8o 



NA TURE 



\JVIay 27, 1875 



he estimates that the amount of energy afforded by the crushing 

 of the solid crust would be sufficient to account for terrestrial 

 vukanicity, some strictures were made ; but it was held that, if 

 the main proposition had not been proved, these calculations 

 were not of essential importance. 



Meteorological Society, May 19.— Dr. R, J. Mann, 

 president, in the chair.— The following papers were read :— On 

 some practical points connected with the construction of light- 

 ning conductors, by Dr. R. J. Mann. This paper dealt espe- 

 cially with the material and dimensions of conductors, the nature 

 and influence of points, the essentials of earth contacts, connec- 

 tion with metallic masses forming a part of the construction of 

 buildings, the power of induction in producing return shocks, 

 the dangerous action of metal chimney-pots upon unprotected 

 chimney shafts, and the facility with which houses may be effi- 

 ciently protected when the defence is made part of the original 

 design of the architect. The conditions which were finally 

 insisted upon as indispensable to efficiency of protection were :— 

 I. Ample dimension and unbroken continuity in the lightning 

 rod. 2. Large and free earth contacts, with frequent examina- 

 tion by galvanometers of the condition ot these to prove that they 

 are not in process of impairment through the operation of 

 chemical erosion. 3. The employment of sufficient points above 

 to dominate all parts of the building. 4. The addition of ter- 

 minal points to the conducting system wherever any part of the 

 structure of the building comes near to the limiting surface of a 

 conical space having the main point of the conductor for its 

 height, and a breadth equal to twice the height of that point 

 from the earth for the diameter of its base. 5. The avoidance 

 of all less elevated conducting divergencies within striking dis- 

 tance of the conductor, and especially such dangerous divergen- 

 cies of this character as gas-pipes connected with the general 

 mains, and therefore forming good earth contacts. — On certain 

 small oscillations of the barometer, by the Hon. Ralph Aber- 

 cromby. These small oscillations of the barometer (sometimes 

 called "pumping") have long been associated with gusts of 

 wind, but the precise nature of their action has not been deter- 

 mined. The author gives two examples as typical :— i. Win- 

 dow looking S., wind nearly S., in strong gusts. In this case 

 the first motion of the barometer was always upwards about 

 o-oi inch, as if the effect of the wind being arrested by the 

 house was to compress the air in the room. 2. A corner house, 

 one window to S., another to W., wind S. in strong gusts. With 

 the W. window open there were violent oscillations, but in this 

 case the first motion was always downwards. On opening the 

 S. window as well, the pumping ceased. The explanation seems 

 to be, that the wind blowing past the W. window drew air out of 

 the room, but when the S. window was opened as much air 

 came in as was drawn out, and the pumping ceased. It is well 

 known to medical men that many acute diseases are aggravated 

 by strong winds ; and the author has observed this distress to be 

 associated with the pumping of the barometer. He suggests the 

 following practical methods of palliittion :— -If windows can be 

 borne open, try by crossing, or otherwise altering the drafts, 

 to diminish the distress. When, as in most cases, windows 

 cannot be open, all doors and windows should be closely shut, 

 as well as the vent of the chimney, if there is no fire ; and, if 

 possible, the patient should be moved to a room on the lee side 

 of the house. — Proposed modification of the mechanism at pre- 

 sent in use for reading barometers so that the third decimal place 

 may be obtained absolutely, by Mr. R. E. Power. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, May 10.— M. Fremy in the chair.— 

 The following papers were read -.—On the substitution by approxi- 

 mation within determined limits of the relation of variables of a 

 homogeneous function to two variables of another homogeneous 

 function of the same degree, by M. H. Resal.— A letter by M. 

 Faye, on the distribution of temperature on the sun's surface and 

 the recent measurements of M. Langley.— Observations on the 

 PandanetB of New Caledonia, by M. A. Brogniart.— On a loco- 

 motive on stilts instead of wheels, by M. Tresca. — On a law 

 connected with the work performed by steam-engines, by M. A. 

 Ledieu. — The President then welcomed M. Fleuriais, the chief 

 of the party of observers sent to Pekin to observe the Transit 

 of Venus. M. Fleuriais then read a detailed description of 

 the work done by the expedition and of the journey, which 

 ■ was accompanied by many difficulties. — Observations on the 

 epoch of disappearance of the ancient fauna of Rodrigues Island, 

 by M. Alph. Milne-Edwards. — Memoir on the formula; of per- 



turbation, by M. E. Mathieu. — On some properties of algebraic 

 curves, by M. Laguerre. — On the toxicological effects of the 

 bark of Mancone, by MM. Gallois and Plardy. — On observations 

 made with different Phylloxera, by M. Lichtenstein. — The 

 Minister for Public Instruction transmitted to the Academy a 

 letter, dated Capetown, Feb. 22, 1875, ^"^'^'^ M. Lanen, and con- 

 taining interesting data regarding the fauna and the flora of the 

 Kerguelen Islands. These data arc due to the observations 

 made by Dr. Kidder, a naturalist who was attached to the 

 Transit of Venus party sent to those islands by the United 

 States. — A note by M. Gamier, on the use of glycerine in 

 the treatment of glycosuria. — On the theory of storms, a reply 

 toM. Faye, by M. Peslin. — On the presence of sulphuric anhy- 

 dride in the gaseous products of the combustion of iron pyrites ; 

 note by M. A. Scheurer Kestner. — On the quaternary lignites of 

 Jarville, near Nancy, by M. P. Fliche.— M. d'Abbadie then 

 spoke on the iirst results of observations made by M. de Rossi, 

 on the microscopical movements of freely-suspended pendula. — 

 M. Virlet d'Aoust, in relation to the recent catastrophe with the 

 Zenith balloon, pointed out the danger in the quick passage 

 through strata of air of variable densities. 



May 17. — M. Fremy in the chair.— The following papers were 

 read : — Meridian observations of the minor planets, made at the 

 Observatories of Greenwich and Paris during the first quarter of 

 1875. The planets observed were the following :— i, 46, 49, 59, 

 33, 24, 67, 15, 18, 94, 103, 109, 134, 7, 124, 25, 47, 53, 54, 73, 

 84, and loi. This communication was made by M. Leverrier. 

 — Observations by M. Leymerie, on a note of M. Trutal relating 

 to a Pliocene deposit in the Eastern Pyrenees. — On the swimming- 

 bladder of Caratix trachuriis, and on the hydrostatic function of 

 that organ, by M. A. Moreau. — On chemical and physiological 

 ferments, by M. A. Miintz. — Experiments and observations relat- 

 ing to glutinous fermentation, by M. A. Baudrimont. — A note by 

 M. de Tastes, on the theory of cyclones. — Anatomical, physio- 

 logical, and pathological researches on the human ovum in its 

 relation to the diseases of the foetus, by M. G. J. Martin Saint- 

 Ange. — Observations of the moon and of moon culminating 

 stars, made at Melbourne Observatory, by Mr. Robert EUery 

 (communicated by M. Leverrier). — On mercury-cataracts, by M. 

 C. Decharrae. — A note by M. de Fonvielle, on the precautions 

 to be used when making balloon ascents to a great height. 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 



Foreign. — Zeitschrift fiir Wissenschaftliche Zoologie : Carl Theodor von 

 Siebold, Albert von Koliiker, und Ernest Ehlers (Leipzig, W. Engelmann). 

 — Jahrbiicher fiir Wissenschaftliche' Botanik : Dr. N. Pringsheim (Leipzig, 

 W. Engelmann). — Recherches sur les Phenomenes de la digestion chez les 

 Insectes : Felix Plateau (Bruxelles, F. Hayez). — Le Scoperte del Fusinieri. 

 Influence de la pression de I'air sur la vie.de I'homme. 2 vols. : D. Jourdanet 

 (Paris, G. Masson). — Der Venusmond und die Untersuchungen iiber die. 

 friiheren Beobachtungen dieses Mondes : Dr. F. Schorr (Braunschweig, 

 Friedrich Viewes: und Sohn). — Etudes Premieres et Secondes sur les seiches 

 du lac Leman : K. A. Forel (Lausanne, Rouge et Dubois). — Repertoriumliir 

 Meteorologie : Dr. H. Wild (Russia). — Annales de I'observatoire Physique 

 Central de Russie : Dr. H. Wild (Russia). — Traversee du Detroit par le 

 CapitaineP. Boyton. (Boulogne-sur-Mer, Charles Aigre). 



CONTENTS 



Pagi 



The Arctic Expedition 61 



Sachs's "Text-Book OF Botany." By Prof. W. R. M 'Nab ... 62 



Dr. Chambers's "Manual OF Diet" 64 



OuK Book Shelf : — 



Heath's " Doctrine of Energy " 65 



Noad's " Chemical Analysis " 65 



Letters to the Editor: — 



"The Unseen Universe."— The Authors of "The Unseen 



Universe" •. • •. ^ 



Sense of Humour and Reason in Animals. — George J. Romanes . 66 



Equilibrium of Gases. — R. C. Nichols 67 



Contributions to the Natural History of the Wolf (Canis ^allij^es) 



of Northern India. — E. Bonavia 67 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



I Leporis(Fl.) 67 



The Comet of December 1872 (Klinkerfues — Pogson) 67 



Lectures at the Zoological Gardens, IV. : Mr. Garrod on Ante- 

 lopes and then: Allies 68 



Rare Animal at the Manchester Aquarium. By W. Savillh- 



Kent, F.L.S 69 



The Progress of the Telegraph, VI. (ff^iVA/Z/wi/ra/iV/i) ... 69 

 The Indian Trigonomethical Survey. By Col. J. T. Walker, 

 F.R.S 72 



The Biological Department of the British Museum , 



Notes 



Scientific Serials ^ 



Societies and Academies 



Books and Pamphlets Beceived . , 



74 



