SO ir = 
il ea een 
at 
x 
British Association for the Advancement of Science. 121 
Mr. Exley presented a paper on the relations of atoms in or- 
ganic compounds, comprising many very ingenious views and 
speculations, which cannot be well condensed. 
Dr. Charles Schafhaeutl, of Munich, communicated the results 
of his inquiries into the peliibee combinations of the constituents 
of cast iren, steel and malleable iron. Among other things, he 
showed that the purest carbon contained and retained hydrogen, 
and sometimes azote, even at the highest temperatures. Pure 
iron cannot be welded ; the welding power of iron depends on 
its alloy with the carburet of silicon. Steel as it comes out of 
the converting furnace or the crucible, is nothing more or less 
than white cast iron, of which Indian steel, called wootz, is 
the fairest specimen. Analyses were given of two specimens of 
cast iron and one of steel. It appears that the peculiarities of 
Swedish iron, depend in a great degree, on the presence of arse- 
nic ; and those of Russia iron on the presence of eer 
Section C. Geology and Geography. 
Dr. Buckland, the President of the Section, submitted a re- 
commendation from a Society in Bradford, that the attention of 
members of Museums in provincial towns should be directed 
chiefly, if not solely, to the collection of specimens from their 
own immediate vicinities. | 
Dr. B. laid before the meeting the last number of M. Agassiz’s 
work on Fossil Fishes, and spoke of the merits of that gentle- 
man, who had sacrificed very flattering prospects in mercantile 
life to a love of science; being content to live almost in poverty, 
devoting his slender means to the furtherance of his undertaking. 
M. Agassiz had received pecuniary assistance from the Associa- 
tion; and to that body as well as to the English subscribers to 
his work, he was most grateful, for without such aid he must 
have abandoned the undertaking, so valuable to the scientific 
world, and especially to geology. Dr. B. stated the importance 
Of tail fishes to the geologist, their scales being preserved when 
their skeletons are destroyed ; and made some observations on the. 
adaptation of the covering of animals to the medium in which 
they live. He adduced the minute scales of the eel, covered 
over with mucus, to protect it from the mud,—this mucus pre- 
Venting the scales from being grated or injured. 
Vol. ae, No. 1.—Oct.-Dec. 1889... 
