356 



NATURE 



\Fcb. 29, 187: 



Rev. O. P. Cambridge was read, " On the Spiders of Pales- 

 tine and Syria," in which was given a general list of the Arane- 

 idea of those countries, together with descriptions of numerous 

 new species, and the characters of two new genera. — A 

 communication was read from Dr. John Anderson, con- 

 taining descriptions of some Persian, Himalayan, and other 

 reptiles, either new or little known to science. A second paper 

 by Dr. Anderson contained some further remarks on the external 

 characters of the new Burmese macaque, which he had recently 

 described under the name Macacus briinncus. — A communica- 

 tion was read from Count Thomaso Salvadori, containing 

 a note on a specimen of Lidth's jay (Gamdus lidthii), in 

 the collectian of the King of Italy, which had originally been 

 received alive from Japan. Mr. D. G. Elliot read a note 

 on a Cat described by Dr. Gray in the Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society for 1867, as Fclis pardiiwidcs from India, 

 which Mr. Elliot considered to be identical with Fdis Ccoffivyii 

 of S. America. 



Manchester 

 Liteiary and Philosophical Society, February 6. — E. W. 

 Binney, F.R.S., president, in the chair. Dr. Joule, F.R.S., 

 called attention to the very extraordinary magnetic disturbances 

 on the afternoon of the 4th instant, and from which he anticipated 

 the aurora which afterwards took place. The horizontally sus- 

 pended needle was pretty steady in the forenoon of that day, but 

 about 4 r. M. the north end was deflected strongly to the east of 

 the magnetic meridian, and afterwards still more strongly to the 

 west. The following were the observations made : — 



Deflection from the Deflection from the 



Magnetic Meridian. Magnetic Meridian. 



Mr. Sidebotham states that he also expected the magnificent 

 aurora on account of the violent disturiiance of the needle at 

 Bowdon, amounting to at least 3°. Observation with the spec- 

 troscope by Dr. Joule showed a bright and almost colourless line 

 near the yellow part of the speclruin. This line appeared in 

 whatever part of the heavens the instrument was directed, and 

 could be plainly seen when the sky was covered with clouds and 

 rain was falling. When looking at the most brilliant red light of 

 the aurora a faint red light was seen at the red end of the i-pec- 

 trum, and beyond the bright white line, towards the violet end, 

 two broad bands of faint white light. Mr. Thomas Harrison 

 ststed that he saw the aurora on last Sunday evening from b'^ 15'" 

 to gl" 30™ and took spectroscopic observations thereon from 

 various parts of the sky. In each case, however, he discovered 

 only one bright yellow line, situated between D and E, being on 

 Kirchhoff's scale about 1255 to 1260. He is not acquainted with 

 any known substance that gives a corresponding line. The line 

 throughout was very clear and decided, both in the narrow and 

 wide slit; but he failed to discover any continuous spectrum. 

 The line was also very perceptible by reflection from those parts 

 of the sky in which no trace of aurora \i'as visible ; and although 

 the streaks were both red and white, tlie spectroscope appeared 

 to give the aurora as a monochromatic light. 

 Kilkenny 



Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of 

 Ireland, January 17. — The Mayor of Kilkenny in *he chair. 

 Rev. J. Graves (hon. sec.) read the report for 1S71. The follow, 

 ing members were elected : — Earl of Dunraven, Rev. W. H. 

 Fraser, L. Daniel, J. I.loyd, G. Reade, W. Irvine, J. Martin, 

 W. J. Lemon, A. Gibb, A Menzies, F. Barton, and W. Moore ; 

 the Rev. Dean Watson and B. Delanny, were raised to Fellows. 

 • — " Historical Documents of 1644" were exhibited by the hon. 

 sec, one of which contained a key to the cipher used in the 

 correspondence between Ormonde and the confederate leaders at 

 the time. The following papers were read : " On a recent dis- 

 covery of Coins at Mullaboden, Ballymore Eustace, co. Kildare," 

 by Rev. J. F. Shearman ; "On Kdkenny, pa -it and present," by P. 

 Watters ; "On some Unrecorded Antiquities in Yar-Connaught," 

 by G. II. Kinahan ; "On some Antiquities of Oak at BcUisle, 

 CO. Fermanagh," by W. F. Wakeman. 



BOOKS RECEIVED 



English.— Principles of Geology, nth edition, Vol. i. : Sir C. Lyell 

 (J. Murray).— Scottish Meteorology, 1851-1871, Edinburgh Observatory.— A 

 Treatise on the Theory of Friction : J. H,. Jellett(MacmilUin).— The Climate 

 of Uckfield : C. L. Prince (Churchill). 



America. - Transactions of the Albany Institut;, Vols. 1-6.— Transactions 

 of the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts in the State of ^ew York, 

 Vol. iv.. Part II.— Annals of the Dudley Institute, Vols. i. and ii.— Annual 

 Address before the Albany Institute : O. Meads.— The Advice of a Father to 

 his Son : N. Francois. 



DIARY 



THURSDAY, FEBiiU,\RV 29. 

 Royal Society, at 8 30.— On the relative Power of 34 Substances to Prevent 

 the Development of Protoplasmic and Fungus Life, and in Arresting Putre- 

 faction : Prof. Crace-Calvert, F.R.S. 

 Society of Antiquaries, at 8.30.— Ftuthcr Facts in the History of the 

 Early Discovery of Australia: R. H. Major, F.S.A. 

 FRIDAY, March i. 

 Royal Institution, at 9.— Measuring Temperature by Electricity: C. W. 



Geologists' Association, at 8. —On the Geology of HampsteaJ, Middlesex : 

 C.Evans, F.G.S.— Note on a recently exposed Section at Battersea: J. A. 

 Coombs. 



Arch.eolocical Institute, at 4. 



SATURDAY, March 2. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Demonology : M. Conway. 

 SUNDA V, March 3. 



SuNUAV Lecture Society, at 4.— On the Icelandic Language and ils 

 similarity to English. The Literature of Iceland, Old and Modem ., Jon 

 A. Hjaltalin. 



MONDAY, March 4. 



Entomological Society, at 7. 



ANTHROrOLOGiCAL INSTITUTE, at 8. — Anthropological Collections from the 

 Holy Land. No. III.: Capt. R. F. Burton and Dr. C Carter Blake.— Race 

 Characteristics as related to Civilisation : J. Gould Avery. 



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



Royal Institution, at 2 —General Monthly Meeting. 

 TUESDAY, March 5. 



Zoological Society, at 9.— Notes on an O trich, recently living in the 

 Society's collection : A. H. Garrod.— Catalogue of the Birds found in 



£ Ceylon, with some remarks on their habits and local distribution, and de- 

 scriptions of two new species peculiar to the Island : E. W. H. Holdsworlh. 



Society of Biblical Arch.eology, at 8.30. 



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

 Rutherford. 



IVEDNESDAY. March 6. 



GeologicalSociety, atS.— On/'n',»-(/«//;«jC//«i'/(c«(Egerton),an!!Wgenus 

 of Fossil Fish from the Lias of Lyme Regis ; On two Specimens of 

 Ischyodus from the Lias of Lyme Regis : Sir P. de M. Grey-Egerton, 

 Bart., M.P., F.R.S.— How the Parallel Koads of Glen Roy were formed : 

 Prof. James Nichol, F.G.S.— Notes on Atolls or Lagoon Islands : S. J. 

 Whitnell. 



Society of Arts, at 8— On the Goliath Training Ship ; Capt. Bourchier. 



Microscopical Society, at 8. 



Pharmaceutical Society, at 8. 



THURSDAY, March 7. 



Royal Society, at 8.3©. 



Society of Antiquaries, at 8.30. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— On the Chemistry of Alk.ilies and Alka 

 Manufacture : Prot Odlmg, F.R.S. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. 



Chemical Society, at 8. 



CONTENTS Pagk 



Science Stations 337 



Burton's Zanzibar 33S 



Our Book Shelf 339 



Letters to the Editor : — ■ 



Dev'-'lopment of B.'trometric Depressions. — W. Clement Lev . . 340 



Zoological Nomenclature — D. Sharp 340 



Deep Sea Souudings.— W L. Carpenter 341 



Snow at the Mouth of a Fiery Jurnace.— Rev. H. H. HiGGlNS . 341 



On the Spectrum of the Atmosphere. By Capt. Maclear, R.N. 341 



Prof. Agassiz's Expedition 342 



Ethnology and Spiritualism.. By E. B. Tylor, F.R.S .... 343 



Dredging Expeditions ■ 343 



Solar Heat. By Capt J. Ericsson. {With Illustrations.) . . 346 

 Magnetical and Meteorological Observations at Havana. 



By Benedict Vines. (With Illustration.) 347 



Notes .' 347 



Wallace ON THE Origin of Insects 35° 



The Australian Eclipse Expedition 35' 



Societies and Academies 354 



Books Received 35^ 



Diary 356 



NOTICE 



IVe lieg leave to state that we decline to return rejected communica- 

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

 lions respecting Subscriptions or Advertisements must be addressed 

 to the Publishers, not to the Editor. 



