276 



NATURE 



[Feb. I, 1872 



results of great value. — A note by M. E. Liais on the spectrum 

 analysis of the zodiacal light and on the corona of eclipses 

 was read. The author states that he has found that the spec- 

 trum olthe zodiacal light is continuous, and calls attention to his 

 previous observations on the solar corona, the nature of which he 

 claims to have established in 1S58 — MIVI. Becquerel presented a 

 note on the temperature of soil observed at the Jardin des Plantes, 

 at the Observatory, and at Montsouris during December 1871 at 10 

 centimetres below the surface. — M. I. Pierre read a note on the 

 simultaneous distillation of water and iodide of butyle, in which 

 he stated that iodide of butyle boils under water at 204'8°F., 

 rising through the water in drops with a bubble of vapour 

 attached to each, and that during this ebullition the two liquids 

 pass over in the proportion of 21 water to 79 iodide. Iodide of 

 ethyle behaves similarly. — M.II. Sainte-Claire Deville presented 

 a report on a memoir by M. Griiner on the action of oxide of 

 carbon upon iron and its oxides. — A note by IVI. A. RosenstichI, 

 on a method of separating the two isomeric toluidines, was read. 

 — M. P. Thenard presented a note by M A. Houzeau on the 

 preparation of ozone in a concentrated state. — The discussion on 

 the subject of hcterogenesis, commenced at the last meeting, 

 was continued in two notes by MM. Balard and Fremy, and in 

 a paper by M. Pasteur on the nature and origin of ferments. — 

 M. J. de Seynes also presented a note in reply to a passage in 

 M. Trecul's memoir. — M. Monnier read a paper on the functions 

 of the respiratory organs in aquatic larva;. — M. C. Bernard pre- 

 sented a memoir by MM. A. Estor and C. Saint-Pierre on the 

 analysis of the gases of the blood ; and M. Brongniart commu- 

 nicated a note by M. de Saporta on the fossil plants of the 

 Jurassic epoch. 



Vienna 

 I. R. Geological Institution, January 16. — M. von TTauer 

 presented the third number of the " Memoirs of the Geological 

 Institution,'' containing a monograph of the Echinoderms of the 

 more recent tertiary deposits of the Austro Hungarian empire, 

 by Dr. G. Laube. — M G. Tschermak explained the contents of 

 a memoir sent by Dr. C. W. C. Fuchs, from Heidelberg, for the 

 " Mineralogische Mittheilungen." The author details the chemi- 

 cal processes which take place in lavas at the moment of the 

 eruption, and by the observation of broken crystals in the lava, 

 concludes that the melted masses, some time before the eruption, 

 must have had a higher temperature th.an in the moment of erup- 

 tion. — M. Th. Fuchs demonstrated some detailed .sections of the 

 upper tertiary strata in the neighbourhood of Vienna. They 

 seem to prove that the marine sands appear in some localities 

 below, in others above, the Leitha limestone. — M. Ch. Paul, on 

 the upper tertiary strata of Sclavonia. They are divided into 

 three difi'erent members, corresponding to the three great divisions 

 of the strata of the Vienna basin. The lowest division, the 

 marine beds, consists chiefly of calcareous strata, the Leithakalk. 

 The middle division, the Eaimatic beds, is formed of a large 

 mass of sandstones which are overlain by white sands of fresh 

 water origin. The congerian beds, finally, are separated into two 

 members — the lower containing large layers of lignite, and cha- 

 racterised by Uiiio maximus, Paliidiiia Sadlcii, and other species 

 of this genus with smooth shells ; and the upper, without lignites 

 and containing an entirely different fauna, also \\'ith many species 

 ol Pahidina with ribbed and ornamented shells. — Fr. von Hauer, 

 on new geological discoveries in Eastern Transylvania, made by 

 F. Herbich. Between Barsyek, on the Moldavian frontier, and 

 the region south of Kronstadt, a large range of mountains con- 

 sisting chiefly of calcareous strata is developed, which had for- 

 merly been regarded as belonging almost entirely to the Jurassic 

 formation. The recent investigations of Mr. Herbich, on the 

 contrary, show that here are developed almost all the particular 

 types of Alpine formations of mesozoic ages. The Trias is re- 

 presented by the Wurfenslater and Guttensiein limestone, which 

 are overlain by red Hallstatt marbles, with Amvwnitcs Aitilcr- 

 nicJiii, &c. ; the Lias by the Grosten and Adneth strata, &c. It 

 is very remarkable that some of these strata — for instance, the 

 Hallstatt marbles — are entirely wanting in the whole range of 

 the Northern Carpathians, which connect the Transylvanian 

 mountains vrith the Eastern Alps. 



BOOKS RECEIVED 



English. — Zanzibar : City, Island, and Coast : Capt. R. F. Burton. 2 

 vols. (Tinsley Brottiers) —Queen Charlotte Islands: F. Poole, edi'edbyj. 

 Lyndon (Hurst and BLickett).— Chemical Notes for the Lecture Room, 3rd 

 edition : Thos, Wood (Longmans),— The Differential Calculus : F, Wil; 



(Longmans),— The Pipits; by the Author of Caw-Ca 

 Maclehose), 



(Glasgow, J. 



Foreign —(Through Williams and Norgate.)— Die Krankheiten des Lin- 

 sensystems ; Dr. Max Salomon. — Lehrbuch der anorgantschen Chemie, 2^*^ 

 Abtheilung : Dr. Ph. Th, Buchner.— Jahresbcricht uber die Forischritte der 

 Chemie fiir 1S69, Heft 2 : Ad. Strieker.— Zoologische Mittheilungen, band i : 

 Dr, L, W, Schaufuss,— Thesaurus Ornithologia:, Band i : Dr. C, G, Giebel, 

 — Botanische Untersuchungen, i : Dr, N. J, C, M tiller. —Geschichte der 

 Himmelskunde : Dr,J. H. von Madler— Thesaurus Literitur.x Botanicac, 

 Fas, I : G, A, Pritzel,— Die Foraminiferen des schweiz. Jura : Dr, J, Kubler, 



DIARY 



THURSDAY, Febrvarv i. 



RoY.\L Society, at 8,30, — On the Lunar Variations of Tylagnetic Declination 

 at Bombay; C. Chambers, F.R.S.-On a Possible Ultra-bolar Spectro- 

 scopic Phenomenon; Prof. Piazzi Smyth, F.K.S. — Dn the Normal 

 Paraffins: C, Schorlemmer, F.R.S. 



SociETV OF Antiquaries, 8.30. — On a Camp opposite Clifton on Leigh 

 Down, with Remarks on Vitrified Forts : Rev. H. M. Scarth, 



Chemical Society, at 8. -On the Relation between the Atomic Theory and 

 the Condensed Symbolic E.vpressions of tacts and Changes (Dissected 

 Formula): Dr. C R.A.Wright. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — On the Classification and Geographical Distribu- 

 tions of Compositze : The President. 



FH/DAV, Fedeuary 2. 



Geologists' Association, at 7. — Special General Meeting. — On the 

 Chloritic Marl Deposits of Cambridge : Rev. T. G. Bonney, F.G.S. 



ARCH.tOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 8. 



Royal Institution at 9.— On the Identity of Light and Radiant Heat : 



Prof. Tyndall, F.R.S. 



SATl/ROAy, February 3. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — On the Theatre in Shakespeare's Time : Wm. 



B Donne. 



MONDAY, Feoruarv 5. 

 Royal Institution, at 2.— General Monthly Meeting. 

 Entomological Society, at 7. 



London Institution, at 4 — Elementary Chemistry : Prof Odling, F.R.S. 

 Anthropological Institute, at 8. — Anniversary Meeting. — On Here- 

 ditary '1 ransmission : Geo. Harris.— Strictures on Darwinism: H. H. 



Howorth.— The Wallons : Dr. Charnock and Dr. Carter Blnke. 

 TUESDAY, February 6. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — On the Circulatory and Nervous Systems : Dr. 



W. Rutherford, F.R.S.E. 

 Zoological Society, at 9 — Contributions to a General History of the 



Sptngiadx, Part I : Dr. Eowerbank. — Notes on Rhinoceros sujnatrefisis, 



with a photograph from life ; Dr. John Anderson. 

 Society of Biblical Arch/eology, at 8,30.— On an Inscricxion in Hebrew 



or Ancient Phoenician Characters, dtscovered at Siloam, of the Age of the 



Kings of Juda; Ch, Clermont Ganneau, 



WEDNESDAY, February 7. 

 Geological Society, at 8.^0n the Geology ot the Neighbourhood of 



Malaga: M. D, M, d'Orueta,- On the River-Courses of England and 



Wales : Prof. A. C. Ramsay, F.R.S.— Migrations ol the Graptolilcs : Dr. 



H Alleyne Nicholson, F.R.S.E, 

 Society of Arts, at 8. — On the Forests of England, their Restoration, 



and Scientific Management : T. W, Webber, 

 MlCROSCOl'iCAi. Society, at 8.— Anniversary Meeting. 

 Pharmaceutical Society, at 8. 



THURSDAY, February 8. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— On the Chemistry of Alkalies and Alkali 



Manufacture ; Prol Odling, F,R,S, 

 Royal Society, at 8 30, 

 Mathematical Society, at 8— On the Factors of the Dififerences of 



Powers, with especial reference to a theorem of Fermat's ; Mr. W. barrett 



Davis. — On an Algebra cat Form and the Geometry of its dual connection 



connection with a polygon, plane, or spherical : Mr. '1'. Cotlerill. 

 Society OF Antiquaries, at 8.30. 



CONTENTS Pack 



InternalFluidityof THE Earth. By Prof. Sir W.Thomson, F.R.S. 257 



The Solar ECLIISE, By J. Norman Lockver, F.R.S 259 



The Admiralty Manual of Scientific Inquiry. By G. F. Rod- 

 well, F.C.,S 260 



Our Book Shelf 261 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Change o( Habits in Animals and Plants.-T. H. Potts . ... 262 



A Case of Stationary Wave on a_ Moving Cord.— H. R. Procter. 262 



Ocean Currenis. — J. Croll, F,G,S 263 



On "Teaching Geology and Botany as Parts of a Liberal 



Education, By J, M. Wilson, F.G,S 263 



The Survival of the Fittest. By Herbert Spencer .... 263 



The Chance of Survival of New Varieties. By J. Ball, F.R.S. -if^n 



The Use and Abuse of Complimentary Names 265 



The Fclh'SE Observations at Bekul (Wil/i Itlnstrations ) . . 265 

 On the Influence of Violet Light on the Growth of Vines, 

 and on the Development of Pigs and Bulls. By Prof. 



Andre Poey 26S 



Magnetic Disturbances during the late Total Eclipse, By 



Rev, S, J. Perry, F,R.A.S 269 



Scholarships and Exhibitions for Natural Science in Cam- 

 bridge, 1872 269 



Natural Science at Oxford 270 



Notes =71 



Scientific Serials 273 



Societies and Academies 274 



Books Received 276 



Diary 276 



