456 



NATURE 



[Sept. 8, 1887 



■other animals. The general conclusion is arrived at that the 

 impression communicated through the senses is the true instru- 

 ment of intellectual progress and that in it lies the potentiality 

 •of abstract science. Pure geometry, arithmetic, and algebra are 

 merely the last term of abstract simplification reached by the 

 sensuous perception in its intrinsic evolution. 



In the Nuovo Giornale Botanico Italiano for July, Sig. P. 

 Voglino publishes critical remarks on a number of species of 

 Fungi belonging to the Agaricini ; and Prof. Caruel gives his 

 Annual Report of the Botanical Museum of Florence for the 

 year 1885-86. — Prof. Delpino discusses the chemical and physio- 

 logical equation of the process of alcoholic fermentation, which 

 he considers to be more simple than it has been regarded by 

 recent writers. Succinic acid and glycerin, which are found in 

 the liquid after fermentation, he believes to be only secondary 

 products of the process, which consists in the simple removal 

 from grape-sugar of a portion of its carbon and oxygen, and its 

 •consequent reduction to the constitution of alcohol. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, August 29. — M. Herve Mangon in 

 the chair. — On tornadoes in the United States, by M. H. Faye. 

 Some observations are made in connexion with the popular 

 •work on tornadoes recently issued by Mr. Finley, of the United 

 States Signal Service. In reply to that writer, M. Faye 

 maintains that tornadoes are not ascending but descending move- 

 ments, being whirlwinds with vertical axes due to the different 

 velocities of moderately elevated atmospheric currents, which, 

 like the eddies in running waters, always descend till arrested 

 by the resistance of the ground. They jsenetrate like a cork- 

 screw through the lower strata, continually contracting and 

 tapering to a point owing to the increasing pressure of these 

 lower strata. Their progressive movement, mainly towards the 

 north-east, is due to the upper currents where they take their 

 rise, and whose mean velocity and direction they retain. Their 

 ravages are due to the violent shock of the descending spirals 

 against the obstructions of the ground, and their fury is not 

 spent or diminished in overcoming these obstacles, because the 

 source of their energy is always in the upper regions, where it 

 is constantly renewed and transmitted to the earth by the 

 •descending motion. It is further shown that the United States 

 comply more than any other region of the globe with the con- 

 ditions most favourable for the development of these destructive 

 cyclones. — Observations of Barnard's comet, May 12, 1887, 

 made at the Observatory of Bordeaux with the 0"38 m. equatorial, 

 by MM. G. Rayet and Flamme. — Determination of the longi- 

 tude of Haiphong, Tonquin, by telegraphy, by M. F. La 

 Porte. Its longitude was for the first time determined in 

 1874 by MM. Heraud and Bouillet, who deduced it from 

 that of Saigon. But at the beginning of this year the meridian 

 of Haiphong was connected with that of Hong Kong by means 

 of the submirine cable, and from the observations taken at both 

 extremities a mean was obtained for the cathedral of Hong 

 Kong of 7h. 27m. 20"43s., and for the Observatory of Haiphong, 

 6h. 57m. 22"63s. east of Paris. For the latter point Heraud's 

 chronometric observations had given 6h. 57m. I9"8s. — Note 

 on a projection saccharimeter, by M. Leon Laurent. The 

 saccharimeters already constructed by the author are of two 

 types : the rotatory polarimeter, requiring monochromatic light ; 

 and the compensating saccharimeter, more specially adapted for 

 sugar, and using ordinary light. The present apparatus, of 

 which a sectional view is given, has the advantage of being 

 adapted for use with the electric light now so generally employed 

 in large scientific establishments.-— Experiments in agricultural 

 chemistry, by M. J. Raulin. The experiments here described 

 were carried out last year at the agricultural station of the 

 Rhone. Their special object was to ascertain how the disturb- 

 ing influences due to the varying fertility of the soil may best 

 be obviated. The land being disposed in three equal plots, 

 A, B, C, the extremes A and C are treated identically, while B 

 serves as the point of comparison for the special circumstance 

 under consideration. Normally the fertility increases or di- 

 minishes with a certain imiformity from A to C, so that half of 

 the joint yield of A -f C would be equal to that of B if the 

 three plots were subjected to the same treatment. The cause 

 of error due to the inequality of the soil being thus for the most 



A-fC 



to that of H 



part removed, the relation of the yield of 



will express the actual influence of the circumstance under con- 

 sideration. In an experiment carried on according to this 

 method, the superphosphate and precipitated phosphate used 

 with Battel wheat gave a very decided increase, while 

 the result of the application of fossil phosphates and scoria 

 was somewhat doubtful. — Note on the waterspout of August 

 19 on the Lake of Geneva, by M. Ch. Dufour. This 

 waterspout, formed by the collision of the west and the vaiidaire 

 or south wind, immediately disappeared on reaching the 

 shore half a mile west of the Rivaz railway-station on 

 the Swiss side. From the data supplied by various observers 

 the author calculates its height at about 106 metres. It churned 

 up the .surface of the lake, producing an eft'ect somewhat like 

 that of paddle-steamers, but did no damage of any kmd on the 

 land. — M. R. Guerin presented a note on a process by means of 

 which the question of the lunar atmosphere might be elucidated. 

 He remarked that the diurnal motion of the moon, owing to its 

 proper motion, is not the same as that of a star. Hence, under 

 certain conditions, a photographic lunette would give to our 

 satellite a sharp edge, and for a star in the neighbourhood of 

 this edge a luminous streak. It therefore seems certain that, 

 however attenuated may be the lunar atmosphere, the photo- 

 genic conditions will be changed at the point of contact of the 

 two heavenly bodies, and that the streak made by the image of 

 the star should show some trace of this change. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Animal Alkaloids : Sir W. Aitken (Lewis).— City and Guilds of London 

 Institute Programme of Technological Examinations, Session 1887-88. — 

 First Steps in Geometry : R. A. Proctor (Longmans). — Easy Lessons in the 

 Differential Calculus: R. A. Proctor (Longmans). — Australian Museum; 

 Report of Trustees. — A Treatise on the Animal Alkaloids: A. M. Brown 

 (Bailliere). — Hydrophobia: R. Suzor (Chatto and Windus). — The Glasgow 

 and West of Scotland Technical College Calendar for the year 1887-88 

 (.\nderson. Glasgow). — Elementos de Calculodelos Cuaterniones : V. Balbin 

 (Buenos Aires). — Les Plantes des Champs et des Bois : G. Bonnier (Bailliere, 

 Paris).— Bench Book for Test-Tube Work in Chemistry : H. T. Lilley 

 (Hamilton). — Notes upon the History of Floods in the River Darling : H. 

 C. Russell. — Notes upon Floods in Lake George : H. C. Russell. —Results 

 of Rain and River Observations made in New South Wales and part of 

 Queensland, 1886: H. C. Russell (Sydney). — Journal of Chemical Society, 

 September (Gurney and Jackson). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Hydrophobia 43 



Popular Books on Birds. By Prof. R. Bowdler 



Sharpe 435 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Colenso : " First Lessons in Science " 436 



Letters to the Editor : — 



On the Constant P in Observations of Terrestrial 



Magnetism. — William Ellis 436 



The Svastika on English Walls. — The Solar Eclipse 



of August 19. — H. G. Madan 437 



Large Meteor. — W. F. Denning 437 



Colliery ExjDlosions and Atmospheric Pressure. — Hy. 



Harries 437 



Measurement of Specific Heat. By George N. 



Huntly. (^Illustrated) 438 



The Hessian Fly. By Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod . 439 



The British Association 439 



Section B. — Chemical Science. — Opening Address by 

 Edward Schunck, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.C.S., 



President of the Section 442 



Section C. — Geology. — Opening Address by Henry 

 Woodward, LL. D. , F. R. S. , V. P. G. S. , President 



of the Section 447 



Notes 452 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Brooks's Comet • . . . 454 



The Morrison Observatory 455 



New Observatory at Juvisy 455 



The Total Solar Eclipse of Augtist 19 455 



Minor Planet No. 267 • . . 455 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1887 



September 11-17 455 



Scientific Serials 4Sf 



Societies and Academies 45< 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 45( 



