558 Proceedings of the 



ground parrot of the Australian islands, from the Zoological Society; 

 a pump lamp without mechanism ; self-acting syphon ; self- register- 

 ing thermometer ; and other apparatus by M. Bourdon. Parts of 

 Mr. Gould's century of birds, with the originals ; casts in bronze, 

 models in wax of fruit, &c. &c. 



March 2bth. Mr. Faraday on Light and Phosphorescence. 

 The object of the speaker was to put before the members an account 

 of the experiments recently made in the laboratory by Mr. Pearsall, 

 chemical assistant, on the communication of the power of phos- 

 phorescence by heat to those bodies which had been deprived of it, 

 and even to those which had never possessed it. These experi- 

 ments are already described in this volume, pp. 77, 267 ; but the 

 results were shown at the evening meeting; and in order that their 

 bearings on the portion of knowledge regarding light, already in 

 possession of men of science, might be understood, Mr. Faraday 

 gave a brief view of the theories of light, and the facts which at 

 present, imperfectly understood, seemed for that very reason to be 

 half-opened doors to new knowledge. 



On the library-table, amongst other things, were a series of 

 samples of New Zealand flax (PhormiumTenax) in different stages 

 of manufacture. It is now worked largely into twine, rope, and 

 cables, and is exceedingly strong and durable. 



The meetings were then adjourned over the 1st and the 8th of 

 April to the 15th of that mouth. 



Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences in Paris. 

 ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCE, &c. 



Aurora Borealis. THE following observations, communicated by 

 M. Arago to the Academic des Sciences on the 10th of January, 

 may be useful in order to determine the real height of the Aurora 

 Borealis of the 7th of January, by comparing them with the obser- 

 vations simultaneously made in other places. M. Arago was in- 

 duced, at an early part of the evening, to anticipate the appearance 

 of an Aurora Borealis. In his observations on the variations of the 

 needle, he perceived that, instead of stopping as usual at a quarter 

 past one, it continued to advance until five in the afternoon. At 

 this time the declination was 12' 40" greater than usual. The 

 Aurora was soon visible towards the magnetic north. At ten 

 minutes past six, the declination had diminished 43' S" since five 

 o'clock : at a quarter past six, it had diminished 48' 37" ; at eigh- 

 teen minutes past six, 50' 58". It then began to increase gradually 

 until a quarter past seven, when it attained its maximum. After a 

 few moments' repose, the northern point of the needle resumed its 

 march towards the east; the minimum of its declination was at 



