476 



NATURE 



\_Sept. II, 1879 



interest : — On some cinchonin compounds, by M. A. Wischne- 

 gradsky.— On the origin of milk, Ijy M. L. Schichkot}.— On 

 isotributylene by M. A. Butlerow. — Researches on the nucleiiie 

 of milk, by M. N. I_ubav;n. — Analysis of the water of the 

 Oka river, as well as of the sources which supply the aqueduct 

 of Nishnii Novgorod, by M. N. SocolofT. — On j8 chloropropionic 

 aldehyde, by M. G. Krestownikoff. — On |8 chlorobutyric 

 aldehyde, by M. J. Karetnikoff. — On homoitaconic acid, by 

 MM. G. Krestownikoff and W. Markownikoff.— On the products 

 of dry destination of phtalate of calcium, by M. O. Miller. — 

 On the tenor of nitrogen in the detonating nitroethers, by M. 

 J. Tcheltzoff. — On some applications of the mechanical theory 

 of heat to the variations in the state of an elastic body, by N. 

 Schiller. — On the influence of hydrogen on the volumes and on 

 the elasticity co-efficients of palladium and its alloys, by N. 

 Hesehus. 



The Rivista Sciintifico Industriale (Nos. 14 and 15). — From 

 these parts we note the following papers : — On the subdivisibility 

 of the electric light, by Prof. Rinaldo Ferrini. —Observations of 

 Swift's comet, made at the Royal Observatory of Brera, at 

 Milan, by Prof. G. V. Schiaparelli. — On the non-existence of 

 nascent hydrogen and the reduction of perchlorate of potash, by 

 Dr. D. Tomniasi. — On the smallest species of the Aracecc 

 family, by Prof. O. Beccari. The name given to the new species 

 by the professor is Microcasia pygmaca. — On the presence of 

 lithium salts in the sea-water between Pozzuoli and Castellam- 

 mare, by Prof. S. de Luca. — On the synthesis of sulphuretted 

 and seleniuretted hydrogen, by Prof. A. Januario. — On red 

 umber, by Prof. Capellini. — On the phenomena of acoustic 

 attraction and repulsion, by Prof. Tito Martini. — On a new seis- 

 mological instrument called "Ascoltatore endogeno" (endo- 

 genous listener), constructed by Prof. Giovanni Mugna. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 Philadelphia 



Academy of Natural Sciences, January 7. — Description 

 of a new species of goniobranchus, by Andrew Garrett. 



January 14. — List of land shells inhabiting Rurutu, one of the 

 Austral Islands, by A. Garrett. 



January 21. — Notes on some Pacific Coast fishes, by W. N. 

 Lockington. 



January 28. — Further notes on the mechanical genesis of tooth- 

 forms, by J. A. Ryder. — Note on hyraceum, by Drs. Greene 

 and Parker. — Morphological notes on the limbs of the amphiu- 

 midse, by J. A. Ryder. — The land shells of the Mexican Island 

 of Guadeloupe, by W. G. Binney. 



February 4, — Prof. Leidy on fossil remains of a caribou deer. 



February 11. — On the parasol ant, by Rev. H. C. McCook. 



February 18. — Structure of chimpanzee, by Dr. Chapman. 



February 25. — Descriptions of three new species of calceolidse 

 from Upper Silurian, by V. W. Lyon. 



March II. — Nudibranchiate gasteropods of North Pacific, by 

 Dr. R. Bergh. — On the variability of Spharia quercuum, by J. 

 B. Ellis. — Notes on Opuntia prolifera, by T. Meehan. 



March 25. — Notes on Amphiuma, by Dr. Chapman. — On a 

 new genus and species of Scomlridt^, by W. N. Lockington, 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, September I. — M. Daubree in the 

 chair. — M, Faye presented, in the name of the Bureau des Lon- 

 gitudes, the Connaissance des Temps for 1881, and mentioned 

 the improvements introduced. — The following papers were 

 read : — Mathematical theory of the oscillations of a double pen- 

 dulum by Mr. Peirce ; note by M. Faye. — Note on solar tem- 

 peratures, by M. Janssen. The expression, temperature of the 

 sun, is wanting in precision, and the methods of measurement 

 adopted are faulty, in view of the want of homogeneity in the 

 solar surface, and the vast envelopes which prevent the radiation 

 reaching us in all its force. To conclude the temperature of the 

 photosphere from its radiating power, one should know the 

 emissive power (which is, however, unknown to us). The com- 

 mon methods may give truly the calorific force of solar radiation 

 which reaches the earth's surface, but they give no exact notions 

 of even an average temperature (which expression, indeed, is 

 inapplicable to the sun). M. Janssen's efforts are now directed 

 to a study of the sun in each of its distinct parts, employing ana- 

 lytical methods, and especially photography of the spectra 

 of portions studied. — On the chemical constitution of alkaline 



r.malgams, by M. Berthelot. The addition of solid mercury 

 to amalgams containing already several equivalents of this 

 metal Uberates little or no heat, just as in the addition of solid 

 water to saline hydrates, which already contain several equiva- 

 lents of water ; nearly all the heat or work having been deve- 

 loped in the previous combination. This gives a new relation i 

 between saline hydrates and metallic alloys. — On the projects of 1 

 an American maritime canal, and of communication between ■ 

 Algiers and Senegal, by M. de Lesseps. He presented a volume 5 

 of proceedings of the International Congress and reports relating 

 to the former scheme. As to the latter, he thinks it would be 

 well to commence by establishing telegraph stations at various 

 points where water is obtainable. — On a means of diminishing 

 the loss of vis viva in a divergent ajutage of large dimensions, 

 the angle of which is too open, and which may be divided into 

 several by conical surfaces having the same axis, by M. de 

 Caligny. — On a process of obtaining in any ball governor the 

 degree of isochronism desired, &c. ; practical rules, by M. 

 Leante. — Anatomical and morphological researches on the 

 nervous system of insects, by M. Brandt. Inter alia, it is untrue 

 that all insects have a sub-oesophagean ganglion separate from 

 the others {Rhizoirogus, Sty lops, ariA Hydromedra have not). The 

 circumvolutions of the brain are found in all in.'ects, in various 

 development, and the development differs in individuals of the 

 same species. In general, the development of the hemispheres, 

 but not of the ^^hole brain, is related to instincts and habits. 

 In some insects having two thoracic ganglions, the first is simple, 

 the second compound ; in others both are compound. The trans- 

 formation of the nervous system takes place in some insects by 

 reduction of the number of ganglions ; in others by an opposite 

 process. — On two new elements in erbine, by M. Cleve. Tlie 

 spectrum of the old erbine is attributed to three distinct oxides. 

 The two new elements he designates Tlmliuin (from Thule, the 

 old name of Scandinavia) and Holmium (a derivative from tlie 

 Latinised name of Stockholm). — Prof. Lawrence Smith remarked 

 on the doubts of some savants as to the results of recent study of 

 earths of the yttrium and cerium gi-oup. — Partial synthesis of 

 milk-sugar and contribution to synthesis of cane-sugar, by M. 

 Demole. — Reaction of tungstates in presence of mannite, by M. 

 Klein. — On the determination of urea ; reply to M. Esbach, by 

 M. Mehu. — On the physiological effects of formiate of soda, by 

 M. Arloing. It lowers the animal temperature, accelerates the 

 respiratory movements, &c., is poisonous when the dose exceed? 

 I gr. per kilog. of weight of the animal. It might be advan- 

 tageously used for salicylate of soda in some cases. — On some 

 facts relating to contraction, by MM. Brissand and Richet. — 

 Morphological and zoological researches on the nervous system 

 of dipterous insects, by M. Kiinckel. — On the plurality of nuclei 

 in certain plant cells, by M. Treub. 



CONTENTS pagb 



Our New Protectorate. By A. H. Keane 453 



Our Book Shilf :— 



Johnston's '* Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology " , 455 



Letters to the Editor :— 



Palisa's Comet. — Lord Lindsay 455 



Insect Swarms. — Rev. Thomas HiNCKS 45s 



"Rag-Bushes." — Consul E. Layard -456 



Bag-hke Fabrication exhibited by Sir Sydney Saunders. — Consul - 



E. L-tLAYARD '456 



Signalling by Sunshine. — Consul E. L. Layard 456 



Observations on a Wind-Whirl. — Prof. Francis E. Nipher . , . 456 



Transportation of Seeds. — Henry O. Forbes , ; 456 



Shark's Teeth. — Henry O. Forbes 456 



A Lunar Rainbow. — F. E. Kitchener 457 



A Habit of Cattle.— H. C. Donovan 457 



The August Perseids. By W. F. Denning 457 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Biela's Comet 459 



The Cluster about k Crucis 459 



Geographical Notes 459 



Notes 460 



Prof. Dodil- Port on THE Fef- ;lisation of Red Seaweeds by 



Infusoria {IVit/i Illustratic::. ) 463 



The British Association; — 



Reports 465 



Section A — Mathematical and Physical {}Viih lllttsirations) . . 466 



Section B — Chemical Science 468 



Section C — Geology 4^9 



Section D — Biology 471 



Section E— Geography _ 47" 



Section F — Economic Science and Statistics 47S 



Scientific Serials 475 



SOCIKTIKS and ACADE.MIBS 47* 



