528 



NATURE 



\April T^, i8co 



the superior mesenteric series. Discussing the morphology of the 

 intestine and its derivates, the author defined the large intestine 

 of the Pisces more precisely than had hitherto been done, and 

 showed that the appendix digitiformis of the Elasmobranchs 

 must be regarded as homologous with the appendix vermiformis 

 of mammals, and that a short caecum coli is present at any rate 

 in the Batoidei. The anatomical relationships of the appendix 

 digitiformis were described in certain Elasmobranchs for the 

 first time, and some notes were added upon the caecum and 

 large intestine among Teleosteans. — An interesting paper was 

 then read by Mr. R. A. Grimshaw, on heredity and sex in the 

 honey-bee. 



Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, March 24, — M. Hermite in the 

 chair. — M. Mascart presented a note on a direct reading trans- 

 mission dynamometer with a photographic registering arrange- 

 ment, and also one on the Observatory at Tananarivo, setting 

 forth some of the meteorological work to be undertaken in this 

 new Observatory. — M. Berthelot, in a paper on the condensa- 

 tion of carbonic oxide, and on the penetrability of glass by 

 water, says that he has been unable to obtain evidence of the 

 transmission of water through glass under the influence of the 

 silent discharge, and finds that the carbonic oxide is truly con- 

 densed into a body which rapidly takes up moisture from the 

 air. — Underagricultural chemistry, M. Th. Schloesing makes some 

 remarks relative to the subject of M. Berthelot's observations on 

 the reactions between soils and atmospheric ammonia, and 

 discusses the differences of opinion existing between them. — 

 M. L. Ranvier, in microscopical observations of the contraction 

 of living muscular fibres striated and unstriated, has contrived a 

 method by which muscles may be excited whilst being viewed 

 under a microscope, and from comparative observations of mus- 

 cular elements in repose and contracted, finds that the homo- 

 geneous period and the inversion imagined by Merckel does 

 not exist. — On the regulation of the motion of governors by an 

 auxiliary dynamo, by M. A. I^edieu. — On the Cretaceous Echino- 

 dermata of Mexico, by M. Cotteau. Descriptions are given of 

 six specimens received from Mexico. The specimens are inter- 

 esting both from a zoological and geological point of view, since 

 they determine the age of the strata in which they were found. — 

 In studies on the capture theory of periodic comets, M. O. 

 Callandreau extends the elaborate work done by M. Tisserand 

 on the same subject. — On the discovery of a remarkable trans- 

 cendental function, by M. Fredholm. — On the invariants of 

 a class of equations of the first order, by M. Z. Elliot. — 

 Relation between the volume, the pressure, and the temperature 

 of different vapours, by M. Ch. Antoine. — Comparative study 

 of specific inductive power, and of the conductibility of spaces 

 filled with rarefied air, by M. James Moser. From the study of 

 these properties with spaces containing air in three states of 

 rarefaction — namely, (i)at a pressure of 10 mm. of mercury, (2) at 

 I mm. pressure, (3) with an extreme vacuum — the author deduces 

 that while the conductibility varies the specific inductive power 

 remains constant. — Electrolysis of a mixture of two salts in 

 aqueous solution, note by M. L. BouUevigne. Using a mixture 

 of Zn and Cu salts, it is found that the composition of the brass 

 deposited varies rapidly with the intensity of the current em- 

 ployed, contrary to Buffs law. Considering the variation to i 

 be due to the chemical action of the sulphate of copper upon the ! 

 zinc in the alloy deposited, and that the amount of this action I 

 is proportional to the time, an expression is found which allows 

 the composition of the alloy obtained with any given intensity 

 to be calculated with a fair degree of accuracy as tested by 

 experimental results. — A new method of preparation of 

 betaines, by M. E. Duvillier. The author uses a reaction 

 similar to that by means of which M. Schiitzenberger 

 obtained the leucines synthetically ; an ethereal iodide is 

 caused to act upon the zinc salt of an amide acid in the 

 presence of zinc oxide. — Titration of acetone by the iodoform 

 reaction, by M. G. Arachequesne. — On callose, a new funda- 

 mental substance existing in cell membranes, by M. Louis Mangin, 

 — The estimation of fatty matter in milk, by M. Leze. 100 parts 

 of milk are heated in a flask with a graduated neck till the mix- 

 ture becomes brown, ammonia is added till the whole becomes 

 clear, the fatty matter rising to the top and its volume being 

 read off on the graduated neck. — On new forms of crystallized 

 silica, note by MM. Michel-Levy and Munier-Chalmas. — The 

 solubility of some substances in sea-water, by M. J. Thoulet. — 

 On the development of siliceous sponges and the homologation 



of leaflets among the sponges, by M. Yves Delage.— On the 

 physiological mechanism of hatching, sloughing, and meta- 

 morphosis among Orthopterous insects of the Acridean family, 

 by M. J. Kunckel d'Herculais,— On the great sand dunes of the 

 Sahara, note by M. G. Rolland. — On the gypseous formations 

 of the Paris basin, and on the siliceous deposits which have 

 replaced the gypsum, by M. Munier-Chalmas.— On the physio- 

 logical action of arsenietted hydrogen, by MM. F. Joly and B. 

 de Nabias. — On the diarrhoeic action of cholera cultures, by M. 

 N. Gamaleia. — On the vibration of the earth at Chung-Hai and 

 the movements of the compass at Zi-Ka-Wei during this vibra- 

 tion, by M. Chevalier. It is remarked from observations that 

 the vibrations of the earth are unaccompanied by magnetic 

 disturbances. 



Berlin. 



Physiological Society, March 14.— Prof, du Bois-Reymond, 

 President, in the chair. — Dr. Heymans spoke on myelin, giving 

 a concise account of the numerous chemical and scanty micro- 

 scopical investigations of what Virchow had designated as myelin- 

 formations in peripheral nerves. From a chemical point of view 

 the controversy had turned chiefly upon the existence or non- 

 existence of Liebreich's protagon. The speaker had made in- 

 vestigations on frogs' nerves, from which he concluded that both 

 protagon and lecithin are present in them, and that myelin- 

 formations are due to imbibition, with simultaneous production 

 of an external membrane. — Dr. Goldscheider gave an account of 

 his researches on the sensitiveness of the articular surfaces of 

 joints, based upon experiments on the tibial and metatarsal joints 

 in rabbits. It appeared that the sensitiveness was dependent not 

 so"much upon the irritability of the surfaces of the joints, as of that 

 of the epiphyses. The greatest effect was produced by direct 

 stimulation of the marrow of the respective bones, while stimula- 

 tion of the compact bone-substance showed that this was quite 

 insensitive. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Technical Education in the Code 505 



The Cave Fauna of North America. By R. T. G. . 507 



Linear Differential Equations 508 



The Bacteria of Asiatic Cholera 509 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Barillot : " Manuel de 1' Analyse des Vins " .... 510 

 Leaper : ' ' Synoptical Tables of Organic and Inorganic 



Chemistry" 510 



Taylor : " The British Journal Photographic Almanac, 



1890 " 510 



Bottomley : " Four-Figure Mathematical Tables " . . 510 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Panmixia. — Herbert Spencer ; Prof. George J. 



Romanes, F.R.S 511 



The Spectrum of Subchloride of Copper. — Prof. A. 



S. Herschel, F.R.S 513 



Brush-Turkeys on the Smaller Islands North of 



Celebes. — Dr. A. B. Meyer 514 



Crystals of Lime.— H. A. Miers 515 



Foreign Substances attached to Crabs. — Ernest W. 



L. Holt • . . . 515 



Wimshurst Machine and Hertz's Vibrator. — T. A. 



Garrett and W. Lucas 515 



The Institution of Naval Architects 515 



Bourdon's Pressure Gauge. {Illustrated.) By Prof, 



A, G. Greenhill, F.R.S 517 



Notes 518 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Objects for the Spectroscope. — A, Fowler 521 : 



The Great Comet of 1882 522 | 



Melbourne Star Catalogue 522 | 



Comet a 1890 522! 



Discovery of Asteroids 5 ^2 ^ 



Solar Activity in 1889 522 



The Glow of Phosphorus. By Prof, T. E. Thorpe, 



F.R.S 523 



"Before and after Darwin," By Prof. G. J. Ro- j 



manes, F.R.S 524 | 



Scientific Serials 525 



Societies and Academies 525 1 



