Il6 



NA rURE 



\Dec. 7, 1 87 1 



owes its singular character the author was inclined to attribute 

 to the epoch wlieu the Eastern Desert, a flat stoneless tract, ex- 

 tending from the Trachonitis to the Euphrates, was a mighty 

 inlet of the Indian Ocean, having its northern limit in the range 

 of limestones and sandstones, the furthest outliers of the Anti- 

 Libanus, upon wliose southern and eastern feet Palmyra is built, 

 and \\hicli runs eastward to the actual valley of the great river. 

 Mr. Drake took a continuous set of compass bearings during 

 the journey, which had enabled him to draw an excellent map of 

 the region. Mr. W. Gifiard Palgrave spoke on the subject of 

 the paper, stating that Captain Burton was the only European 

 who had properly explored El Safa. He had himself explored 

 about two-thirds of the distance, without, however, reaching the 

 cavern of Umm Nlran. His own visit terminated at the southern 

 part of the lil L,ya, the great volcanic district celebrated for the 

 destruction of the Egyptian army in the time of Ibrahim Pacha, 

 when they attacked the Druses in the basaltic labyrinth. — 

 A second paper was read, "On the Geography of Southern 

 Arabia," by the Baron Von Maltzan, which contained interesting 

 elucidations of the physical configuration and tribal distribution 

 of the region north of Aden, compiled by systematic interroga- 

 tion of Arabs at Aden. 



Edinuurgh 



Naturalists' Field Club. — The annual business meeting of 

 this club was held on Wednesday, the 29th ult. , when Mr. 

 Skerving was elected President and Mr. John Brown Honorary 

 Secretary and Treasurer. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 

 Taylor, the retiring secretary. The club now numbers S7 

 members ; and 13 excursions have been made to places of local 

 interest during the summer months. 

 , Paris 



Academy of Sciences, November 27. — M. Chasles pre- 

 sented a theorem concerning the harmo.nic axes of the geometri- 

 cal curves, in which there are two series of points corresponding 

 anharmonically on a unicursal curve. — M. P. A. Favre com- 

 municated the continuation of his thermic investigations upon 

 electrolysis, in which he gave the I'esults of experiments made 

 especially with the voltameter with plates of copper immersed in 

 sulphate of copper. — M. de Fonvielle presented a note on musi- 

 cal sounds produced at the opening of the valve in balloon 

 ascents. — M. des Cloiseaux communicated some optical and 

 crystallographical observations upon montebrasite and the ambly- 

 goniteof Montebras, the former a new fluophosphate of alumina, 

 soda, and lithia. — A letter was read from M. Moison describing 

 the use of sea- water for making bread in the environs of Cancale. 

 — M_ H. Sainte-Claire DeviUe presented a note by M. T. 

 Schlcesing on the separation of potash and soda. The author's 

 process is founded upon that proposed by Serullas, in which 

 perchloric acid is employed. He uses, instead of this acid, pure 

 perchlorate of ammonia, treated ^\"ith weak nitro-muriatic acid. 

 The preparation of the perchlorate is described by the author. — 

 M. Chabrier presented some further observations on the alternate 

 predominance of nitrous and nitric acids in rain-water. The 

 author finds that in calm weather nitrous acid is present in excess 

 in rain-water, whilst nitric acid predominates in stormy weather. 

 — M. Chevreul communicated a letter from M. Sacc on the 

 properties of drying oils, with regard to which M. Thenard also 

 made some obiervaiions. — A note by MM. Dusant and C. Bardy 

 on the phenoles was presented by IVl. Cahours. — M. C. Bernard 

 communicated a note by M. E. Faivre on the movements of the 

 sap through the bark. The author describes a series of experi- 

 ments made upon mulberry trees, and demonstrates that it is in 

 the bark, and particularly in its libei-, that the ascending and 

 descending movements of the sap take place. — M. Joseph-Lafosse 

 presented some observations on the germination of seeds sub- 

 merged in 1870-71 during the inundation ol the neighbourhood 

 of Carenton for the defence of Cherbourg. He stated that after 

 the retirement of the water many plants sprang up in unusual 

 abundance and vigour, and suggested that experiments should be 

 made upon the elfects of long soaking upon ttie germination of 

 the seeds of useful plants. — A letter from M. A. de la Rive on 

 M. Marey's recent communications relating to the electrical dis- 

 charge ol the torpedo was read. The author considered the 

 action of the nerves in causing muscular contraction to be electri- 

 cal, and that the electrical effect produced by the apparatus of 

 the torpedo was caused by the accumulation in it of the energy 

 of the immense multitude of nervous filaments with which it is 

 supplied. — M. G#?l?ftard presented a note by M. L. Reverdin 

 on epidermic grafting, describing and discussing the phenomena 



produced by the transfer of portions of skin from one living 

 animal to another. The author maintains that the adherence of 

 these grafts is produced principally by the epidermis, the dermis 

 having only a secondary action. — M. .S. Meunier, in a note on 

 meteoric metamorphism, described the transformation of aumalite 

 into chantonnite by exposure for a quarter of an hour to a red 

 heat, which confirms his conclusion that the latter is the eruptive 

 form of the former. 



BOOKS RECEIVED 



ErJCLlSH.~The Young Collector's Handybook of Bot.iny : Rev. H. N 

 Dunsler (Reeve and Co.).— Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute. Vol. II., 

 No. 4. — Astronomical Phenomena in 1872 ; W. F. Denning (Wyman and 

 Son) 



AnmRiCAN AND Colonial. — The Fossil Plantsofthe Devonian and Upper 

 Silurian Formations of Canada, 21 plates ; Principal Dawson.— Elements of 

 Chemistry, Vol II. : G. Hinrichs. 



Foreign —Zeitschrift fiir Ethnologie : Supplement Band; Bastlan and 

 Hartmann. (Through Williams and Norgate.)— Die Sonne, von P. A 

 Secchi, autorisirte Ausgabe von Dr H. Schellen, i^'^ Abtheilung. — Sitzungs 

 berichte der Gesellschaft naturforschender Frennde zu Berlin, 1870. — Die 

 itltesten Spuren Menschen in Europa ; A. Miiller. 



DIARY 



THURSDAY, December 7. 



Royal Society, at S.30.— On the Fossil Mammals of Australia. Part VI. 

 Genus Phascolomys: Prof Owen, F.R.S— On the Solvent Power of 

 Liquid Cyanogen. On Fluoride of Silver. Part III. : G Gore, F.R.S. 



Society OF Antiquaries, at 8.30. — E.\hibition of Stone Implements. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8 — Botany of the Grant and Speke Expedition: 

 Lieut.-Col. Grant, C.B., C.S.I.— On a hybrid Vacchibim between the 

 Bilberry and Crowberry : R. Gamer, F.L S.— 'Jnthe Formation of British 

 Pearls, and their possible improvement : R. Garner, F.L.S. 



Chemical Society, at 8. 



FRIDAY, December S. 



Astronomical Society, at 8. 



QuEKETT Microscopical Club, at 8. 



SUNDAY, December 10. 

 Sunday Lecture Society, at 4. — On the Optical Construction of the Eye ; 

 Dr. R. E. Dudgeon. 



MONDAY, T>EcmMB^R 11. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30. 



TUESDAY, December 12. 

 Photographic Society, at 8. 



WEDNESDAY, December 13. 

 Society of Ats, at 8.— Observations on the Esparto Plant : Robert Johnston 

 ARCH.EOLOGICAL Institute, at 8. 



.THURSDAY, December 14. 

 Royal Society, at 8.30. 

 Society of Antiquaries, at 8.30. 



M.ithematical Society, at 8. -On the Celebrated Theorem that any 

 Arithmetical Progression, two of whose Terms have no Common Factor, 

 1 Infinitude ot Prime Numbers: J. J. Sylvester, F.R.S. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Chairs OF Science in THE Scottish Universities 07 



JuKEs's Letters 9^ 



Our Book Shelf 99 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Planet Venus— William F. Denning, F.R.A.S 100 



The Flight of Butterflies lot 



The Origin of Insects.— B.T. LowNE, M.B loi 



Aspect.— Prof. J. M. Peirce 102 



Cause of Low Barometric Pressure. — .\. Wcjeikofer 102 



Symbols of Acceleration.- Thomas Mum 102 



Occurrence of the Eagle Ray.— W. S. M. D' Urban 103 



Deep Sea Dredging.— T. H. Hennah 103 



The Solar Halo.— Geo. C. Thompson 103 



On the ZiPHioiD Whales. By Prof. W. H. Flower, F.R.S. . . 103 

 Continuity op the Fluid and Gaseous States of Matter. By 



Prof. James Thomson, LL.D. QVit/i diagram.) 106 



Alternation of Generations in Fungi. By M. C. Cookk . . . 108 



The Science and Art Department 103 



Arctic Explorations. By Dr. John Rae, F.R G.S no 



Notes no 



Colding on the Laws of Currents in Ordinary Conduits and in 



the Sea. Ill 112 



Scientific Sekjals 114 



Societies and Academies 114 



Books Received 116 



DiARV tl6 





! from bottom, for 



