296 



NATURE 



[Fed. 8, 1872 



reserving for a future meeting the second part relating to the geo- 

 graphical distribution of tire order. 



Chemical Society, February I. — Dr. Frankland, F.R.S., 

 president, in tlie cliair. — When the ordinary business of the 

 Society had been transacted, a note " On the crystalline 

 principle of Barbadoes aloes" w.is read by the author, Dr. W. 

 A. Tilden, in which he described anew derivative of aloin. This 

 is chloraloin, whicli crystallises from boiling-water in yellow 

 silky needles, bearing considerable resemblance to the corre- 

 sponding bromime compound bromalom. — Dr. C. R. A. Wright 

 then read an elaborate paper " On the relations between the 

 atomic hypothesis and the condensed symbolic e.xpression of 

 chemical facts and changes Ivnown as dissected (structural) 

 formulrc," in the first part of which he showed the possibility of 

 expressing chemical facts without reference to the atomic tlieory ; 

 and in the second examined how far these facts could be accounted 

 for by the atomic hypothesis. A long and very interesting dis- 

 cussion ensued, in which some of the spealiers advocated the 

 employment of the atomic theory to a greater or less extent, as 

 promoting the progress of chemical science, whilst others de- 

 sired its abolition. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, January 29. — A note by M. J. 

 Boussinesq on the integration of the equation with partial de- 

 rivatives of tlie isostatic cylinders produced in a homogeneous 

 and ductile solid, was presented by M. de Saint-Venaul. — 

 M. A. Ledieu read a note containing objections to the m.irine 

 gyroscope proposed by M. K. Dubois at tire meeting of January 

 22. — M. J. A. Serret presented a memoir on the pendulum of 

 Leon Foucault. — M. Jamin presented a note by MM. A. Comu 

 and E. Mercadier on melodic musical intervals, confirmatory of 

 their previous results. — A note by M. J. VioUe on the induction 

 currents produced in the polar masses of Foucault's app.iratus 

 was read. — M. Daubree presented a note by M. Peslin on the 

 bands of the solar spectrum, in which the author indicates a very 

 simple relation between the most important bands. — M. Delaunay 

 communicated a note by M. Fron on the prevision of certain 

 earthquakes. — A further note by Father Secchi, on the tempe- 

 rature of the sun, was read, in which the author still maintains 

 his opinion as to the enormous temperature of tliat body. — A 

 note by M. E. Liais on absolute meridian observations in the low 

 latitudes of the southern hemisphere was read, witli especial re- 

 ference to the observatory of Rio de Janeiro. Upon this paper 

 MM. Le Verrier and Laugier made some remarks. — M. .S. 

 INIeunier communicated a paper on tlie methods which con- 

 cur in demonstrating the stratigrap'.iy of Meteorites. — M. De- 

 launay made some remarks upon the note presented to 

 the last meeting of the Academy by M. Renou with regard to the 

 Meteorological Manual of the Paris Observatory for 1S72, and 

 presented to the Academy the first number of a monthly Meteoro- 

 logical Budetin publislied by the Ooservatory. — M. P. Thenard 

 presented some observations upon the preservation of wines by 

 heating, in connection with a recent note by M. Balard. He 

 claimed the discovery of the action of heat upon wines for MM. 

 Appert and de Verguette. — M. Chevreul read a note upon the 

 investigations upon dyeing carried out by M. Paul Havrez ; MM. 

 Montefeore-Levi and Kunzel presented a reply to a claim of 

 priority made by MM. de Ruolz and Fontenay with respect to tlie 

 discovery of phosphorus bronze and its employment in the 

 manufacture of ordnance ; M. Wurtz presented a note by M. L. 

 C. Coppet on the supersaturation of the solution of chloride of 

 sodium; and M. C. Bernard communicated a note on the analysis 

 of the gases of the blood by MM. A. Estor and C. Saint-Pierre. 

 ■ — The lively discussion commenced two or three meetings ago on 

 fermentation and heterogeny was reopened by a long paper on fer- 

 mentations by M. E. Fremy, and continued by MM. Balard and 

 Wurtz. — M. C. Martins read an important paper on the normal 

 position of the hand in man and in the vertebrate series. 



BOOKS RECEIVED 



Enx-liSH —The Highlands of Central India : Capt. I. Foisyth (Longma^^>. 

 —Rude Stone Moninnents in .-ill Countries: J. Fergiisson (J. Murray).— 

 Hints and Facts on the Origin of Man : P. Melia (Longmans). — A Dictionary 

 of Chemistry, Supplement; H. Watts (Longmans). — Gandeamus : Hu- 

 morous Poems translated from the German by C. G. Leland (Triibner). — 

 Gaometrical Conic Sections : J. S. Jackson (Macmillans).— Arithmetic io 

 Theory and Practice : J. Brook Smith (Macmillans). — Worms, a Series of 

 Lectures on Practical Hclminthologj- : Dr. T. S. Cobbold (Churchill). 



Foreign.— Medizlnische Jahrbucher, 1871 ; Heft 4 : S. Strieker.— Mitthe 

 lungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Berne. 1870.— .Xouveau: 

 Memoires de la Sociite Helvetique des Sciences Naturelles en Bernt 

 Vol. xxiv.— Beilrage zur Kritik der Darwinsche Lehre : Dr. E. Askenasy. 



DIARY 



THURSDAY, February S. 



Rov.\L Society, at S.30. — Experiments concerning the Evolution of Life 

 from Lifeless Matter : W. N. Hartley. — Experiments on the Directive 

 Power of Large Steel Magnets, of Bars of Magnetised Soft Iron, and of 

 Galvanic Coils, in their Action on External Sm.all Magnets; with Ap- 

 pendix, containing an Investigation of the Attraction of a Galvanic Coil on 

 a Small Magnetic Mass; James Stuart, M.A. 



Society of Antiquaries, 8.30. — On the Hunnebedden of Holland : A. W. 

 Franks.— On an Inscribed Saxon Knite ; J. Evans, F.R.S.— On a Sword 

 Found in Spain : Col. Lane Fox. 



Mathematical Society, at 8.— On the Factors of the Differences of 

 Powers, with especial reference to a theorem of Format's : W. Barrett 

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

 with a polygon, plane, or spherical ; T. Cotterill. 



FRIDAY, February 9. 

 ASTRO.N'OMICAL SOCIETY, at 3. — Anniversary Meeting. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — On Sleep ; Prof. Humphry, F.R.S. 

 Quekett Microscopical Club, at 8. 



SATURDAY, February io. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — On the Theatre in Shakespeare's Time ; Win. 

 B. Doime. 



SUNDAY, February 11. 

 Sunday Lecture Society, at 4. — On the Skeleton of the Higher Verte- 

 brates : Dr. T. S. Cobbold, F.R.S. 



MONDAY, February i:. 

 Geographical Society, at 8. 30 

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



TUESDAY, February 13. 

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



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

 Photographic Society, at 8 — Anniversary Meeting. — On a Comparison 

 of the Different Modes of Plate Cleaning ; Dr Anthony. The Niepce de 

 St. Victor specimens will be shown. 



IVEDNESDAY, February 14. 

 Society of Arts, at 8. — On the Study of Economic Botany: J. Collins. 



THURSDAY, February 15. 

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



Manufacture : Prof Odling, F.R.S. 

 Royal Society, at 8.30. 

 Society of Antiquaries, at 8.30. 

 Linnean Society, at 8.— On a Chinese Artichoke Gall : A. Midler, F.L.S. 



— On the Habits, Structure, &c., of the three-banded Armadillo : Dr. J. 



Murie, F.L.S. — Comparative Geographical Distribution of Butterflies and 



Birds : W. F. Kirby. 

 Chemical Society, at 8. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Foundation OF Zoological Stations. By Dr. Anton Dohrn 277 



The Natural History of Egypt and Malta. ( H^it/i Illustration) 280 



Our Book Shelf 281 



Letters to the Editor: — 



The Aurora Borealisof Feb. 4— Prof. C. PlAZZi SvMTH, F.R.S.: G. 

 M.Seabkoke; R.J. Fkiswell, F.C.S. ; Capt. J. P. Maclear, 

 R.N ; J. J. Murphy, F G.S.; J. Jeremiah ; Key. M. H. Close ; 



W. SVMONS, F.C.S. ; T.R Capron 2S2 



The Floods— Col. George Greenwood 285 



Zodiacal Light— Rev. T W. Webb, F.R.A.S 2S5 



Magnetic Disturbance During Solar Eclipse — G. Mathus 



^ Whipple. F.RA.S 285 



CircumpolarLands— J. J. Murphy. F.G.S 285 



The History of Photography. By H. Baden Pritchard. F.C.S. 285 



Ganot's Physics. By G. F. Rodwell, F.C.S. (With Illustrations). 2S5 

 The Solar Atmosphere. By Capt. J. Ericsson. {IVith Ilinstra- 



tion] 287 



The Rigidity of the Earth. By Prof. Hennessv, F.R.S. . . . 288 



The Landslips at Northwich. By Thos. Ward 289 



Scientific Intelligence from America 293 



On the Carpal .\nd Tarsal Bones of Birds. By Prof. E. S. 



Morse 293 



Scientific Serials 293 



Societies and Academies 294 



Books Received 296 



Diary 296 



NOTICE 

 We ii-g leave to state that we decline to return rejected communica- 

 tions, and to this rule we can make no exception. Communica- 

 tions respecting Subscriptions or Advertisements must be addressed 

 to the Publishers, NOT to the Editor. 



