The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-05-10
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

Eros ia the name selected for the
newly discovered little planet between
Mars and the sun by Herr Witt, the
aiscoverer, though Mr.. s. G. Chand-
Tor of Cambridge, Mass, the astrono-
mer who has computed the planets
orbit, pleaded to have it called Pluto.
Mr.. Ohandler's computation has been
verified by examination of the star
photographs taken at the Harvard OBJ
servatory station at Arequibn in Peru.
A writer in Cosmos, NJ. Emile Ma
son, argues that the East Indian du-
gong or lamatin is the natural founda-
ton for the myths of sirens, nereids,
and tritons. A female dugong re-
Gently captured in the Red sea has
head and bust which, when seen at
some little distance, might be taken
for mermaid The lamatin has also
n vibrant voice, and these two com
bined make good base for the theory
which the writer has advanced with
good deal of elaboration.
Sunlight, says the Lancet, has
well-known effect upon the life of
pathogenic organisms. Direct sun
light will kill tubercle bacilli in few
hours or perhaps in few minutes,
whereas they will live for days if ex.
posed to very strong diffused day
light. The exhilaratiug effect of
burst of sunshine in the spring is prob.
ably not due to mere luminosity, but
to an increased actinic action, a chem
ical action which we cannot very we'll
explain, but which every one feels.
In estimating, therefore, the value OF
health resort, the amount of this
actinic value in the sunshine ought to
be taken into account, no less than the
number of days upon which the sun
shines during the month or the year.
The breeding of orchids has received
much attention in recent years, both
in Europe aud America, with results
of the greatest interest to the natural
history student. Up to 1860, states
Mr.. @. g. Hurst, but four lowered
orchids, raised from distinct crosses,
we're recorded; in 1890, about 200 had
been enumerated, while there are now
on record no less than 500. OF these
800, about 100 are generic hybrids,
the parents belonging to different gen.
era. About 500 are primary hybrids;
that is, hybrids of the first generation
between two different species, about
270 are secondary hybrids, and 30 are
tertiary. No hybrid orchid of the
fourth generation has been known to
flower. These experiments have DEM
onstrated the existence OF natural
hybrids, formerly thought to be inn
possible, have proven that hybrids are
very fertile, removing an objection to
the theory of the evolution of species
admitted by Darwin, and have sug-
gested that hybridization has been one
of natures rapid and effective means
of creating new species more fitting
for life under new conditions.
The progress of the various re-
searches into the origin of malaria,
is subject of considerable interest,
and medical men are gratiiied to hear
of steady advances in the prosecution
of several Investigations. In the pro-
ceedings of the Reale Academia del
Lincei the work of Messrs. Bastianelli,
A. Bignami, and Grassi is described,
and it is stated that they have sue
ceeded in tracing the development of
the semilunar bodies in the medal in
testine OF Anopheles claviger kept at
suitable temperature after these in-
Bects hal drawn blood from individ-
uals suffering from @stivi-autumnal
malaria. They have also been able to
obtain spring fever by allowing one Of
the insects to pierce the skin of per-
son who had not previously been
affected by malaria, and who was liv-
ing in locality where the disease was
not experienced. In an elaborate
series OF researches they have proved
that the malarial parasite is an authen-
tic case of hetorncism, where the same
organism appears under diife ent
forms. 1t is OF interest to know that
concurrently with these observations
the life cycle of parasite OF the bat
has been studied, which apparently
undergoes similar alterations of gem
erations, the intermediary host being
an insect. These conclusions are in
agreement with previous investiga-
tions in the malarial parasites OF birds,
and are considered substantial addi-
tons to the knowledge of the subjects
now possessed by scientists.
The Fascination of Gold Hunting.
Once Won haYn seen q Ncnlnrn in the