159 Royal Society. 



A long and important mathematical paper, by Sei'ior 

 Rodriguez, a pliilosopher in the suite ot the late Spanish 

 Ambassador, on the French and English admeasurements 

 oi an arc of the meridian, was laid before the Society by 

 Mr. Mendoza Rios. This Spanish mathematician has dis- 

 covered some minute errors in both French and English 

 surveys, and points out with great modesty their probable 

 source. He thinks that one of the greatest deviations has 

 originated in the nianner of t^nkina; the astronomical obser- 

 vations by the diflercnt trigonometrical surveyors. 



June 11. — Papers bv Dr. Wollaston, on periscopic 

 glasses ; bv Mr. John Davy, on fluoric acid ; and Jan. 18, 

 a paper by Sir H. Davy, on phosphoric and sulphuric acid, 

 were read ; for a short account of which see our former 

 numbers. 



A paper, by Mr. Brodie, on animal heat, was also read, 

 June 18, tending lo confirm some of the author's remarks 

 on this subject in his former communications. He ani- 

 madverted on the inadequacy of Black's theory, and the 

 inaccuracy of Crawford's experiments ; showed that by ar- 

 tificial respiration animal bodies deprived of the brain cool 

 faster than when left alone, although an equal portion of 

 oxygen is absorbed, and carbon disengaged in the process, 

 as if the animal were living ; and hence inferred that the 

 action of the brain and nerves is necessary to the produc* 

 tion of animal htat. He took notice of the temperature or 

 state of tortoises, which are said to live after the brain has 

 been completely amputated. 



Mr. Home drew up some observations on the stomachs 

 of fowls, made by Sir Joseph Banks at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. The right hon. President, having noticed eagles 

 to pass stones and other substances, was induced to consider 

 that there must be something peculiar in the organization 

 of their stomachs; in consequence of which he engaged 

 Mr. Home to investigate such subjects as might fall under 

 his observation. 



After this pajier was read, tlie Society adjourned during 

 the long vacation till iSiovember ne.xt. 



LONDON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



Last month ihc attention of the Society was called to a 

 Lecture on the Stage, by Mr. Reid, which embraced its 

 history from the earliest formation to the present time. 

 He began by tracing it to the mystic dramas of the an- 

 cients, of which the Egyptian, acted in the rites of Isis 

 and Osiris, were the first model. The Bacchanalian my- 

 steries. 



