452 



NATURE 



[Sept. 4, 1879 



The American Naturalist (August). -Adjectives of colour in 

 Indian languages, by Albert S. Gatschet -On the habits of a 

 species of tarantula (T. Hgrinal), by Mrs Mary Treat.-On 

 the formation of Cape Cod, by Warren Upham.-The geologi- 

 cal museum of the School of Mines, Columbia College, by Israel 

 C. Russell. 



Kosmos, iii. Heft 3, June ; Th. Buy, on the estimating of 

 conflicting authorities, or thoughts on the education of the 

 future —Dr. Otto Kuntze, how the primitive rocks are built- 

 up —Dr. Dodel-Port, Infusoria as assisting in the fructification 

 in the Floridea:, being a contribution to our knowledge of the 

 interchange of relations between the plant and animal worlds, 

 with illustrations.— Dr. D. F. Weinland, on the statistics of 

 population in the animal kingdom.— T. H. Becker, on the 

 serpent myth. 



The Revue Internationale des Sciences (August) contains the 

 foUowin'T papers :— On the embryogenous vesicle and on par- 

 thenocrenesis in animals, by Prof. Balbiani.— On the metaphysics 

 of Claude Bernard, by Ch. Letonrneau.— On the history of em- 

 bryological doctrines, by Prof. KolUker. This is the recapitu- 

 lation of a German work by the eminent biologist, recently 

 published in a French translation.— On the reality of our per- 

 ceptions, by Prof. Helmholtz. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, August 18.— M. Daubree in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read :— On the meridian ob- 

 servations of the minor planets, made at Greenwich and Paris 

 during the second quarter of 1879, by M. Mouchez.— Mr. J. A. 

 Serret presented to the Academy the eighth volume of the works 

 of Lagrange, entitled "Traite de la Resolution des Equations 

 numeriques de tons les Degres, avec des Notes sur plusieurs 

 Points de la Theorie des Equations algebriques."— M. Milne- 

 Edwards presented the complement of the thirteenth volume of 

 his " Lecons sur la Physiologic et I'Anatomie comparees de 

 I'Homme et des Animaux."— Reply by M. Berthelot to M. 

 Wurtz's observations on hydrate of chloral.— On the pheno- 

 mena of secreting irritation which ai'e apparent in rabbits 

 under the influence of faradisation of the tympanum, by 

 MM. Vulpian and Journiac. — Table of numbers of invariant 

 derivatives of given order and degree, belonging to the 

 binary form of the second order, by Prof. Sylvester.— 

 Methods of graphic calculus ; employment of these methods for 

 the revision of projects bearing on the development of the 

 network of French railways, by M. L. Lalanne.— On irriga- 

 tions and the sulphide of carbon, by M. Mabegue.— On the 

 submersion of vines as a remedy against phylloxera, by M. 

 Faucon. — M. Davin made a communication on the same 

 subject.— The President then stated to the meeting that M. 

 Janssen had been designated to represent the Academy at the 

 inauguration of the statue of Fran9ois Arago at Perpignan.— 

 The° second volume of the " Correspondance politique de 

 Frederic le Grand" was presented to the Academy l)y the 

 Berlin Academy of Sciences.— On the integration of irrationals 

 of the second degree, by M. Alexeeff.— Observations on M. 

 Aoust's note on the movement of a straight line in a plane, 

 by M. Ed. Habich. — On atmospheric waves and the monthly 

 lunar equation, by M. Bouquet de la Grye.— On the scin- 

 tillation of coal-gas flames, by M. F. A. Forel.— On the 

 absorption of nitric oxide by the proto-salts of iron.— On 

 the reaction of chloride of zinc on normal butylic alcohol, 

 by MM. Le Bel and Greene.— Thermal researches on nitro- 

 glycerine, by M. H. Boutmy.— On the tenor of urea in 

 urines, by M. G. Esbach.— On the elimination of bromine from 

 bromocitraconic acid, and on a new organic acid, by M. E. 

 Bourgoin.— On scandium, by M. P. Cleve.— On the oxy-acids 

 of sulphur, by M. Maumene.— On the composition of slate, by 

 the same.— Note on a means of preventing inundations, by M. 

 A. Sarrand.— On a peculiarity apparent in Jupiter and its satel- 

 lites, by M. E. Gand. 



August 25.— M. Daubree in the chair.— The following papers 

 were read :— Discovery of two comets, communicated by M. 

 Mouchez. One was discovered by M. Palisa, of Pola, and the 

 other by M. Hartwig, of Strassburg.— On the digestive ferment 

 of Carica papaya, by MM. Wur.tz and Bouchut. This strong 

 ferment (papaine) is easily isolated.— Reply ;to M. Berthelot's 

 observations, by M. Wurtz.— On a process by which may be 



obtained in any ball-governor, the degree of isochronism desired, 

 and maintaining this degree for all speeds ; general theory, by 

 M. Leaute. — On some multiple stars, according to observations 

 made at the Imperial Observatory of Rio de Janeiro, by M. 

 Cruls. — Researches on the compressibility of gases at high pres- 

 sures, by M. Amagat. All the gases studied, except hydrogen, 

 presented a minimum of the product / v, situated for each gas 

 about the following pressures (expressed in metres of mercury) ; 

 nitrogen 50 m., oxygen 100, air 65, carbonic oxide 50, formene 

 120, and ethylene 65. Thus, as might be expected, the gases 

 that are probably nearest the ciraimstances determining their 

 liquefaction are those which attain the greatest compressibility. — 

 On the maximum tension and the vapour density of alizarine, by 

 M. Troost. The maximum tension is about 11 mm. at 261° and 

 20 mm. at 276°. The observed density was, in three experi- 

 ments, 15-32, 15-0, and 17-8. (The formula CagHjOa leads to 

 the calculated density 16-62 for 4 vols. The equivalent of aliza- 

 rine, then, corresponds to 4 vols.).— Purification of hydrogen, by 

 M. Lionet. This may be effected in the cold state. Oxide of 

 copper arrests, in cold, all the combinations of hydrogen which 

 it may contain as impurities, except carbonised hydrogens.— On 

 the active principle of Ammi visnaga, by M. Mustapha.— On a 

 new mode of administration of ether, chloroform, or chloral to 

 the sensitive plant ; application to determining the velocity of 

 liquids in the organs of this plant, by M. Arloing. The mode 

 is that of presenting the anccsthetic to be absorbed by the roots. 

 Chloral does not act as an anaesthetic on the sensitive plant ; the 

 other two have a similar action to that on animals whether they 

 pe etrate by the leaves or the roots. The petioles fall suddenly 

 and successively from below upwards as chloroform absorbed by 

 the roots reaches their insertion. Hence the rate of absorption 

 can be easily calculated. The velocity increases from the base 

 to the top and is one and a half times to twice as great in the 

 petioles as in the stem.— Studies on hydrophobia, by M. Galtier. 

 This relates chiefly on its manifestation in the rabbit, to which 

 it may be transmitted, causing paralysis and convulsions. Sali- 

 cylic acid administered by hypodermic injection daily did not 

 prevent development of the disorder in the rabbit. The saliva 

 of a mad dog, obtained from the living animal and preserved itt 

 water, is virulent, in some cases, even twenty-four hours after- 

 wards. — Researches on animal heat, by M. D'Arsonval. Calori- 

 metry should, scientifically, precede thermometry. The author 

 proposes a new calorimetric method, by which the production of 

 heat in animals can be followed during whole days and weeks. 

 The calorimeter is In an inclosure at constant temperature ; and 

 it regulates automatically its own temperature, which rems.ins 

 always invariable. — Researches on the r6le of nerve fibres con- 

 tained in the anastomosis between the superior laryngeal nerve 

 and the recurrent laryngeal nerve, by M. Francois Franck.— On 

 the malacodermic zoantharia of the coast of Marseilles, by M. 

 Jourdan. — Diffusion of copper in primordial rocks and sedi- 

 mentary deposits proceeding from them ; consequences, by M. 

 Dieulafait.— The falling stars of August, 1879, by M. Chapelas, 



CONTENTS 



Pact 



The Hbman Species. By W. L. Distant 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Parthenogenesis in a Beetle.— J. A. OSBORMB . • • • • •■• 

 Fonts in the Rocks of Brook Courses.— William Morris (With 



hiagraiits) . . 



The Good Time Begun.— Prof. PlAZZi S.«VTH 



Insect Swarms.— Edith PVCEOFT . . . . . ... ■ •. ;.• 



Earthquake in Dominioa.— Edmund Watt, Resident District 

 Magistrate, Leeward Islands . . . . . . •:,••,-,•• 



Is it True that no Animal can be shown to have made Use of Ante- 

 cedent Experience to intentionally improve upon the Past? — 



J. E. S. 



Deltaic Growths.— Fraskr S. Crawford . . . . 



Sphinx (Deilephila) Lineata.— Henry Cecil . . . 



The Recent Hail-storm.— Chas. Fredk. White . 

 Our Astronomical Column: — 



The Washington Catalogue . . ; ' 



New Comets « - * * ' 



To Astronomers. By Rear-Admiral John Rodgers , 



Geografhical Notes 



Notes . 



By William Crookes, F.R.S. (IVith 



On Radiant Matter. 



IllustratUns) ... 



The British AssociATijN 



Reports , * .' , 



Section A— Mathematical and Physical . •„••,•. • • • • 



Section C-Geology-Opening Address by Prof. P._ MarWi Duncan 



F.R.S., Vice-President of the Geological Society, President ol 



the Section 



The French Association 



The Swiss Naturalists 



Scientific Serials 



Societies and Academies 



429 

 430 



430 



43" 

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43" 



432 

 432 

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43» 

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 434 



436 



440 

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44S 



448 

 4SI 

 451 

 4SI 

 4Sa 



