120 



NATURE 



{Feb. 17, 1876 



hydraziue combined with two IICl : C2H5NH— NII2.2HCI.— 

 R. Benedich has introduced into pyrogallol both one and two 

 molecules of ethyl, obtaining pyrogallic ethers by heating pyro- 

 gallol with ethyl-sulphate of potassium and caustic potash in 

 closed vessels. — P. Marquart proves that commercial nitric acid 

 contains iodine, and thinks that the violet reaction of sulphuret 

 of carbon observed by Dr. Friedburg may be owing to this 

 element. The latter chemist contradicts tliis supposition. — O. 

 Dobner has transformed diphenyl-sulphurous acid (€^114)280.111 

 into a piphenol (CbHj).^ (OH).^, a dicarbonic acid (C6ll4)2(C02H)2, 

 and a dichloride (CgH4)2Cl2. The latter by oxidation passes into 

 dichlorobenzoic acid, thus proving that the two atoms of chlorine, 

 &c., are contained in the same C,5H4 group. — R. Meyer has 

 transformed aniline-salts into aniline-black by treating them with 

 permanganate of potassium. — P. Claessen recommends hydrate 

 of baryta, prepared in a peculiar manner, for absorbing carbonic 

 anhydride in quantitative analysis ; separated by cotton-wool, 

 some chloride of calcium is put into the tube to keep back the 

 water discharged in the process. Numerous analyses prove its 

 exactness. — T. Griess has treated nitrate of diazobenzol with 

 ferrocyanide of potassium, transforming it thereby by reduction 

 into a new substance, C18H14N2 = (CgH5N).2CgH4, and into 

 azobenzol. This interesting discovery is most likely already 

 known to English chemists. 



Stockholm 

 Academy of Sciences, Jan. 12. — The Academy approved 

 a report by a Committee, consisting of Herr Edlund and 

 Rubenson, appointed to consider a proposal by the Board of 

 Woods for establishing meteorological stations for the purpose 

 of scientific arboricultiue. — Heir Nordenskjold gave a sketch of 

 the scientific results of last summer's expedition to the Jenesei. 

 — Herr Edlund communicated a paper entitled "Some Re- 

 marks on Galvanic Expansion," in which he gave a theoreti- 

 cal explanation of the fact discovered by him some years 

 ago, that a metal wire, through which a galvanic current passes, 

 expands to a greater extent than corresponds to the heating 

 caused by the cunent. He then exhibited a specimen of the 

 newly-published Tables of Logarithms, which had been calcu- 

 lated and printed by the calculating machine invented by Dr. 

 Wiberg. — Herr Andersson gave an account of the contents of a 

 report by Herr J. E. Zetterstedt, of a journey he had under- 

 taken last summer, with a grant from the Academy, for the pur- 

 pose of examining the flora, and especially the mosses, of the 

 Silurian formation of Wester Gotland. — The following papers 

 were given in for insertion in the Academy's publications :— 

 Contributions to the actinology of the Atlantic Ocean, by Dr. 

 G. Lindstrom ; Examinations of the nucleus, and the parts 

 nearest to it, of the Comet of 1874, by Dr. N. C. Duner, of the 

 University of Lvmd ; On Arionids and Limacinids in the zoolo- 

 gical department of Riks Museum, by the Intendent A. W. 

 Slalm ; Remarks on the fossil flora of Bjuf, in Scania, by Dr. 

 A. G. Nathorst. From the results of preliminary researches, 

 the author concludes that the deposit must belong to the Rhsetic 

 formation, as it contains Palissya Brauiiii, Endl., Tceriopteris 

 temiinervis, Brauns., Pterophylium aaitninatum, &c. He gives 

 short notes on most of the species found, of which some have 

 not hitherto been described. The locality has only two or three 

 species in common with the flora at Polsjo, formerly described 

 by the auihor, and he thinks that the fossUiferous beds at Bjuf 

 represent a lower level, and most closely resemble those of 

 Seinstedt. — On the reciprocal lines of force, by Dr. C. F. E. 

 Bjorling, of Lund University.;; 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, Feb. 7. — M. Peligot in the chair. — 

 The following papers were read : — On the chemical action pro- 

 duced by means of the discharges of an induction apparatus, by 

 M. Becquerel. The effects are more marked than with the 

 ordinary machine. With only two or four chromic acid couples, 

 M. Becquerel obtained the reduction of copper, nickel, cobalt, 

 &c. , from paper moistened with their solutions. He also forms 

 amalgams, following Davy's method. — Note on the metallic 

 reductions produced in capillary spaces, by M. Becquerel. In 

 organic nature, electro-capillary effects doubtless occur on rupture 

 of vessels, e.g. oi a vessel traversing a muscle. Here the blood 

 is diffused and a coagulum is formed, which is in contact, on the 

 one hand, with the blood ; on the other, with the liquid moisten- 

 ing the muscle ; hence a reducing or oxidising action, and the 

 products formed may concur in closing of the aperture. M. 

 Becquerel also explains the chemical reactions in capillary spaces 

 when a voltaic couple is added. — On the formation of ethers, by 



M. Bcrthelot. He here studies ethyloxalic, methyloxalic, 

 acetic, and nitric ethers. — Report on a memoir of M. Peau- 

 cellier relating to the conditions of stabihty of arches. — 

 Memoir on approximation of the functions of very large 

 numbers, and on an extensive class of developments in series 

 (first part), by M. Darboux. — New geometrical properties 

 of the surface of the wave, which are interpreted by optics, by 

 M. Mannheim. — On left curves of the fourth order, by M. 

 Serret. — On the tunnelling operations in Mount Saint Gothard 

 (continued), by M. Colladon. The compressing pumps em- 

 ployed give double the effect of those used in Cenis, and are 

 only half the cost, while they occupy, with their motors, six or 

 seven times less space. P'our turbines at Goschenen and 

 Airolo work twelve pumps, and the air obtained at pressure of 

 eight atmospheres is 1,000 cubic metres 'per hour. The pumps 

 give 200 strokes per minute, night and day. The boring 

 machines used are those of Dubois and Fran9ois, Ferroux, 

 MacKean, and Turrettini. — On the repartition of solar radiation at 

 Montpellier during the year 1875, by M. Crova. The intensity 

 of radiation is shown to reach maxima in spring and winter, and 

 the coefficient of transmissibility in Herault, is found very con- 

 siderable, exceeding sometimes O'So when the thickness already 

 traversed is equal to 2. — On a new chloruretted propylene, by 

 M. Reboul. — On difficulties connected with the preparation of 

 pure aniline, by M. Rozenstiehl. — On the products of the action of 

 chloride oflime on amines, by M. Tscherniak. — On granular con- 

 junctivitis ; resume of two missions having for object the study of 

 diseases of the eye in Algeria, by M. Gayal. The disease named is 

 endemic in the region of the Tell and of Sahara. It is often deve- 

 loped through contagion with the secretion ; and among local causes 

 are the hot winds charged with sand, the solar reverberation, and 

 the difference of temperature between day and night. — Crystal- 

 lisation of meteoric waters, by M. Tissandier. In a drop of snow- 

 water evaporated, a number of cross or dagger-shaped crystals 

 are had ; the form often taken by nitrate of ammonia in 

 meteoric water. M. Tissandier tried in vain to reproduce such 

 crystallisation artificially from dilute solutions of nitrate of am- 

 monia ; he always got crystals ramifying about a median line. 

 He attributes the other form to presence of organic matters. — 

 On the traces of dislocation presented by the tertiary formation 

 in the valley of the Oise. 



BOOKS RECEIVED 



British. — Dr. Dobell's Reports on Dibeases of the Chest. Vol. 1 , 1875 

 (Smith, Elder & Co.)— The Theory of Screws : Dr.R. S.Bali, F.R.S. (Hodges, 

 Foster, and Co., Dublin). — Lessons from Nature : St. George Mivart, F R.S. 

 (John Murray). — Royle's Materia Medica. 6th edition. Edited by Dr. 

 Harley (Churchill). — Cattle and Cattle-Breeding : Wm. M'Coombie, M.P. 

 (Blackwood and Sons). — Excavations at the Kesslerloch : Conrad Merk 

 (Longmans). — Marsden's International Numismata Orientalia : Part IL 

 (Triibner and Co.) — The Native Races of the Pacific States of North Ame- 

 Vol. V. : H. H. Bancroft (Longmans). — Reliquiae Aquitanicse : LarteC 



and Christie (Williams and Norgate). 



CONTENTS Pagb 



The Lisbon Magnetic Observations. By John Allan Broun, 



F.R.S _ 301 



Marsden's "Numismata Orientalia" 302 



Van Beneden's " Animal Parasites." By Dr. T. S. Cobbold, 



K.R.S 303 



Our Book Shelf : — 



"The Scholar's Algebra" 304 



Lbttkrs to the Editor : — 



Fritz Miiller on Brazil Kitchen Middens, Habits of Ants, &c. — 



Fritz Muller 304 



Prof. Tyndall on Germs.— Prof. John Tyndall, F\R.S. ; L. 



Pasteur 305 



The Evolution of Haemoglobin. — H. C. Sorby, F.R.S 306 



The Flame of Common Salt. — Dr. Arthur Schuster .... 306 



Science at Hastings —Arthur Ransom 306 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Variable Star R. Leporis 306 



Saturn's Rings 307 



The Minor Planet,"' Hilda (No. 153) 307 



The Total Solar Eclipse of 1706, May 11-12 . 307 



HuNTERiAN Lectures on the Relation of Extinct to Existing 



Ma.mmalia, I. By Prof. Flowers, F.R.S 307 



Madagascar 308 



Science and Art in Ireland 3*9 



Miniature Physical Geography (fFiM ///«i/ra//<w«) 3«o 



Physical Science IN Schools. Dy Dr. N. Marshall Watts . . 311 



Prof. Max Muller 312 



Prof. Nordenskjold on the Jeniiei. By Prof. A. E. Nordensk- 

 jold 3'2 



On the Spectrum of Nitrogen and that or Alkaline Metals 



IN Geissler Tubes. By M. Salet 314 



Notes . 3'4 



Scientific Serials 3'7 



Societies AND Academ IBS » . . 317 



Books Received , 32^ 



