536 



NATURE 



{Sept. 12, 1878 



in Lehio-h. University, Bethlehem, Penn., and enters' upon his 

 duties there at the beginning of the September term. 



We noticed recently the death of Prof. Behn, president of 

 the Kaiserliche Leopoldina- Carolina Deutsche Akademie der 

 Naturforscher. The Academy has chosen as his successor for a 

 term of ten years. Prof. H. Knoblauch, of Halle, well known 

 by his researches on light. With this new election, the head- 

 quarters of the Academy are changed from Dresden to Halle. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



American Journal of Science and Arts, July. — In his ninth 

 paper of "Contributions to Meteorology" (based chiefly on 

 observations of the U.S. signal service). Prof. Loomis shows, 

 inter alia, that barometric waves often travel from the Pacific 

 Coast across the Rocky Mountains (10,000 feet) and reach the 

 Mississippi valley with but little modification. Areas of 

 unusually high pressure in their course eastwards are generally 

 accompanied by areas of low pressure both on the east and west 

 sides, and at an average distance of about 1,200 miles._ When 

 a centre of low pi-essure has passed the wind sets in with force 

 from the north, and being deflected westwards by the earth pro- 

 duces condensation there. Again, it is shown that an area of 

 low barometer in Ireland is usually accompanied by one of high 

 barometer in Southern or South-eastern Europe, and that 

 during the colder months Vienna is generally near the centre of 

 this high area, which is replenished by air rising from the area 

 of low pressure. — Mr. Goldmark finds, from experiment, that a 

 rise in temperature produces a slight but constant increase in the 

 electric potential of the air. — A new and remarkable mineral 

 locality (for manganesian phosphates) in Fairfield County, Con- 

 necticut, is described by Messrs. Brush and Ed. Dana. No less 

 than six new and well-defined species have been got from it, 

 besides many other known but rare species. All the minerals 

 are obtained from veins of albitic granite. — Prof. Mayer claims 

 independent invention of the sound-mill (lately described by M. 

 Drorak) ; Mr. Chester describes some artificial crystals of gold 

 and gold amalgam, and Prof. Rood suggests a form of tele- 

 phonic relay. 



August.— This opens with the first portion of an interesting 

 lecture by Prof. Asa Gray on " Forest Geography and Archae- 

 ology." The forest production of America is sketched and 

 considered in its relation to climatic conditions. — Prof, Leconte 

 gives an account of the structure and origin of mountains, and 

 answers some recent objections to the " contractional theory." — 

 The presence of a solid hydrocarbon in the trap-rocks of New 

 Jersey Mr. Russell accounts for by infiltration of petroleum into 

 cavities and subsequent evaporation and (to some extent) 

 oxidation. — Prof. Trouvelot gives an account of his observations 

 of the recent transit of Mercury at Cambridge, Mass. Among 

 other points noted are the luminous ring round Mercury observed 

 distinctly for more than two hours, and the rounding off of the 

 angles formed by the sun's limb with Mercury after internal 

 contact, a phenomenon of the same nature as the black drop 

 (which was not seen). — Prof. Peters indicates the position of the 

 new planet he discovered lately. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



Geneva 



Physical and Natural History Society, June 6. — Prof. 

 F. A. Forel, wishing to explain the action of the seiches of 

 the Lake of Geneva, seeks to establish the effects of storms, 

 which often coincide with marked oscillation of the fluid 

 mass. He is still continuing his investigations. — Prof. Schift 

 described his researches on the alterations which the blood under- 

 goes in consequence of a momentary arrest of the circulation. — 

 k. Phil. Plantamour has studied periodical displacements in the 

 air -bulb of improved levels manufactured at Geneva and placed 

 in the cellar of his house. At certain times there is shown 

 a slow change towards the east, without sensible return towards 

 the west ; at other times the immobility is complete. The maxi- 

 mum of eastern elevation takes place sometimes towards 5 p.m., 

 at other times sooner, towards mid-day, with oscillations the 

 amplitude of which does not exceed seventeen seconds. 



July 4. — M. Eug. Demole presented phenomena of oxidation 

 produced by the free oxygen of the air. Thus the case was 

 presented of dibromic ethylene. — Prof. Forel, by increasing the 

 rate of the unrolling of the paper of his limnograph, has attained 



interesting traces corresponding to the perpetual oscillations of 

 the level of the Lake of Geneva. These oscillations vary from 

 half a minute to two or three minutes in maximum, correspond- 

 ing neither with the duration of the waves nor with those of 

 the seiches. They vary notably in intensity Avith the agitation 

 of the lake by the v.ind or by a steamer, but their cause is yet 

 totally unknown. 



Vienna 

 Imperial Academy of Sciences, July 11. — The following 

 among other papers were read : — On the nature of galvanic 

 polarisation, by Dr. Exner. — Optical investigation of spark- 

 waves, by Prof. Mach and Dr. Gruss. — On the optical pro- 

 perties of soot, by Dr. Rosicky. — Researches on the origination 

 of chlorophyll-granules, by Dr. Mikosch. — On two new isomeric 

 cyanide acids, by Herr Herzig. — On the elastic reaction in glaf s, 

 by Herr Klemencie. — On the composition of cinchonin, and on its 

 oxidation products, by Dr. Strauss. — Action of oxidising agents 

 on some hydrocarbons, by Herrn Othman and Zeidler. — On 

 camphor chlorides, by Dr. Spitzer, — On a camphene derived 

 from camphor, and the synthesis of its homologues, by the 

 same. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, September 2. — M. Fizeau, president, 

 in the chair. — The following papers were read : — Formation 

 of a cylinder out of a circular disc, by M. Tresca. — Litter 

 manure, by M. Ch. Brame. — On the influence of the quantity 

 of blood contained in the muscles on their irritability, by M. J. 

 Schmoulewitsch. The author has proved that the muscles, 

 on becoming anaemic, do not lose their irritability at once ; on 

 the contrary, it increases for some time, and having attained 

 a certain degree, begins to decrease. — On the existence of an intra- 

 Mercurial planet observed during the solar eclipse of July 29, 

 by Prof. Watson. M. Gaillot is investigating the results of Prof, 

 Watson's observations. — On the diffusion of cerium, lanthanum, 

 and didymium, by M. Cossa. — On the causes of the humming 

 of insects, by M. J. Perez. The author finds that among 

 hymenoptera and diptera, humming is due to two distinct 

 causes ; one, the vibrations of which the articulation of the wing 

 is the seat, and which constitute the true hum ; the other, the 

 friction of the wings against the air, an effect which more or 

 less modifies the former. Among the powerful-winged lepi- 

 doptera, such as the Sphinxes, the sweet and mellow hum of 

 these insects is due only to the rustling of the wings by the air. 

 This sound, always grave, is the only one produced ; it is iiot 

 accompanied by basilary beatings, on account of a peculiar 

 organisation, and especially on account of the presence of scales. 

 Among the Libellula, the base of whose wings is provided with 

 soft and fleshy parts, there does not exist true humming, but a 

 simple noise due to the rustling of the organs of flight. — Appli- 

 cation of borax to researches in vegetable physiology, by M. 

 Schnetzler. 



CONTENTS Pace 



Our Natural History Collections 513 



Thb Fknland ^" • • ,; T^' o' ^'1 



American Geological Surveys. By Prof. Arch. Geikie, F.R.b. 51" 

 Our Book Shelf :— 



Kurz* " Forest Flora of British Burma " 517 



Letters to the Editor : — 



American Storm Warnings.— Dr. A. Woeikof 517 



A White Grouse.— Sir J. Fayrer.F.R.S 518 



Brehm's "Thierleben."— E. H. Pringle 518 



The Sea-Serpent E.xplained.— E. H. Pringle; C. Bird; Dr. 



Andrew Wilson 5i9 



Alpine Flowers.— Dr. Hermann Muller 519 



The Microphone. — Thomas Rowney 5 '9 



A Meteor. — Sydney Evershed 5^9 



Our Astkono.mical Column :— 



The Intra-Mercurial Planet • 3'<^' 



Variable Stars '^-° 



Swift's Comet of July 7 S^o 



The Saturnian Satellite Mimas 52o 



Geographical Notes ^-° 



Brewing IN Japan. By R. W. Atkinson. . . . . . . • • • 521 



The Origin and Distribution of Organic Colour. By W. 



SaVILLE ICbNX •• • ,•••• «•••• • •••• "Oo 



Electric Discharge in Gases, I. By Drs. Warren De La Rue 



a.nAnvGo'W.UiJi.i.v.^VVith. Illustrations) . . . ■ • • • ■ 325 



Physics in Photography, XL By Capt. W. de Wiveleslie Abney, 



C.B.,Y.V..S. {With Illustrations) ! '. 5^1 



Progress 'of* the "Challenger" Report. By Prof. Su: C. 



Wyville Thomson, F.R.S l^Z 



University and Educational Intelligence ^Jg 



Scientific Serials ^Xg 



Societies and Academies ^ 



