236 



NATURE 



\_7an, 9, 1879 



the chitine, vhich comprised the horny external portion of the 

 bodies of insects had been shown by analysis to contain about 

 6 per cent, of nitrogen ; and as regards phosphates, Mr. Wm. 

 Cole had burned some insects and found phosphoric acid in the 

 ash. — Mr. Waterhouse forwarded for exhibition a living Cnrailio, 

 found in an orchid house at Windsor, which was identified as 

 one of the Calatidridce. — The Secretary read the report of the 

 sub-committee appointed to consider the communication from 

 the Board of Trade regarding the ravages of Anisoplia anstriaca 

 at Taganrog. — Mr. Butler communicated a paper on a collection 

 of Lepidoptera from Cachar, North-east India. 



Photographic Society, December 10, 1878. — ^James Glaisher, 

 F.R.S., in the chair. — Papers were read, by Henry Cooper on 

 a really reliable dry-plate process, by L. Warnerke on a case of 

 the destruction of the latent image on washed emulsion, and its 

 restoration, by W. Willis, jun., notes on the platinotype process, 

 and by Edwin Cocking on the subjective and objective of pic- 

 torial photography. — Mr. Willis, in demonstrating his new 

 platinum process, stated that ferric oxalate is sensitive to light, 

 and then becomes ferrous oxalate ; this, when dissolved in a hot 

 solution of potassic oxalate, reduces the metal from chlorides 

 and other salts of platinum. A sheet of paper is coated with a 

 solution of ferric oxalate and potassic chloro-platinite, and 

 then exposed to light under a negative ; this produces a visible 

 brownish ferrous image ; it is then floated for a few seconds 

 upon a hot solution of potassic oxalate and potassic chloro- 

 platinite, the ferrous image becomes dissolved, and the com- 

 bination thus formed reduces the platinum salt and forms the 

 ultimate picture in metallic platinum. 



Vienna 



Imperial Academy of Sciences, November 14, 1878. — 

 The following among other papers were read : — On a meteoric 

 stone which fell at Dhulia, Hindostan, in November, 1877, by 

 Dr. Brezina. 



November 21, 1878. — On the behaviour of halogen deriva- 

 tives of aromatic bodies towards water and lead oxide, by Pro- 

 sessors Lippmann and Schmidt. — On the Clintonite group, by 

 Prof. Tschermak and Herr Siporz. — On the meteorite fall of 

 Tieschitz, by Prof. Tschermak. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, December 30, 1878. — M. Fizeau in 

 the chair. — The following papers were read : — Reply to M. 

 Berthelot, by M. Pasteur. M. Trecul made some observations 

 on the subject. — Borings undertaken by M. Roudaire, in view of 

 the formation of an interior African sea, by M. de Lesseps. M. 

 Roudaire writes on December 11, 1878, that having reached a 

 depth of 18 metres, nothing but sand and water had been met 

 with (no rocks). An explanation is offered of the exceptional 

 tide of 2"5om. in the Gulf of Gabes. — M. Daubree presented a 

 map of the itinerary of Prof. Nordenskjold in the glacial sea of 

 Siberia, from August 7 to 27 last. — M. Cahours presented the 

 three first vols, of tlie fourth edition of his treatise on general 

 elementary chemistry. He indicates the additions and alterations 

 made. — Report on the diplograph of M. Recordon, and his 

 apparatus for use of the blind. This diplograph enables the 

 blind person to produce ordinary writing and a seeing person to 

 produce mechanically the characters the blind person can under- 

 stand. It consists chiefly of two discs carrying respectively the 

 signs and characters, and which are simultaneously applied 

 to two sheets of paper, impressing the letter recognised by touch 

 or by sight. M. Recordon is making a musical diplograph.-— 

 Harmotome and stilbite, by M. Gaudin. This is a study in 

 atomic composition and arrangement (the two minerals contain 1 79 

 and 175 atoms respectively). — On electrochemical actions under 

 pressure, by M. Bouvet. The decomposition of water by a current 

 is independent of pressure. The quantity of electricity neces- 

 sary to decompose a given weight of water is sensibly the same, 

 whatever the pressure at which decomposition occurs. Oxygen 

 and hydrogen, whatever the pressure, are liberated with equal 

 facility, and there are no secondary phenomena causing recom- 

 pasition, &c. — On the decomposition, at ordinary temperature, 

 of an alkaline silicate by a salt of alumina (artificial hydro phane), 

 by M. Monnier. — Determination, by M. Eylden's method, of 

 the motion of the planet 103 Hera, by M. Callandreau. — On an 

 interpretation of the imaginary values of time in mechanics, by 

 M. Appell. — On an intuitive law according to which is distri- 

 buted the weight of a solid circular disc, supported by an elastic 

 horizontal base, by M. Boussinesq. The charge supported by 

 each element of the base is that which would be directly over 

 this element if we supposed the total charge distributed uni- 



formly over the convex surface of a hemisphere, having the same 

 base as the disc. — M. Joubert acknowledged M. Bccquerel's 

 priority in the experiment of magnetic rotation of the plane of 

 polarisation under the earth's influence. The account had 

 escaped his notice. — On a very precise way of observing the 

 contact between the mercury and the ivory point in the basin in 

 Fortin's barometer, by M, Goulier. The author has adopted a 

 method similar to that indicated- by M. Le Chatelier many years 

 ago. — On the use of the telephone and microphone for scientific 

 researches, by M. Hughes. This shows how delicate a means of 

 observation these two instruments afford in researches relating to 

 very weak currents, such as those from movement of a magnet 

 before a helix. Several experiments are detailed. — On a new 

 electric lamp, by M. Ducretet. The chief feature of this is the 

 use of a column of mercury in which are immersed one or several 

 crayons ; the difference of density produces a thrust, which brings 

 the crayons constantly and regularly to their point of application in 

 proportion as they are consumed. One part of them becomes incan- 

 descent. An equal resistance in the circuit is insured, whatever the 

 length and consumption of the crayons. — On the existence and con- 

 ditions of formation of oxide of nickel, Ni304, by M. Baubigny. 

 — On the nitrates found in beets and some other roots, by M. 

 Barral. The greatest quantity of nitre per cent, of dry matter is 

 found in the largest beets, and also in those that have least sugar. 

 Beet is thus often given injuriously to cattle. In carrots, potatoes, 

 and hay, i cc.(at the most) of bioxide of nitrogen was got in treating 

 5 to 10 grammes of dry matter, whereas for various beets the quan- 

 tity never came below 14 cc. — Inertia of derivatives of chromium 

 compared with the action of vanadium on salts of aniline in 

 presence of chlorates in printing with aniline black, by M. Witz. 

 — Analysis of raw sugars and saccharine matters ; determination 

 of water and all salts with mineral bases and organic acids, by 

 M. Laugier. — On the harmlessness of borax in conservation of 

 meat, by M. de Cyon. In M. Jourdes' process the borax is 

 sprinkled lightly on the surface, and the meat retains its nutri- 

 tive value. Prof. Panum, of Copenhagen, has proved the 

 innocuity of borax and boric acid in meat-preserving. — Re- 

 searches on the physiological action of mati, by M. Couty. It 

 excites only, or at least primarily, the sympathetic system in 

 those organs that are most independent of the nerve-centres ; 

 such as the intestines, the bladder, the accelerating nerves of the 

 heart. — Poison of serpents, by M. Lacerda. The poison of 

 certain serpents contains figured ferments showing remarkable 

 analogies to bacteria. — On the function of chlorophyll in green 

 Planaria, by M. Geddes. The gases they give off" in simlight 

 contain 45 to 55 per cent, of oxygen, the rest nitrogeii; hardly 

 any carbonic acid. — Geological observations on Majorca and 

 Minorca, by M. Hermite. 



CONTENTS Page 



American Surveys and Explorations. By Prof. Arch. Geikie, 



F.R.S 213 



Kerner's " Flowers and their Unbidden Guests." By Alfred 



W. Bennett 214 



Flammarion on Double Stars 216 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Brown's " Mollusca of the Fith of Clyde ; being a Catalogue of 



Recent Marine Species found in that Estuary " . . . . . 217 

 Beerbohm's "Wanderings in Patagonia; or, Life among the 



Ostrich Hunters " 217 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Tempel's Comet— W. J. Stillman 217 



The Cosine Galvanometer. — Prof. Edward C. Pickering . . . 217 



Force and Energy, II. — Robert H. Smith 217 



The Unseen Universe — Paradoxical Philosophy. — W. A. T. Hal- 



LOWES 220 



Atmospheric Electricity. G. M. Whipple 220 



Electncal Phenomenon.— W. S. Grben 220 



Time and Longitude.— Latimer Clark 220 



Magnetic Storm of May 14, 15.— Rev. S. J. Perry, F.R.S. ... 220 



Blowpipe Experiment. — Lieut. -Col. W. A. Ross 220 



Observations on the Microphone. — Dr. L. Bleekrodk .... 221 

 Shakespeare's Colour-Names.— A. Ceaig-Christie ; Robert 



Bkewtn 221 



The Meteor Shower of January 2.— W. F. Denning 221 



Our Astkonojuical Column :— 



Missing Nebulae 221 



Geographical Notes 222 



The Musical Association. By Dr. W. Pole, F.R.S 223 



Discussion of the Working Hypothesis that the so-called 

 Elements are Compound Bodies, XL By J. Norman Lockyer, 



V.K.S. ItVtth lUustratitns) 225 



Experiments in Electric Lighting 230 



Notes • ^3' 



Further Researches on the Scintillation of Stars .... 233 



Notes from New Zealand 234 



University and Educational Intelligence 234 



Scientific S>ekials 234 



SociKTiKS AND Academies "35 



