Robusta-Natalensis Pair. Sp. 30. C. Robusta. Sp.31. C. Natalensis.

T he two giants of the genus-that is so far as the cock birds are concerned, but, as with chiniana and a few others, their hens are so much smaller that even when in the field the two sexes are seen in company one may often doubt their being a pair of the same species.     

Species 7. Cisticola Brunnescens. Pl. VII.

This third species of Cloud-scraper was first named by Dr. von Heuglin in 1862 from an adult male in Summer dress obtained by himself in Abyssinia. Later (in 1869), not realizing their specific identity, von Heuglin gave examples of the same species in Winter and juvenile dresses with different specific names, viz. iodopyga and habessinica , but did not have to contend with the difficulty of separating ayresii from brunnescens because the former species does not occur in Abyssinia. Elsewhere, from Kenya Colony to South Africa, that has always been the difficulty, and wherever the two species were subsequently found they were more or less indiscriminately related to one another as forms or allies of ayresii (under that bird's wrong name terrestris) , until, in 1913 *, Roberts showed the differences between them in South Africa, and, in 1922†, van Someren the same for Kenya Colony.     

Species 38. Cisticola Ruficeps. Pl. XVIII.

An easily recognized little bird in both of its very different seasonal dresses: one with no very near relative among the other species, but thoroughly Cirticoline from every point of view, alive or on the table: about the size of the Wood-Warbler (P. sibilatrix) , but with a shorter tail and much shorter wings, (totally different coloration), and in behaviour more like a bush-loving Sylvia , the Whitethroat (S. communis) for instance, only without any of that bird's aerial love-dances.     

Species 36. Cisticola Nana. Pl. XVIII. fig. 80. Cisticola nana Fisch. & Rchw., J. f. O. 1884, p. 260: typ. loc. Ngaruka, Aruaha Distr., north-eastern Tanganyika Terr.

The least of all the Cisticolae—although some of the races of other species are as small—a tiny, roundabout little creature, scarcely bigger than a Goldcrest (Regulus) , and of not very different proportions: confined to a comparatively small part of East Africa. In life, quite "a Cisticola", but one with a good deal of individuality in its behaviour, with quick darting movements, and at home in fairly dry, tall "bush" country. Discovered only forty-five years ago, nana was classified without hesitation in its natural place among the Cisticolae, and there it has remained more or less undisturbed; although near relationship with Apalis angusticauda, a bird of very like coloration, but with a number of unlike characters of form, has been suggested.     

species 14. CISTICOLA CHINIANA. Pls. IX. & X.

First named in 1843 from a single specimen obtained by Dr. Andrew Smith's expedition. near the southern limit of its range, the South African bird, as one of the medium sized, pattern-backed Cisticolae may be said to have finally come into clear definition in Roberts' 1913 Review after a long period of endless confusion with some or all of the species of the subruficapilla group. But that does not entirely clear the ground for chiniana , for it is a remarkably plastic form in so far as coloration goes, and north of the Zambesi, particularly in equatorial East Africa, presents certain geographical variations of coloration which have tended towards confusing it with some of the plain-backed species of the genus.     

Robert Alexander Falla K.B.E., C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.N.Z.

Abstract

On 23 February 1979 Sir Robert Falla collapsed and died at his home in Eastbourne. He was 77. His sudden death came as a great shock to his multitude of friends and colleagues, many of whom were still sharing with Sir Robert a deep sense of loss at the death on 31 May 1978, shortly after the couple's golden wedding anniversary, of his charming wife Molly.     

Controlled clinical trial of L-dopa and nafoxidine in advanced breast cancer: an E.O.R.T.C. study.

L-Dopa lowers plasma prolactin levels, and there have been reports that patients with advanced breast cancer have been successfully treated with L-dopa. To test the potential value of L-dopa in this disease a randomized clinical trial of L-dopa and nafoxidine (as the reference compound) was conducted in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Objective remissions were obtained in sever out of 36 patients (19%) treated with nafoxidine but in none out of 40 patients treated with L-dopa. L-Dopa in the dose schedule used seems to be ineffective in advanced breast cancer.     

Species 31. Cisticola Natalensis. Pl. XV.

This very well known large bird shares with galactotes the distinction of having greater seasonal difference of dress than any other of the thirty-eight African Cisticolae: Asiatic-Australian exilis lias even greater, but only in the cock bird.     

Species 39. Cisticola Tinniens. Pl. XIV.

A smallish, rather slender-built bird; quite a typical Cisticola like subruficapilla , which species despite its different coloration is-one of if not the nearest of its allies, about the same size, build and proportions as the Sardinian Warbler (S. melanocephala) and with much moreover in its behaviour which recalls that and other quite differently coloured bush-loving Sylvia Warblers, such as, for instance, the Whitethroat (S. communis).     

Q. & A. on C. P. S

Encephalitis is a challenging public health problem in Kern County and in the San Joaquin Valley area. During the last ten years the authors have studied the epidemiology of encephalitides due to arthropod-borne viruses and the methods used in the differential dignosis of these conditions. To incriminate a virus it is necessary to demonstrate a rise in antibody titer in the blood over a period of seven to fourteen days, the first specimen to be taken as soon as possible after onset of symptoms. A variety of tests may be necessary in some cases. Among the patients included in this presentation the greater number of those with encephalitis and also of those with poliomyelitis were under 30 years of age. The age range was five weeks to 49 years. The median annual mortality rate was 4.3 deaths per 100 cases for poliomyelitis and 3.9 for encephalitis. The greatest incidence occurred during the summer months.The clinical manifestations usually observed in encephalitis are described, but it is emphasized that wide variations and even completely atypical clinical phenomena are encountered. Four representative cases are reported and treatment is discussed. Vaccination and vector control are considered as the most promising means of combating the disease.     

珍珠矮

珍珠矮绘图：何顺清栽培及配文：钟树华,韦毅刚珍珠矮（ＣｙｍｂｉｄｕｍｎａｎｕｌｕｍＹ．Ｓ．ＷｕｅｔＳ．Ｃ．Ｃｈｅｎ）是我国著名兰科植物分类专家吴应祥、陈心启于１９９１年定名的新种,发表在《植物分类学报》第２９卷第６期上。模式标本是由余大鹏于１９８９年...     

Pohlia andrewsii J. Shaw in the U.S.S.R.

Abstract

P. andrewsii appears to be widespread in the arctic regions of the U.S.S.R. and also in mountains of southern Siberia, the Altai Mountains. Except in the mountains of Central and Northern Europe the range of P. andrewsii does not overlap with P. annotina and P. camptotrachela.     

High resolution 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy of 'mixed linkage' xylans.

Three xylan fractions, obtained by stepwise precipitation with ethanol, were analysed by 75-MHz 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Diad frequencies, determined from the C-2 resonances, show that the (1----3)-linkages are interspersed throughout the chain rather than grouped contiguously. This type of distribution is in agreement with a random coil conformation and with the constancy of the optical rotation in solvents of different ionic strength and chaotropic power. These diad frequencies were compared with the theoretical values calculated for a random distribution from the ratio of (1----4)-:(1----3)-linkages in the 1H-n.m.r. spectra, and from the methylation analysis for one of the fractions.     

The A.M.A. Session

The use of liquid nitrogen for the removal of warts has advantages over electrocautery in certain circumstances. Although the incidence of recurrences after liquid nitrogen is higher than after cautery, it causes considerably less scarring. It is most useful in dealing with peri-ungual and multiple warts. The technique is simple and a supply of liquid nitrogen can be kept on hand in the office at relatively low cost.     

R.M. Cowling,D.M. Richardson & S.M. Pierce (eds.) 1977. Vegetation of Southern Africa.

We determined the role of bird dispersal in seed and seedling dynamics of the tree Kalopanax pictus from 7 years of observing seed rain and seedling emergence in a broad-leaved deciduous forest in central Japan. We also performed an experiment on the influence of seed pulp on germination of seeds of K. pictus. Seeds of this species can lie dormant for several years, and this causes rather constant yearly seedling emergence in spite of irregular seed production. The spatial distribution of the seedlings that emerged each year (maximum distance from nearest conspecific seed-bearing tree of 90 m) was wider than that of gravity-dispersed seeds (max. distance of 37 m), suggesting seed dispersal by birds in winter. Emerged seedling densities at sites over 20 m from the nearest conspecific seed-bearing tree were highest in the spring of 1991, about half a year after the largest seed fall of the observation period. However, emerged seedling densities within 20 m from seed-bearing trees were highest in 1992, 1.5 years after the largest seed fall. These field observations may be explained by the experimental results on the effects of seed pulp on germination. Intact seeds germinate slowly at low germination rates, while seeds without seed pulp germinate quickly at high germination rates. Fallen seeds with seed pulp thus appear to form a seed bank near seed sources (temporal dispersal), while seeds scattered by birds appear to increase the possibility of reaching the present safe sites in distant areas with quick germination (spatial dispersal).     

Species 9. Cisticola Exilis. Pls. VII. & VIII. THE EXILE.

The only species of Cisticola not inhabiting Africa at all, but with headquarters in south-eastern Asia and Australia, and ranging thence no further to the westward than southern India: Latham's English name, "The Exile Warbler"*is therefore very appropriate.     

Species 32. Cisticola Brachyptera. Pl. XVI.

What has been said about it in the introduction to the group leaves little necessary to say here of brachyptera s systematic position, but the following historical note relating to the bird's confusion with rufa will probably be useful.     

Gap junction structures. VIII. Membrane cross-sections.

Profiles of negatively stained gap junctions have been measured by grid sectioning. After normal levels of electron irradiation, the membrane thickness shrinks to about half that of unirradiated controls, but no shrinkage occurs in the hexagonal lattice plane. Even under low irradiation conditions, there is significant thinning of the membranes. Edge views, in which rows of connexons are aligned parallel to the beam, were obtained from grid sections, folds in normal negatively stained specimens, and sections of a positively stained specimen. Averaging these micrographs with the translational and mirror symmetry of the projected lattice image displays conserved and variable features in the stain distribution of different specimens. Variations in the relative amount of negative stain in the gap at the surfaces and in the channel are uncorrelated with the irradiation but appear to depend on the local staining conditions and the integrity of the connexons. The dimensions measured from previously unirradiated grid sections, folds, and positively stained sections are in accord with x-ray diffraction measurements. Radiation-induced shrinkage can be accounted for by mass loss principally from the membrane bilayer. Disordering of the surface structure appears to be correlated with the radiation sensitivity of the bilayer; in contrast, the gap structure is well preserved under a variety of conditions.     

Bloom's syndrome. IV. Sister-chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes.

An abnormally great amount of exhange between both sister and nonsister-but-homologous chromatids is a highly characteristic feature of cultured blood lymphocytes from individuals with Bloom's syndrome. However, a population of lymphocytes which exhibit a normal amount of exchange can be detected in the blood of some individuals with this syndrome. This coexistence of cells with a greatly increased number of sister-chromatid exchanges and others with a normal number results in a phenotypic dimorphism, in apparent contradiction to the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance of the syndrome.