384 



NATURE 



{Aug. 31, 1876 



thus too are explained the turning points Matthiessen found in 

 the curve representing resistances of tellurium at different tem- 

 peratures. — On the geometric-symmetric forms of the earth's 

 surface, by M. Boue. The rotation force of the earth forbids 

 comparison of the clefts on its surface to those of a clay-lump 

 produced by contraction. The earth took its present form imder 

 several forces, especially the centrifugal force of rotation, wave- 

 motion of the still plastic and hot zones under the crust, and 

 infiltration of water. The orography of the earth is somewhat 

 similar to a chess-board. — On the relation of the coefficient of 

 internal friction of gases to temperature, by M, Obermayer. The 

 coefficient of friction of the permanent gases is approximately 

 proportional to the | power of that of the coercible gases, and to 

 the I power of the absolute temperature. — Researches on the 

 relations of nutritive matters to transpiration of plants (first part), 

 by M. Wiesner, Dilute acids accelerate, dilute alkalies retard, 

 the transpiration. Very dilute solutions of the salts that were 

 employed (005, o'l, o"2, 0'25 per cent,) accelerate the trans- 

 piration ; more concentrated solutions (o"5, i per cent.) retard 

 it. In solutions of nutritive matter, even with such a degree 

 of concentration as, where solutions of the separate salts were 

 used, accelerated the transpiration, the latter was less than in 

 distilled water. Aqueous humus extracts also diminish the trans- 

 piration. 



March 23, — On elevation of animal temperature after section 

 of the spinal cord, by M, Schroffi — New propositions of the 

 mechanical theory of heat (second part) ; on forces determining 

 the volume of bodies, by M. Puschl, Theory leads him to con- 

 clude, that at the end of a cycle-process in a body, not only the 

 heat, but also the other forms of force present and jointly deter- 

 mining its volume have done a positive or negative external 

 work. The results of Edlund's experiments on the heating of 

 contracting metallic wires are a first experimental proof of this 

 theoretical deduction. — On cethyl propylcarbinol, by M. Volker, 

 — On the ground-forms of linear geometry, by M. Frombeck. 



April 20. — The principle of dissimilar molecular states applied 

 in explanation of supersaturated solutions, superfused bodies, 

 retardation of boiling, spontaneous explosions, and crystallisation 

 of amorphous bodies, by M. Pfaundler. — The theoretical basis of 

 the Foucault pendulum experiment, by M. Pick. 



Geneva 



Physical and Natural History Society, May 4.— Prof. 

 F. A. Forel, of Morges, described the traces obtained by 

 him in his native town, situated on the north shore of the 

 Lake of Geneva, by means of a registering limnimetre. This 

 automatic apparatus indicates constantly the height of the 

 water of the lake on an endless paper band, which is unfolded 

 at a rate of about a millimetre per second, by means of clock- 

 work. By means of the tracings thus obtained may be inves- 

 tigated the oscillations of level known as seiches, M. Forel has 

 thus verified, in a very satisfactory manner, the theory which 

 maintains that these seiches are rhythmic isochronous movements, 

 waves of fixed oscillation (the stationary, mononodal waves of 

 Guthrie). lie proves ihat the water of lakes oscillates almost 

 constantly from one bank to the other, and that in two principal 

 directions, along the great axis and along the smaller diameter of 

 their surface. These two movements, which are often simul- 

 taneous, are what M, Forel calls longitudinal seiches (lasting for 

 seventy minutes on the Lake of Geneva) and transversal seiches 

 (ten minutes induration). The comparison of these tracings with 

 meteorological circumstances will show what relations exist be- 

 tween the movements of the seiches and the variation of atmo- 

 spheric pressure. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, Aug, 21, — Vice- Admiral Paris in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read : — Meridian observations 

 of small planets, made at the Observatory of Greenwich (sent by 

 the Astronomer-Royal, Sir G. B. Airy) and at the Paris Ob- 

 servatory, during the second trimestre of 1876, by M. Le Verrier, 

 — Theorems relating to curves of any order and class, in which 

 are considered couples of rectilinear segments having a constant 

 length ; examples of the variety of different solutions furnished, 

 in each question by the principle of correspondence, by M. 

 Chasles, — Thermal formation of hydroxy lamine or oxyammonia, 

 by M, Berthelot, Thermal observations confirm and define the 

 unstable properties of oxyammonia, an instability due to the 

 exothermal character of its different modes of decomposition, — 

 An effect of lightning during the storm of Aug, 18, by 

 M. Trecul, While writing at his open window between 

 even and eight a.m. he observed, simultaneously with some 



loud thunder, small luminous columns descending obliquely on 

 his paper ; about 2 metres long, 1 4 decimetre broad at the widest 

 part, obtuse at the further end, but gradually thinning towards 

 the table. They had mostly a reddish yellow tint ; near the 

 paper the colours were more intense and varied. In being extin- 

 guished, they left the paper with a slight noise like that made by 

 pouring a little water on a hot plate. M. Trecul felt no bad effects. — 

 Results obtained by the treatment of phylloxerised vines, by means 

 of sulpho-carbonates and the distributing pale, by M, AUibert. 

 — On the invasion of winged phylloxeras at Mancey (Saone-et- 

 Loire) on June 25. They deposit their pupaj in the down of the 

 leaves. Four or five could be counted on a single leaf. — Obser- 

 vations of the planet (165) Peters, made with the equatorial of 

 Paris Observatory, by MM. Paul and Prosper Plenry. — Observa- 

 tions of planet (165) at Leipsic, by M. Bruhns. — Discovery of 

 the planet (166) ; despatch from Mr. Joseph Henry, of Wash- 

 ington, to M. Le verrier. — Electric regulator to maintain the 

 motion of pendulum, by M. Bourbouze. To the upper pai-t of 

 the pendulum is fixed a magnetised bar which can oscillate 

 freely witliin a rectangular bobbin with two wires like that of a 

 galvanometer. At each oscillation a current of constant intensity 

 is passed into the bobbin, but alternately in different directions ; 

 and this maintains the motion. The reversal is effected by means 

 of a beam having at each of its ends a bridge which dips in two 

 cups containing mercury, — On chaplet (or beaded) flashes of 

 lightning, by M. Plante. This name is given to a phenomenon 

 observed in Paris on Aug. 18. The lightning, coming from the 

 cloud to the ground, described a curve like an elongated S, 

 having the aspect of a chaplet of brilliant grains along a very 

 thin luminous thread. This results from passage of the electric 

 fluid through a ponderable medium. The case is analogous to 

 that of the chaplet of incandescent globules presented by a long 

 metallic wire fused by a voltaic current, or to the swellings and 

 nodes in the flow of any liquid vein. Such agglomerations, 

 naturally, are dissipated more slowly than the line collect- 

 ing them. We have here a transition form of lightning 

 between that of the ordinary sinuous and straight lines and 

 the globular form. Fulminating globes may be considered as 

 derived from a chaplet flash. — On equivalent substitution of 

 mineral matters which enter into the composition of plants and 

 animals, by MM. Champion and Pellet. In the ashes of flesh 

 of different animals and hen's eggs the phosphoric acid is nearly 

 constant, as also the quantity of acid capable of saturating the bases. 

 With different compositions of ashes the weight of sulphuric acid 

 saturating the bases is higher the more there are of t)ases with 

 small fcquivalents. The ashes of veal contain more soda than 

 those of beef, so do those of hen's eggs and the adult hen. — On 

 the fermentation of urine ; reply to M. Pasteur, by Prof. Bastian. 

 M. Pasteur explains his negative result by the potash having been 

 heated to 110° C, Prof. Bastian only by the fact that the potash 

 has been added in excess. That all Bacteria germs are killed in 

 potash solutions heated to loo^ appears from two facts : (i) 

 boiled potash solution has not a fertilising influence if only two 

 or three drops of it be added to a demiUtre, at least, of boiled 

 urine ; (2) the boiled potash solution is also inactive if it be 

 introduced in strong enough proportion to render the boiled 

 urine a little alkaline. — Researches on the gases contained in 

 fruits of the bladder-nut tree, by MM. Saintpierre and Magnien. 

 — Observations of falling stars during the nights of August 9, 10, 

 and II, by M. Chapelas. 



CONTENTS Pagb 



Physical Science in Schools 3'^s 



Hanbury's Remains 366 



Dynamite _ 367 



Our Book Shblp : — ' "^ 



Telfer's " Crimea and Transcacsasia " ..•••>.... 368 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



The Basking hark.— Dr. Geo. J. Allm AN, F.R.S 368 



The Birds ot Kerguelen Island.— Rev. A. E. Eaton 369 



Antedated Books. — Another F.Z.S. , 369 



Earthquake in Nithsdale, Scotland. — James Shaw 369 



The Cuckoo.— E. H 369 



Abstract Report to "Nature" on Experimkntation on Ani- 

 mals FOR THE Advance of Practical Medicine, VII. By Dr. 



Benjamin W. Richardson, F.R.S 369 



Stanley's African Discoveries (J^«y/iY)/rt» 373 



CoFFiiE IN Ceylon. By The Rev. R. Abbay 375 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



61 Cygni 378 



Tuttle's Comet , , . , 378 



FitENCH Association for the Advancement of Science .... 379 



No«oenskiold's Expedition to Jenisej. By A. E. NordenskiOld 380 



Notes 380 



SciBKTiFic Serials s8z 



Societies AND Academies 383 



