3^4 



NATURE 



\Aug. 24, 1876 



system of Dove. The comparison of the temperatures 

 of the seventy-three pentades, observed and calculated by 

 the formula, may serve for studying the question raised by M. 

 Ch. St. Claire-Deville, viz., whether there exist certain days 

 or certain epochs of the year when the temperature is lower 

 or higher than is consistent with the regular progress, ascending 

 or descending, of the said temperature. The greater the 

 number of years on which this comparison is based, the more 

 the difference between observation and calculation diminishes, 

 rot only absolutely, but in comparison with the mean error. 

 This is contrary to the theory of M. St. Claire Deville, for if 

 there existed a cause of errors at certain determined epochs, they 

 ought to become more pronounced the greater the number of 

 years. By calculating for each pentade the probable error, we 

 may deduce from it the periodical formula representing the varia- 

 bility of the temperature at the various epochs, a variability which 

 differs much in the various months. Thus it is about ± 2° "53 at 

 the beginning of January, it diminishes to ± i°77 towards the 

 end of March, rising to ± i°'84 at the beginning of May ; it falls 

 again to ± i°'38 at the beginning of October, and increases 

 rapidly afterwards to the end of the year. The first days of 

 May, dreaded for a return of cold, correspond closely to a period 

 of very great variability ; but these returns of cold do not take 

 place at a fixed period ; they may occur from the end of April 

 to the end of June. In relation to the succession of warm years 

 and cold years, there will be recognised incontestably in the fifty 

 years of observations at Geneva, series in which the one or the 

 other predominate in a striking manner. Thus between 1829 

 and 1834 we find seven warm and two cold years ; between 1835 

 and i860, twenty-two cold, and four warm years ; during the 

 fifteen last years, thirteen warm and two cold. But there is no 

 trace of periodicity in this return of warm or cold years. By 

 establishing four categories for the years, M. Plantamour has found 

 that there has been during the period of half a century, fouiteen 

 very cold years, twelve cold, ten warm, and fourteen very warm. 

 The denominations " very cold" and " very warm " are applied 

 to negative and positive divergences surpassing the limit of pro- 

 bable divergence. These figures are very near to the probable 

 figure 1 2 "5 for each category. In the case of a periodic return 

 of warm and cold series, every eleven years taken, for instance, 

 as in the case of the solar spots, as some meteorologists have 

 presumed, the succession of warm and very warm, cold and very 

 cold years, ought to be the most common ; on the other hand the 

 succession of years very different in temperature ought to be 

 very rare. But nothing of this kind has been observed ; on the 

 contrary, a very cold year may follow a very cold year, or 

 vice versd. It is then impossible to deduce any periodicity in the 

 succession of cold and hot years. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, Aug. 14. — Vice- Admiral Paris in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read : — Experimental critique 

 on glycsemia (continued). Glycsmia has its source in the glyco- 

 genesic function of the liver ; by M. CI. Bernard. i. The 

 blood of the sub-hepatic veins is more saccharine than the arterial 

 blood and the blood of the vena porta. 2. The blood of the 

 inferior vena cava is suddenly enriched in sugar (before entering 

 the heart), at the part where the sub-hepatic veins join it. — On 

 the thermal formation of two isomeric propylic aldehydes, by M. 

 Berthelot. The transformation of a primary and normal aldehyde 

 into a secondary isomeric aldehyde liberates very little or no heat. 

 Isomeric bodies of the same chemical function are formed with 

 almost the same liberations of heat, and this similarity subsists in 

 the formation of theirisomericderivatives. — Thermal researcheson 

 hydrosulphurous acid, by M. Berthelot. Systems are so much the 

 more stable, other things equal, as they have lost a greater pro- 

 portion of their energy. — On the dynamical theory of regulators, 

 by M. Rolland. — On a hydrated aluminous silicate deposited by 

 the hot spring of Saint-Honore (Nievre) since the Roman epoch, 

 by M. Daubree. This deposit is characterised by the great pre- 

 dominance of silica over alumina and the small quantity of water. 

 — On trepanation of the bones in various forms of osteo-myelitis, 

 by M. Oilier. — Results obtained in treatment of phylloxerised 

 vines with sulpho -carbonates, by M. Mares. He applies to the 

 attacked parts sulpho-carbonate of potassium (i decilitre per 

 stock) dissolved in wa.teror absorbed in powdered soda- residuum, 

 then hardens the ground by rolling or beatmg. This proves 

 successful. It should be done before the stock has become 

 stunted ; otherwise two or three seasons* treatment may be 

 necessary to recover it, or it may not recover. — Observations on 



the development and the migrations of Phylloxera, by M. 

 Boiteau. — Employment of a distributing pale to convey 

 sulpho-carbonates to the roots of phylloxerised vines, by M. 

 Gueyraud. The sulpho-carbonates diluted with three or 

 four times their volume of water and distributed at a depth 

 of 25 cm. to 50 cm. destroyed in three days the Phylloxera 

 on the roots, and restored vigour and verdure to the vines. 

 — Treatment of phylloxerised vines at Aimargues (Gard). Em- 

 ployment of a subterranean projector for distribution of the 

 insecticide liquid, by M. Roussellier. With this projector he 

 applies sulphide of carbon, in very small doses, repeated all the 

 summer, to the roots. — On the destruction of Phylloxera by 

 means of decortication of the vine-stocks, by M. Sabate. In 

 thirty hectares of vines decorticated last winter, not only the old 

 centres of infection had not extended, nor had new ones been 

 formed, but many vines, thought to be gone, had recovered 

 their vigour. In forty non-decorticated hectares, tlie reverse was 

 the case. The process is accomplished easily with steel gloves. 

 — Discovery of a planet (165), by Mr. Joseph Henry, at 

 Washington, Aug. 10, by M. Leverrier. — Observations of the 

 Perseides, at the Observatory of Clermont-Ferrand, on Aug. 

 10 and II, by M. GxMcy.—Kestcme of practical rules of 

 the new navigation, by M. Fasci. — Influence of sonorous 

 vibrations on the radiometer, by M. Jeannel (see note). — 

 Action of hydracids on tellurous acid, by M. Ditte. — On rho- 

 deine from the analytic point of view, by M. Jacquemin. A drop 

 of pure aniline, then of hypochlorite of soda, added to a certain 

 volume of alcohol diluted with water, gives a yellowish colour, 

 passing into green or persistent bluish green. This reaction 

 should prove useful in testing for phenol. — Researches on the 

 derivatives of acetyl valerianic ether, by M, Demar^iy. — Exami- 

 nation of the minerals of Chili, by M. Domeyko. — Alterations 

 of the urine in athrepsia of the newly-born ; applications to 

 diagnostic, prognostic, and pathogeny, by MM. Parrot and 

 Robin. — Investigation of animal organic matter in ancient strata, 

 by M. Husson, From his comparisons he concludes : — I. That 

 bitumens with tarry odour are of essentially vegetable origm. 

 2. That those with fetid odour, recalling Dippel oil, are of 

 animal origin. 3. That these are, in secondary and tertiary 

 strata, the last remains of the animal substance which is found 

 already profoundly altered in the diluvium, and which exists in 

 great part in the state of osseine in the ground of our bone- 

 caverns. — Experiments on mechanical reproduction of the flight 

 of a bird, by M. Tatin. He obtained much better effects with 

 his mechanical birds (worked by caoutchouc springs) by always 

 placing the centre of gravity before the centre of suspension, — 

 Stratified bfeds of massive sdex observed near Digrin (Saone-et- 

 Loire) in a formation considered as cretaceous, by M. Canat. 



CONTENTS Pagb 



Eastern Persia 345 



Sumner's "Method at Sea" [With Illustration) , 347 



Our Book Shklf : — 



Aveling's " Botanical Tables for the Use of Students " .... 348 



Falkenberg on Monocotyledons 349 



" Jenkinson's Practical Guide to the Isle of Wight " ' , . . . 349 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



A Science Museum. — H. T. WeoD 349 



The Diurnal Inequalities of the Barometer.— W. W. RuNDELi. . 350 

 Visual Phenomena. — Arnulph Mallock (With Ill-ustrations) . 350 

 Antedated Books.— P. L. Sclater, K.R.S. ; F.Z.S. ; The Re- 

 viewer of " The Birds of Kerguelen's Land " 351 



A Large Meteor. — Richard Verdon 351 



The " Challenger" Expedition 351 



A Contribution to the Natural History of the Herring . . 352 

 Telephones and other Applications of Electricity {IVith 



Illustrations) 353 



International Congress of Americans 355 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Total Solar Eclipse of 1882, May 17 357 



Comets of 1847 357 



French Association for the Advancement of Science .... 357 



Science in Germany 358 



German Expedition to Siberia 338 



Notes . . 360 



Scientific Serials 362 



Societies and Academies 363 



Erratum.— Vol. xiv. p. 338, col, i, line 9 from bottom, for " Umbelli- 

 ferse " read " Umbellulari?e." 



