224 GENEVA SOCIETY OF PHYSICS AND NATURAL HISTOEY. 



details of the efl'ects of a stroke of lightning upon five telegraphic posts, 

 placed at a distance of 30 metres (100 feet) apart. The mark left by the 

 fluid was a spiral; this passed from four to five times around the post, but 

 the post next to the last, which was of ash, was less injured, and the 

 fracture was in the form of a straight furrow. 



M. Sarasin gave an account of a work by M. Weber on the specific 

 heat of carbon, boron, and silicon (see Archives, No. 216, p. 407). 



M. n. de Saussure furnisbed some details on the fauna of Turkistan, 

 presenting at the same time the first number on the Orthoptera of that 

 country, now being published by M. Tchenko. The same gentleman 

 mentioned the scientific collections which he had had the opportunity 

 of seeing at Vienna. 



Professor Soret gave us some information about the zoological labo- 

 ratory of Arcachon. 



M. Turrettini spoke of the tension of the overhanging granite of St. 

 Gothard. The parts laid bare press toward the vacancy, and break up, 

 often with violence, which made it necessary to arch the whole length 

 of the tunnel, contrary to anticipation. 



Professor Wartmanu described to the society the results obtained by 

 M. Lockyer from observations on the variations of the calcium si^ectrum. 



