.
An electrician has suggested that, in case
Of sudden and unexpected cold, the fires
may be lighted automatically by the cleo.
trio current, simple continuance causing
the electricity to pass from a battery
through wires and ignite the fuel as soon
a the thermometer falls to the danger
Gus temperature,
The sanitary value Of Towering plant.
has been shown by DR.. J. NJ. Anders,
who has demonstrated the cxhalation Of
ozone from them.
Mr.. G. P. Sanderson, superintendent
Of Government clephant-catching opera
lions in Bengal, asserts that his exception
Il opportunities for observing the Asiatic
elephant during period Of fifteen years
have convinced him that there is no ami
NAL regarding which more fallacious I'M
pressions exist. The creatures intelli-
gence, for instance, has been greatly ex-
aggcrated, as it is really dull and stupid,
and stupid, and quite incapable Of the
feats Of reasoning with which it is 50 Of
ten credited. Much misconccption also
exists in regard to its size, the height Of
the Indian elephant having been placed
At twelve, fifteen and even twenty feet,
while, "A a matter Of fact, ten feet in
males and eight and one-half feet in fe-
males Is very rarely attained. The pow
eu Of the elephants trunk have been
nirepresented, for, while it is possible
but doubtful-that the organ is sufficient
y delicate to pick up needle, the ami
NAL never attempts to use it for very
heavy work. Tho untenable idea that
there is spot unseen by man to which
elephants retire to die is based upon the
fact that the remains Of elephants which
have died in their native haunts are very
seldom found.
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.
Statistics published since the late earth
quake in England show that total Of
265 shocks have been recorded in the
British Isles, the severest having occur.
red on November IA, 1918.
A German chemist has obtained new
link between the vegetable and animal
Kingdoms in the shape Of an animal gum
closely resembling the plant gums in its
physical and chemical prophecies.
Prof. Lockyer, F. r. A. s, who has
just returned to England from visit 10
the observatiories Of the Continent, ex.
presses the belief that in the future al
observations will be made
photographically, the success of Mr.. Com
mon in photographing the ncbula of
Orion with the aid Of his great telescope
having proven that the most minute de-
'ais may be thus pictured He imsgines
he existence, in 100 or 1000 years
aence, Of rooms filed with photographs
accurately showing every part Of the
'cavens from the North Pole to the South