June 5, 1879] 



NATURE 



135 



the electric current in the way indicated ? (The diamonds are 

 very expensive and are gradually lost by being detached from the 

 pieces to which they are fixed.) Platina electrodes would not be 

 necessary, for it is not here the metal of the electrode that is 

 altered, but the silicious matter, in presence of the saline solu- 

 tion. Metallic points or rods distributed suitably at the end of 

 the drill-stem, insulated in part of their length and animated 

 by rotatory motion, would bring the electric current to the sur- 

 face of the rock to be pulverised. The progress recently realised 

 in the production of electricity by mechanical means might 

 facilitate this application. 



If perpetual motion be defined as that of a body which, after 

 having received an impulse, continues to move indefinitely in 

 virtue of its inertia alone, it is, M. Plateau considers, realisable. 

 He introduces a foreign force of constant nature to destroy re- 

 sistance, instead of (as in the case of a pendulum) restoring 

 motion which resistance has withdrawn. Thus, conceive a 

 horizontal disk movable round a vertical axis fixed to the centre 

 of its under surface. A small hemispherical cavity is made on 

 the upper face. A motor force of rapid rotation is got from a 

 reservoir below the lowest water of a river, giving a uniform 

 intense flow by a lower orifice. Before letting the water act on 

 the disk, a top, previously set in very quick rotation, is deposited 

 with its point in the middle of the hemispherical cavity ; then 

 the top is covered with a glass bell jar, which is fixed with its 

 axis coinciding with that of the apparatus. The disk with the 

 bell jar is then set rotating by means of the water in the same 

 direction as the top. After a certain time (it may be supposed) 

 the movements of disk, top, and inclosed air will be equalised ; 

 then the top will no longer experience resistance at its point, for 

 the support turns as quickly as it and in the same direction ; nor 

 will it, from surrounding air, for this also has the same angular 

 velocity. Thus we should have the curious spectacle of a top 

 remaining indefinitely in equilibrium on its point, presenting a 

 case of perpetual motion in the sense defined. Of course the 

 water would have to be let off after action on the apparatus, also 

 the surplus water of the reservoir. 



We have received from Messrs. Dent and Co. an interesting 

 summary of the principal works executed by that house since its 

 foundation in 1814. The last noted is the commencement in 

 1879 of the great galvanic chronographic apparatus of the Im- 

 perial Observatory of Japan. 



Two other volumes of the " Natural History Rambles" series 

 have been sent us by the S.P.C.K. — " Mountain and Moor," by 

 Dr. J. E. Taylor; and "Lakes and Rivers," by Mr. Groom 

 Napier. 



The Asiatic Society of Japan are showing considerable activity 

 in the issue of their publications, for another number of their 

 Transactions has lately come to hand. This opens with some 

 curious notes on the analysis of bamboo-shoots, which are much 

 used as an article of food in Japan. Dr. Dwars arrives at the 

 conclusion that the shoots examined at that period of their deve- 

 lopment must be considered a nourishing vegetable, and that 

 they may even rival the cauhflower and asparagus. Mr. Satow 

 : '.I plies the first of a series of papers on ancient Japanese rituals, 

 as v.ellas some instructive notes on the vicissitudes of the Church 

 at Yamaguchi from a.d. 1550 to 1586. 



A NOTABLE change has taken place in the Jardin des Plantes 

 of Paris, and should be noticed by foreigners. All the galleries 

 and houses are open every day from one to four without any 

 ticket of admittance being required from visitors. The plant- 

 houses only are closed on Sunday. 



A Municipal School has been recently established in Paris 

 for apprenticeship in the work of wood and iron. 



A PART of the buildings of the Universal Exhibition has been 

 purchased by the French War Office for the use of the aeronautical 

 school at Meudon. It will be utilised for building and inflating 

 balloons. 



The large Giffard Captive Balloon is ready for inflation, and 

 the gas will be passed into it as soon as the state of [the_weather 

 will permit the operation to begin. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a White-thighed Colobus (Cololms bicolor) 

 from West Africa, presented by Dr. H. Hart ; two Silky Mar- 

 mosets {Midas rosalia) from South-East Brazil, presented by 

 Mrs. Hector ; a Capybara (Hydrochcenis capybara) from South 

 America, presented by Mr. H. B. Whitmarsh ; a Puff Adder 

 ( Vipera arietans) from West Africa, presented by Surgeon F. 

 Speer ; a Brown Hyiena (Hyana brunnca) from South Africa, an 

 Argus Pheasant {Ar^s giganteus) from Malacca, purchased ; a 

 Michie's Tufted Deer {Elaphodus cephalofhus) from China, de- 

 posited ; an AxisDeer (Cervus axis), born in the Gardens. 



PREHISTORIC INVESTIGATIONS 

 AUSTRIA"- 



IN 



I. Lmver Austria. — At Mount Calvary, near Pellichsdorf, on 

 the Marchfeld, a plain east of Vienna, explorations conducted 

 by F. Heger, from June 26th, to July 28th, 1878. A great 

 number of urns, paterte, &c., of peculiar forms, not known 

 from any other locality. Although broken by pressure, thirteen 

 were more or less susceptible of reconstruction. Most of them 

 were found in a space inclosed with strong beams of wood. A 

 broken bronze armlet was also met with. 



II. Carniola. — Explorations conducted by von Hochstetter 

 and Ch. Deschmann, Superintendent of the Provincial Museum 

 of Laibach. 



1. Terszisce, near Zirknitz, July i6th, 1878, Prehistoric 

 Fortified Station, and burial-ground, with human bones, more 

 or less burnt, and many objects of bronze and iron, like those of 

 the Celtic burial-ground of Hallstadt in Upper Austria. 



2. Grad, near St. Michael, not far from Adelsberg, July 

 23rd, 1878. Separate skeletons, bronze objects, and Pre- 

 Roman coins. 



3. Slemschek, near Waatsch and Littai. Prehistoric Station 

 of the "Hallstadt Period," with extensive burial-place. The 

 graves are flat : some contain skeletons ; others burnt remains. 

 The latter are covered with heavy stone slabs, and contain large 

 urns, of various forms, which have burnt bones within or under- 

 neath. Many objects, both ordinary and ornamental, of bronze, 

 iron, amber, glass, bone, &c., were found, including a bronze 

 helmet in excellent preservation. From July to October, 1878, 

 about 200 graves were examined, mostly at the cost of the 

 Provincial Museum of Carniola. 



4. DoUe, near Gora and Waatsch. Separate graves, of the 

 same character as those at Slemschek. 



5. Vier, between Sittich and St. Veit, Lower Carniola. Above 

 the village is a perfect ring-shaped earth-work ; below it, on 

 both sides of the high road a number of tumuli. Nearer St. 

 Veit are flat graves, covered with slabs. This was probably the 

 place of the Acervone of the Pentigerian Tables, or the Roman 

 ad Acervos, which name, according to Prof. MUUner, is derived 

 from these Pre-Roman tumuli. 



6. Moratzch, near Heiligenkreuz. Flat graves and tumuli, 

 August 1st, two skeletons were dug out, a male and a female, 

 with earthen vases, iron knives, and a bone comb. These 

 burials are probably later than those of Nos. 1-5. 



7. Mariathal, south-east of Littai. Ancient castle surrounded 

 with a rampart ; also flat graves and tumuli containing skeletons 

 August 2nd and 3rd, a male skeleton without arms, and with 

 violently fractured skull was exhumed, together with many 

 objects, including an elegantly ornamented urn, similar to those 

 found at Slemschek. 



8. Ober-Strascha, on the left bank of the river Gurk, above 

 Rudolfsworth. Old ringrampart and a few scattered tumuli. 



t " Prehistorical Investigations in Lower Austria, Carniola. and Bohemia." 

 By F. v( n Hochstetter, President of the Prehistorical Commission of the 

 Imperial Academy. Vienna. (Imperial Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Meet- 

 ing, J.-^nuary i6, 1879 ) 



