Feb. 28, 1878] 



NATURE 



355 



think, highly probable also that a photograph of the first order 

 may be obtained in one minute. 



It is clear then that, by mounting photographic plates on both 

 sides of the axis, one solidly mounted equatorial of short focal 

 length may enable us to obtain a large number, with vary- 

 ing lengths of exposure, of the next eclipse. I have in- 

 sisted upon the solidity of the mounting because, if any one 

 plate is to be exposed during the whole of totality, the in- 

 strument must not be violently disturbed or shaken while the 

 eclipse is going on. I think, however, it is quite possible to 

 obtain many photographs, of the lower order spectra, without 

 any such disturbance. The same plate may be made to record 

 three, or even four, exposures in the case of the first order, by 

 merely raising or lowering it after a given time, so that a fresh 

 portion of the same plate may be exposed, by means of a rapid 

 screw or other equivalent contrivance. Similarly, the plates on 

 which the spectra of the second order are to be recorded may be 

 made to perform double duty. 



Linnean Society, February 7. — Prof. Allman, F.R.S., 

 president, in the chair. — Sir John Lubbock, Bart., read a paper, 

 " Observations on the Habits of Ants," being his fifth contri- 

 bution on this subject. In continuation of former experiments 

 he finds that ants recognise old acquaintances and attack strangers. 

 Their intelligence is questionable in cases where a thin circle of 

 glycerine bars their access to honey which they have already 

 visited by a paper bridge, for when the latter is taken away they 

 do not pile up a few grains of earth and thus cross the barrier. 

 Spite of the many observers and plentifulness of ants' nests, it is 

 still doubtful how their nests commence. Sir John's experi- 

 ments show that the workers of Lasias flavus will not adopt an 

 old queen from another nest. But on the other hand, the queen 

 of Myrmica ruginodis has the instinct of bringing up larvae and 

 the power of founding communities. As to intimating to each 

 other discovery of food, he considers this does not necessarily 

 imply any power of describing localities, but rather by a 

 simple sign co-workers accompany each other to the treasure. 

 They do not summon their brotherhood by sounds to a 

 repast found by one or another. Thei' affection ^for friends 

 is outbalanced by hatred of strangers. A few of each kept 

 prisoners in separate bottles with wide meshed muslin over 

 the mouths, those free outside again and again excitedly 

 endeavoured to attack the latter, but used no means to free 

 the former, their own companions. Further experiments prove 

 scent more than sight guides them in following up food which 

 has been shifted in position after its having been partaken of, 

 and a return to the nest made. Ants avoid light when thrown 

 into their nests, and they then congregate into the darkest 

 comers. Taking advantage of this habit by a series of 

 ingenious experiments — wherein strips of coloured glass, in 

 other instances shallow cells containing coloured solutions, such 

 as fuchsine, bichromate of potash, chloride of copper, &c., were 

 used — Sir John arrives at the conclusion that they are influenced by 

 the sensation of colour, though probably different from the effect 

 produced in man. A predominate preference is given to red, green 

 follows, yellow comes next, while to blue and violet there appears 

 to be a decided aversion. The longevity of ants would seem 

 greater than generally admitted, some specimens of Formica 

 fusca being at least five years old. — Mr. Thiselton Dyer made a 

 brief communication on the so-called " rain-tree " of Mogo- 

 bamba. South America, an account of which we give elsewhere. 

 — Then followed a paper " On the shell of the Bryozoa," by Mr. 

 Arthur W. Waters. The points he more particularly drew 

 attention to were : — The great difference of the young and old 

 cells caused by a constant growth of shell-substance, so that the 

 older zooecia become closed up. This growth progresses at 

 various rates. Passing through the shell are tubes filled with 

 corpuscles of the chylaqueous fluid, which thus become oxidised. 

 The supposed nervous filament of the colonial connection the 

 author believes to be rather for the supply of material from one 

 part of the zooarium to another. He further suggests that the 

 varying thickness of the plates in the walls of the colonial con- 

 nection should be used as a factor in specific determination, 

 and especially would it be useful in comparing recent and fossil 

 forms. There is a possibility of the avicularia and adventitious 

 tubes being homologous, and helping to maintain the vitality of 

 the colony when the polypides have disappeared. — Messrs. A. 

 G. Agar and C. Berjeau were elected Fellows of the Society. — 

 The President having put the motion, it was unanimously re- 

 solved to present an address to Prof. C. T, Ernst von Siebold 

 on his approaching jubilee. 



Zoological Society, February 5. — Prof. Mivart, F.R.S., 

 vice-president, in the chair. — Prof. Mivart read a paper entitled 

 " Notes on the Fins of Elasmobranchs, with Considerations on 

 the Nature and Hbmologies of Vertebrate Limbs," wherein the 

 author detailed his dissections of the fins of Elasmobranchs, 

 which dissections had convinced him that the paired and azygos 

 fins are of similar nature. He represented them all to have resulted 

 from the centripetal growth and coalescence of a primitively 

 distinct series of cartilaginous rays developed in longitudinal 

 folds, of which one was dorsal, one ventral, and two were lateral. 

 He also advocated the view that the limb-girdles result from the 

 further centripetal growth of the coalescing limb-cartilages, which 

 growth seeks a. point d'appui, the pectoral limb-girdles in fishes 

 shooting upwards and downwards, as well as inwards to obtain 

 a firm support, and, at the same time, to avoid the visceral cavity. 

 He contended that the Archipterygium was not to be sought for 

 in Ceraiodus, which he by no means regarded as a primitive type 

 of structure, but rather in Rata and especially in the ventrals 

 of Polyodon. He objected to Gegenbauer's view that the 

 metapterygium formed the limb axis of the cheiropterygium, 

 advocating instead the propterygium, or, if not that, then the 

 mesopterygium. He cited the varying conditions described as 

 evidences of the presence of an innate intra-organic polar force 

 as the main agent in morphological modifications. — A communi- 

 cation was read from Mr. W. A. Forbes, F.Z.S., containing an 

 account of the birds collected by the Challenoer Expedition at 

 Cape York and on the neighbouring islands. The collection 

 consisted of sixty-one skins referable to thirty-eight species, all, 

 or nearly all, of which belonged to well-known Australian forms, 

 one or two only being uncertain on account of the immature 

 condition of the specimens. — A communication was rfead from 

 Mr. Francis Nicholson, F.Z.S., in which he gave an account ot 

 a small collection of birds made in the neighbourhood of Abeo- 

 kuta. West Africa. Amongst these was a new species of Finch 

 which was proposed to be called Amadina sharpei. — The Rev. • 

 S. J. Whitmee, C.M.Z.S., read a paper on the mode of the 

 modifications of anger, fear, &c., in fishes, and on the use of 

 their spines, as observed by him during his residence in the 

 Samoan Islands. — Messrs. P. L. Sclater and O. Salvin gave an 

 account of the collection of birds made by Prof. Steere during 

 his recent journey across South America, from Para to Callao. 

 The 911 specimens obtained were stated to be referable to 362 

 species, of which five were described as apparently new to 

 science, and proposed to be called Oryzoborus atrirostris, 

 Myiarchus semirufus, Furnarius pileatus, Capita steerii, and 

 Crypturus transjasciatus. — Prof. Garrod read a note on the 

 anatomy of the Binturong, Artictis binturong, and the fourth 

 portion of his series of notes on the anatomy of passerine birds. 

 — Mr. Howard Saunders, F.Z.S., read a paper on the sub- 

 family of the Larincv, or Gulls, being a monographical revision 

 of the group, which he considered to consist of the genera 

 Pagophila, Rissa, Lai'us, Rkodostethia, and Xema, containing 

 altogether forty-nine species. With regard to Pagophila, he 

 drew attention to a structural peculiarity which appeared to 

 have been previously unnoticed, i.e., the junction of hallux to 

 the inner toe by a serrated membrane. Mr. Saunders also 

 remarked upon the occasional presence of a small but well- 

 developed hind toe and claw in individuals of the Kittiwake 

 {Rissa tridaclyla) from Alaska. — A communication was read 

 from Mr. Martin Jacoby, containing descriptions of some new 

 species of phytophagous coleoptera. — Two communications were 

 read from Lieut.-Col. R. H. Beddome, C.M.Z.S. The first 

 gave a description of a new form in the family of Tree-agames 

 from the higher ranges of the Anamallays, proposed to be 

 named Lophosarea anamallayana. The second contained the 

 descriptions of some new species of Uropeltida:, from Southern 

 India. 



Anthropological Institute, February 12. — Mr. John Evans, 

 D.C.L., F.R.S,, president, in the chair. — Mr. H. C. Sorby, 

 F.R.S., read a paper on the various colouring matter met with 

 in human hair. In this paper the author described the manner 

 in which the various coloured substances met with in human hair 

 may be separated and distinguished. Four quite different and 

 well characterised pigments have been obtained, but of these two 

 serve to modify the tints of hair to only a very limited extent. 

 The general colour is mainly due to a black and a brown -red 

 pigment, both of which can be easily obtained in a separate form, 

 and used like water colours, as shown by the numerous drawings 

 which were exhibited. All the varying lints of black, brown, 

 dark and lighter red, and most of the p^e tints are easily proved 



