The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-11-22

are among the causes of the decrease
OF song birds enumerated by ID. Lang.
He suggests protection and encourage
ment of the birds by planting trees and
shrubs for them to live in, putting up
nest boxes for breeding, providing wat
er for feeding and bathing, AID feeding
IN unfayorable weather.
Between Formosa and the coast or
China lies group of q islands. inter-
spersed with innumerable reefs and
ledges, which are called the Pescadores
Islands. According to the investiga-
tions Of Japanese geologist, these is
lands have suffered in remarkable
manner from the northeast winds,
which blow with savage violence there
during nine months Of the year. The
original area of the islands has been
greatly reduced by erosion, and their
surfaces are barren and desolate, so
that the wind-whipped group forms "a
quasi-desert amidst the green island
world Of southeastern Asia"
1t has been discovered that the ef-
fects produced upon n body by electro
cution and by lightning are wholly
different. It has always been supposed
that the results were the same, but the
experiments of a physician in New
York have proven this to be an error.
physician In the coroners office In
New York City, has recently made an
autopsy Of the body of a man who
was killed by lightning. The body
was found to be hardened and there
were no blood clots on the lungs or
the pericardium. In electrocution,
large clots Of blood form on the lungs
and on the pericardium, and the nerve
Gus system becomes pliable.
In support Of the view that Death
Valley in California was formerly the
bed Of a lake, is the discovery Of traces
Of an ancient water-line running along
the fankS Of the enclosing mountains
at height of 600 feet. The bottom
of the valley is 200 feet below sea-leyei.
The winds from the Pacific cross four
ranges of mountains before reaching
the valley, and by that time they have
been drained of their last drop Of mois-
ture. 1t is said that mo spot on earth
surpasses Death Valley in aridity or
Tophet-like heat" The lake that once
filed it is believed.to have been fed by
river which is now also vanished.
The borax deposits Of Death Valley are
commercially important, but labor Is
all but impossible in place where to
be without water for single hour
in summer means death.
1t is we'll known that the vibratory
motion Of the leaf Of the aspen and
other popular trees is caused by fat
tening Of the petiole at its junction
with the lamina. The lower part OF
the leaf stalk is elongated and rigid,
thus forming a basis upon which the
flattened portion of the stalk can, In
virtue of its elasticacy, move to and
fro as the wind acts upon the leaves Of
the tree. There have been several
theories offered by botanists, none Of
them very satisfactory, however, to ex-
plain the origin of this curious struc-
ture and the purpose served by the
trembling" of the leaf. H. J. Colburn,
in a recent letter to Nature, suggests 4
new explanation. He thinks the vibra-
ton may be an adaptation for rapidity
throwing off the excess of condensed
moisture, which is liable to form on
the foliage Of trees in marshy situa.
tions.
DR.. Manson. the malaria expert, be-
lieves that acclimatizaton, about
which so much is heard in India and
tropical countries generally, depends
Oh experience, education, and an in
telligent adaptation of habits" rather
than on any actual change
in the physiological condition Of
the body. 1t will be admitted by
every one who has lived any length Of
time in the tropics that recklessness
and carelessness are characteristic of
the new arrival in any hot country.
HE does not think much of exposing
himself to the sun, the rain, and the
wind; the old resident is very chary of
going out without his sun hat and his
white umbrella. The newcomer may
look upon these precautions as signs Of
effeminacy. They are not so. Expe-
rience has told the old resident that ne