66o 



NATURE 



{Oct. 17, 1878 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



Verhandltingen der k.k. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in 

 Wicn (vol. i. 1878).— This volume is in every respect^ equal to 

 its predecessors, both for variety as well as scientific interest of 

 its contents. The papers which deserve special praise are : 

 Lichenological excursions in the Tyrol, by F. Arnold.— On the 

 metamorphosis of several species of Tipultdce, by Th. Beling.— 

 Remarks on the metamorphosis of insects m the spirit of the 

 theory of descent, by Dr. Fr. Brauer.— Researches on Phytopto- 

 cecidicr, by Dr. FranzLbw.— Notes on some new Cecuiomytdcr , 

 by the same.— On some new exotic Hesperid(B, by H. B. 

 Moschler — Ennumeratio Ichneumonidum, exhibens species in 

 alpibus firoliae captas, by Aug. E. Holmgren.— Other papers 

 of interest are: On the mollusc-fauna of Gahcia, by J. 

 Krol.— Ornithological notes, by P. Hanf.— On the birds of 

 Ecuador, by A. von Pelzeln.— On ear-shaped grass panicles, 

 by E Hackel.— On the fungi of Carniola, by Wilhelm Voss. 

 —Note on a new mollusc, by M. Folin.— On some new 

 Cucujida: in the Royal Museum at Berlin, by Edmund 

 Reitter.— Researches on Lyctidce, by the same.— Analytical 

 classification of the species in the genera Sphindus and Aspido- 

 phorus, by the same.— On the influence of changes in the condi- 

 tions of vegetation upon the forms of the organs of plants, by 

 Otto Stapf.— On a remarkable form of Lenticels, by the same. 

 —On some species of the Chakidicc genus Eurytoma, obtained by 

 artificial breeding, by Dr. G. Mayr.— On the flora of Fiame, by 

 A. M. Smith. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 London 

 Royal Microscopical Society, October 9.— H. J. Slack, 

 president, in the chair.— This was the first meeting of the 

 present session. Numerous presents were announced and ac- 

 knowledged, and Major Festing and John Borland were elected 

 Fellows of the Society.— The president called attention to a 

 specimen of the perforating proboscis of a moth which had been 

 received from Colombo, and compared its structure with that 

 of a species which had been the subject of discussion at a former 

 meeting,— An interesting paper was read by Prof. Owen upon 

 certain fossils found in the middle Purbeck, to which he had 

 given the name of Granicones, and which, after careful com- 

 parative examination, he had decided to be the dermal scutes 

 of a lacertian closely resembling the now existent Australian 

 species, Moloch destructor. He pointed out that the remains 

 found in these rocks were chiefly those of marsupials, and that 

 in the mesozoic strata both animals, plants, and shells had now 

 their only living representatives at the antipodes. — Communica- 

 tions were read from Col. Woodward on the modification of the 

 illuminator for balsam-mounted objects, also from the American 

 Microscopical Congress recommending the adoption of the -^^-^ 

 millimetre as the standard for microscopical measurements. — A 

 discussion ensued, in the course of which it was suggested that 

 much advantage would arise to microscopists from the more 

 careful adherence on the part of makers to the Society's standard 

 screw, and also greater uniformity as to size of tube, eye-pieces, 

 and other mechanical details. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, October 7.— M. Fizeau in the 

 chair.— The following papers were read :— On the irreducible 

 covariants of the quantic of the seventh order, by Prof Syl- 

 vester. — Observations on M. Gruey's recent communication on 

 a gyroscopic apparatus, by M. Hirn. He considers the new 

 apparatus presents a special case of phenomena analysed ya. his 

 own memoir on the gyroscope. — On a singular case of heating of 

 a bar of iron, by M. Hirn. A workman holding a cylindrical iron 

 bar (about i m. long and o-o8 in diameter) on another piece so 

 as to be struck with a hammer on the free end, said he felt the 

 bar at each stroke greatly heated and then as quickly cooled. 

 M. Hirn verified this with surprise. He estimated at 35° the 

 sudden variation of temperature. For best observation one 

 should come very near the bar and seize the iron about 

 o-oi m. fr9m the end struck (a position requiring some 

 faith in the address of the workman !). M. Hirn thinks 

 the phenomenon quite subjective, i.e., one of sensation. _ In 

 certain conditions, sonorous vibrations affecting the sensitive 

 nerves, may cause at the periphery of the body % sensation 



of heat, just as, e.g., pressure or a blow on the eyes may 

 awaken in these organs the sensation of light. This view he 

 gives with reserve, and desires physicists to testa bar, in such 

 circumstances, with a Melloni thermometer. — Observations on 

 M, BouiUaud's note inserted in last week's Comptes Rendus, by 

 M. du Moncel. — Discovery of two small planets at Clinton (New 

 York), by Mr. Peters. — Second letter of Mr. Watson on the 

 discovery of intra-Mercurial planets. M. Mouchez thought that 

 while the American observations have rendered very probable, 

 or almost certain, the existence of intra-Mercurial planets, they 

 have not sensibly improved the knowledge of their orbit. — Two 

 remarks on the general relation between pressure and temperature, 

 determined by M. Levy, by Herr Weber. — On the manner 

 in which is distributed, among its points of application, the 

 weight of a hard body placed on a polished, horizontal, and 

 elastic ground ; identity of this mode of distribution for a plane 

 and horizontal supporting base with that of an electric charge 

 in equilibrium in a thin plate of the same form, by M. Boiissi- 

 nesq. — On the resolution, in whole numbers, of the equation 

 (l) axf^ -4- by"^ — f^^ by M. Desboves. — On a new gyroscopic 

 pendulum, by M. Gruey. — Revision of the flora of the Malouines 

 (Falkland Isles), by M. Crie. At present there are about 394 

 species (Hooker enumerated 368). The compositse count more 

 individuals than all the twenty-seven other families of dicotyle- 

 dons combined. The graminese occupy the second place. As 

 in most arctic flora, the most numerous are the cryptogains. 

 Algce have nearly 1 00 representatives. The author adds nine 

 new species of muscineze to those described by Hooker. — Re- 

 searches on the urea of organs, by M. Picard. During digestion, 

 urea is formed in the muscles, the brain, and the liver ; these 

 have all more of the substance than an equal weight of blood. 

 During fasting, urea seems to be formed only^in the brain and 

 the muscles.— Note on M. Perez' work on the buzzing of in- 

 sects, by M. Jousset de Bellesme. This is the substance of a 

 paper read to the French Association in August, and giving 

 much the same results as those of M. Perez, communicated to 

 the Academy in September. — On Trichodonopsis paradoxa 

 (Clap), by M. Schneider.- Structure and botanical affinities of 

 the cordaites, by M. Renault. The order of Cordaitese is more 

 nearly related to tie Cycadere than any other family of Gym- 

 nosperms, and the Cycadere, including Sigillarinea2, must have 

 reached an immense development at the coal epoch.— On the 

 atmosphere of planetary bodies and the terrestrial atmosphere 

 in particular ; remarks on Mr. Sterry-Hunt's recent paper, by 

 M. Meunier. 



CONTENTS 



Pagb 



On THE Science OF Easy Chairs 637 



Scientific Ballooning 639 



Our Book Shelf :— .•,,!. 



"Proceedings of the Aberdeenshire Agrxultural Association, 



1876-78 „ ^4<: 



Hudson's "Euclid" and "Algebra 041 



Letters to the Editor :— . „r t- ^ 



The Magnetic Storm of May 14, 1878.-W1LLIAM Ellis .... 641 



Cyclones and the Winter Gales of Europe.— William Ellis . . 641 



Height and Shape of Mount Hekla.-G. F. Rodwell .... 641 



Animal Intelligence.— George J. Romanes 042 



The Microphone as a Receiver.— V. A. JuLirs . . ... .. . _ . 042 



Power of Stupefying Spiders possessed by Wasps —Mimicry in 



Birds.— W. E. Armit ^43 



Agricultural Ants.— William E. Armit 043 



Meteor.— O. P. Fisher "43 



Jansshn's New Method of Solar Photography. By H. F. 



Blanford {With Illustration) ^43 



Biological Notes :— ,,..,.,, /:._ 



The Anatomy and Affinities o£ the Aye- Aye • • • °4g 



Prof. Caruel's Classification of the Vegetable Kingdom • • • • °40 



Transition Forms of Crinoids in American Paleozoic Rocks . . . 64O 



Geographical Notes ^' .' ' ' '' 



On the Nature of Vibratory Motions, III.- By Prof. Alfred 



Marshall Mayer {\Vith Illustra.tions) 04 



Electric Lighting /'^ 



• . . 051 



Notes A * ' 



On the Presence of Dark Lines in the Solar Spectrum which 



rORRESPOND closely TO THE LiNES OF THE SpECTRUMOF OxYGEN. 



SI Dr John Sstopher Draper, LL.D. (mth Illustration) . 654 

 Cvon's Researches on the Ear, II. By Prof. Alex. Crum Brown 



[jVitA Illustrations) ^' 



University AND Educational iNTEi LICENCE °59 



Scientific Serials ^^ 



Societies and Acabkmiks 



