136 



NATURE 



\7tine ^, 1879 



9. Gradisclie, near Tepliz, Lower Caruiola. Ancient castle 

 with rampart. 



10. Gsindeldorf, near Weisskirchen. Numerous tumuli, and 

 traces of ancient dwelling-places ; and some few bronze objects. 



11. Landstrass, on the River Gurk. Many tumuli. 

 Besides the above localities of prehistoric dwelling and burial 



places, six others are known, but not yet explored, 



12. Kreuzberg Cave, near Laas. This is very extensive, 

 difficult to get at, and abounding with bones. In four days more 

 than 2,000 bones of Ursus speltvus, besides more or less perfect 

 skulls of the Bear, were taken out, belonging to at least from 40 

 to 50 individuals and possibly to a hundred and more. Most of the 

 bones were scattered, but some remained together, so that a perfect 

 skeleton was obtained for the Imperial Mineralogical Museum. 

 Besides bones and teeth of the cave-bear, remains of Gulo spelaus 

 and of a Marten (near Mustela foiita), also cervical vertebrae of 

 Ltipus, and coprolites of Hytrna were found in this cave. 



13. Jellenza Cave, near Tepliz, Lower Camiola. Excava- 

 tions, August 5th, 1878, showed that this cave had been in- 

 inhabited by Man. 



III. Bohemia. — Of late years many antiquities have been met 

 with about Hradischte, near Beraun, probably dating from the 

 Marcomans and their predecessors the Boyans, who lived here 

 apparently for centuries. Their burial-places, the tumuli near 

 Lisek, and the old cemetery near Althiitten, with its urns, have 

 to be further explored. T. R. J. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 

 American yournal of Science and Arts, May. — Some experi- 

 ments in cross-breeding plants of the same variety are here de- 

 scribed by Prof. Beal, having been suggested by Darwin's book. 

 The plants were Indian corn and black wax beans. — Prof. 

 Young records observations of the spectrum of Brorsen's comet 

 made on April 1 and 2. He is quite positive that the middle 

 band of the spectrum now coincides sensibly (to a one-prism 

 spectroscope) with the green band of the hydrocarbon spec- 

 trum. — Dr. Southworth demonstrates this theorem : If a 

 hydrated salt be dissolved in a given volume of water, the 

 volume of the solution will exceed the original volume of the 

 water by a bulk equal to the bulk of saline water contained in 

 the salt dissolved. — The first portion of a paper by Prof. Norton, 

 on the force of effective molecular action, appears in this num- 

 ber, and the remaining papers deal mostly with geological sub- 

 jects of more local interest, the Fox Hills Group of Colorado, 

 the Hudson River age of the Taconic schists, the Wappinger 

 Valley limestone of Dutchess County, N.Y., the Huronian 

 series of Northern Wisconsin, the mineral locality in Fairfield 

 County, Connecticut, &e. — Mr. Peters gives observations on the 

 planet he discovered on March 21. 



Annalen der Physik und Chemie, No. 4. — Herr Kayser here 

 arrives at the conclusion that the velocity of propagation of 

 sound-waves is independent of the intensity of the tone. His 

 final method (two others, with use of Kundt's dust-figures, 

 having been rejected) was to note the phases of vibration of a 

 piece of mica at the top of a vertical glass tube used for reson- 

 ance to a tuning-fork above it, set vibrating with different in- 

 tensities by electric means. Water could be admitted laterally 

 at the bottom of the tube, so as to obtain the maximum reson- 

 ance. As the water-stopper is displaced, the 'same figure of 

 vibration always returns whenever the displacement has reached 

 half a wavelength. Herr Kayser finds the velocity of sound in 

 free space 332-5m., calculated by Kirchhoff's formula from 

 velocity in tubes, and making therein 7 = 0-0235. ( H^^ case of 

 explosion-waves is excluded from consideration, these being 

 quite distinct in kind from sound-waves.) — Herr Wiedemann, in 

 extension of a former research, takes up a number of points re- 

 lating to torsion ; repeated torsion in the same, or in opposite 

 direction, permanent torsion of a wire often twisted a certain 

 amount, influence of weighting during permanent and during 

 temporary torsion, influence of oft-repeated weighting, rota- 

 tion of molecules, action of vibrations, &c. — Herr Auerbach, 

 considering (from the physiological, psychological, physical, 

 and musical stand-points) what is the absolute number of 

 vibrations required for production of a tone, thinks it is 

 probably about twenty. — Herr Schmidt furnishes a new table of 

 gas densities. — Herr Zoppritz continues his papers on hydrody- 

 namic iproblems' in relation -to the theory of '.ocean currents. — 

 Herr Sohncke replies to an objection by M. de Lapparent to his 

 new theory of crystalline structure. — We have elsewhere referred 



to Herr Lister's researches on the electromotive forces which 

 occur in free water jets. 



Atti delta R. Acadeinia dci Lincei, March. — We note here the 

 following : — On the secular variation of the magnetic needle at 

 London since the year 1580, by Mr. Jenkins. — Researches on 

 Cinchonine, by Prof. Fileti. — On the atmospheric disturbance of 

 February 24 and 25 last, by S. Respighi. — On prenite and lau- 

 monite from the mines of Montecatini, by Prof. Bechi. 



Reale Istituto Lombardo di Scienze e Letter e. Rendiconti. 

 Vol. xii. fasc. vi. — We note here the following : — Influence of 

 manures on the combustibility of tobacco, by S. Cantoni. — Con- 

 siderations on the palatine bones, by Prof. Verga. — Some studies 

 with reference to physiology and the expression of attention in 

 man, by Dr. Riccardi. 



Fasc. vii. — Rigid suspension bridges, by S. Clericetti. — On the 

 area described by an invariable line moving in a plane according 

 to a determinate law, by Prof. Bardelli. — On arithmetical 

 hemiteria, by Prof. Maggi.— Some reflections on a recent note ol 

 Jamin, on the theory of dew, by Prof. Cantoni. — Reflections on 

 the theory of dissimulated electricity, by S. Serpieri. — A steel 

 yard densimeter, by Dr. Chistoni. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



London 



Royal Society, May 8. — "On the Results of the Magnetical 

 Observations made by the Ofticers of the Arctic Expedition 

 1875-76," by Staff-Commander E. W. Creak. 



1. After leaving Portsmouth the first magnetical observations 

 were made at Godhavn, Disko. On arrival at winter quarters, 

 observatories were constructed where observations of the three 

 magnetic elements and hourly observations of the differential 

 declination magnetometers were made during the winter. 



2. The diurnal variation or inequality of the declination formed 

 one of the chief objects of interest at the winter quarters, as, 

 although the period was remarkable for frequent magnetic 

 disturbances, and an absence of brilliant auroras, no connection 

 could be observed between appearances of that phenomenon and 

 the movements of the declinometer magnet. This accords with the 

 remarks of previous observers within the region comprehended 

 between the meridians of 60° and 90° W. , and north of the parallel 

 of 73° N. 



3. It has been established that 8 a.m. and i to 2 p.m. are the 

 hours of the greatest easterly and westerly deflection of the 

 declinometer magnet in middle latitudes. At the winter quarters, 

 Discovery Bay, the westerly extreme was reached at 10 a.m., 

 the easterly at 11 p.m. 



4. An analysis of the disturbances of. the declinometer magnet 

 showed that the disturbing force never ceased, that it was at a 

 minimum about the solstice, and a maximum at the equinox, and 

 was grealper during the day than the night. 



5. Comparing the days of principal disturbance at Kew and at 

 the w inter quarters' observatories, it was found that for the most 

 part tlie disturbances occurred on the same days. The two 

 greatest disturbances or "magnetic storms" occurred on February 

 19 and March 25-26, 1876, daring the same hours of Greenwich 

 mean time as at Kew, but the magnets were often in opposite 

 directions from the normal at the two stations. 



6. An important result obtained was the evidence of but small 

 secular change having occurred in the inclination and force 

 since the observations of Kane and Hayes in 1854 and 1861 

 respectively. ' The declination is, however, more decidedly 

 changing, especially about Godhavn, the needle moving towards 

 the east as in England. 



M.iy 15. — "Note on a Recent Communication by Messrs. 

 Liveing and Dewar," by J. Norman I.ockyer, F.R.S. 



In my paper of last December i I called attention to the 

 importance of discussing Young's observations of the chromo- 

 spheric liiies in connection with the spectra of the metallic 

 elements. In subsequent communications I have given pre- 

 liminary re.^ults of tins discussion so far as it has already 35 

 proceeded. 



Since my paper was read Messrs. Liveing and Dewar have, 

 in a paper printed in the last number of the Proceedings, given a 

 table which professes to state the number of times various lines 

 in certain metals were seen by Young in connection with certain 

 reversal phenomena observed by themselves. 

 ' Proceedings, No. igi, p. 172. 



