6l2 



NATURE 



{Oct. 17, 1889 



Regions," lately published by the Meteorological Council 

 (see Nature, vol. xxxviii. p. 625). He fully recognizes the value 

 of this work, and the importance of a similar discussion of the 

 observations collected during later expeditions. Dr. J. M. 

 Pernter contributes an epitome of the Report of the Krakatab 

 Committee of the Royal Society. Among the smaller " com- 

 jnunications " may be mentioned (i) the description of a new 

 registering apparatus for rainfall and wind, with electrical con- 

 nections, in which the influence of the elements themselves is 

 made to move the paper form, and the clock to record the 

 indications, instead of the usual plan of the clock moving the 

 paper (the principles of such an instrument were also referred 

 to in the Zeitschrift fiir Instrumentenkunde, 1882, p. 206, and 

 1884, p. 300) ; (2) a note by Dr. Koppen, on the construction of 

 isobars reduced to the level of 2500 metres, instead of to sea- 

 level (the proposed plan is especially intended for use over 

 large areas, where the differences of pressure and the altitudes 

 of the stations are considerable, as, for instance, in Austria). 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, October 7. — M. Des Cloizeaux, 

 President, in the chair. — Complement to the theory of thin 

 weirs extending throughout the breadth of the bed of a water- 

 •course ; approximate calculation, for depressed sheets, of the 

 non-pressure at their lower face, according to the elevation of 

 the surface down-stream, by M. J. Boussinesq. — New observa- 

 tions on the reciprocal displacements between oxygen and the 

 halogens, by M. Berthelot. Fuming hydrochloric acid, in con- 

 tact with air, does not yield chlorine, even after prolonged 

 exposure to sunlight ; but the addition of certain metallic chlorides 

 (especially manganous chloride) causes it to react with oxygen, 

 forming chlorine and water. This change is due to the forma- 

 tion and decomposition of a perchloride of manganese. Its 

 b2aring on thermo-chemical theory is pointed out. — On Raffinose, 

 by the same. He describes a new hydrate, got by crystalliza- 

 tion from aqueous alcohol, the formula being CigHgjOjg . 6H2O 

 (the former one had SH.^O). Raffinose ferments wholly, with 

 good beer-yeast. But with weak baker's yeast, the process 

 stops, after forty-eight hours, when about a third has been 

 affected. The raffinose seems to be broken up into a glucose, 

 which ferments and disappears, leaving either a second sugar 

 of the saccharose family, with a certain reducing power, or a 

 mixture of two glucoses (one reducing). — Effects of an inter- 

 mittent .wind in soaring, by M. Marey. A ball let off at the 

 top of a board with sinuous profile, and descending series of 

 heights, surmounts all those heights by gravity. Let off from 

 the lowest height, it may be got back to the highest, if, each 

 time it is rising, the board be jerked horizontally in the oppo- 

 site direction. This experiment, suggested by M. Bazin, is 

 applied to the case of the bird ; an intermittent wind, acting 

 as the bird rises, may enable it to gain height after each descent. 

 (The movements of the ball M. Marey represents by photo- 

 chronography.) — On transformism in micro-biology ; limits, 

 conditions, and consequences of the variability of Bacillus an- 

 ■thracis ; researches on descendant or retrograde variability, 

 by M. A. Chauveau. By continuous action of compressed 

 oxygen on the Bacillus, one can obtain less and less resistant 

 races or types, especially sensitive to the action of the attenuating 

 agent, till at length they are found unable to vegetate in contact 

 with it. Up to this limit, however, the Bacillus is pathogenic. 

 It loses virulence, but keeps the vaccinal property throughout its 

 existence. These new characters may be easily maintained by 

 cultivation. And these special types of the Bacillus perhaps 

 •exist in nature. — On the invariants of certain differential equa- 

 tions and on their applications, by M. R. Liouville. — Determina- 

 tion of the difference of longitude between Paris and Madrid ; 

 an international research, carried out by MM. Esteban and Bassot. 

 In 1863, MM. Le Verrier and Aguilar determined this difference 

 indirectly, by measuring those between Paris and Biarritz, and 

 -Biarritz and Madrid. A direct determination was very desirable 

 for geodetic purposes ; and this, made with Brunner's portable 

 meridian circles, and comparison of pendulums by chrono- 

 graphic inscription of telegraph signals (without relays) yields 

 the value 24m. 6*oos. as against 24m. 6'o8s. (Le Verrier). — On 

 surfaces of which the ds"- may be brought in various ways to the 

 type of Liouville, by M. G. Koenigs. — Synthesis of some oxy- 

 genated selenium compounds, in the aromatic series, by M. C. 

 Chabrie. — Researches on fucusol, by M. Maquenne. Thi^ sub- 



stance, obtained by Stenhouse from seaweed, proves to be a 

 mixture of furfurol (10 parts) and methylfurfurol (i part) ; the 

 name should therefore be given up. — On the physiology of the 

 trachea, by M. Nicaise. In normal, calm respiration, the 

 trachea remains contracted, with unvarying diameter, the ends 

 of the rings nearly in contact, also the borders. In strong 

 respiration (shouting, singing, [&c.) the trachea dilates and 

 elongates in respiration, the larynx rising ; the reverse occurs in 

 inspiration. He succeeded in registering these rhythmic move- 

 ments. The dilatation is greatest at the upper part ; it is per- 

 mitted by the membranous portion, and is due to mechanical 

 pressure of air. Compression of air by the dilated trachea plays 

 an important part in singing, &c — On the pathology of nerve- 

 terminations of muscles of animals and of man, by MM. Babes 

 and Marinesco. By a new colouring method, they are able to 

 follow the minute structure, and its alterations in atrophy, hyper- 

 trophy, segmentation, &c. — On a new Proteromonas, by M. J. 

 Kunstler. This, found in the gray lizard of Gascony, is of S 

 shape, and has a very long flagellum, two to five times as long 

 as the body, starting usually from a globular enlargement. The 

 name proposed is P. dolichomastix. — On the presence of pectic 

 compounds in plants, by M. L. Mangin. These substances, he 

 finds, play an important, if not preponderating role in the forma- 

 tion and growth of membrane ; and he indicates methods of 

 detecting their presence. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



The Habits of the Salmon : J. P. Traherne (Chapman and Hall). — On 

 the Creation and Physical Structure of the Earth : J. T. Harrison (Long- 

 mans).— The Bermuda Islands: A. Heilprin (Philadcipliia). — The Flora of 

 Suffolk: W. M. Hind (Gurney and Jackson).— Steam-Engine Design : J. M. 

 Whitham (Macmillan). — A Text-b )ok on Steam and bteam-Engines, 5th 

 edition : Prof. Jamieson (Griffin). — English Idyls : P. H. Emerson (Low). — 

 Coloured Analytical Tables: H. W. Hake (Philip).— Manual of Orchid- 

 aceous Plants, Part s : Masdevallia (Veitch). — A Life of John Davis, the 

 Navigator :C. R. Markham (Pnilip).— The Science of Rights: J. G. 

 Fichte ; translated by A. E. Kroeger Triibner). — The Science of Know- 

 ledge : J. G. Fichte ; translated by A. E. Kroeger (Triibner).— Chambers's 

 Encyclopedia, new edition, vol. iv. (Chambers). — Wayside Sketches : F. E. 

 Hulme (S.P.C.K ).-Diseases of Plants : H. M. Ward (S.P.C.K.).— The 

 Zoo, 2nd series : Rev. J. G. Wood (S.P.C.K.)-The Story of a Tinder-box : 

 C. M. Tidy (S.P.C.K.)— Time and Tide : Sir R. S. Ball (S.P.C.K.) 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Elementary Teaching of Science. By W. R. D. 589 

 Correspondence of Christian Huygens. By A. M. 



Clerke 591 



The Anatomy of the Humpback Whale 592 



Our Book Shelf:— 



" First Mathematical Course " 592 



Hunter : " Key to Todhanter's Integral Calculus " . 593 

 Sinclair : " The Hand-book of Jamaica for 1889-90 " 593 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



The Method of Quarter- Squares.— Prof. G. Carey 



Foster, F.R.S 593 



Marine Biological Association.— S. F. Harmer . . . 593 

 Section Work at the British Association. — Prof. 



Oliver J. Lodge, F.R.S 593 



Anthropometric Measurements at Cambridge. — H. 



J. P 593 



Glories.— James C. McConnel 594 



Fine Slow-moving Meteor.— W. F. Denning ... 594 



A Brilliant Meteor.— W. Hugo 594 



The Shining Night-Clouds— An Appeal for Observa- 

 tions.— T. W. Backhouse 594 



Notes 594 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Astronomical Observatories 597 



A Spectroscopic Survey of Southern Stars 59J 



The Astro-photographic Conference 591 



International Congress on Celestial Photography . . 59| 

 Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1889 



October 20-26 59? 



Geographical Notes 59° 



The Teaching of Science ... 599 



The Geological Papers at the British Association , 608 

 The Biological Papers at the British Association . 609 



University and Educational Intelligence 611 



Scientific Serials 611 



Societies and Academies 6i^ 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 6m 



