368 



NATURE 



[Feb. 22, 1877 



while with sulphuric acid it forms a black amorphous mass, 

 which by distillation yields hydrochinone. The product of 

 potash with bromine gives bromanile C6Br402. Air and potash 

 translorm the ether into C6H402(C02H)2 chinon dicarbonic 

 acid, yellow hair-like crystals, — E. Schunck and H. Roemer, in 

 order to discover traces of alizarine in parpurine, expose the 

 solution to the air until the latter is oxidised, when alizarine, re- 

 maining behind unaltered, can be recognised by its absorption- 

 bands in the spectroscope. The same chemists have found that 

 certain impure purpurines yield a precipitate wilh alum, which is 

 decomposed by hydrochloric acid with greater difficulty than 

 the purpurine compound. The compound thus obtained 

 forms gold-brown needles fusing at 231° decomposed by 

 heat into carbonic anhydride and purpuroxanthin, and cor- 

 responding to the formula of purpuroxanthincarbonic acid 

 C14H8O4COOH. — A. Kern published researches on the action 

 of iodide of methyle on aniline, from which he concludes that 

 only dimethyl-aniline and no monomethyl-aniline is formed in 

 this reaction. — R. Meyer has tried in vain to convert cuminol 

 into cymol ; and thinks that former assertions to the contrary 

 depend upon the presence of preformed cymol in cuminol. — 

 M. Muf ncke (of the firm of Warmbrunn and Quilitz, in Beilin) 

 showed a model of a double aspirator, also a Bunsen burner 

 with a tube to prolong it, ar.d a modification of Fletcher's 

 hot air blast. — G. Gabriel described phenylic and ethylic ethers 

 of tribasic thioformic acid, CH(SRj3, obtained by the action of 

 chloroform on the sodium compounds of the corresponding 

 mercaptans. — A. Klobukowsky showed a tube filled with oxide 

 of iron for E. Kopp's method of determining chlorine, bromine, 

 and iodine in organic compounds, and praised the simplicity of 

 this method. —A. Czech and H. Schwebel have found that iso- 

 cy.inide of phenyl and formic acid are formed by the action of 

 dichloracetic acid on aniline. — A. W. Hofmann showed a new 

 yellowish-red colouring substance called chrysoidine, ani estab- 

 lished the following remarkable analogies : — 



CjjHjiNs Martins yellow = Amidoazobenzol, 

 ^12^12^4 Chrysoidine = Diamidoazobenzol, 



C12H13N5 Phenylene brown = Triamidoazobenzol. 



The first body is obtained by the action of nitrous acii on aniline ; 

 the third b/ the action of nitrous acid on phenylene diamine ; the 

 new colour (chrysoidine) by the action of phenylen diamine on 

 newly-prepared diazobenzole in alcoholic solution. 



Vienna 



Imperial Academy of Sciences, November 9, 1876. — On 

 parthenogenesis of angiospermous plants, by M. Kerner, — On 

 the shell-glands of Copepoda, by M. Claus. — On a modification 

 of Dumas' method of determination of vapour-densities, by M. 

 Habermann. — Researches on the origin of the lowest organisms, 

 by M. Krasan.— On the action of secondary electric currents on 

 nerves, by M. Heischl. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, February 12. — M. Peligot in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read : — Discovery of three 

 small planets, 170, 171, and 172, and of a comet, at Toulouse and 

 Marseilles, by MM. Tisserand and Stephan, communicated by 

 M. Leverrier. — Researches on calorific spectra (continued), by 

 M. Desains. With refracting apparatus of rock salt, the heat 

 accompanying the luminous rays in the solar spectrum is about a 

 t'nird of the total heat ; in the spectrum of incandescent platinum 

 it is only a small fraction. Similar results are had with flint 

 apparatus, and M. Desains was unable to make the difference 

 disappear by sending the rays from the metal through layers of 

 water, though this shortened the dark spectrum. But spectra 

 f om the electric lamp may be rendered much more like those 

 obtained from the sun's rays. The heat in their luminous part 

 seems to be about one-sixth of the total heat, and if the rays be 

 sent through a layer of water of 3 to 4 cm. , the calorific intensity 

 of the dark part is considerably reduced, while the luminous heat 

 is hardly affected ; this latter being then about a third of the 

 total heat as in the solar spectrum. — Preliminaries of a study 

 of living and fossil European oaks, compared together, by M. 

 De Saporta. The races most largely distributed in Europe, 

 particularly Quercus pedunculata, sessiliflora, aiad pubescent, are 

 comparatively recent, though their type is old. In the south of 

 France, at least, these have been preceded by other oaks, that 

 have been partly eliminated, partly confined further southwards. 

 — On a new catalogue of coloured stars, and on the spectrum of 

 Schmidt's star, by P. Secchi. This work is based on Schjel- 



lerup's catalogue, published |in 1866. — Observations on the 

 compte rendu of the seance of February 5, 1877, by Gen. Morin. 

 He expressed regret at the omission from Comptes Rendiis of 

 information given by MM. Wurtz, Pasteur, and Boussingault on 

 certain falsifications of alimentary substances, and urged the 

 importance of the subject, and of chemistry detecting such frauds, 

 M. Pasteur stated that of fourteen cases of preserved peas 

 bought at random in some of the principal quarters of Paris, 

 ten contained copper, sometimes even about iTTOTrTr of the 

 total weight of the preserves, excluding the liquid ; which 

 always contains some copper when the peas contain it, but 

 less. — M. Lory was elected correspondent for the section of 

 mineralogy, in place of the late M. Naumann. — On the applica- 

 tion of photography to observation of the transit of Venus, by 

 M. Angot. This relates to determination of the instant of con- 

 tacts. — Practical formulae of velocities and pressures in arms, 

 b/ M. Sarrati. — On a class of orthogonal systems, comprising 

 isothermal systems as a particular case, by M. Darboux. — On 

 nitrification by organised ferments, by MM. Schloesing and 

 Miintz. He obtained nitrification by passing ammoniacal 

 waters through a porous substance charged with organic matters, 

 but there was no trace of nitrate from a filter made of pure sand. 

 The active matter, after being subjected to action of chloroform, 

 lost its nitrifying properties exactly as if these special ferments 

 had been kilkd. — Note on certain alterations of glass, by M. de 

 Luynes, Often, in moist air, fine parallel striae form on the 

 surface, and scales come oflf, which are found to be of different 

 composition from the gla'-s. Alkalies are almost wholly absent 

 in them, and they consist chiefly of earthy silicate ; the propor- 

 tion of silica rising to 78 per cent., while in normal glass it is 

 only 68. The glass retains its transpareace. — On phosphorescent 

 organic bodies, by M. Radziszewski. Hydrobenz imide, amarine, 

 lophine, and the raw product of the action of alcoholic ammonia 

 on benzile show phosphorescence in the dark when brought into 

 contact with an alcoholic solution of caustic potash. — On the 

 fer.nentation of urine ; reply to M. Pasteur, by Prof Bastian, 

 — On the toxicil properties of salts of copper, by M. 

 Bergeron. — Method for recognising iodine in cod-liver oil 

 and experiments on absorption of iodide of potassium by 

 fatty animal matters, by M. Barral. He saponifies the fatty 

 matter with potash, burns the soap, and dissolves in alcohol the 

 iodide of potassium formed. A goat received fifty centigrammes 

 of iodide of potassium daily for eight days with its foo ^ Butter 

 prepared from its milk contained a good deal of iodine. The 

 kid of a goat thus treated being killed, iodine was found in its 

 fat and adipose tissue. — Researches on the history of respiration 

 in fishes, by M. Jobert. He finds a peculiar respiratory system 

 in the Callichthys. — On the transparence of the water of Lake 

 Leman, by M. Forel. He explains the less transparence in 

 summer than in winter, by a stratification of layers of different 

 densities, due to heat on the surface ; in winter there is uniform 

 density, and powdery particles either sink to the bottom or rise to 

 the surface. 



CONTENTS Pagb 



A Working Naturalist 349 



Blake's "Astronomical Myths " 351 



Our B )0k Shelf : — 



Lees' "Acoustics, Light, and Heat."— Dr. W. H. Stone . . , 352 



Lbtters to the Editor : — 



Postulates and Axioms. — C J Monro 353 



Just Intonation. — Lieut.-Col. A. R. Clarke ........ 353 



Protective Mimicry among Bats. — C. E. Doeson 354 



Sense of Hearing in Birds and Insects — C. J. A. Meykr . . . 354 



The Atmosphere of the Rocky Mountains. By Prof. Hsnrv 



Draper 354 



Testimonial to Mr. Darwin 356 



MicRosfOPiCAL Investigation of Sands and Clavs By H. C. 



SORBY, F.R.S 356 



Remarkable Plants. II. — Some Curious Orchids (With llliis- 



traiions) 357 



The Movement of the Soil-Cap. By Sir C. Wyvillb Thomson, 



FRS 359 



On the Influence of Geological Changes on the Earth's Axis 



OF Rotation. By G. H. Darwin, M. A 360 



The New Star in Cygnus. By Ralph Copeland 361 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The New Comet 361 



The " Berliner Astronomisches Jahrbuch ". 362 



Chemical Notes : — 



Absorption of Light in the Blood . 362 



Physical Properties of Gallium 3^* 



Potassium Tri-iodide 3^* 



Solution of Gases in Iron, Steel, and Manganese 3^* 



N*TBS 3^3 



SOCIBTIBS AND ACADKMIES . > . • 3^ 



'm 



