72 



NATURE 



{Nov. 17, 1887 



tend to overthrow the fundamental principles of the \ views 

 generally held regarding the part played by both hemispheres in 

 producing voluntary movements. Several interesting manifesta- 

 tions are described, proving that the motor effects of cerebral 

 irritations are in absolute contradiction to the current theories. — 

 On the Elasmotherium, by M. Albert Gaudry. In conijection 

 with some remains of this extinct mammal recently found on the 

 River Kinel in the government of Samara (Russia), and pre- 

 sented to the Academy by M. Paul Ossoskoff, some remarks are 

 made by the author, who assigns to the Elasmotherium a 

 position intermediate in size between the mammoth and 

 [Rhinoceros tichorhinus, his contemporaries. In his general 

 structure he appears to have approached more nearly to the 

 latter animal, the radius, tibia, cubitus, calcaneum, and some 

 other bones presenting the closest resemblance to those of a 

 gigantic rhinoceros. — On a geometric form of the effects of 

 radiation in the diurnal motion of the stars, by M. Gruey. A 

 number of propositions are here announced, whose further 

 development and demonstration are reserved for a future 

 number of the Bulletin Astronomique, where a full demon- 

 stration will be given of the theorem that, in a sidereal 

 day the apparent position of a star describes a conic 

 section round its true position. — On the internal tempera- 

 ture of glaciers, by MM. Ed. Hagenbach and F. A. 

 Forel. The different temperatures determined by careful experi- 

 ment in the Arolla glacier are explained by .the varying pressure 

 to which different parts of the glacier are subjected. The nor- 

 mal temperature below zero is shown to be the effect of pressure, 

 which lowers the melting-point of ice, thus verifying in Nature 

 facts already theoretically demonstrated by Sir W. Thomson 

 and others, but hitherto studied only in the laboratory. — Remarks 

 on the Gulf Stream, by M. J. Thoulet. Comparing his own 

 observations made on board the Clorinde in 1886 with those of 

 Mr. Buchanan during the Challenger Expedition, the author finds 

 that the Gulf Stream is comparable to a river with a greater fall in 

 its upper than in its lower reaches. A relatively steep valley 

 separates it on the left from the United States current setting 

 southwards from Newfoundland, while its more gently sloping 

 right bank skirting the ocean presents a much broader expanse. 

 Thus is explained the direction of the driftwood carried from 

 America towards the north-west coast of Europe. — Researches 

 on the distribution of temperature and of barometric pressure on 

 the surface of the globe, by M. Alexis de Tillo. The author 

 describes some general charts which he has prepared, based on 

 the labours of M. Leon Teisserenc de Bort, and of Herr J. 

 Hann, of Vienna, showing the mean isobars and isothermal 

 lines for the year, and the months of January and July, for 

 the whole world. For the general conditions of the ter- 

 restrial atmosphere he finds that, when the mean tempera- 

 ture ^ ^ I within the limits of i''"6 and 4° 7, the pressure 



increases ) ^^ ^j^^ extent of 1 millimetre.— On the metal- 

 dimmishes \ 



lie derivatives of acetylacetone, by M. Alphonse Combes. 

 From the researches here described, the author concludes 

 that this substance decomposes all the carbonates, even that 

 of potassa ; that it displaces the acetic acid of the acetate of 

 copper, and even the hydrochloric acid ; that it consequently 

 acts as a strong acid on the metallic salts. Nothing, so far, dis- 

 tinguishes its action from that of a monobasic acid, although this 

 function is clearly distinguished by certain properties of its salts 

 from the acid function properly so called. — On the part played 

 by the stomata in the inspiration and expiration of gases, by M. 

 L. Mangin. From the experiments here described the author 

 concludes generally that the stomata are indispensable for the 

 circulation of the gases in aerial plants, the occlusion of these 

 orifices bringing about a greater or lesser diminution in the 

 exchanges of the respiratory gases, and a very considerable 

 decrease in the exchanges of chlorophyll ian gases. — On the 

 invasion of Coniothyrium diplodiella in 1887, by MM. G. Foex 

 and L. Ravaz. This organism, already observed in 1879 by 

 Spegazzini in Italy, and in 1885 by Viala in the department of 

 the Isere, has this year invaded an extensive region in the 

 South of France. Whether it is a true parasite, or a saprophyte, 

 or whether it assumes both of these characters according to 

 circumstances, is a point which has not yet been decided. 



Berlin. 



Meteorological Society, November i. — Prof, von Bezold, 

 President, in the chair. — Dr. von Helmholtz discussed his most 



recent researches on the formation of mist under the influence of 

 chemical processes, and laid stress at the same time upon the 

 relation of his results to the phenomena of meteorology. — Dr. 

 Sprung gave an account of observations made with thermometers 

 attached to various barometers. During a comparison of the 

 barometers from various stations with a normal barometer, the 

 experiments being conducted in a cellar, he found that the 

 thermometers showed considerable differences in their readings ; 

 their differences wtre still observed when the comparison of the 

 barometers was made in a room at the surface of the earth, and 

 the barometers were placed side by side in the same frame. 

 The speaker was hence led to compare three thermometers, of 

 which one was surrounded by a nickel-plated cylinder; the 

 second was surrounded by a varnished cylinder, and the third 

 had no covering at all. When placed near an open window the 

 instrument with the nickel-plated covering registered the highest 

 temperature, but when placed near a hot stove it recorded the 

 lowest. The differences in reading varied at different times of 

 the year, and amounted to several degrees. In practice these 

 differences of the thermometer-reading can have no influence on 

 the reading of the barometer, since it may be assumed that the 

 mercury in the barometer has always the same temperature as 

 that indicated by the thermometer, and that the reading of the 

 barometer is reduced to zero. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



A Practical Trpatisp on Bridge Construction : T, riayfnn Firtlpr fHriffinV 

 The Real History of the Rosicrucians : A. E. Waite (Redway). — Calendar 

 of University College, Nottingham, 1887-88. — Totemism : J. G. Frazer 

 (Black). — Animal Magnetism : Binet and Fere (Kegan Paul).— Living 

 Lights : C. F. Holder (Sampson Low). — L'Homme avant I'Histoire : Ch. 

 Debierre (Bailliere).— The Flora of Howth: H. C. Hart (Hodges, Figgis, 

 and Co.). — Lectures on Bacteria: A. De Bary ; second improved edition, 

 translated by H. E. F. Garnsey, revised by L B. Balfi.ur (Clarendon Press). 

 — The Final Results of the Iriangulation of the New York State Survey 

 (Albany, N.Y.). — Catalogue of the Moths of India, part 1 : Cotes and 

 Swinhoe (Calcutta). — China in America ; a Study in the Social Life of the 

 Chinese : .S. Culin (Philadelphia). — Catalog der Conchylien-Sammlung, 

 Vierte Lief (Paetel, Berlin). — Fishery Barometer Manual : R. H. Scott 

 (Eyre and Spottiswoode). - Folk-lore Journal, vol. v. part 4 (Stock). — Pro- 

 ceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, No. 123. — Journal of the 

 Royal Agricultural Society, October (Murray). — Archives Italiennes de 

 Biologie, tome viii. fasc. iii. (Loescher, Turin). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Politics and the Presidency of the Royal Society . . 49 

 The Storage of Electrical Energy. By Prof. John 



Perry, F.R.S 50 



Fritsch's Crustacean Fauna of the Chalk of Bohemia 51 

 Our Book Shelf :— 



Dana: " Manual of Mineralogy and Petrography " , . 53 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



"A Conspiracy of Silence."— The Duke of Argyll, 



F.R.S 53 



The Theories of the Origin of Coral Reefs and Islands. 



T, Mellard Reade 54 



Earthquake at the Bahamas. — Robert H. Scott, 

 F.R.S. ; G. R. McGregor; Byron N. Jones 



and Cornelius S. E. Lotman 54 



Researches on Meteorites. I. {Illustrated.) By J. 



Norman Lockyer, F.R.S 55 



Fairy-Rings 61 



Notes 63 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Astronomical Society of France 66 



The Lick Observatory 66 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1887 



November 20-26 66 



Geographical Notes (>^ 



Meteorological Notes 67 



Gems and Ornamental Stones of the United States. 



By Dr. A. E. Foote 68 



The October Meteor-Shower of 1887. By W. F. 



Denning 69 



On some of the Affinities between the Ganoidei 

 Chondrostei and other Fishes. By Dr. Nicholas 



Zograff 70 



Scientific Serials T^ 



Societies and Academies 7' 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 72 



