Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-11-06
POPULAR SCIENCE.

TlH''aJ kCuloJ HtH baS WCl Iuus
1000, 900 feet.
There is no way to bend wood better
than by steamiug.
An ornithologist says that birds fire.
quently commit suicide.
Professor Lntner, an authority on en-
tomology, says that there are million or
more species of insects in the world.
A new method of diverting and heal.
ing the insane of BackwclI's Island, New
York City, is to have them rehearse in
comedy.
"Cigarette shaped" bullets were used
By General Canto's army. 1t is reported
that they "could 90 through two or three
men at time
Recent improvements in telegraphy
enable certain companies to transmit 100
words for twenty five cents and realize a
handsome profit.
The Yorktown is the only vessel in the
navy, SO far, fitted with electric telegraph
for transmitting the range from the con-
ming tower to the gun divisions.
The land aud sea breezes which are
common on the sea coast are due TO the
unequal heating OF the atmosphere over
the land aud water at uitfcrcn; times of
day.
A red Asiatic carp on view in the
Aquarium of the Trocadero in Paris is a
splendidly colored creature, AMI Is known
as the fresh-watcr cardinal on account of
its deep scarlet tinge. q.
Siuce the ice age, there is evidence i'll
the fossil faunas add horLs Of marine de-
posits and peat boys that northwestern
Europe has experienced for some time 4
climate considerably warmer than that of
the present day.
In Great Britain, where dews are
heavy, it is estimated that the whole
amount deposited in a year would be
equal to depth Of several inches of
water. In some tropical regions dew is
deposited so fast as to be equal to a light
rain.
Among the interesting exhibits at the
Frankfort Germany electrical exhibition
Is that of coach and sleigh having in
candescent lamps at the end of the tongue
and in the lamp holders at the sides.
The storage battery is placed beaeath the
drivers seat.
NJ. Conteean has observed that the
breathing of insects is the reverse Of that
Of vertebrate animals. In other words,
while inspiration in vertcbrates is au ac-
tive process and expiration passive one,
with inscts inspiration is passive and cx-
piration active.
Winds are caused by the unequal den
sity of weight of different portions Of the
atmosphere. This is mainly due to
differences in temperature. The high
wind that accompanies thunder storm
At the close OF hot day is due to the
fact that the atmosphere, which has been
heated during the day, is now rapidly
rising, while tho cooler atmosphere
around is rushing in.
Mr.. Mu, in studying the porpoisc at
Cape Hatteras, observed that the mothers
hel ped their young in their efforts to
breathe, by bearing them up to the sur
face of the water on their hippers, OF
otherwise. The spiracle or blowhole
appears to be sensitive part OF the head.
When touched with the hand the animals
invariably showed signs of discomfort by
violently lashing the tail.
In the examination of the poisonous
machinery of insects and reptiles it is
apparent that the destructive principle is
the same in all, and that the fang in all
possesses a hollow through which the
poison flows into tho wound the moment
the iucision is made. The sting OF the
scorpion is precisely like the faug Of the
rAtlesnake, and performs its deadly
work on the same mechanical principles.
The curious fact has recently beer
developed that the species of plant
dependent on insects for pollen for fer
tiization are all perennials. Annual
are said to be sclf-fertilizers, and tn
question has been raised why, if thi!
Cross fertilization is for the benefit of tn
race, a race of annuals may not be bene
fited by cross fertilization as well as
perennial race.