3iB 



NATURE 



Aug. 19, 1875 



new forms. 3. The disappearance of the nuclei is accom- 

 panied by a pecuhar star-shaped formation, which Auer- 

 bach deduces from the flowing apart of the nucleus 

 matter. Biitschli has lately published new observations 

 on the same subject (" Siebold's und KolUker's Zeitschrift 

 fiir wissenschaftliche Zoologie," 1875), from which it must 

 be specially pointed out that even the first nucleus of the 

 fertilished ovum of some Nematoidea, and of the fresh- 

 water mollusc, Limnaaus, results from the confluence of 

 several little bubbles. Flemming has found Auerbach's 

 observations confirmed with the fresh-water shell, Ano- 

 donta (" Archiv fiir mikroskopische Anatomie," band x., 

 and " Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften 

 zu Wien III. Abtheilung," 1875"); he only differs so 

 far from Auerbach in the interpretation of what he saw, 

 that he does not deduce the " carpolytical figures " of the 

 latter from the nucleus matter which radiates from the 

 centre of the nucleus, but from a peculiar structure in the 

 surrounding yolk-protoplasm, which he considers to be in 

 connection with each division of the yolk and the new 

 formation of the nuclei. But he does not interpret the 

 process of this new formation. Flemming, in his second 

 paper, describes the observations on a radiated arrange- 

 ment of the yolk, which had previously been made occa- 

 sionally with several other animals, without the ob- 

 servers being able to explain these phenomena or trying 

 to investigate them further. We must, however, remark 

 here that Goette, in the work we mentioned in our 

 last report, has not only completely described the 

 intei'ior process of the division of the ovum of Rep- 

 tilia, but has also attempted a uniform explanation of 

 the same. According to his experience no nuclei at 

 all are formed for some time in the division parts of 

 the yolk, but only nuclei-shaped interior transformation 

 products of the yolk, which are only apparently separated 

 from their surroundings, but are in reality in continuous 

 connection with them. These interior formations origi- 

 nate as collecting points of a radiated and universal proto- 

 plasm current in the yolk, which in turn results from the 

 reciprocal action of the ovum and the surrounding medium. 

 The difference in the currents is said to cause (in a 

 manner described in detail) the division of these in- 

 terior formations, and, as a consequence, the division of 

 the surrounding yolk material. The radiated arrange- 

 ment of the latter round the brighter centres is only 

 imperfectly visible in Batracfna ; but Goette has ob- 

 served it in the ova of Ascidia, and interpreted it in the 

 way just described. The definite nuclei of embryo cells, 

 which result immediately from the division of the yolk, 

 Goette supposes to be formed within those centres from a 

 number of grains, which are at first greatly augmented, and 

 then finally unite completely. But these origins of the 

 nuclei do not disappear during the divisions of the yolk. 

 If now we compare all the observations mentioned, we 

 first of all find them all agreeing that the divisio7i 0/ the 

 yolk is no simple cell division, such as is elsewhere found in 

 the tissues of developed organisms ; for the remainder, 

 the observations do not agree. While Goette supposes a 

 gradual and continual progress of the formation of cells 

 beginning from the first division, the other observers in- 

 cline to the belief that at each division an interruption 

 and a consequent re-beginning of the formation of cells 

 takes place, as the once formed nuclei are said to disappear 

 continually and new ones are said to form. 



NOTES 

 The U.S. Government have just shown in a handsome manner 

 their appreciation of the services rendered by Dr. Henry Draper 

 in connection with the U.S. observation of the recent Transit of 

 Venus, by presenting him with a gold medal made at the U.S. 

 Mint at Philadelphia. On the obverse is the motto, from Virgil, 

 "Famam extendere factis hoc virtutis opus est," and in the 



centre a figure of the heliostat which was jused by Dr. Draper in 

 training the photographers. On the reverse is the inscription, 

 " Veneris in sole spectandae curatores, R. P. F. S. Henrico 

 Draper, M.D., Dec. viii. MDCCCLXXlv." The phrase around 

 the edge of the reverse, "Decori decus addit avito," conveys a 

 tribute of praise to the literary and scientific attainments of Dr. 

 Draper, sen. The Transit Commission have also sent Dr. 

 Draper a handsomely bound set of resolutions illuminated in 

 medieval style, with a telescope, camera, &c. We are sure all 

 scientific men v.'ill join in congratulating Dr. Draper on his 

 well-deserved honour, and at the same time the U.S. Govern- 

 ment on their, 'enlightenment in thus acknowledging the glory 

 which the triumphs of pure science have shed upon a nation ; 

 they have set a striking example to our own and other European 

 Governments. 



The fifth session of the French Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, as we intimated in our last number, will be 

 opened to-day at Nantes. The principal attraction will be the 

 excursions ; one of them will last for more than three days, a 

 war-steamer having been placed at the service of the Associa- 

 tion by the Minister of Marine. The excursionists will visit 

 Vannes and its prehistorical museums, the megalithic monuments 

 of Locmariaques, the celebrated remains at Carnac, the sland of 

 Belle-ile, and Lorient. No doubt there will be a great rush 

 for the excursion. The list of papers to be read is a very 

 long one. In the Mathematical Section a large number of the 

 papers are on engineering subjects, and in the Natural Science 

 Section a large proportion are on medical subjects, besides a good 

 many on prehistoric archaeology. Among the latter class are the 

 following :— Dr. Broca, On the anthropology of Brittany ; 

 The Dolmens of the Lozere, by Dr. Prunieres ; On the funeral 

 rites of prehistoric times in Scandinavia, by M. Waldemar- 

 Schmidt. Other papers in this section are : On a new ele- 

 mentary theory of botany, by Dr. Ecorchard ; On the meaning 

 which it is proper to attach to the word "Mollusc" as a 

 taxonomic term, and On the organisation of Rhizomes, by 

 Dr. Gulland ; On the Fauna of the Lake of Tiberias, by 

 Dr. Lortet ; On the pressure and rate of the blood in the 

 arteries, by M. Marey. In the Section of Physical and Chemical 

 Sciences we note the following : — On Microzymes in their relation 

 to fermentation and physiology, On two new principles of wine, 

 and On the origin of Bacteria, by Prof. Bechamp ; Experiments 

 on the rate of light between the Paris Observatory and Mont- 

 Ihery, by M. A. Cornu ; On the use of the spectroscope in the 

 manufacture of Bessemer steel, by M. V. Deshayes ; The meteor- 

 ology and physics of the Polar Regions, by the Abbe Durand j 

 On molecular combinations, by M. C. Friedel ; On the limits of 

 permanent snow and ice on the surface of the globe. On a 

 magneto-dynamic galvanoscope, and On the chemical constitution 

 of albuminoid matters, by M. P. Schiitzenberger ; On a polymer 

 of the oxide of ethylene, and on the dissociation of the salts ot 

 aniline, by M. A. Wurtz. There will be two public lectures — 

 one by Prof. Bureau, of the Paris Museum, On the Natural 

 Sciences at Nantes, and the other. On Acoustics — the timbre of 

 sounds, by Dr. Gavarret. 



The above Association is not the only French institution which 

 was created after the model of the British Association. M. de 

 Caumont, who died four years ago, instituted another annual 

 sciendfic congress, which will hold its forty-first session at 

 Perigueux, in the department of Dordogne. Every year this 

 association meets in a provincial town during summer, and at 

 Paris during the recess of Easter. The members are mostly 

 Legitimists and Roman Catholics. 



The forty-eighth meeting of the German Sciendfic and 

 Medical Association will commence this year on the 17th 

 of September at Graz (Austria). The two branches will be 



