The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-25
Compiled for THE AKKANsAw TRAvKLKR.
 SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY

and Rheims.
 A mass of lead in an elevated furnace in Paris was completely dissipated by a stroke of lightning, no trace of the metal being found afterward.
 A new insect, reported to be more de- structive than the phylloxera, has appeared in great numbers in the vineyards of some parts of Roumania and Bessarabia.
 The water supply of many of the arte- sian wells in the Algerian Sahara is reported to be gradually becoming exhausted, show ing that the subterranean reservoir is re- plenished very slowly.
 A supposed new species of bear has been discovered in Iterup, the largest and most inaccessible of the Kurile islands. In general appearance the animal is said to re. semble the 4merican grizzly.
 Fur made ftom feathers is a product of recent ears. In many respects it is equal or even superior to genuine fur. The material is used for the borders of ladies cloaks, dresses, etc, and even sealskin cloaks have been successfully initiated with it.
 Trial trips at Nice with the submarine boat of the naturalist Toseli have indicated that the vessel will render valuable service to science. It can penetrate 10 a depth of about Boo feet, and its powerful electric lamps make easy minute inspection of the sea.
 In freshly -tallen hailstones in France. Boussingault has observed temperature of I2 f8 dROraee hplou, fraaz;.c polnt-while that of the surrounding air was about 47 degrees. Other observers have mo- tced temperatures of 1923 and 23 degrees in hall.
 The Maluva tree of central India (bas- sia latitolia) bears flowers which are now being exported to Europe for their sugar. of which they contain more than half their weight. he tree resembles the oak, and a singe specimen sometimes bears a ton of flowers.
 The Greenwich Observatory in Eng land calls for large telescope. This most famous astronomical establishment in the world is behind many observatories in the size of it's instruments, its largest refractine telescope having an aperture of only twelve and three fourths inches.
 An association of pharmacists in Paris has been discussing the old question of the influence oi plants in bedrooms upon the health of the occupants. The conclusion is that the plants are beneficial, especially to plants without flowers being preferable to those in bloom.
 An apparatus for showing under the the com stion of metals by the passage of the electric spark through them has been exhibited to the Royal society of London. The app paratus is very interesting one, most beautiful color effects being yielded by the different metals in burning
 Attention has lately been called to two races of men that must soon become extinct. Al the present rate ot decrease, the Moors of New Zesland-now reduced to less than 45,ooo from 100000 in Captain Cooks day mus, have disappeared by the year a,ooo. The Laplanders are estimated not to exceed 5000 m number, and are gradually becom- ing fewer.
 The Decay of Building Stones.-The of Professor Eggleston have shown that calcareous materials are most affected by the acid gases and rain water of cities at a height of about ten feet above the ground, the effect gradually decreasing up- ward, and entirely disappearing above a hrga: of icc feet. Wa,erproofns seems 10 be the only remedy, wash of sulphur prov ing to be the only preservative of value for hard stones, while saturation with linseed oil may be recommended in the case of all po- rous stones.
 An Interesting Optical Effect.-A new French experiment consists in placing two similar black paper hgures-two crosses, for quite closely together, at about hree inches from the eyes. When so held before sheet of white paper, three separate crosses will be seen. The phenomenon frustrating the principle of the stereoscope is explained by the simultaneous vision of he two eyes. If figures of complementary ,olors-as red and green-are used upon lark background, white figure will appear n the middle.
 The Gro wth of Coal.-The most recent ight on the unsettled question of the precise manner in which coal was formed is furnished y the researches of MT. Edward Wethered, Y ho has been convinced, by microscopical tudy of coal from English mines, that the beds were not formed by forests, but that the ossil trees so familiar to botanists grew in hem. The coal itself-that is, the plants shich ultimately formed it-he regards as having been of aquatic habit, growing in a manner similar to modern bogs, though of much larger extent.
 Effects of Colds--In the experiments 'f Coleman and McKendrick, as reported to he Glasgow Philosophical society, a live abbit survived an hours exposure to a tenn 'erature of 100 degrees below zero. It was lot frozen, it's body heat being reduced only o +s degrees. Live frogs became qui-e solid n half an hour at 20 to 30 degrees below zero, md in two instances recovered from the