20 



NATURE 



{May 4, 1876 



amygdalitis, by M. Bouchut. — M. Chapelas gave a r'esumi of 

 observations of falling stars during March 1876. 



April 24. — M. Peligot in the chair. — The following papers 

 were read: — Discovery of two new planets, 162 and 163; 

 note by M. Leverrier. — On coal-gas and pyrogenous carburets, 

 by M. Berthelot. — On the pyrogenous decomposition of nitrate 

 of ammonia, and on the volatility of ammoniacal salts, by 

 M. Berthelot. — Reply to a part of the criticisms of M. Hilde- 

 brandsson (in letter of March 20), by M. Faye. — On the vegeta- 

 tion of plants without chlorophyll, by M. Boussingault. The 

 author affirms that if solar radiation ceased, plants without 

 chlorophyll, as well as plants with it, would disappear from the 

 globe. M. Pasteur asserts that some lower plant forms might 

 continue. — Researches on sugar beet (second year of experimen- 

 tation), by MM. Fremy and Deherain. Similar saline solutions 

 act quite differently on the roots, according as the latter are im- 

 mersed in them, or in porous substances impregnatedjwith them. 

 An excess of nitrogenised manure diminishes the saccharine rich- 

 ness of all beets, but those of excellent race retain so much sugar 

 that their cultivation is advantageous. — Experiments made to 

 explain the round alveoli very frequently presented by the surface 

 of meteorites, by M. Daubree. These bodies, entering the air 

 with high velocity, become incandescent and superficially fused. 

 The part which, at a given moment, is in front, accumulates and 

 compresses the air strongly, so that this is thrown into gyration, 

 and bores a cavity. The mechanical action is generally accom- 

 panied by chemical action. — Note on cellular grainage for pre- 

 paration of the grains of silkworms, by M. Pasteur. — On the 

 triturators and crushers of the Anduze system, by M. Resal. — 

 On the means of substitution of vines in countries where they 

 have been destroyed by phylloxera, by M, Mares. He recom- 

 mends the wider separation of the stocks. — M. de Baer was 

 elected Foreign Associate in room of Sir Charles Wheatstone. 

 The other candidates were Sir W, Thomson, M. Bunsen, and 

 Mr. Stokes. — Note on an operation of gastrototomy performed 

 in order to extract a solid body (foik) from the stomach, by M. 

 Labbe. The young man (eighteen) retained the fork in his 

 stomach for more than six months, suffering, at intervals, extreme 

 pain. M. Labbe first tried caustics (for extraction), but at length 

 resorted to the knife. He attributes his success (i) to carefidly 

 determining the points of operation ; (2) fixing the stomach 

 against the abdominal walls before opening it ; (3) using a thick 

 layer of collodion, which rendered motionless the abdominal 

 walls and the digestive tube, producing strong compression. In 

 about five days the man was almost in his normal health again. — 

 On the exchanges of ammonia between natural waters and the 

 atmosphere, by M. Schloesing. Having previously studied the 

 exchanges in rain, dew, fog, he here deals with snow and hoarfrost. 

 The aqueous vapour and ammonia of the air, after having probably 

 a common origin, the sea, are precipitated together, but in very 

 different proportions, as the air is cooled to zero. Under zero 

 the association is broken ; water alone continues to be precipi- 

 tated, and the ammonia remains in the atmosphere, which is 

 then never entirely without it. — On various compounds of tita- 

 nium, by MM. Friedel and Guerin. — On electric variations of 

 the muscles, and the heart in particular, studied by means of 

 Lippmann's electrometer, by M. Marey. The phases of electric 

 variation of a muscle are similar to those of the work which it 

 furnishes. — On electrical fuses, by M. Ris. He conceived the idea 

 of rendering induction fuses conductive by incorporating with 

 the detonating mixture (having a chlorate of potash base) a 

 small quantity of pulverised spongy platinum. Such fuses are 

 inflammable either by induction currents or by battery currents, 

 and they can be tried without alteration of the elements com- 

 posing.them. If the quantity of platinum be small the resistance 

 of the fuse is considerable, and may reach 50,000 ohms. By 

 increasing the platinum, the fuse is brought towards the condition 

 of those appropriated to currents of quantity. — Fauna and flora 

 of the peat bogs of Champagne, by M, Fliche.— Note on a new 

 process of titration of astringent matters, by M. Jean. Solutions 

 of various astringent principles, with a carbonated alkali added, 

 absorb a solution of iodine with an energy comparable to that of 

 arsenite of soda. This absorption is in direct ratio of the quan- 

 tity of astringent matter used, and one part by weight of dry 

 tannic acid absorbs four parts of iodine. This is the principle of 

 the method. — Hatching of the .winter egg of phylloxera in the 

 Gironde ; characters of the insect, by M. Boiteau. — On the 

 chemico-legal investigation of arsenic, by M. Brame. — On the 

 temperature of ebullition of spirituous liquids by M. Salleron. 

 Salts and solid substances dissolved (sugars, tartrates, gums, &c. ) 

 falsify considerably the indications of the ebuUioscope. — General 



theorem on the symmetric functions of any number of variables, 

 by M. Jung. — On the cyanide-cyanate of chloral, by M. Cech. — 

 Sulphur in coal-gas, by M. Verigo. The gas in Odessa, he 

 found, contained about 2 grammes of sulphur per 100 English 

 cubic feet. He notes some of its effects, e.g., a metallic part of 

 a ball-shaped lamp, exposed some time in a gas-lit warehouse, 

 had its surface corroded and covered with a greenish substance. 

 The solution, from washing with distilled water, contained sul- 

 phuric acid, and gave, on evaporation, crystals of sulphate of zinc. 

 The metallic alloy of the ball consisted of copper and zinc. — On) 

 the fructification of some silicified plants, from the beds of 

 Autun and Saint Etienne, by M. Renault. — New meteorological 

 researches on the circulation of the lower layers of the atmo» 

 sphere in the North Atlantic, by M. Brault. — In studying the 

 map of the North Atlantic for July to September, one perceives 

 four chief meteorological points that are, in some part, the keys 

 of the situation. These are, on the one hand, the Gulf of Mexico 

 and the Sahara; on the other, the Azores and the maximum 

 region of calms. The two former are the more important, and 

 they are points of convergence of winds. About the Azores 

 turns an immense cyclone. — Process for taking impressions of 

 plants, by M. Bertol. — Geological and anthropological note on 

 Mount Vaudois and the Cravanche Cavern, by M. Voulot. — 

 Experimental researches on pulmonary respiration in the large 

 domestic mammalia, by M. Sanson. Equidse eliminate more 

 COj per unit of time than Bovidse, races of less weight more 

 than those of great, males more than females, young more than 

 old. Alimentation does not affect the respiratory function once 

 it is sufficient to maintain the healthy state ; nor does muscular 

 work, after it is done. The quantity of COj eliminated is 

 directly proportional to rise of temperature, and inversely pro- 

 portional to rise of pressure. 



GdTTINGEN 



Royal Academy of Sciences, January 8. — The following, 

 among other, papers, were read : — On the organs of vegetation of 

 the Marattiacese, by Dr. Holle. By the bilateral arrangement 

 of the vascular bundles Marattia and Argiopteris diverge from 

 the typical ferns, and agree with Ophioglossae and Osmundacese. 

 — A new microscopical drawing apparatus, by Dr. Holle. The 

 principle of this is to bring into view not the pencil itself or its 

 reflected image, but the entire image thrown by lenses. The 

 eyepiece of the microscope serves also as eyepiece of a telescope 

 bent twice at right angles and having two mirrors. The first 

 (transparent) is immediately under the eyepiece, the second under 

 the object-glass of the telescope. The former is very thin 

 (o'2 mm.) that the images of the drawing pencil, cast by the 

 upper and under sides ol the glass plate, may fall on each other. , 

 The other mirror is thicker; and between the two is a lens which 

 again reverses the reversed image of the pencil. The microscopic 

 image can thus be seen directly and without fatigue of the eyes. 

 The drawing hand is immediately to the right, and so in the 

 most convenient position. The image is unreversed. — Develop- 

 ment of formulse for Abel's theorem, by M. Goran Dillner. — 

 Some remarks on the representation of mountain deities in classic 

 art, by M. Wieseler. 



CONTENTS Page 



Progress OF THE Loan Collection, II i 



Prijevalskv'i Mongolia (IVith Illustrations) 3 . 



The Moabite Question 6 



Hooker's " Primer OF Botany." By Prof. M. A. Lawson . ... 8' 

 Our Book Shelf : — 



De Fonvielle's Aerial Adventures 8 



Letters to the Editor : — 



New Laurentian Fossil. — Dr. William B. Carpenter, F.R.S. . 8 

 The Warm Rain Band in the Daylight Spectrum. — Prof. PlAzzi 



Smyth ^ 



Limestone Makers. — Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S 9 



History of Magnetism. — Rev. S J. Perry, F.R.S 10 



Meteorological Society. — G. J. Symons 10 



Destruction of Flowers by Birds. — R. A. Pkyor ,10 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Nebula in Orion 10 



New Minor Planets 10 



Biela's Comet and the November Meteor-Stream 10 



HuNTBRiAN Lectures on the Relation of Extinct to Existing 



Mammalia, IX. By Prof. Flower, F. R.S n 



International Meteorology n 



Soiree of the Royal Microscopical .Society 12 



On Certain Methods of Chbmical Research 12 



Science IN Germany {With Illustrations) 13 



NoTHS from the " Challenger" 14 



Notes . 15 



Scientific Serials 17' 



SOCIKTIKS AND ACADEMTHS , ^g i 



