The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-03-29
SCIENTIFIC AND USEFUL

Herbivorous animals do not eat all
OF natures menu. The horse refuses
the water hemlock that the goat eats
with avidity, and, on the other hand,
.he goat refuses some plants that are
eaten by the sheep. The tobacco plant
is avoided by all save the goat, man
and the tobacco worm.
1t has already been demonstrated in
the case of the Yarrow aluminium tor
pedo boat that that metal even in al
10y is unable to resist the corroding
action OF salt water. 1t remains to
be seen whether the claim made in be-
hait OF the aluminium boat recently
tested in the Thames is justified.
The present fashion in young boys
ana even men in cutting the hair close
10 the scalp, both In summer and win
ter, Is cause OF disease Of the ear.
IL Is we'll recognized fact we hear
win the skin of the scalp and the
Dones or the head, and irritation by
dampening the skin impairs the hear
ing, ana when cold water Is applied
TOO freely 1t will produce coryza and
earache.-Food.
1t is now we'll established as n re-.
SUIT OF the studies of lie Conte, Hunt,
Spencer, A. Agassiz and others. that
the WINDS and ocean currents very
largely determine the position and
shape OF circular coral islands, or
atoiis. In the case of plants, besides
the action OF gravity and OF light.
their shape is doubtless influenced BIZ
currents Of air. And these physical
causes have also a potent influence in
determining the plant-like shape of
nxed animals, like sponges, polyps,
and all animals whose symmetry ia
radiate
Natural Science for the last two
months gives some very interesting
facts with regard to the way in which
animals can gradually adapt them
serves to new conditions, even when
those conditions are at first fatal. From
an account in the Pittsburg Dispatch.
1t appears that in the cold storage
warehouses in Pittsburg there were
originally no rats nor mice. The tenn
perature in the cold rooms was too
low. But after few months rats were
at work in the rooms where the tenn
perature was constantly kept below
the freezing point, and they were
clothed In long and thick fur.
The Hawiian Islands. as the result
of recent exploration, have been found
to be richer in animal life than was
formerly supposed AS the result of
years investigation by the British
Association, through it's committee, IL
has been found that Of birds there are
seventy-eight species, of which fifty
seven are peculiar to this group. All
the land and fresh water shells are
peculiar; and of a thousand species of
insects, 700 are not found elsewhere.
1t thus seems that these islands have
by no means been populated from the
continent, but have been centres of
Independent creation.-New York In
dependent.
Experiments with Prof. Langley's
flying machine have been In progress
for some time past, long series of
private trials having been conducted
at Quantico, near Washington, d. C.
At last the possibility of fight has
been proved. A trial OF the machine
was made on December 13, and the
aeroplane successfully accomplished a
flight of 300 yards. This was not the
first flight. This, in connection with
Maxim's work, goes far to indicate
the possibility that we may yet see
succe .ful aeroplane flying machine.
We hope soon to have particulars Of
the further trial trips.-Scientifc Am
erican. |