Morris tribune., 1884-06-11
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

The sanitary value of towering
plants has been shown by DR.. J. NJ.
Andres. who has demonstrated the eX-
halation of ozone from them.
Statistics published since the late
earthquake in England show that a
total of 255 shocks have been recorded
in the British Isles, the severest hav-
ing occurred on November 18th, 1918.
French vine-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 fire may be lighted automatically
by the electric current, a simple con-
trivance causing the electricity to
pass from a battery through wires
and ignite the fuel as soon as the
Thermometer falls to the dangerous
temperature.
A plan for lessening the violence of
storms has been submitted to the
French Academy of Sciences by Mons.
Minard, who proposes to use a great
number of lightning rods elevated on
telegraph posts and connected with
the iron tracks OF railways.
The secretary and treasurer of the
new Marine Biological Association OF
the United Kingdom have invited
contributions for establishing on the
south cost of England a laboratory
similar to the geological Station OF
Naples and the American Labora-
tories of Newport and Chesapeake,
the institution being intended for the
use of naturalists wishing to investi-
gate marine life, animal and vegeta-
bic, and to study the various con-
ditions affecting the welfare of
British food-fshes and mollusks. 1t
is thought that $4,000 will be re-
uuired to establish the laboratory, and
that an income Of $500 year will be
necessary to maintain it.
Prof. Lockyer, F. R. A. S., who has
Just returned to England froma visit
to the observatories Of the continent,
expresses the belief that in the future
all astronomical observations will be
made photographically, the success of
MI. Common in photographing the
nepula of Orion with the aid Of his
great telescope having proven that
the most minute details may be thus
pictured. He imagines the existance
in 100 years hence, of rooms filled
with photographs accurately showing
every part of the heavens from the
North Pole to the South, and he urges
that the work of obtaining such a
complete photograph chart Of the
celestial bodies should commence at
once.
Mr.. G.. 2. Sanderson, superintendent
of Government elephant catching
operations in Bengal, asserts that his
exceptional opportunities for observ-
ing the Asiatic elephant during a
period of fifteen years have convinced
him that there is no animal regarding
which more fallacious impressions eX-
list. The creatures intelligence, for
instance, has been greatly exaggerated,
as it is really dull and stupid, and
quite incapable of the feats of reason
ing with which it is so often credited.
Much .misconception also exists in
regard to it's size, the height of the
Indian elephant having been placed at
twelve, fifteen, and even twenty feet,
while, as a matter Of fact, ten feet in
males and eight and one-half feet in
females is very rarely attained The
powers of elephants trunk have been
lnisapprehended, for while it is posi-
ble-but doubtful-that the organ is
sufficiently DELEGATE to pick up nee
die. the animal never attempts to use
it for very heavy work. The unten-
able idea that there is a spot unseen
by man to which elephants retire to
die is based upon the fact that the re.
mains of elephants which have died
in their native haunts are very seldom
found.