Sept. 25. 1879] 



NATURE 



523 



the velocity of light in cr)'Stals, Ilerr Kohlrausch finds that also 

 for oblique sections of optically biaxial crystal Fresnel's theory 

 of light-motion in crystals is fully in harmony with observation. — 

 Remaining papers : — On elastic reaction in longitudinal exten- 

 sion, by Herr Neesen. — Researches on the elementary law of 

 hydro-diffusion, by lierr H, F. Weber. — On the magnetic 

 behaviour of pulverised iron, by Herr V. Waltenhofen. — On 

 extra currents in conductors of various thickness, by Herr 

 Herwig. 



No. 8. — The transpiration of vapours is here the subject of a 

 paper by Herr L. Meyer, whose method of experiment was to 

 heat the substance under determinate regulated presstu'e to boil- 

 ing, and let the vapour play over the capillary tube, and partly 

 stream through into a vacuous cooled space, where it was con- 

 densed and after some time measured as liquid. Herr Meyer 

 find-, inter alia, that the friction of vapour increases with 

 rising temperature and faster than that of gases ; further, 

 the molecular volume in the vapour state, as in gases, seems 

 to be greater at a low than at a high temperature. — In a 

 lengthy (third) paper on the electric conduction of gases, Herr 

 Hittorf describes many interesting effects obtained with a 

 Bunsen battery of 1,600 elements. This gave him within wide 

 limits, a constant glow discharge. He has no doubt that the 

 character of phosphorescent light is to be attributed to the spectra 

 of the first order. All non-metallic gases, whether elementary 

 or compound, can probably be thrown into the phosphorescent 

 state by the electric current giving such spectra. The electric 

 behaviour of flame gases is different from that of the same gases 

 at the same temperature, when not involved in the chemical 

 process. In the glow-discharge, the author considers, there is 

 not a transference of gas particles ; and the propagation of the 

 current everywhere (including the dark layers and space) is 

 effected by a different process. The molecules of a gas have a 

 real conductivity, like the particles of metals and "electrolytes, 

 inasmuch as they discharge in every direction the least difference 

 of tension. The author supports, by experimental evidence, Fara- 

 day's viewsof the nature of discharge. — A peculiar spark discharge 

 at the so-called negaiive pole of an induction apparatus is studied 

 by Herr Hankel ; there being a blunt point at the negative pole, 

 and a plate or large ball at the positive, positive electricity may 

 (by reason of oscillations in the coil), spring over from the point 

 to the plate or ball in long sparks. — Remaining papers : Re- 

 searches on the elementary law of hydro-diffusion (continued), 

 by Herr H. F. Weber. — On the change of phase of light by 

 reflection, by Herr Glan. — On the density of the luminous ether, 

 by the same (the lower limiting value he assigns is 7,416 times 

 that of Thomson). — The law of dispersion, by Herr Kettler. — 

 The oxygen spectrum, by Dr. Schuster. — Generalisation of a 

 theorem of attraction, by Herr Schalbach. — Contributions to a 

 hbtory of natural sciences among the Arabs, by Herr Wiedemann. 



The Silzungsberichte der k'dnigl. boehmischen Gesellschaft der 

 Wissenschaften in Prag (Jahrg. 1877 and 1878) contain the 

 following papers of interest ; — On the prehistoric vertebrate 

 fauna of Bohemia, by Prof. Anton Fric. — On the recent history 

 of botany, by Herr Ladislav Celakovsky. — On a new spectro- 

 metrical method, by Prof. K. V. Zenger. — On the bases of 

 iconognosy, by Prof. F. Tilser. — On the gas-coal fauna of Zabor 

 near Schlan, Kroucova near Rene, and Tremosna near PiLsen, 

 , and on the spha:rosiderite balls of Zilov, by Dr. Anton Fric. — 

 On the calculation of aplanatic katadioptric object glasses, by 

 Prof. K. V. Zenger. — Several mathematical papers by Prof. 

 Emil Weyr. — On some new microscopical and chemical methods 

 for the determination of certain minerals, particularly of fel- 

 spars, if they occur in very minute fragments or sections, and on 

 the phenomena apparent in etched, natural, and ground surfaces 

 of apatite, by Prof. Dr. Emanuel Boricky. — On the discovery of 

 Placoparia Ztppei, Corda, at the foot of the Lorenzi hill at Smi- 

 chov near I'rague, by Prof. Josef Korensky. — On the discovery 

 of a tooth of Hyana spelaa in the diluvial deposits of Hlubo- 

 cerp. — Several mathematical papers by Prof. Franz Studnicka, 

 Karl Zahradnik, and Josef Solin .—Critical remarks on Wigand's 

 " Darwinismus" concerning the differences of Darwin's doctrine 



• descent and the " Genealogie der Urzellcn," by Prof. Lad. 



■ laknvsky.— On the distribution of vertebrates in'ancient and 

 ent geological periodii, by Dr. Johann Palacky. — On species, 



■rms, and hybrids of Pilosella, a subgenus of Hitracium, by 

 Dr. Knaf. — On a new solar eye-piece and on a new position 

 micrometer, by Prof. K. V. Zenger. — On the triple change of 

 generation of plants, by Prof. I, ad. Celakovsky. — On a new 

 saurian from the limestone of the Permian formation of Braunau 



(Bohemia), by Prof. Anton Fric. — On the results of ombrome- 

 trical measurements made in Bohemia, particularly «ith reference 

 to the meteorological net, by Prof. Fr. Studnicka. — On the in- 

 ternational horticultural exhibition of Amsterdam, by Prof. Dr. 

 M. Willkomm. — On a theorem of the potential theory, and on 

 steel magnets, by Prof. A. von Waltenhofen.— On the south- 

 eastern border of the European flora, by Dr. Johann Palacky. 

 — A series of mathematical papers, by Franz Zrzavy, Gustav 

 Schmidt, S. Giinther, Wilhelm Matzka, Gust. Grass, Gottlieb 

 Becka, and S. Kantor. — New researches on compound fluorides 

 by Prof. Fr. Stolba. — On the anatomy and systematics of En- 

 chytridii, by Dr. F. Vejdorsky. — On the porphyries of the 

 Libcicer rock, by Prof. E. Boricky. — Analysis of the Moldau 

 water, by Prof. A. Belohoubek. — On the theory of twin crystals, 

 by Prof. J. Krejci. — On dioxalate of rubidium andnts prepara- 

 tion from rubidium alum, by Prof. F. Stolba. — On the survey of 

 the iron-ore mountains in the Chrudim and Caslau districts in 

 Bohemia, by Prof. J. Krejci. — On the relation existing between 

 certain fossil floras and land-faunae, and between them and the 

 simultaneous marine faunae, in India, Africa, and Australia, by 

 Dr. Otakar Feistmantel. — On the variability of Carabus Scheidleri. 

 Fabricius, by Jos. Korensky. — On some hydrometrical researches 

 and apparatus, by Prof. R. A. Harlacher.— On a peculiar for- 

 mation of loops in the cerebral and spinal blood vessels of 

 saurians, by Dr. Josef Schoebel. — On some new vegetable 

 bastards in the Bohemian flora, by L. Celakovsky. — On two 

 new Epilobiae, bastards in the Bohemian flora, by K. Knaf. — On 

 the capillaries in the mucous membranes of the throat of naked 

 amphibia, with report on a new method of performing injections, 

 by Jos. Schobl. — On the combination of chlorine with cymol at 

 boiling heat, by B. Raymann. — On the blood vessels of the eyes 

 of cephalopoda, by Jos. Schobl, — On the origin and period of 

 storms, by K. W^ Zenger. — On the deposits of iron ores in the 

 Silurian formation of Bohemia, by K. Feistmantel. — On a new 

 quercitrine sugar, by K. Kruis. — On the travelling routes of 

 migratory birds in Asia, by Joh. I'alacky. — Results of the 

 analysis of the Sazava water, by A. Belohoubek. — On the con- 

 glomerates of the so-called iron-ore mountains, by Joh. Krejci. 

 — On the Bohemian tertiary flora, by the same. — On the eleva- 

 tion of Carlsbad and its surroundings above the sea level, by K. 

 Koristka. — On the remits of some experiments made with a view 

 of growing plants in artificial soils and extending over two years, 

 by F. Farsky. — On some compounds obtained from cholesterine, 

 by R. Preis and B. Raymann. — On the action of iodine upon 

 aromatic compounds, by the same. — On orthobromo-benzoalde- 

 hyde, by the same. — On the action of fluoride of silicon upon 

 organic hydroxyl compounds, by the same.- — On two snlpho- 

 salts of chromium, by the same. — Observations on the reduction 

 formulae, converting Miller's symbols of the isoclinic system 

 into Naumann's symbols of the hexagonal system, by J. Krejci. 

 — On the employment of oxalate of lead for determining the 

 tenor of Chamaeleon solution, by F. Stolba. — On the employ- 

 ment of glass tubes for decomposing steam by means of red-hot 

 Iron, by the same. — On the Moravian lepidolite, by the same. — 

 On the separation of caesium and other alums by means of 

 crystal isation, by the same. — On the preparation of compounds 

 of didymium and lanthanum free from cerium, by the same. 



The Bulletin de VAcadSmit Impiriale des Sciences de St. Petrrs- 

 lourg (tome xxv.. No. 4) contains the following papers of im- 

 portance : — Observation of the passage of Mercury across the 

 sun's disk on May 6, 1878, by A. Sawitsch. — Histologics re- 

 searches on the smaller brain of Petromyzon Jluviatilis, by A. 

 Jeleneff. — Researches on the Jurassic flora of Russia, by J. 

 Schmalhausen. — On the action of light upon the irritaiiility of 

 the skin of the common frog, by N. Wedensky. — Enumeration 

 of all the Salsolaceae hitherto found in Mongolia, by Al. liungc. 

 — General observations on comets, by Th. Bredichin. — Observi- 

 tions ol Uranus and Neptune during 1878, by A. Sawitsch.— On 

 the nitro-compounds of toluol, by J. Barsilowsky. — Preliminary 

 communication regarding the appearace of Encke's comet durin;; 



1878, by O. Backlund. 



The Verhandlungen des k.k. geologischen Reichsanstalt {No. 1 1, 



1879, Vienna) contain the following papers : — On some eruptive 

 rocks from Bosnia, by C. von John. — Researches on the flora of 

 the diatomaceae-slatea of Kutschein, near Bilin, by Johann 

 Sieber. — Notes on some Austrian minerals, by Rudolf Scharizer. 

 The minerals treated of are columbite (tantalite) ser|)entine, 

 pyrope and psendomorplious garnet. — On the quaternary forma- 

 tion in niracia,by A. M. Pctz. — On the black porphyry from the 



