meter.--3 figures.

IV. ART AND ARCHITECTURE.--Groups of Statuary for the Pediment
of the House of Parliament in Vienna.--2 engravings.

The Casino at Monte Carlo.--An engraving.

V. PHYSICS.--Determining the Density of the Earth.--1 figure.

Physics without Apparatus.--The Porosity and Permeability of
Bodies.--A Hot Air Balloon.--2 engravings.

VI. NATURAL HISTORY.--Winter and the Insects.--An engraving.

Silk Worm Eggs.--With engraving.

VII. HORTICULTURE.--The Melleco.--Ullucus tuberosa.--With
engraving.

VIII. PHYSIOLOGY, MEDICINE, ETC.--Histological Methods.--Section
cutting machines.--Methods of preserving the
tissues.--Preservative media.--Preparation for mounting
tissues.--1 figure.

Life History of a New Septic Organism.

Erythroxylon Coca as a Therapeutic Agent.--By Dr. E.R. SQUIBB.

* * * * *

NEW SPANISH ARTILLERY.

The Spanish Government is now engaged in supplying some of its principal
fortifications with heavy guns of the most improved construction. The
defenses of Cadiz and Ceuta have been greatly strengthened in this
respect. The most recent additions are some very powerful Krupp guns for
the fortress of Isabel II., at Mahon.

[Illustration: NEW KRUPP BREECH LOADING GUNS FOR SPANISH FORTIFICATIONS.]

We give engravings from photographs, as presented in _La Illustracion
Espanola_. These guns are breech loaders, of steel, 301/2 centimeters
caliber, or 12 inches, 49 tons weight.

[Illustration: NEW KRUPP BREECH LOADING GUNS FOR SPANISH FORTIFICATIONS.]

One of our engravings shows the great revolving crane by which the guns
were lifted and placed on the truck for conveyance over a track to their
intended position. This crane is worked by eight men, and readily lifts
burdens of about 200,000 lb. The other engraving shows the jack frame and
jacks employed to remove the gun from the temporary truck. At a range of
7,000 yards these guns are able to penetrate iron plates of two feet
thickness.

* * * * *

QUALITATIVE TESTS FOR STEEL RAILS.

By Mr. L. TETMAJER.

This memoir is the first of a series upon the unification of nomenclature
and classification of building materials, undertaken by the author at the
request of the Swiss Engineers' and Architects' Union. For its
preparation numerous mechanical tests have been made upon s