CECROPIA

A noble exception to the rule that beautiful things are rare is found in the cecropia moth, illustrated on our front cover. It is one of the most common of the larger moths yet one of the most beautiful. Now that cooler weather has come, many persons who do not ordinarily seek insects will find cecropias coming ready to hand, stupefied by the first touches of frost. By the same token, museum entomologists will be more or less pestered by the offers of well-meaning but uninformed persons who have made one of these chance captures and imagine that they have something convertible into cash. The cecropia is like the sunset, pricelessly beautiful, but worth nothing in terms of cash.

CALCIUM CLOUDS SPREAD THROUGH SPACE

A vast cloud of calcium, one of the commonest of earthly elements, and familiar as a component of lime, permeates all the space between the stars in the Milky Way system to which our sun belongs. It shares the motion of the Milky Way system, or Galaxy, in slowly turning around a center, along with most of the other celestial objects that belong to our own swarm. This announcement was made by Dr. J.A. Pearce, of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory at Victoria, B.C., speaking at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society at Ottawa.

SENATE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATES CANCER

Cancer, rapidly becoming the most menacing danger to life of all persons over 45 years of age, is to receive the spotlight of congressional attention this fall.

The result, confidently expected, is that a continuous program of financial support for research work on the nature and cause of this disease will be drawn up in the form of an authorization bill. That such a bill would pass both houses of congress with little debate is scarcely questioned.

The Senate Commerce Committee is undertaking, at the request of the Senate, an investigation into all means and methods whereby the federal government can be of help in working towards a solution of this serious health problem. It is to report its findings and make recommendations for legislation and appropriations.