CONTENTS OF VOL. XIL 



NUMBER LXXI. and LXXIL— JANUARY, 1838. 



Page 

 C. Despretz's Researches on the Maximum Density of Liquids 1 

 Mr. J. Tovey's Continuation of Researches in the Undulatory 



Theory of Light; — On the Cause of Elliptical Polarization 10 

 Mr. A. Kennedy's Observations upon the CEconomy of several 



Species of Hymenoptera found in a Garden at Clapton .... 14 

 Mr. G. Bird's Observations on induced Electric Currents, with 



a Description of a Magnetic Contact-breaker 18 



Sir D. Brewster on a singular Development of Polarizing 

 Structure in the Crystalline Lens after Death ; and on the 



Cause, the Prevention, and the Cure of Cataract 22 



Mr. R. Hunt on Tritiodide of Mercury 27 



Mr. J. Watson on a simple Mode of exhibiting the Colours of 



thin Plates 28 



E. Simon of Berlin, on Jervine, a new Vegetable Base 29 



Mr. R. Rigg on a Method of analysing Organic Compounds. . 31 

 Dr. H. Falconer, and Capt. P. T. Cautley on additional Fossil 

 Species of the Order Quadrumana from the Sewalik Hills . . 34 



Notice of additional Fragments of the Sivatherium 40 



Lieut. -Col. A. Emmett's Meteorological Observations for Por- 

 tions of the Years 1836 and 1 837, made at Bermuda ; and a 



Notice of an Aurora Borealis seen in low Latitudes 42 



Mr. Lubbock on the Wave-surface in the Theory of Double 



Refraction 47 



Mr. H. M. Noad on the peculiar Voltaic Conditions of Iron and 



Bismuth 48 



Prof. J. Meyen's Report of the Progress of Vegetable Physio- 

 logy during the Year 1836 53 



Prof. J.J. Sylvester's Analytical Development of Fresnel's Op- 

 tical Theory of Crystals 73 



M. Walter's Notice on the Bichromate of the Perchloride of 



Chrome 83 



Observations on the Meteors of the 1 2th of November. Com- 

 municated by Prof. Forbes 85 



Proceedings of the Geological and Linnsean Societies ; Royal 

 Irish Academy, British Association for the Advancement of 



Science : Meeting of 1837, at Liverpool 86 



New Books : — ^W. Leithead's Electricity; its Nature, Opera- 

 tion, and Importance in the Phaenomena of the Universe . . 127 



Absorption of Water by Efflorescent Salts 130 



Detection of common Salt in Chloride of Potassium 132 



New Acetate of Lead 133 



Sulphuret of Azote 134 



Xanthophylle, — the Colouring Matter of Leaves in Autumn . . 135 

 Detection of Metallic Chlorides in Bromides and Iodides, by 



M. Henry Rose 136 



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