192 



NA TURE 



[June 24, 1897 



Paul Sabatier and J. B. Senderens. — On isolauronolic acid, by 

 . M. G. Blanc. — Action of acetylene upon silver nitrate, by M. 

 R. Chavastelon. According to the conditions of the experiment, 

 either C2A<i,.AgN03, or CjAgv, is formed. — Determination of 

 resin oil in essence of turpentine, by M. A. Aignan. A portion 

 of the oil is distilled and the rotatory power of the residue 

 measured. It is notably reduced if the oil is adulterated. — On 

 the active principles of some arums, by Mile. J. Chauliaguet, 

 MM. A. Hebert and F. Heim. — Action of aibumoses and pep- 

 tones in intravascular injections, by M. E. Fiquet. — On tiie 

 relation of certain layers of lead carbonate to caves and ancient 

 beds of subterranean rivers, by M. De Launay. — The 

 characteristics of Bro.xburn oil shale, by M. C. E. Bertrand. 

 — Classification and phyllogeny of the Goniatites, by M. 

 6mile Haug.— On the Diceratinese of the Tithonic beds 

 in the Cevennes, by MM. V. Paquier and F. Roman. — 

 On the Cueva del Drach (Dragon's Cave) in the Island of 

 Majorca, by M. E A. Martel. This cave is in the Miocene 

 limestone, and is the largest known in tertiary strata. It con- 

 tains a subterranean lake 177 metres long, and from 4 to 9 

 metres deep —Action of the X-rays upon the retina, by M. G. 

 Bardet. The rays produce upon the retina a luminous im- 

 pression which, although very faint, is quite clear.— Remarks by 

 M. d' Arson val on the preceding paper. — On the constitution of 

 the large sympathetic nerve; its trophic centres, by M. J. P. 

 Morat.— Experiments on the stimulation of nerves by the 

 electric rays, by M. B. Danilewsky. — On a very grave case of 

 dermatitis following two applications of the X-rays, by M. G. 

 Apostoli. — Local therapeutic action of high frequency currents, 

 by M. Oudin. — The saprophytic form of human and fowl 

 tuberculosis, by MM. Bataillon and Terre. — On the influence 

 of the hypnotic sleep upon the gastralgia of the dorsal tubes, by 

 M. Ed. Spalikowski. — On the results of meteorological observ- 

 ations made in Marchuria and in the neighbouring countries, by 

 M. Michel Venukoft".— On the variation of the surface tempera- 

 ture in soils of different natures, by M. Joseph Jaubert. 



New South Wales. 



Linnean Society, April 28.— Prof. J. T. Wilson, President, 

 in the chair. — On the fertilisation of Eupomatia laurina, by 

 Alex. G. Hamilton. Fertilisation appears to be effected Ijy a 

 small Curculio (an undescribed species oiElleschodes, specimens 

 of which are now in the hands of the Rev. T. Blackburn for 

 description), myriads of which, attracted by the scent of the 

 newly-opened flowers, crowd the blossoms to the exclusion of 

 other insects. They feed on the staminodes, eating their way 

 into the heart of the flower. Microscopic examination of in- 

 •dividual beetles taken at random showed that the antenna;, 

 tarsi and other parts were coated with pollen. Robert Brown 

 conjectured what happened, but did not see the beetles. Dr. 

 Harvey saw the latter, but he appears not to have published 

 any particulars. — Descriptions of the nests and eggs of three 

 ■species of Australian birds, by Alfred J. North. Descriptions 

 -were given of the eggs of Cracticus rufescens, De Vis, from the 

 Herbert River, Q. ; Sphenura broadbenti, McCoy, from the 

 Otway Forest, Victoria ; and Deitdrocygna eytoni, Gould, from 

 the Macquarie River, N.S.W. — On some new or little-known 

 Australian fishes, by J. Douglas Ogilby. Two new genera 

 -were characterised, and ten species of fishes were described as 

 new. — On the development of the Port Jackson shark {Helero- 

 donlus Phillipi), Part i. early stages, by Dr. W. A. Haswell, 

 Challis Professor of Biology, Sydney University. The hope is 

 not unreasonably sanguine that the embryonic development of 

 a type so ancient as Cestracion {Heterodontus) might exhibit 

 some important primitive features. With regard to the stages 

 now described, however, any expectations of this kind cannot 

 be said to- have been fulfilled ; and what impresses one most 

 in the results is the extraordinary persistency of certain cliar- 

 acteristics which are not known to have any vital significance. 

 There can be little doubt, for example, that the orange soot, 

 which forms such a striking feature of the egg of an Elasmo- 

 branch in its early stages, has been handed down with but little 

 change from Palreozoic times. — Description of a new Helix, by 

 C. E. Beddome. The new species is near H! mossniani. 

 Brazier, in its markings, but differs in being umbilicated and 

 white-lipped. Hab. , Veppon, near Rockhampton, Q.— Descrip- 

 tions of new species of Australian Land Planarians : with notes 

 on collecting and preserving, by Thomas Steel. Seven species 

 •of Geoplana from New South Wales and Queensland were 



NO. 1443, VOL. 56] 



described as new. — Descriptions of new species of Fijian Land 

 Planarians, by Thomas Steel. One species of Geoplana and 

 one of Rhymhodeimis were described as new ; and Bipaliinn 

 kewense, Moseley, was recorded as common under logs on the 

 Navua River, Viti Levu. Mr. Steel exhibited a fine colleclibn 

 of well-preserved and displayed Land Planarians, representing 

 the species described in his paper, and illustrating the modes 

 of preservation and the results after the use of the various pre- 

 servative media advocated therein. Mr. Steel also contributed 

 the following note on Peripatus. " I desire to place on record 

 the occurrence in New South Wales of P. oznparns, Dendy, 

 the Victorian form of Peripatus. While collecting in January 

 of this year, between Exeter and Bundanoon (Moss Vale 

 District), on turning over a log, I noticed a Peripatus which, 

 from its attitude and general appearance, specially attracted my 

 attention. This proved to be a female specimen of the above 

 species, and, so far as I am aware, this is the first occasion on 

 which its occurrence in this colony has been definitely recorded. 

 The lozenge-shaped pattern which characterises most of the 

 specimens found in Victoria is well displayed ; and the fact of 

 the ovipositor being fully extruded in the specimen, which I 

 now exhibit, is sufficient guarantee of its identity. When visit- 

 ing the Australian Museum a few days ago, I had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining the specimens of Peripatus preserved there, 

 and I was interested in noticing that those collected by Mr. 

 Helms, in 1889, at Mount Kosciusko belong to the same species. 

 All of the females in the Museum collection from that locality, 

 which I examined, have the ovipositor plainly visible, and in 

 many of them it is fully extruded." 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



1837-1897 169 



Ducal Husbandmen. By George Murray, F.R.S. . 170 



An Island of the Eastern Archipelago 171 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Kerntler: "Die elektrodynamischen Grundgesetze und 



das eigentliche Elementargesetz." — G. H. B. . . . 171 

 Harris: " Catalogue of Tertiary MoUusca " .... 172 

 Foord and Crick : " Catalogue of the Fossil Cephalo- 

 poda" 172 



Shinn : " The Story of the Mine, as illustrated by the 



Great Comstock Lode of Nevada."— C. L. N. F, . 172 



Don: " First Stage Sound, Light and Heat " . ... 172 

 Letters to the Editor:— 



The Great Submergence.— The Duke of Argyll, 



F.R.S 173 



The Visibility of a Sound Shadow.— C. V. Boys, 



F.R.S 173 



An Edinburgh Record of the Indian Earthquake. 



{Illustrated.)— Thomas Heath 174 



Subjective Transformations of Colour. — Prof. F. J. 



Allen 174 



Planetary Orbits, illustrated by a Rolling Ball. ( With 



Diap-aws. )~Geo. Romanes 174 



The Approaching Total Eclipse of the Sun. II. 



{Illustrated.) By J. Norman Lockyer, C.B., F.R.S. 175 



Work and Progress of the Geological Survey . . 178 



Styles of the Calendar. By W. T. Lynn 180 



Grants to University Colleges l8i 



Honours for Men of Science 181 



Notes ;: 1S2 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope 185 



Zodiacal Radiants of Fireballs 185 



The Royal Society Conversazione 185 



Professor Mendeleeff on the Heat of Combustion . 1S6 

 The Scientific Requirements of Colour Photo- 

 graphy 186 



The International Congress on Technical Educa- 

 tion 186 



Scientific Serials 188 



Societies and Academies 189 



