Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-11-29
SCIENCE NOTES.

Lack of proper nesting places, too
little water, the English sparrow, boys,
collectors, birds on hats and the cat
are among the causes of the decrease
of song birds enumerated by d. 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
.r for feeding and bathing, and fe 1ding
in unfavorable weather.
Between Formosa and the coast Of
China lies group Of 81 islands, inter-
spersed with innumerable reefs and
lodges, which are called the Pescadores
Islands. According to the investiga-
tions Of a Japanese geologist, these is
lands have suffered in q 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 whipped group forms "a
quasi-desert amidst the green island
world of southeastern Asia"
1t has been discovered that the eff
fects produced upon body by electro
cution and by lightning are wholly
different. 1t has always been supposed
that the results We're the same, but the
experiments of physician in New
York have proven this to be an error.
physician in the coroner's 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 pericartHum. In electrocution,
large clots of blood form on the lungs
and on the pericardium. and the nerv-
ous system becomes pliable.
In support of the view that Death
Valley in California was formerly the
oed of a lake, is the discovery of traces
of an ancient water-line running along
the fanks of the enclosing mountains
at a height of 600 feet. The bottom
of the valley is 200 feet below sea-level.
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 mols-
ture. 1t is said that mo spot ON earth
surpasses Death Valley in aridity or
Tophet-like heat" The lake that once
filled it is believed to have been fed by
Il river which is now also vanished.
The boraX deposits of Death Valley are
commercially important. but labor is
all but impossible in a place where TO
be without water for u 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 fiat
tening of the petiole ut its junction
the leaf stalk is elongated and rigid,
thus forming a basis upon which the
hattened 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. III. j. Colburn,
in recent letter to Nature. suggests
new explanation. He thinks the vibre-
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 acclimatization, about
which so much is heard in India and
tropical countries generally, depends
on ''eXperience. education, and an in
telligent adaptation of habits" rather
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
newcomer sits up late, eats, drinks.
and smokes as in Europe. The old
resident goes to bed betimes and eats
drinks, and smokes in moderation"
Whore Singing Birds Are Found.