Identifier: sciencerecordcom1874beac (find matches)
Title: The Science record; a compendium of scientific progress and discovery
Year: 1872 (1870s)
Authors: Beach, Alfred Ely, 1826-1896
Subjects: Technology Industrial arts
Publisher: New York, Munn
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
hesqueak of a mouse. Some time ago the epidermis on theback peeled off in small pieces, leaving a bright new skinsimilar to that of a snake just after shedding. It was keptout in the open air until the thermometer fell to 53 degrees,when it was removed to a building. It appears to be very sensitive to the cold, curling upits back if the water is in the least chilly. It has been ob-served to remain under water five or six minutes at a timewithout coming to the surface to breathe. (I1(9) The Zoological Society of London has been fortunate inrearing the more important animals born there recently,all the four lion cubs and the hippopotamus (Guy Fawkes)born in the course of last year being still alive, though themagnificent mother of the Hon cubs died a few months 484 SCIENCE RECORD. after their birth. They have still the chimpanzee, (Joe,)which shakes hands with visitors, and performs manyother tricks at the word of command. The gardens wereprobably never in a state of greater efficiency.
Text Appearing After Image:
NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 485 THE COCUYO. The cocuyo is a variety of firefly which abounds in Cubaand in some countries of South America, and which emitsa light much more brilliant than that given off by thesmall insects common with us during the summer months.Its form and size are well delineated in the engravingherewith presented. At about the end of April, it is foundin damp and wooded places throughout Cuba, emergingfrom its hiding-place at twilight, but rarely pursuing itsnocturnal rambles for a greater length of time than twoor three hours. The brilliant radiance of the cocuyo is emitted from itsventral region, where there are three phosphorescentorgans which the insect can expose and render luminousat will. It is believed that a su bstance accumulates slowlyin the cells of these members, and is discharged volun-tarily. As soon as this principle is set free, it manifestsitself by the production of light alone, without heat, andin a manner similar to that caused by the acciden

Note About Images