NATURE 



{June 3, 1875 



the star system 61 Cygni ; discussion of M. Flammarion's latest j 

 papers on the subject. — On the repulsive power of comets, by 

 G. V. Schiaparelli. — On the respiration of Fungi, by Herr j 

 MUntz. — On over-saturated solutions and the dissociation 

 of salts in solution, by A. Tscherbatschew. — On forests, the 

 courses of rivers, and atmospheric moisture, by L. Fautrat. — On 

 the radiation of the sun ; observations made at the Observatory 

 of Montsouris, near Paris, by Marie-Davy. — On the time of 

 reaction of the sense of taste at the tip of the tongue, by Herren 

 M. v. Vintschgrau and J. Honigschmied. — On colouring matters 

 and the sensitiveness towards light of several silver salts, by II. 

 W.Vogel. — On the decomposition of vegetable xanthophyll by 

 light, by J. Wiesner. — On the circulation of ammo'iia in the 

 atmosphere, by Herr Al. Schloesing. — On some glacier-pheno- 

 mena in the Bavarian high plateaus ; a communication made to the 

 Munich Academy, by Herr Zittel. — Researches on the process of 

 digestion in the intestines of sheep, by Eugen Wildt. — Some re- 

 searches on magnetism, by M. Bouty. — On the antiseptic properties 

 of salicylicacid ; an extract ixoxaiheyournal filr prakiische Chemie, 

 by Herr Kolbe. — On the direct observation of the atmosphere of 

 Venus, by C. S. Lyman ; results of these observations show the 

 horizontal refraction of Venus' atmosphere to be 44''5 ; in 1866 

 it had been determined at 45' "3, and Madler in 1849 had found 

 it 43' 7. Mr. Lyman measured the diameter of the planet six 

 times on Dec. 10 (the day after the transit), and found it on the 

 average to be 63" 'l;. the average of eleven measurements on 

 Dec. II was 63"-75. — On the electric action of a thermal source 

 at Baden, Switzerland, by Herren Thury and Alb. Minich. 



Zeitschrift der Oesterreichischen Gesellschaft fiir Meteorelogie, 

 March 15. — On the relation between differences of atmospheric 

 pressure and velocity of wind, according to the theories of 

 Ferrel and Colding, by Dr. Harm. The author begins with a 

 review of the two theories of storms, the older of which has 

 been accepted chiefly in Germany, the other in America 

 and the Northern States of Europe. According to the 

 former, whirlwinds are formed mechanically by different streams 

 of air meeting, and centrifugal force causes the central de- 

 pression. The more modern theory regards a local depres- 

 sion as the first condition, causing an indraught resulting in 

 a whirlwind through the earth's rotation. The primary de- 

 pression is held to follow condensation of vapour. Probably 

 there is something right in each of these views. Eddies can, 

 doubtless, be formed by currents meeting at certain angles, but 

 the direction of rotation would not be invariable in each hemi- 

 sphere. Besides, the mechanical resistance to the progress and 

 continuance of a whirlwind so formed would, without incon- 

 ceivably favourable conditions, be far too great to be overcome. 

 Dr. Hann recognises the part played by vapour in storms, but 

 thinks that many meteorologists rely too much on it in their 

 need, and points to the works of Hopkins and Laughton for 

 instances of this partiality. He believes that the greater part of 

 the low pressure which accompanies storms must be explained 

 by mechanical laws, and that the local differences of pressure in 

 a cyclone or even in a straight-blowing current (if such there be) 

 follow from movements of the air. Condensation may cause a 

 depression, and that depression we know may cause winds which 

 produce a depression ten or fifteen times greater. Prof. Ferrel 

 endeavours to show mathematically that depressions are due to 

 centrifugal force and the earth's rotation. Colding considers 

 tropical hurricanes as true whirlwinds, and his values for pressure 

 from centre to edge reckoned from this hypothesis agree with 

 observation. Now, there is no reason why centrifugal force 

 should not act in spirally-whirling storms in relation to radius 

 and velocity. The earth's rotation adds to the effect of this 

 force, and the result is a diminution of pressure towards the 

 centre on the earth's surface. The enormous extent of some 

 minima is thus explained, which an ascending current and preci- 

 pitation fail to account for. Dr. Hann proceeds to develop 

 mathematically the theories of Ferrel and Colding, and gives the 

 following formula (i) for finding the barometric gradient : — 



A^ = ^gy-.-^(2»sin.<^ + «)4/ 



where B is the height of the barometer at point of observation, 

 T the absolute temperature (i.e. 273* + /),/= 50 geographical 

 miles, « the angular velocity of rotation, « the angular velocity of 

 the earth's rotation, ^ the latitude, and v the distance traversed 

 in unit of time. In this equation it is assumed that the circula- 

 tion is simple, without friction, and not inducing new masses of 

 air. — In the Kldnere Mittheilungen we have an article on Baum- 

 hauer's Meteorograph, and some extracts from a letter of Prof. 



Mohn, dated 21st December last, on cyclonic minima. In this 

 letter the writer states that having called the attention of Herr 

 Guldberg to the fact that Colding's point of view is quite different 

 from that of the new school of meteorologists, that gentleman 

 worked out his own formula and found as much agreement 

 between his results and observations of an Antilles hurricane as 

 Colding found by his method. The factors taken into considera- 

 tion by Herr Guldberg were, barometric gradient, rotation of the 

 earth, centrifugal force, and friction of the air. Prof. Mohn 

 believes the central minimum to be a mechanical effect of rota- 

 tion. He discovered lately that Prof. Ferrel had worked with 

 similar formulae and had derived therefrom similar results, but 

 he intends to pursue his task, and believes it will be ascertained 

 that relations of pressure are in great part functions of 

 movement. 



The Bulletin Mensuel de la Sociiti d' Acclimatation dt Paris 

 for February gives the customary yearly summary by M. 

 Quihou of the principal experiments carried out in the Jardin 

 d' Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne during 1874, and of 

 the most important plants cultivated there. ■ — M. Jeannel 

 gives a report on various experiments conducted by him 

 during the year in the Jardin de Luxembourg with the object 

 of testing the value of mineral manures in horticulture. — 

 The nev/ kind of silkworm, Attacus Yama-mai, is the subject 

 of a long paper by M. F. A. Bigot. — An attempt made by 

 M. Victor Fleury to acclimatise the Siberian rabbit in France 

 has not entirely succeeded, but excellent results have ensued in 

 the crossing of this race with the common grey rabbit of the 

 country. — The value of the Eucalyptus globulus in correcting the 

 unhcalthiness of marshy and other lands is proved by its effect 

 in certain parts of Algeria, where, in the neighbourhood of Lake 

 Fezzara, in Constantine, a large area of land hitherto noted for 

 its insalubrity has greatly improved since the plantation of a 

 large number of these trees. 



Annali di Chitnica applicata alia Medicina, Feb. and March, 

 1875. — These numbers contain the following papers :— On 

 diastase and some preparations from malt, by H. Duquesnel. — 

 On croton-chloral, by Engel. — On a carbonic solution of tribasic 

 phosphate of lirne, by Chevrier. — On a glycerine solution of 

 iodide of potassium, by C. O. Barberis. — On the ventilation of 

 closed localities, by G. P. — On vinic alcohol, aldehyde, and 

 ethers : experimental researches made in the Physiological 

 Laboratory of Padua, by Drs. P. Albertoni and F. Lussana. — 

 On ferments and fermentations in the human organism, by A. 

 Pavia. — On some fermentation processes by J. Macagno. — On a 

 simple, easy, quick, and certain means to distinguish in man- 

 kind real death from apparent, by Dr. A. Monteverdi. This 

 consists of injecting under the skin an aqueous solution of 

 ammonia, and watching the appearance of the blister produced. 

 — On blood fibrine and the formation of a substance analogous to 

 ordinary albumen, by A. Gautier. — Researches on the parasite 

 that produces whooping-cough, by Dr. Lebrerich. — On apo- 

 morphia, by G. Hirne. — A note on cremation, by the editor of 

 the Annals, Dr. G. Polli. 



The Gazzetta Chimica Italiana, fasc. iii. 1875, contains the 

 following papers : — On the action of acetyl chloride upon san- 

 tonine and santonic acid, by F. Sestini. — On some derivatives 

 from alphatoluic acid, by C. Colombo and P. Spica. — On the 

 formation of sugar in fruits, by M. Mercadante. — On a new 

 method of determining the tannic acid contained in wines, by A. 

 Carpane. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



London 



Linnean Society, May 6.— Anniversary Meeting.— Dr. G.J. 

 AUman, F.R.S., president, in the chair. — The officers of the 

 Society were elected for the ensuing year as follows, viz. : — 

 President, Dr. G. J. Allman, F.R.S. ; Treasurer, Dr. J. Gwyn 

 Jeffreys, F.R.S.; Secretaries: T. Currey, F.R.S., and St. 

 George Mivart, F.R.S. ; and as Members of the Council : Dr. 

 J. D. Hooker, Pres. R.S. ; Dr. J. G. Jeffreys, F.R.S. ; Major- 

 General Scott, C.B. ; R. B. Sharpe, and Chas. Stewart, in the 

 place of J. Miers, F.R.S., T. P. Pascoe, Major-General 

 Strachey, F.R.S., Dr. H. Trimen, and the late D. Hanbury, 

 F. R.S. The President then delivered an address on the History 

 and Development of the Infusoria. 



Anthropological Institute, May 25. — Col. A. Lane Fox, 

 president, in the chair, — Mr. T. G. B. Lloyd read papers •n 



