Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

April 6, 1872.] SCIENTIFIC PRESS. all I ECHANICAL (Proaress Licnr vs, Heavy Suirrixe.—The Scientific American gives uw very instructive article on Light vs. Haaty shufting, the summing up of which is as follows:—To sustain grout pressure requires great strength, and increased strength of a given nuterial having a specified form implics inercased weight, Increased weight implies inerensed friction, It is, therefore, a theoretical fuct proved in practico that the heavier a line of shafting ia, the grentcr will be the loss iu friction during the transmission of power through it. Jt is also a fuct thut light shafting mioning athigh speed will perform work that wonld hreak heavier shafting running at lower speed. We have here « plain urguinent in favor of light shafting. Iu tho applications ot these principles, however, wo often see errors committed which tend to render sole people skeptical as to their truth. ; One of these crrors is that light shafting is often not proporly snpported. The lighter the shifting, the moro apt it is to spring hy its own weight, the weight of ross and gears, and tho tension of bolts. Light shaftiug will require, therefore, more frequent support from hangers than heavy shafting. Besides, with high velocitics, there is more fiddle-string vibration, aided by centrifngal force, whicli conaumes moro or less power, generally more than is suspected, The obviation of this calls for frequent snpports along the lines of shafting, with accurate fitting of couplings, journals und boxes, and as porfect allignmcut of the shafting as possihlo. ‘o keep everything in perfect order will also equire constant watchfulness. Slight settling of buildiugs, springing of floors, from the placing of new and heavy machincry or other cause, altcrations which cannot be prevented, will often throw a shaft out of line, no matter how perfcetly it inay bave been hung. A cognate subject to the ahovo is the size of ulicy, which tho editor promises to consider in a future article. Borer Exrrosions.—Prof. R. H, Thurston has published in pamphlet form a report of the trials made last fall at Sandy Hook. He draws the following conculsions: I. Low water, althongh undonbtedly one causo, is not the only cause of violent explosions, as is so commonly supposed, but a most violent explosion miay occur with the boiler well supplied with water. 2. What is generally considered a moderate steam pressure may produco a very violent explosion of a weak hoiler, containing a large boy of water, and haying its flues well cevered. 3. Asteam boiler may explode under steam at a pressure less than that which it has successfully withstood at the hydrostatic test. in a subsequent lettor to the Eng. and Min, Journal, which demurred to tho first part of conclusion I, the Professor explains that he referred to a very prevalent bclicf among those managing stcam boilers that an explosion may always be attributed to low water and thnt the invariablo effect of over pressuro is simply to rupture the weakest spot, allowing steam and water to blow out until the pressure is taken off. Tho consequent fecling of safety among eugine-drivers and firemen, having charge of boilers rendered unsafe by other causes, has heen, probably, the cause of many explosions and loss of life. Tbe removal of this false impression will assist greatly in making tbe real causes of the majority of explosions—corrosion and carlessness or ignorance in management— better recognized. New Process or Ontarnina Inon and STEEL. Some of the European scientific journals speak favorably of a new invention, said to have heen recently perfected, for producing iron and steel. Tbe heat is mainly derived from combustion of carburetted air, while nncombined oxygen and nitrous oxide gas are evolved from nitrite of soda and quicklime, and cblorine and carbonic oxide from a compound of chloride of lime mixed with pulverized cbarcoal, The air charged with tho vapor of petrolenm oil, besides acting as a gaseoue fuel, also acts powerfully as a reducing agent, and rapidly effecte the reduction of the iron from tbe ore. The air charged with chlorine and carbonic oxide, removes wholly or mainly all eulphnr or phoepboroue with which the ore or reduced iron may be contaminated; and the air charged with oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous acid and nitrous oxide, promotee combustion, and rapidly Yaises the materials to the temperature required. Tue Roap Streamer seoms to be making practical progress iu Great Britain. One of these machines recently made the run from Ipswich to Edinburgh by road, a distance of 450 miles, in seventy-seven boure’ traveling time. The engine is one of four now being huilt for the Indian Governnent, under Tbomson’s patent, with india rubber tires, and is of 14 nominal borse-power, hut whicb hae been worked up to 80 indicated horse-power. Her weight ie about 13%4 tone; length, 15 feet; breadth, 8 feet 8 inchee; height to top of chimney, 15 feet. The omnibus weighs about 314 pus and seats 21 passengere inside aud 44 outside. RupnEr Carrtaces.—A factory is being erected at Fairfield, Conn,, in which carriages are to be built consieting entirely of India rubber, with the exception of tbe axlee and tires—this material being elaimed to possess decided superiority over wood. ComprssaTine Compass.—According to London Enayinering, M. Arson, of Pars, has invented a compeusating apparatus of much merit, for correcting the devintion of the compass ou board ships. Me compensutes the deviation due to tho permancnt magnetism by fixed nluignets, aud thoso caused hy induced muiyurtisin in ull positions of the ship and in all latitudes by hundles of soft iron wire placed according to certnin laws given by caleulutions, Tho apparatus contains, hesides tho ordinary card, a sccoud card serving as an iudieator, When it is wished to follow a certain route, this latter card is traced hy means of u wheel uatil it indicates the desired uuglo. By this moveinent tho packets of soft iron are placed in the porition required to compensate for the deviation corresponding to the position of the ship. It is then sntlicieut to adjust tho com. pass needle to tho same angle which has heen givenin order to follow the route indicnted. Converecly,to findatany moment the route being followed, tho wheel before meutioned is moved until the repeating circlo iudicates the saue augle us tho compass. Ly this movement the compensating parts will have becu placed in tho position which corresponds to tho compensation in tho azimuth whero the vesscl is; tho angle ohserved will be the truc angle of the route, A New Finge-Proor Cosposirion.—An_ important trial of fire-proof coiposition was made at Washington the other day, under tho direction of tho Secretarics of the Treasury and Navy. Au iron chest, sixteen inches in diameter, with a lining of six inches of the composition, also containiug a wooden box four inches diameter, in which were deposited pupers,moncy and matches, was placed in the blast furnace of the navy yard, and different metals placed all round it. After being subjected to an almost continuous blast of three hours, and after all the metuls were melted, the cliest was left in the furnace until the next afternoon, when under the directions of the representatives of the Government, tho three chests were opened, and the contents were found to ho in exactly the samo condition as when they were put in, and the matches were used to light cigars with. The fire-proof compositiou is the discovery of two gentlemen of Detroit, one of whom was present at the trial. Woopren Natzs.—Tbe editor of The Hub, the carriage makers’ journal, thinks the idea of using wooden nails a good one, for in his opinion the day will come before many years when wood will become so valuble tbat it will not pay to usethe material of old packing boxes for fuelas isnow done, and then tbe objection to the use of iron nails will be seen ina practical light. If boxes were put togetber with nails of wood tbeinjury to tools in making thom serve for otber pnrposes would be materially lessened, and a great saving of valuable lumber be made. It is not to be supposed that wooden pegs or pins can be made to supplant iron nails and screws altogether, yet the lavish use of nails may be checked perhaps witb advantage to our industries. The object is wortby of onr eonsideration, Wercur or Rairs.—Mr. L. Nickerson, in the Raiheay Register, questions tbe soundness of the general opinion that great weight in a rail is necessary to economical wear. Whbena body, asa bar of iron resting on an anvil, is struck with a hammer, the effect on it is the greater tbe more unyielding the substance on which the body rests. Now increasing the body of the rail is the same as giving a more unyielding support to its crown, and thus increasing tbe effect of the bammeriug action of the wheels of cars and engines. Lusrication or Steam Encines.—M. Thoma tried a mixture of graphite (prepared by decantation) and hog’s lard Yor lubricating steam engines with good results, the only care requisite being to kecp np tbe quantity of graphite in the mixture, as otberwise it becomes too fluid. He next tried a paste of graphite and water with equally good results, the slight escape of eteam into the stufiing-box being pan to keep the grapbite moist.—Nuilway Limes. SronazE Parrr, a late French invention, is made by adding finely divided sponge to ordinary paper pulp. Tbe paper is said to have all the peculiarities of sponge, absorbing moistnre readily, and retaining it for a long time. It bas been nsed to advantage for dressing wounds, and is capable of several important technical applications. Wine Tramway.—Mr. T. Bush, an Hungarian Engineer, has made some improvements on the Hodson system of wire tramwaye, by employing two parallel cables instead of one. The modified syetem is said to possess great advantages over the original one, especially with regard to tbe carrying of heavy loade and the greater security of the ropes. Tur University of Pennsylvania is now in possession of the largest electrie machino in the world—a Holy patteru, with a 36-inch revolving plate. The machine will ovolvo an 18inch spark, which will picrce glass to the depth of § incbes. Untrormity iw Car Burentnc—A plan to make all railroad cars throughout Germany of one pattern, so that repaire may be facilitated and prices equalized, has been propoetd by a scientific association of railroads in tbat country, og é SCIENTIFIC Progress. Variation of Color in Birds with ; the Locality. Tho subject of variation of color in birds, ss exyaessing specific distinctions, has for a long timo occupied tho uttention of ornithologists; und whilo with some the slightest differencu in shade was sullicivut to estuhlish a separato species, a wido variation was allowed by others without effecting tho idea of specific indentity. We aro gradually, however, coming to appreciato the influence which external conditions, such as light or shado, inoisture or dryness, varyiug temperature, latitudo, cte., prodnee upon color; und so long as tho general pattern remaius the samo, we ean allow a great variatiou in tint, aud even in size, since, as is well known, this depends largely upou latitude or altitude of hirth-placo and residence. As a general rule, it may ho said as we go southward lroni a north tomperate latitude, with the increasing tomperaturo and brighter sky the colors are deeper and thw size less; and, on the other baud, im proceeding northward and iuto nioro cloudod atmospheres, the dimensions become greatcr, with a decrease in general hrillinuey. In sandy or barren regions the necompanying birds become of a grayish tint, while in red soils a reddish shude will he appreciaplo. Again, in certain regions the birds exhibit a tendency to melunism, or a blackening, this being noticexzble iu Florida, and more especially in the West India Islands, as compared with the United States. Aninstance of this is secn in the common red-winged hlackhird, the femule of which, as found in the United States, is variegated with brown, yellowish, and grayish streaks, the male alone being a glossy black, with red sboulders. A blackhird is found in Cuba, however, the male of which is undistinguishable from our bird, excepting in the smaller size, while the female is of a uniform lustrous black, differing only from the male in the ahsence of red upon the shoulders, Similar comparativo peculiaritics are presented in quite a number of West Indian birds.—LHarper’s Sei. Fave’s View or tor Puystcan Conprrion oF THE Sun.—The Mechanic’s Magazine gives u summary of an interesting paper by Mr. Faye, upon the physical condition of tho sun, dcduced from the observation of the solar spots made by Carrington. This is expressed in the following propositions: 1. That Zollner’s theory, which views the sun as a solid body covered witha layer of incandexcent liquid, is entirely improbable, and, indeed, impossible. 2. The speed of rotation of any point whatever, on the sun’s surface is always expressed by one and tbe same formula. 3. There do not exist on the sun's surface any sensible currents which are at all analogous to the ‘‘trade-winds.” 4. The absolute absence of currents is only explicable by the presence everywhere of ascending currents of great intensity, proceeding from the sun’s center tv its surface. The existence of such currents is an imperative proof that tbe body of the sun must be in a gaseous state, and is an immense sphere of «eriform matter of an enormous temperature, but which: is continually cooling by the action of the ascending currents. 6. The sun is absolutely spherical. New Repoucina Acent.—If an aqueous solution of sulphurous acid bo allowed to act upon fine zine dust, tbe zine is dissolved without the developmont of gas, the solution assuming for 2 time a decided yellow color. This liquid now possesses the peculiarity in a very high degree of rapidly decolorizing indigo, a fact well known to chemists. Schntzenherger, ascertained that this decolorizing of the indigo is by no means the result of oxidatien, but, on tbe contrary, is a reduction; and this power of reduction in the liquid is so extraordinarily great that it will reduce, with heat, the salts of copper, silver, and mercury to their metals. The hquid is not related to hydrosulphnric acid, and is exceedingly unstable in its free condition; but if a concentrated.solution of bisulphite of eoda be allowed to act upon the zinc filiugs, wo shall obtain a soda salt of the new acid which hae as great an afiinity for oxygen ae tho free acid, and can, therefore, be kept for any length of time if completely excluded from the air. Harstonus or Sant 'anp Inon SuLrHipE,— According to Natw'e, Prof. Konugotb, of Zurich, Switzerland, during a hailstorm, lasting 5 minutes, on the 20th of last August, found etones, some weighing 12 grains, which consisted eseentially of common salt, mainly in imperfect cubical crystals, He eupposes that the salt had been taken up from tbe salt plains of Africa and brought over the Mediterranean. Hailstones contaiuing cach a small crystal of sulpbide of iron, probably weathered ont of rocks in the vicinity, fell recently at Kaean. OnystanLizATion.—Professor Chultze hae recently exhibited, to the German Chemical Society, Berlin, beautifully formed crystals of sugar, borax, and otber substances. He etates that by the use of a gelatinizing substance ae a solvent, the formation of perfect crystals is mucb promoted. Solutions of gelatine and kiudred substances were the vehicles he employed. Tuxesten Coroxs.—Fine colors are prepared from tungsten, which, heing permanent and little actect npon by heat, cam he nsed to ndvantage on many ocensions. Tungstate of huryta is u pure white; tungstato of nickel, clear green; tungstate of chromium, durk green; tungstate of cobalt, violet; tungstic acid, a heautiful clear yellow, passing into orange. Tungstate of sods is not emptoyed in cvlors, but is recommended for rendering fabrics uninflammable, fur this purpose it is better to combine it with phosphnte of soda, Mctalhic tungstca wus at ono time supposed to improve the hardness of steel, hut we hear very little of its use for this purpose, und it seems more probable that the accidental admixture of nungunese was the real iudurating constituent. It is also cluimed that tungsten lurgely increases tho magnetic power of iron, Srecrnum or tng Fine-lny.-—Prof. C. A. Young suys this is “ perfectly continuous, without trace of cither bright or dark lines, and exte1iyds from a little ebovo Fraunhofer’s line C, in tho scarlet, to about F in the blue, gradually fading ont at the extremities. It is noticeable that precisely this portiou of the spectrum is composed of rays, which, while they moro powerfully than any other atlcct the organs of vision, produce hardly any thermal or actinic effect. In other words, very little of the energy expended in the tlash of the fire-fly is wasted. It is quito different with our artificial methods of illumination. In the cnse of an ordinary gas-light, the bost exporiments show that not more than one or two per cent. of tho radiant energy consists of visible rays; the rest is either pinvisible heat or uctinism; that is to say, over ninety-eight pcr cent. of the gas is wasted in producing rays that do not help in making objects visible." New Preservative Fivrn.—The following are the ingredients of a liquid by means ot which the organs of the body that have becomo ubsolutely offensive, from decay, may be treated so that they can be examined for marks ofinjury or sigls of disease. The tiuid consists of a mixture of iodine one drachm, methylated ether (of specific gravity -720) ten fiuid ounces, absolute alcohol one fluid ounce, and strong sulphuric acid four fluid drachms. The action of the solution seems to he that the iodine deodorizes, while the sulphuric acid engages the water and the alkaline products of decomposition and produces the necessary firmuess of structure. The ether escapes, being simply the fluid dissolvent for the other agents. Puosryorescence Propucen ny Frrerionan Enecrniciry.—M. Alvergniat states that if a little bromide or chloride of silicum is introduced into a glass tuhe, and the tube is then exhausted and sealed, friction with a piece of silk, or even with the fingers, produces a beautiful phosphorescence, which is rose colored if the chloride is contained in the tube, and a yellowish green with the hromide. The induction spark produces no light within these tubes unless the vacuum is very perfect, but in that case the phospborescence disappeurs. Seccut on Sonar Protouberances, — Tbe Italian astronomer, Father Secchi, has published ‘several papers on the above subject, in which the conclusions errived at are summed up thus: I, Tbe soutbern hemisphere of the sun is at present ricber in protuberances thau the northern hemisphere. 2. In general terms, the protuberances are numerous in those regions where the facuze are numerous. 3. The protuherances are highest in the regions where they are the most numerous. Sriica, DrAMAGNETIC.—Prof. Dove has successfully suspended, between the poles of a powerful electro-maguet, sections cut from colorless rock-crystal, smoky quartz, agates composed of alternatiug layers, cbalcedony, jasper, aimetbyst, and other varieties of quartz, Their uniform behavior in the magnetic field shows that all the different kinds of native silica are diamagnetic. TEMPERATURE oF THE Sun.—Tbis varies according to tho different caleulatioue, from 10,000,000° to 1,461° C. Mr. Vicaire, in a note to the French Academy of Scicuces, concludee that it docs not excecd 3,000° C. (5,400° I’.) He observes that the greatest heat of the oxyhydrogen blowpipe is 2,500° C. (4,500 F.), and the highest furnace heat not above 2,000° C. (3,600° F.) A new method of preparing sulphuretted hydrogen bas been proposed. By beating a mixture of equal parts of sulphur and parafiine in a flask toa temporature not much above tbe melting point of the sulphur, the gasis cyolved witb great steadiness. The production may be stopped or renewed at pleasure by simply withdrawing or applying the lamp. New Fossm Mamma or Uran,—Dr. F. V. Hayden discovered two species of Bathmodon in the Tertiary bede (bourn eocence?) of the Wahsatch group, near Evanston, Utab. Tbe characters of tbe molar teeth iudicato tbat it belongs to a new family —Aner. Jour. of Science. Tre Cornpopa OxservArory.—Tbe inauguration of this observatory, an event of great importance to astronomical science, took place on tbe 24th of October last in the preeence of the dignitaries of the land, Prof. Gould delivered an excellent address,

April 6, 1872.] SCIENTIFIC PRESS. all I ECHANICAL (Proaress Licnr vs, Heavy Suirrixe.—The Scientific American gives uw very instructive article on Light vs. Haaty shufting, the summing up of which is as follows:—To sustain grout pressure requires great strength, and increased strength of a given nuterial having a specified form implics inercased weight, Increased weight implies inerensed friction, It is, therefore, a theoretical fuct proved in practico that the heavier a line of shafting ia, the grentcr will be the loss iu friction during the transmission of power through it. Jt is also a fuct thut light shafting mioning athigh speed will perform work that wonld hreak heavier shafting running at lower speed. We have here « plain urguinent in favor of light shafting. Iu tho applications ot these principles, however, wo often see errors committed which tend to render sole people skeptical as to their truth. ; One of these crrors is that light shafting is often not proporly snpported. The lighter the shifting, the moro apt it is to spring hy its own weight, the weight of ross and gears, and tho tension of bolts. Light shaftiug will require, therefore, more frequent support from hangers than heavy shafting. Besides, with high velocitics, there is more fiddle-string vibration, aided by centrifngal force, whicli conaumes moro or less power, generally more than is suspected, The obviation of this calls for frequent snpports along the lines of shafting, with accurate fitting of couplings, journals und boxes, and as porfect allignmcut of the shafting as possihlo. ‘o keep everything in perfect order will also equire constant watchfulness. Slight settling of buildiugs, springing of floors, from the placing of new and heavy machincry or other cause, altcrations which cannot be prevented, will often throw a shaft out of line, no matter how perfcetly it inay bave been hung. A cognate subject to the ahovo is the size of ulicy, which tho editor promises to consider in a future article. Borer Exrrosions.—Prof. R. H, Thurston has published in pamphlet form a report of the trials made last fall at Sandy Hook. He draws the following conculsions: I. Low water, althongh undonbtedly one causo, is not the only cause of violent explosions, as is so commonly supposed, but a most violent explosion miay occur with the boiler well supplied with water. 2. What is generally considered a moderate steam pressure may produco a very violent explosion of a weak hoiler, containing a large boy of water, and haying its flues well cevered. 3. Asteam boiler may explode under steam at a pressure less than that which it has successfully withstood at the hydrostatic test. in a subsequent lettor to the Eng. and Min, Journal, which demurred to tho first part of conclusion I, the Professor explains that he referred to a very prevalent bclicf among those managing stcam boilers that an explosion may always be attributed to low water and thnt the invariablo effect of over pressuro is simply to rupture the weakest spot, allowing steam and water to blow out until the pressure is taken off. Tho consequent fecling of safety among eugine-drivers and firemen, having charge of boilers rendered unsafe by other causes, has heen, probably, the cause of many explosions and loss of life. Tbe removal of this false impression will assist greatly in making tbe real causes of the majority of explosions—corrosion and carlessness or ignorance in management— better recognized. New Process or Ontarnina Inon and STEEL. Some of the European scientific journals speak favorably of a new invention, said to have heen recently perfected, for producing iron and steel. Tbe heat is mainly derived from combustion of carburetted air, while nncombined oxygen and nitrous oxide gas are evolved from nitrite of soda and quicklime, and cblorine and carbonic oxide from a compound of chloride of lime mixed with pulverized cbarcoal, The air charged with tho vapor of petrolenm oil, besides acting as a gaseoue fuel, also acts powerfully as a reducing agent, and rapidly effecte the reduction of the iron from tbe ore. The air charged with chlorine and carbonic oxide, removes wholly or mainly all eulphnr or phoepboroue with which the ore or reduced iron may be contaminated; and the air charged with oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous acid and nitrous oxide, promotee combustion, and rapidly Yaises the materials to the temperature required. Tue Roap Streamer seoms to be making practical progress iu Great Britain. One of these machines recently made the run from Ipswich to Edinburgh by road, a distance of 450 miles, in seventy-seven boure’ traveling time. The engine is one of four now being huilt for the Indian Governnent, under Tbomson’s patent, with india rubber tires, and is of 14 nominal borse-power, hut whicb hae been worked up to 80 indicated horse-power. Her weight ie about 13%4 tone; length, 15 feet; breadth, 8 feet 8 inchee; height to top of chimney, 15 feet. The omnibus weighs about 314 pus and seats 21 passengere inside aud 44 outside. RupnEr Carrtaces.—A factory is being erected at Fairfield, Conn,, in which carriages are to be built consieting entirely of India rubber, with the exception of tbe axlee and tires—this material being elaimed to possess decided superiority over wood. ComprssaTine Compass.—According to London Enayinering, M. Arson, of Pars, has invented a compeusating apparatus of much merit, for correcting the devintion of the compass ou board ships. Me compensutes the deviation due to tho permancnt magnetism by fixed nluignets, aud thoso caused hy induced muiyurtisin in ull positions of the ship and in all latitudes by hundles of soft iron wire placed according to certnin laws given by caleulutions, Tho apparatus contains, hesides tho ordinary card, a sccoud card serving as an iudieator, When it is wished to follow a certain route, this latter card is traced hy means of u wheel uatil it indicates the desired uuglo. By this moveinent tho packets of soft iron are placed in the porition required to compensate for the deviation corresponding to the position of the ship. It is then sntlicieut to adjust tho com. pass needle to tho same angle which has heen givenin order to follow the route indicnted. Converecly,to findatany moment the route being followed, tho wheel before meutioned is moved until the repeating circlo iudicates the saue augle us tho compass. Ly this movement the compensating parts will have becu placed in tho position which corresponds to tho compensation in tho azimuth whero the vesscl is; tho angle ohserved will be the truc angle of the route, A New Finge-Proor Cosposirion.—An_ important trial of fire-proof coiposition was made at Washington the other day, under tho direction of tho Secretarics of the Treasury and Navy. Au iron chest, sixteen inches in diameter, with a lining of six inches of the composition, also containiug a wooden box four inches diameter, in which were deposited pupers,moncy and matches, was placed in the blast furnace of the navy yard, and different metals placed all round it. After being subjected to an almost continuous blast of three hours, and after all the metuls were melted, the cliest was left in the furnace until the next afternoon, when under the directions of the representatives of the Government, tho three chests were opened, and the contents were found to ho in exactly the samo condition as when they were put in, and the matches were used to light cigars with. The fire-proof compositiou is the discovery of two gentlemen of Detroit, one of whom was present at the trial. Woopren Natzs.—Tbe editor of The Hub, the carriage makers’ journal, thinks the idea of using wooden nails a good one, for in his opinion the day will come before many years when wood will become so valuble tbat it will not pay to usethe material of old packing boxes for fuelas isnow done, and then tbe objection to the use of iron nails will be seen ina practical light. If boxes were put togetber with nails of wood tbeinjury to tools in making thom serve for otber pnrposes would be materially lessened, and a great saving of valuable lumber be made. It is not to be supposed that wooden pegs or pins can be made to supplant iron nails and screws altogether, yet the lavish use of nails may be checked perhaps witb advantage to our industries. The object is wortby of onr eonsideration, Wercur or Rairs.—Mr. L. Nickerson, in the Raiheay Register, questions tbe soundness of the general opinion that great weight in a rail is necessary to economical wear. Whbena body, asa bar of iron resting on an anvil, is struck with a hammer, the effect on it is the greater tbe more unyielding the substance on which the body rests. Now increasing the body of the rail is the same as giving a more unyielding support to its crown, and thus increasing tbe effect of the bammeriug action of the wheels of cars and engines. Lusrication or Steam Encines.—M. Thoma tried a mixture of graphite (prepared by decantation) and hog’s lard Yor lubricating steam engines with good results, the only care requisite being to kecp np tbe quantity of graphite in the mixture, as otberwise it becomes too fluid. He next tried a paste of graphite and water with equally good results, the slight escape of eteam into the stufiing-box being pan to keep the grapbite moist.—Nuilway Limes. SronazE Parrr, a late French invention, is made by adding finely divided sponge to ordinary paper pulp. Tbe paper is said to have all the peculiarities of sponge, absorbing moistnre readily, and retaining it for a long time. It bas been nsed to advantage for dressing wounds, and is capable of several important technical applications. Wine Tramway.—Mr. T. Bush, an Hungarian Engineer, has made some improvements on the Hodson system of wire tramwaye, by employing two parallel cables instead of one. The modified syetem is said to possess great advantages over the original one, especially with regard to tbe carrying of heavy loade and the greater security of the ropes. Tur University of Pennsylvania is now in possession of the largest electrie machino in

the world—a Holy patteru, with a 36-inch revolving plate. The machine will ovolvo an 18inch spark, which will picrce glass to the depth of § incbes. Untrormity iw Car Burentnc—A plan to make all railroad cars throughout Germany of one pattern, so that repaire may be facilitated and prices equalized, has been propoetd by a scientific association of railroads in tbat country, og é SCIENTIFIC Progress. Variation of Color in Birds with ; the Locality. Tho subject of variation of color in birds, ss exyaessing specific distinctions, has for a long timo occupied tho uttention of ornithologists; und whilo with some the slightest differencu in shade was sullicivut to estuhlish a separato species, a wido variation was allowed by others without effecting tho idea of specific indentity. We aro gradually, however, coming to appreciato the influence which external conditions, such as light or shado, inoisture or dryness, varyiug temperature, latitudo, cte., prodnee upon color; und so long as tho general pattern remaius the samo, we ean allow a great variatiou in tint, aud even in size, since, as is well known, this depends largely upou latitude or altitude of hirth-placo and residence. As a general rule, it may ho said as we go southward lroni a north tomperate latitude, with the increasing tomperaturo and brighter sky the colors are deeper and thw size less; and, on the other baud, im proceeding northward and iuto nioro cloudod atmospheres, the dimensions become greatcr, with a decrease in general hrillinuey. In sandy or barren regions the necompanying birds become of a grayish tint, while in red soils a reddish shude will he appreciaplo. Again, in certain regions the birds exhibit a tendency to melunism, or a blackening, this being noticexzble iu Florida, and more especially in the West India Islands, as compared with the United States. Aninstance of this is secn in the common red-winged hlackhird, the femule of which, as found in the United States, is variegated with brown, yellowish, and grayish streaks, the male alone being a glossy black, with red sboulders. A blackhird is found in Cuba, however, the male of which is undistinguishable from our bird, excepting in the smaller size, while the female is of a uniform lustrous black, differing only from the male in the ahsence of red upon the shoulders, Similar comparativo peculiaritics are presented in quite a number of West Indian birds.—LHarper’s Sei. Fave’s View or tor Puystcan Conprrion oF THE Sun.—The Mechanic’s Magazine gives u summary of an interesting paper by Mr. Faye, upon the physical condition of tho sun, dcduced from the observation of the solar spots made by Carrington. This is expressed in the following propositions: 1. That Zollner’s theory, which views the sun as a solid body covered witha layer of incandexcent liquid, is entirely improbable, and, indeed, impossible. 2. The speed of rotation of any point whatever, on the sun’s surface is always expressed by one and tbe same formula. 3. There do not exist on the sun's surface any sensible currents which are at all analogous to the ‘‘trade-winds.” 4. The absolute absence of currents is only explicable by the presence everywhere of ascending currents of great intensity, proceeding from the sun’s center tv its surface. The existence of such currents is an imperative proof that tbe body of the sun must be in a gaseous state, and is an immense sphere of «eriform matter of an enormous temperature, but which: is continually cooling by the action of the ascending currents. 6. The sun is absolutely spherical. New Repoucina Acent.—If an aqueous solution of sulphurous acid bo allowed to act upon fine zine dust, tbe zine is dissolved without the developmont of gas, the solution assuming for 2 time a decided yellow color. This liquid now possesses the peculiarity in a very high degree of rapidly decolorizing indigo, a fact well known to chemists. Schntzenherger, ascertained that this decolorizing of the indigo is by no means the result of oxidatien, but, on tbe contrary, is a reduction; and this power of reduction in the liquid is so extraordinarily great that it will reduce, with heat, the salts of copper, silver, and mercury to their metals. The hquid is not related to hydrosulphnric acid, and is exceedingly unstable in its free condition; but if a concentrated.solution of bisulphite of eoda be allowed to act upon the zinc filiugs, wo shall obtain a soda salt of the new acid which hae as great an afiinity for oxygen ae tho free acid, and can, therefore, be kept for any length of time if completely excluded from the air. Harstonus or Sant 'anp Inon SuLrHipE,— According to Natw'e, Prof. Konugotb, of Zurich, Switzerland, during a hailstorm, lasting 5 minutes, on the 20th of last August, found etones, some weighing 12 grains, which consisted eseentially of common salt, mainly in imperfect cubical crystals, He eupposes that the salt had been taken up from tbe salt plains of Africa and brought over the Mediterranean. Hailstones contaiuing cach a small crystal of sulpbide of iron, probably weathered ont of rocks in the vicinity, fell recently at Kaean. OnystanLizATion.—Professor Chultze hae recently exhibited, to the German Chemical Society, Berlin, beautifully formed crystals of sugar, borax, and otber substances. He etates that by the use of a gelatinizing substance ae a solvent, the formation of perfect crystals is mucb promoted. Solutions of gelatine and kiudred substances were the vehicles he employed. Tuxesten Coroxs.—Fine colors are prepared from tungsten, which, heing permanent and little actect npon by heat, cam he nsed to ndvantage on many ocensions. Tungstate of huryta is u pure white; tungstato of nickel, clear green; tungstate of chromium, durk green; tungstate of cobalt, violet; tungstic acid, a heautiful clear yellow, passing into orange. Tungstate of sods is not emptoyed in cvlors, but is recommended for rendering fabrics uninflammable, fur this purpose it is better to combine it with phosphnte of soda, Mctalhic tungstca wus at ono time supposed to improve the hardness of steel, hut we hear very little of its use for this purpose, und it seems more probable that the accidental admixture of nungunese was the real iudurating constituent. It is also cluimed that tungsten lurgely increases tho magnetic power of iron, Srecrnum or tng Fine-lny.-—Prof. C. A. Young suys this is “ perfectly continuous, without trace of cither bright or dark lines, and exte1iyds from a little ebovo Fraunhofer’s line C, in tho scarlet, to about F in the blue, gradually fading ont at the extremities. It is noticeable that precisely this portiou of the spectrum is composed of rays, which, while they moro powerfully than any other atlcct the organs of vision, produce hardly any thermal or actinic effect. In other words, very little of the energy expended in the tlash of the fire-fly is wasted. It is quito different with our artificial methods of illumination. In the cnse of an ordinary gas-light, the bost exporiments show that not more than one or two per cent. of tho radiant energy consists of visible rays; the rest is either pinvisible heat or uctinism; that is to say, over ninety-eight pcr cent. of the gas is wasted in producing rays that do not help in making objects visible." New Preservative Fivrn.—The following are the ingredients of a liquid by means ot which the organs of the body that have becomo ubsolutely offensive, from decay, may be treated so that they can be examined for marks ofinjury or sigls of disease. The tiuid consists of a mixture of iodine one drachm, methylated ether (of specific gravity -720) ten fiuid ounces, absolute alcohol one fluid ounce, and strong sulphuric acid four fluid drachms. The action of the solution seems to he that the iodine deodorizes, while the sulphuric acid engages the water and the alkaline products of decomposition and produces the necessary firmuess of structure. The ether escapes, being simply the fluid dissolvent for the other agents. Puosryorescence Propucen ny Frrerionan Enecrniciry.—M. Alvergniat states that if a little bromide or chloride of silicum is introduced into a glass tuhe, and the tube is then exhausted and sealed, friction with a piece of silk, or even with the fingers, produces a beautiful phosphorescence, which is rose colored if the chloride is contained in the tube, and a yellowish green with the hromide. The induction spark produces no light within these tubes unless the vacuum is very perfect, but in that case the phospborescence disappeurs. Seccut on Sonar Protouberances, — Tbe Italian astronomer, Father Secchi, has published ‘several papers on the above subject, in which the conclusions errived at are summed up thus: I, Tbe soutbern hemisphere of the sun is at present ricber in protuberances thau the northern hemisphere. 2. In general terms, the protuberances are numerous in those regions where the facuze are numerous. 3. The protuherances are highest in the regions where they are the most numerous. Sriica, DrAMAGNETIC.—Prof. Dove has successfully suspended, between the poles of a powerful electro-maguet, sections cut from colorless rock-crystal, smoky quartz, agates composed of alternatiug layers, cbalcedony, jasper, aimetbyst, and other varieties of quartz, Their uniform behavior in the magnetic field shows that all the different kinds of native silica are diamagnetic. TEMPERATURE oF THE Sun.—Tbis varies according to tho different caleulatioue, from 10,000,000° to 1,461° C. Mr. Vicaire, in a note to the French Academy of Scicuces, concludee that it docs not excecd 3,000° C. (5,400° I’.) He observes that the greatest heat of the oxyhydrogen blowpipe is 2,500° C. (4,500 F.), and the highest furnace heat not above 2,000° C. (3,600° F.) A new method of preparing sulphuretted hydrogen bas been proposed. By beating a mixture of equal parts of sulphur and parafiine in a flask toa temporature not much above tbe melting point of the sulphur, the gasis cyolved witb great steadiness. The production may be stopped or renewed at pleasure by simply withdrawing or applying the lamp. New Fossm Mamma or Uran,—Dr. F. V. Hayden discovered two species of Bathmodon in the Tertiary bede (bourn eocence?) of the Wahsatch group, near Evanston, Utab. Tbe characters of tbe molar teeth iudicato tbat it belongs to a new family —Aner. Jour. of Science. Tre Cornpopa OxservArory.—Tbe inauguration of this observatory, an event of great importance to astronomical science, took place on tbe 24th of October last in the preeence of the dignitaries of the land, Prof. Gould delivered an excellent address,