112 



NATURE 



\Nov. 30, 1876 



position of the group, lying in the region of the trade winds, so 

 that it enjoys almost perpetual breezes, calms being rare, and 

 the islands so small that the sea-breeze from all direclions can 

 penetrate into every corner. — Notes on some remarkable errors 

 in thermometers recorded at Sydney Observatory, 1876, by Mr. 

 H. C. Russell, F. R.A.S. For upwards of five years the same 

 hygrometer has been in use at the Observatory ; the dry bulb 

 is small, only 03 inches in diameter, and the instrument up to 

 February 26 had always given very satisfactory readings, 

 tested by those of a standard wrhich hangs only 3 inches 

 from it; the difference in the readings was usually o°'2 to 

 o°'3. On that day the maximum shade temperature rose to 

 96°'4 about noon ; at 3 P. M. the dry-bulb and standard read 83°7, 

 and at 9 P.M., 68° '9 and 69° 'O. Next morning they read 69° '6 

 and 69°'8 ; as this was Sunday, they were not read again un'il 

 9 A.M. on the 28th, when the dry bulb read 87°'3, and the 

 standard 64°'9, showing a difference of 22°'4. It was at once 

 thought that the glass had cracked and let in the air, but as no 

 crack could be seen after careful examination, it was determined 

 to continue the readings. The author had always found before 

 that if a thermometer cracks in the bulb, the mercury rises 

 till the tube is full, and he expected it would be so in this case, 

 though he could see no crack. The result, however, was tha: 

 the difference steadily decreased, at first at the rate of 1° each 

 day, and in thirty-five days the difference had fallen to less than 

 0° 5, or almost to its normal condition. Between April 7 aiul 

 17, it rose again, then fell ; on May 3, and again on the 7 th, 

 sudden rises took place, since then the difference has been 

 diminishing, except a slight rise on May 21 and 22. When very 

 closely examined with the microscope, a very smill piece of 

 colourei glass is to be seen in the bulb, as if lead had been 

 reduced by the blowpipe, and on one side of the bulb a mark is 

 visible, as if there was a minute quantity of water between the 

 mercury and the glass at one spot. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, November 20. — Vice-Adrairal Pari-; 

 in the chair. — The following papers were read : — Meridian ob- 

 servations of small planets made at the Greenwich and Paris 

 observatories during the third trimestre of 1876, communicated 

 by M. Leverrier. — Tables of the planet Uranus, based on com- 

 parison of theory with observations, by M. Leverrier. — On the 

 physical and chemical properties of ruthenium, by MM. H. 

 Sainte-Claire Deville and Debray. — New researches on the 

 chemical phenomena produced by electricity of tension, by M. 

 Berthelot. He studies the relations of the reactions to sign and 

 tension oftheelectricity. — Onthe composition of some phosphites, 

 by M. Wurtz. Phosphite of calcium, neutral and acid phos- 

 phites of barium. — On the quantity of rainfall at Rome during 

 fifty years, 1825 to 1874, by P. Secchi. The yearly maximum 

 is in the end of October and beginning of November. No 

 relation was perceptible between the quantity of rain and the 

 sun-spots. The great rain-periods at Rome coincided with floods 

 of the lake of Fucino^ 100 kilos, distant. — Organisation of a new 

 meteorological observatory on Monte-Cavo ; meteorological ob- 

 servations near Rome, by P. Secchi. — On the modifications of 

 elacomargaric acid produced by light and heat, by M. Cloez. — 

 On the phenomenon of the black drop, by M. Andre. — On 

 a series of experiments with regard to the flow of water 

 made at the reservoir of Furens, by M. Grseff.-^On exchange 

 of gases in the tympanic cavity ; physiological considerations 

 and therapeutical applications, by M. Loewenberg. In cases of 

 obstruction of the Eustachian tube, causing deafness, the volume 

 of gas in the tympanic cavity is diminished, and the membrane 

 presses inwards. The author says this diminution must be due, 

 not to absorption, but to exchange by diffusion, and he suggests 

 as remedies — (i) the insufflation of air that has been inspired and 

 expired four or five times ; (2) the insufflation of hydrogen. — 

 New observations on the cure of typhoid fever by parasiticide 

 phenicated medication (phenic acid and phenate of ammonia, in 

 draughts, and subcutaneous injection in large doses), by M. 

 Declat. — The theory of systems of land-elevation, a propos of 

 the system of Mont Seny, by M. Vezian. — Researches on 

 the structure and the vitality of eggs of phylloxera, by M. 

 Balbiani. — Remarks on M. Bouilland's observations regarding 

 the effects produced by sulpho-carbonates, by M. Mouillefert. — 

 Experiments on treatment of phylloxerised vines by phenic acid 

 and alkaline phenates, by M. Rommier. — On the practical con- 

 ditions of employment of insecticides to oppose phylloxera, by 

 M. Delachanal. — Results obtained from the use of sulpho-car- 

 bonates in the vines of the Puy-de-D6me, by M. Aubergier.-— On 



the employment of pyrites in treatment of vines affected with 

 o'idium, by M. Fran9ois. — On the gaseous movement in the 

 radiometer, by M. Salet. — Experiments on the immersed radio- 

 meter, by M. de Fonvielle. — Absorbent powers of bodies for 

 heat, by M. Aymonnet. The atomic absorbent power appears 

 to be constant (i) for all simple bodies dissolved in th(i same 

 medium ; (2) for all simple bodies forming part of compounds 

 of like chemical composition. — On a process of determination of 

 alkaline sulphates, by M. Jean. — On the causes of error involved 

 in the application of the law of mixtures of vapours, in the deter- 

 mination of their density, by MM. Troost and Hautefeuille. — 

 On the saccharine matter contained in the petals of flowers, by 

 M. Boussingault. This is considerable, amounting in some 

 eighteen cases examined to an average of 488 per cent, in the 

 undried flower.— On a process of testing vi^ines for fuchsine, by 

 M. Fordos. — On the investigation of rosolic acid in presence of 

 fuchsine, by MM. Gayot and Bidaux. — New researches on the 

 action of non-arsenical fuchsine introduced into the stomach and 

 the blood, by MM. Feltz and Ritter. — On the action of iron in 

 anzemia, by M. Hayem. It causes the globules to be- 

 come charged with a larger amount of colouring matter, 

 and this, not merely in the curable anaemic, but even in cachexia ; 

 where, the organism being exhausted, the production of red 

 globules is almost entirely stopped. — Experiments on the pneu- 

 mogastric and on nerves supposed to be inhibitory, by M. 

 Onanus. — Researches on the urea of the blood, by M. Bernard, 

 — On tlie power possessed by certain Acarians, with or with- 

 out a mouth, of living without food during whole phases of their 

 existence, and even their whole life, by M. Megnin. — On crystals 

 of oxydulated iron presenting a singular dtformat'on, by M. 

 Friedel. — On the figures which are formed in superposed liquids, 

 when a movement of rotation is imparted to them, by M. Bouquet 

 de la Grye. These show some analogies to sun-spots. M. Faye 

 added a few comments. — ^On some peculiarities of lightning, by 

 M. Renon. Beaded lightning ; purple or violet flashes ; lightning 

 in a near cloud without thunder ; sound of thunder heard at 40 

 kilom. distance. — Observations of falling stars during the nights 

 of November 12, 13, and 14, 1876, at Clermont Ferrand, by 

 M. Gruey. — On the present state of volcanic phenomena of 

 Carvassera, by M, de Cigalla. 



Vienna 

 Imperial Academy of Sciences, October 12, 26. — The 

 following among other papers were read : — The nerves of hair- 

 covered skin, by M. Arnstein. — The germination of plant spores 

 in its relation to light, by M. Leitgeb. — On spontaneous vari- 

 ations of blood-pressure, by M, Mayer. — On the action of chlo- 

 roform and ether on breathing and circulation, by Jil. Knoll. — 

 On some remarkable phenomena in Geissler tubes, by MM. 

 Reitlinger and Urbanitzky. 



CONTENTS Pags 



FsHRiER ON THE Brain, II. By George Henry Lewes 93 



Our Book Shelf : — 



" British ManuTacturing Iirdustries " g6 



Prof. Flower's " Introduction to the Osteology of the Mammalii " 96 



LSTTBRS TO THB EdiT'ir : — 



On the Word " Force." — P. T. Main g? 



Peripatus N. Zealandias. — H. N. Moselkv 96 



The Age of the Rocks of Charnwood Forest —Rev. T. G. Bonnev ; 



Prot. A. H. Green ; Wm. Jkrome Harrison 57 



Minimum Thermometers. —Thomas Fawcett 97 



Electric Motor.Pendulum. — Dr. P. HiGGS (With Illustration) . gS 



Pkof. Young on the Solar Spectrum 98 



Indian Geology 98. 



The River Clyde 99 



Researches on the Radiometer. I3y Prof. Paul Volpicblli . . loi 

 The SiPHON Recorder and Automatic Curb Ssndek {^With Illus- 

 trations) lor 



On the Conditions of the Antarctic. By Sir C. Wvvillk 



Thomson, F.R.S. {IVith Illustrations) 10+ 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Change of Colour in a Star .... . 107 



New Double Stars 107 



The Binary Star 17 Cassiopese 107 



The Mass of Neptune 107 



The Nautical Almanac for iSSo 107 



Meteorological Notes: — 



Accelerated Transmission of Weather Maps 107 



Great Storm of Wind at Sydney 107 



The Temperature of the Northern Part of the Atlantic 107 



Biological inotes : — 



New Freshwater Rhizopods io3 



Rearrangement of the Orders of Endogens 108 



The Sensation of Sound 108 



The Absorption of Organic Matter by Plants 108 



N»TES 109 



SciBNTiFic Serials m 



Societies ANB Acadbmibs • , . zii 



