The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-03

70 sit notionless for more than an hour
while sucking up and discharglng moisl 10 = :.
This singularNhabit, whose meaning cannoL
be surmised. seems to be confined entirely
to the males.
Evidence collected by M. Camille Flam-
marion tends to show a connection between
the sun-spot period and the yearly return
of swallows, cuckoos and nightingales, anu
the Towering of chestnuts and macs. ne
has himself observed the trees since ISL his
observations have been made upon the same
trees and in the same manner tnrougnouIs
and the results give variations strongly
suggestive of connection with the nunDer
of spots on the sun. The record OF the rS-
turn of swallows has been kept since 1888.
ut is proven that the migratory pirus re-
turn to any one place earlier IN tne year year
than usual if spots are numerous, ana later
when the spots are at a minimum. the
cycle of change covering about eleven years.
Another curious fact brought out Is tndl,
during the last twelve years at least, tne
mean temperature of April and May mas
been the same as the mean temperature OF
the year.
Some timely Investigations in connection
with acetylene have been made by Professor
Lewes. The phosphoretted hydrogen exist
ing in the gas from commercial calcium
carbide ranges in proportion from go to zoo
per cent, but, as experiment shows that
percentage of $1,000 is necessary to form
mixture liable to spontaneous ignition, there
can be absolutely no danger from this i'm
purity. In one of the three types or genera
tor now used the temperature rose above SUO
degrees c. in thirteen minutes. At this high
temperature benzine and tarry matters are
produced, reducing the volume OF liberated
gas, and the type of generators is, there
fore, recommended in which the carbide is
allowed to fall at intervals upon perfo-
rated tray submerged in a large volume
of water The cause of the smoking of
acetylene burners after little use was
found to be the .benzine This nuisance can
be avoided by the use of the low tempera-
ture generators, and working with a con-
slant flow of water.
A study of the mysterious sounds known
as "barisal guns or "mist-poeffers" has
been made by DR.. A. Cancani, an Italian
physicist in and about the inland province
of Umbria. Here the noises are known as
marina the popular belief being that they
come from the sea. The sound is quite
distinct and easily recognized, invariably
appears to come from near the horizon at
distance, and it resembles distant thun-
der, though more prolonged and dull. Sue
cessive detonations follow sometimes at in
tervalS of only few minutes, or even sec
onds. DR.. Cancani concludes that the phe-
nomenon cannot be due to stormy sea nor
to gusts of wind in mountain gorgeS, as
it occurs when the sea is calm and is heard
on mountain SUBMITS and open plains; It's
origin cannot be atmospheric, because 1T IS
confined to certain special regions; and 1t
cannot be CONNECTED with artificial noises,
and where explosives are unknown. 1t is
believed, therefore, that the cause must be
a seismic one, existing within the earth.
The recent execution in Liverpool Of
dangerous elephant belonging to the Bar
mum & Bailey show seems to have solved
the problem of safely and humanely killing
such animals. AS such methods as poison
ing, shooting and bleeding had proven I'M
satisfactory it was resolved that this ele-
phant-weighing nearly four and a half tons
and about twenty-five years old-should be
strangled To avoid engaging the animal it
was allowed to remain standing quietly in
line with twenty or thirty others. Its legs
were chained to posts, and a new Manila
rope was wound loosely around it's neck,
with one end fastened to strong pillars and
the other to puleys having a tackle drawn
by ninety men. 1t continued eating uncon-
cernedly as the rope was drawn taut. AS
the men then walked away it still gave no
sign of discomfort, but at the end of thirty
seconds it slowly collapsed and lay down,
without the slightest struggle or indication
of pain, and in six and half minutes all
movement ceased, the eye being fixed and
rigid after thirteen minutes