224 Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. [March, 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



Feb. 2. — Mr. Thomas Allan read a veiy interesting paper on 

 the geology of the country round Nice, a country which, from 

 the circumstances detailed in the paper, appears to be peculiar $ 

 or, at least, not to have been hitherto examined with that accu- 

 racy which it merits from the interesting facts which it presents. 

 It appears evident that many revolutions have taken place in this 

 quarter ; that the rocks have not only been deranged, but that 

 the sea has stood at a much higher level. The fissures in the 

 rocks are often filled with marine shells of the same species that 

 now exist in the Mediterranean ; and shells of a similar kind are 

 often found high among the alluvial soil, and down by the sea 

 from the Harmetine countries. Among the fossil shells found in 

 the peninsula of St. Boassure, more than twenty hitherto undis- 

 covered species have been found. 



At the same meeting, Mr. Playfair communicated a paper, by 

 General Sir Thomas Brisbane, on the determination of the time 

 by equal altitudes. 



ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AT PARIS. 



Nov. 3. — A paper, by M. Quentin, entitled a statistical table 

 for the department of the Seine ; and a memoir, by M. Hachette, 

 on high-pressure steam-engines, were referred to committees. 



The reading of a paper, by M. Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, on the 

 bones of the thorax, was begun. 



M. Huzard delivered in a report on a memoir, by M. Girard, 

 Professor at the Ecole Veterinaire of Alfort. The object of this 

 memoir is to show, that omnivorous and carnivorous animals 

 vomit naturally, and with ease ; and are little, if at all, exhausted 

 by the operation ; that monogastric and ruminating animals, on 

 the contrary, vomit only by great efforts, and unnaturally ; and 

 that the act is always attended with serious consequences, often 

 with death. 



A report was also made on the Hydro-bascule of M. Capron, 

 the intention of which is to avoid, in part, the loss of water by the 

 passage of boats through locks. 



M. Lacroix delivered in the report of a committee on the 

 manuscripts of the late M. Lagrange. It is recommended that 

 all these papers should be bound in volumes and deposited in 

 the library of the Institute, for the inspection and use of men of 

 science, both natives and foreigners. 



Nov. 10. — The whole of this sitting was occupied in matters 

 relating to the internal management of the Society. 



Nov. 17. — M. Seber presented a mathematical memoir on the 

 constitution of solid bodies, which was referred to a committee. 



A memoir, by M. Fourier, was read, on the temperature of 

 dwelling houses, and on the passage of heat in rectangularprisms. 



A dissertation, by M. Lelievre, on siliciferous alumine, was 



