620 



NA TURE 



[April 26, 1894 



rooms of the Institution of Civil Engineers. A lantern display 

 of slides, showing cloud effects ard other meteorological phe- 

 nomena, was also given. 



Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, April i6. — M. Lcewy in the chair, 

 -On mountain observatories in connection with cyclones, by 

 M. yaye. A polemical paper discussing the evidence afforded 

 as to the causes of cyclones by the institution of meteorological 

 observatories at high altitudes. The author contends that 

 the convection theory is completely overthrown. He ob- 

 serves that the theory of the constitution of the sun should 

 benefit from the work possible at these observatories. — M. 

 Grimaux is elected a member of the chemistry section in place 

 of M. Fremy. — Report concerning a demonstration of Fermat's 

 theorem on the impossibility of the equation x'^ -i- y" = z" , sub- 

 mitted by M. G. Korneck. The demonstration depends on a 

 lemma which is inexact, and hence is not valid. — On the photo- 

 graphy of the chromosphere of the sun, by M. H. Deslandres. — ■ 

 On an application of the theory of continuous groups to the 

 theory of functions, by M. Paul Painleve. — On the generalisa- 

 tion of algebraical continued fractions, by M. Pade. — On the 

 determination of the number of prime numbers inferior to a 

 given quantity, by M. H. von Koch. — On the structure of dif- 

 fraction waves from the same source, by M. G. Meslin. — 

 Achromatism and chromatism of interference fringes, by M. J. 

 Mact- de Lepinay. — On the magnetic properties of iron at 

 different temperatures, by M. P. Curie. The intensity of mag- 

 netisation slowly decreases, tlien more rapidly lessens, with rise 

 in temperature, the rate of loss attaining its maximum for soft 

 iron between 740' and 750^ There is no definite point for the 

 temperature of transformatio7i of iron. At temperatures above 

 750", the intensity ol magnetisation continues to decrease at a 

 continually lessening rate in general ; from 950° to 1280°, the 

 coefficient of magnetisation is almost constant. Between 755^ and 

 1365°, the coefficient is independent of the intensity of the held. — 

 On an electrochemical method of observation of alternating 

 currents, byM. P. Janet. By means of paper soaked in potas- 

 sium ferrocyanide and ammonium nitrate, and wrapped on a 

 revolving metallic drum, a metallic style registers the periodic 

 variations of the E. M F. — The general problem of transformers 

 in a closed magnetic circuit, by M. Desire Korda. — On the 

 allotropic translormation of iron, by M. Georges Charpy.- — 

 Evolution of organised beings. On certain cases of dupli- 

 cation of Galton's curves due to parasitism and on dimorphism 

 of parasitical origin, by M. Alfred Giard. — On the poison 

 organs of the Hymenopterse, by M. Bordas. — The ejection of 

 blood as a means of defence among some of the Coleopterse, by 

 M. L. Cuenot. The author has particularly studied the follow- 

 ing species : — Tiinarcha tenebricosa and coriaria Fabr. , Adimonia 

 tanaceti Fabr., Coccinella septempunctata and bipunctata L., 

 Mehr proscarabcus L., and majalis L. , and atitiunnalis Oliv. — 

 On the muscular buds {bourgeons musculaires) of the paired 

 fins of Cycloptertis litmptts, by M. Frederic Guitel. — On the 

 parasitism of a species of Botrytis, by M. Louis Mangin. The 

 conditions under which copper or zinc salts may be used to com- 

 bat with this parasite are indicated. — Anatomical modifications 

 of plants of the same species in the Mediterranean region and 

 in the region of the neighbourhood of Paris, by M. W. Russell. 

 Plants in the Mediterranean climate differ from those of the 

 Parisian region by (l) the cellules of the epidermis are larger, 

 and have more regular contours and thicker walls ; (2) the bark 

 has assimilating tissue supported on parenchyma without chloro- 

 phyll (transformed into protective tissue) ; (3) the diameter of 

 the vessels is greater ; (4) the thickness of the leaves is aug- 

 mented owing to the great development of the palisade tissue. 

 — On the structure of certain varieties of rust ; their analogy 

 with the sedimentary ferruginous minerals of Lorraine, by M. 

 Bleicher. The combination of ferric hydroxide and silica in 

 presence of soft water underground may be so rapid as to form 

 rusts comparable in appearance and structure with iron mine- 

 rals of geological age. — On the fruits of palms found in the 

 Cenomanian near Sainte-Menehould, by M. P. Fliche. — 

 Researches on a mode of strialion of rocks independent of 

 glaciation, by M. Stanislas Meunier. — Researches on rigor 

 mortis, by M. J. Tissot. — The mechanism of hyperglycemia 

 determined by diabetic piqi'tre and by anseslhetics. Experimental 

 facts serving to establish the theory of sugar diabetes and of the 

 regulation of the glucose-forming function in the normal state, 

 by M. Kaufmann. 



NO. 1278, VOL. 49"! 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. — The New Technical Educator, Vol. 3 (CasscH). — Elementary 

 Meteorology: Pr.if. W. M. Davis (Boston, Ginn). — Th-: Microcosm and the 

 Macrocosm; B. Wa'ler(K. Paul). — Law and Theory in Chemistry; D. 

 Carnegie (Longmans). — Rainfall in the East Indian Archipelago, 1892 

 (Batavia). — Observations made at the Magnetical and Meteorological Ob- 

 servatory at Batavia, Vol. xv. 1S92 (Batavia). — Practical Paper-making; G. 

 Clapperton (Lockwood). — MiiUer-Pouillel's Lehrbuch der Physik und Meteo- 

 rologie, new edition, Erster, Zweiter (Erste Abthg. Erste Liefg. ) und Dritter 

 Bands (Braunschweig. Viewig). — Histories of American Schools for the 

 Deaf: edited by Dr. E. A. Fay. 3 Vols. (Washington). — Recenti Progress! 

 nelle Applicazioni dell' Elettriciiii : Prof. R. Ferrini, Parte IL (Milano, 

 Hoepli). — La Trazione Elettrica : G. Martinez (Milano, Hoepli). — Tras- 

 missione Elettrica: G. Sartori (Milano, Hoepli). — A Guide to Palmistry: 

 Mrs. K. Easter-Henderson (Gay and Bird). 



P.^Mi'HLETS. — The Egg-Blower's Companion : W. M. Roberts (J. Hey- 

 wood). — The Eight Hours' Day in British Engineering Industries; J. S. 

 Jeans (Ballantyne). — The Constitutional Beginnings of North Carolina: J. 

 S. Bassett (Baltimore). — Geological Club of Philadelphia, Charter, &c. 

 (Philadelphia). 



Serials. — Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, No. no, 

 Vol. xxiii. (Spon).— Tufts College Studies, No. i (Tufts College, Mass.).— 

 Palestine Exploration Fund Quarterly Statement, April (Watt). — Journal 

 of Anatomy and Physiology, April (Griffin). — Quarterly Review, April 

 (Murray). — Xctes from the Leyden Museum, October, January, and April 

 (Leyden, Brill). — L'Anthropologie, Tome v. No. 2 (Paris, Masson) — Pro- 

 ceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, new series, Vol. xx. 

 (Boston, Wilson). — Royal Natural History, Vol. i. Part 6 (Warne).— Mor- 

 phologisches Jahrbuch, 21 Band, 2 Heft (Leipzig, Engelmann). — Journal of 

 the Royal Microscopical Society, April (\Villiams and Norgate). — Bulletin 

 of the Geological Club of Philadelphia, Vol. i. No. 2 (Philadelphia). — 

 Biilletino delta Societii Geografica Italiana, serie 3, Vol. 7, fasc. i.-ii. 

 (Roma). — IMittheilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Natur-und Volk- 

 erkunde Ostatiens in Tokio, Band vi. Seite 103-148 (Tokio). — Ergebnisse 

 der Meteorologischen Beobachtungen, Jahrg. iv. (Bremen). — Mathematical 

 Gazette, No i (Macmillan).— Sitzuiigsberichte der K. Akademie der Wis- 

 senschaften Math.-Naturw. Classe. — Anatomie und Physiologic, 1893, 

 January. February. March bis 'July. — Chemie, 1893, January, February, 

 March, April, May bis July. — Mineralogie, &c., 1893, January bis March, 

 April, May, June, July. — Mathematik, &c., 1893, January, February, 

 March, April, May, June, July (Wien). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Biology at the Antipodes. By G. B. H 597 



Harmonic Analysis. By E. W. H. . , 598 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Collett : " Bird Life in Arctic Norway " 599 



Hall and Stevens : " A Text-Book of Euclid's Ele- 

 ments." — W 599 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Panmixia. — Dr. George J. Romanes, F.R.S. . . 599 

 The Late Mr. Pengelly, F.R.S., and the Age of the 



Bovey Lignite. — A. R. Hunt 60 



A Fine Aurora Australis. — Hon. H. C. Russell, 



C.M.G., F.R.S 601 



Lepidosiren paradoxa. — Prof. E. Ray Lankester, 



F.R.S 601 



Are Birds on the Wing Killed by Lightning? — 



G. W. Murdochs 601 



A Remarkable Meteor.— Hon. R. Russell . . . . 6oi 

 Afforestation in the British Isles. By Prof. W. R. 



Fisher 601 



Notes 603 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Four New Variable Stars 608 



Speed of Perception of Stars 608 



Elements and Ephemeris of Gale's Comet {b 1894) - 608 



A Mistaken Cometary Discovery 608 



The Institution of Mechanical Engineers . . . 608 

 What are Zoological Regions? By Dr. A. R. 



Wallace, F.R.S . 610 



Further Light upon the Nature of the Benzene 



Nucleus. By A. E. Tutton 614 



The Face of the Earth. By Prof. C. Lapwoith, 



F.R.S 614 



Scientific Serials 617 



Societies and Academies ^'7 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 620 



