shrunken, which detracts from its value, while the wheat obtained by the method described above is just as plump as normal wheat. Baking tests carried out by Dr. Davidson together with J. H. Shollenberger, of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, have shown that the high protein wheat obtained in the new way yields bread of superior qualities. It is thought not unlikely that the housewife may be willing to pay a premium on flour yielding a better bread.

THE ORNITHOLOGICAL STATION IN

HELIGOLAND

Concentration of bird airways during the spring and fall migration season has turned the island of Heligoland, before the war Germany's strongest fortification, into an important ornithological station.

On the higher part of the island is located a bird house and a small fenced-in area which is planted with bushes, trees and undergrowth. As this spot has practically the only verdure found on the rocky island, the migrating birds are attracted to it and caught by means of two large weirs which are located here and effectually hidden by the undergrowth. Food and decoy birds help attract the migrants. Some of the rarer species are kept in the bird house for the purpose of observation or exhibition.

From time to time during migration an airplane has been used to observe the flights, and, in order to facilitate the recovery of small banded birds, the station has for some time followed the practice of coloring the feathers of these captives with a green, red or blue preparation. This experiment has been successful as many such colored individuals have been recaptured.

The majority of migrating birds pass over the island at night, and as many as twenty or thirty kinds have been frequently noted. On one occasion the director noted fifty kinds in one night. These birds concentrate on the lighthouse on dark nights. Attracted by the brilliant light, they circle around it and settle upon the ground to rest, when they can be captured.

In order to prevent birds from being stunned or killed by dashing against the light a system of external reflectors has been placed on the lighthouse tower, so that most of the birds detect it in time and avoid the danger.

Since May 30, 1909, the bird protection law of the Reich has been in force on the island; by it a number of specified birds were protected, but only during specified months. Since April, 1926, the provisions of the Prussian bird protection law have been made applicable to Heligoland. A number of birds are protected all the year round and many more during the breeding season.

ITEMS

THE inauguration of autumn was an early evening event this year, according to the U. S. Naval Observatory, which determines and broadcasts the nation's official time. The exact moment at which the sun crossed the equator has been determined at 8:17 P. M., Eastern Standard Time, on Friday, September 23. At this time, day and night were of equal length all over the world; thereafter and until the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its

farthest south and starts northward again, the daylight hours in the northern hemisphere become progressively shorter, while in the southern hemisphere they become correspondingly longer.

EXPERIMENTS in immunization against pneumonia by the feeding of acid-killed pneumonia germs are being watched with interest by the New York City Department of Health, according to Dr. William H. Park, director of the Bureau of Laboratories. Although the health department is taking no part in the experiments it is following carefully the work being done by Dr. Victor Ross, of Bloomfield, N. J. With rats for the subjects the experiments have proved successful. The rats were fed pneumonia germs which had been killed by hydrochloric acid. They reacted by building up a resistance to the dead germs which, it was found, was sufficient to immunize them against injections of living pneumonia germs. Because of the success with the rats the experiments will be carried a step nearer the human race and will next be made on monkeys.

FIVE years ago the Commonwealth Fund undertook to subsidize, in the small city of Fargo, North Dakota, a complete public health demonstration with special attention to the health of mothers and children. Since January, 1923, a staff employed by the fund has assisted local authorities to develop and coordinate the work of the health commissioner, the public schools, the Red Cross, the tuberculosis association, local physicians and dentists, in order to safeguard child health from birth through the school years. Fargo has now decided that health pays, for it has voted to carry on all the essentials of the health program and finance it out of local funds at an estimated cost of $1.40 per capita instead of the 88 cents per capita expended in 1922. Produce dealers report that the city eats ten times as much spinach as it used to before the schools started to instigate propaganda for the food value of greens.

DURING recent tests made in Berlin by Dr. Victor Mendel, animals and birds showed a rather surprising lack of response to moving pictures. The pictures were especially selected for each animal and animal group, and the experiments were made in an exhibition room especially adapted to the purpose. The response of dogs was practically nil. Only a little mongrel of doubtful origin evinced a momentary interest by sniffing at the human figures on the screen. The experiments with cats were much more favorable. Of five subjects three responded actively, showing fight upon the appearance of a big dog on the screen. Experiments with birds were rather negative. Geese and ducks, chickens and pigeons paid some attention, while owls showed great interest. Small birds and barnyard fowl showed anxiety when a hawk appeared in their line of vision. A squirrel displayed interest when a weasel made its appearance on the screen, but reptiles and fish were, as might have been expected, quite indifferent.

Just one of one of our Superior Methods

In producing Analysis-Certified Chemicals, we are determined to adopt every reasonable expedient that will give our customers unusual quality or convenience.

An example is our new square-necked wax bottle for Hydrofluoric Acid. This sensible shape for the opening gives the user-no matter how he happens to pick up the bottle-a groove through which he can pour the acid just where it is wanted, without waste or danger of spattering this corrosive acid on the user. Square stopper fits snugly.

Wax with Square Neck

You will be delighted with Sterling's service on Analysis-Certified Chemicals.

Send for new Price list

Sterling Products
Company, Dept. 8
Easton, Pa.

By means of sliding-contacts the resistance value of

JAGABI RHEOSTATS

can be varied from zero to full rating in exceedingly small steps.

They are eminently suited for, and are largely used in Educational, Research and Industrial Laboratories. Write for illustrated Bulletin 1140-S

JAMES G. BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA

1211-13 ARCH STREET

A Personal Service for INVENTORS

I maintain an unexcelled organization and thoroughly equipped laboratories, to render the following services:

I PREPARE APPLICATIONS for patents for filing in the United States and foreign countries.

I PLACE INVENTIONS with responsible manufacturers, with whom I am acquainted, under arrangements that are made profitable to the inventor. I SPECIALIZE in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical and Radio Devices.

I INVITE CORRESPONDENCE with reputable Inventors, Scientists, Chemists and Physicists, regarding their inventions and uncompleted experiments. H. R. VANDEVENTER Licensed Professional Engineer Registered Patent Attorney

342 Madison Avenue, New York City