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DEA A KLE 
[| Marcu 11, 1897 
M. JuLEes RicHarp, zoologist on board the Prince of 
Monaco’s vessel, describes in the Comptes rendus an apparatus 
devised by him with the view of ascertaining whether the 
amount of gases dissolved in sea water is independent of pres- 
sure at great depths, or not. A steel bottle filled with mercury, 
and ingeniously arranged to remain vertically inverted over a 
beaker, was allowed to slide down the sounding line fill, at the 
required depth, a catch previously attached to the line actuated 
an arrangement for lowering the beaker slightly, allowing mer- 
cury to escape from the bottle and to be replaced by water. A 
messenger, sent down later, “‘ set off’ the reversing thermometer, 
and at the same time lowered the steel bottle again into the 
mercury of the beaker. On drawing the whole up, any gases 
not in solution must have been set free, either by change of 
temperature or of pressure. The result of two satisfactory 
experiments at depths of rooo and 2700 metres is to confirm 
previous experience that the quantity of gas dissolved is in- 
dependent of the pressure. M. Richard applies a similar 
mechanical arrangement to a modification of Giesbrecht’s tow- 
net, which he describes in the Bwdletin de la Socicté Zoologique 
de France. The tow-net is placed on the sounding-line after 
the latter has been lowered to the desired depth, and allowed to 
slide down closed, until a stop on the line arrests and opens it. 
Before hauling up, the mouth of the net is again closed bya 
messenger let down from the surface. Ina series of notes, M. 
Richard contributes to the same publication observations on a 
Limnicythera of the lakes in the Bois de Boulogne, on the fresh- 
water fauna of the Azores, and on the fauna of some high lakes 
in the Caucasus, the last from collections by M. Kavraisky. 
ABUNDANT stores of cleveite, alvite, monazite, and other rare 
minerals, have been found in a mine recently discovered at 
Ryfylke, Norway. A specimen of the cleveite has been sent to 
us, and it proves to be very rich in helium. Many investigators 
will be glad to know that the minerals can be purchased at a 
comparatively low price, particulars of which will be found in 
our advertisement columns. 
FRoM a careful study of James Glaisher’s aerostatical ob- 
servations, Signor F. Siacci has propounded two new formulz 
representing the law of decrease of atmospheric temperature and 
aqueous vapour with the altitude. From these he has deduced 
a new barometric formula for the measurement of altitudes, as 
simple as Laplace’s formula, and which, when tested on 
Monviso and Mount Etna, has given almost perfect results. 
AN investigation of certain new series for the Gamma 
Function has been given by Herr G. Landsberg, of Heidelberg, 
who has discovered some remarkable generalisations of Stirling’s 
and Kummer’s series. The two new series, of which these are 
particular cases, are shown to be closely connected together, a 
result the more remarkable in view of the fact that Kummer’s 
series is convergent for certain values of the variable, while 
Stirling’s series is always semi-convergent, being ultimately 
divergent, though the convergent portion can be used for 
practical approximations. Herr Landsberg’s paper is to be 
published by the Royal Academy of Belgium among their 
foreign memoirs. 
THE brilliantly iridescent colours of the scales on the 
Brazilian diamond beetle (Zxtimus ztmperialis) have been 
examined by Dr. Garbasso, who finds that, unlike the corre- 
sponding colours in Lepidoptera, these are entirely due to 
interference, and are of the nature of colours of thin plates. 
With transmitted and reflected light the colours seen are com- 
plementary ; moreover, the colours can be altered by subjecting 
the scale to pressure; again, on moistening and subsequently 
drying the scale, changes of colour are observed not unlike those 
produced in M. Lippmann’s colour-photographs when the gela- 
tine film has been moistened and allowed to dry. All these 
NO. 1428, VOL 55 
phenomena accord with the view that the scales consist of two 
layers separated by a thin interspace. Dr. Garbasso’s paper is 
published in the Memorze della R. Accademia delle Sctenze di 
Torino. 
Pror. F. PLATEAU, of the University of Ghent, has for many 
years carried on a series of observations on the mode in which 
insects are attracted to flowers, the results of which are pub- 
lished in the Av//etén of the Royal Academy of Sciences of 
Belgium. His conclusions are not in accord with that of 
Darwin, that the bright colour of the corolla acts as a beacon to 
attract insects. He believes that they are attracted chiefly by 
some other sense than that of sight, probably that of smell. In 
the case of the dahlia (single) and other species of Composite, 
the removal of the conspicuous ray-florets had but little effect 
on the visits of insects; nor had the removal of the conspicuous 
part of the corolla in other flowers, as long as the nectary 
remained. On the other hand, the artificial placing of honey 
on otherwise scentless: flowers resulted in their being immediately 
visited by numbers of insects. Where the same species varies in 
the colour of the flower, as between blue and white, or red and 
white, insects visit quite indifferently flowers of different colours 
belonging to the same species. 
AN interesting paper by Prof. F. Omori, on the intensity and 
amplitude of the motion in the great Japanese earthquake ot 
1891, appears in the latest Bollettino (vol. ii. N. 6) of the 
Italian Seismological Society. At Osaka, distant 140 km. from 
the place where the shock was most severe, the maximum hori- 
zontal displacement (or double amplitude) was 30 mm., and the 
maximum acceleration, which measures the intensity, 600 mm. 
per sec. per. sec. At Tokio, distant 270 km., the displacement 
was about 45 mm., and the maximum acceleration 230 mm. per 
sec. per sec. These values were obtained from seismographic 
records. Nearer the epicentre, the maximum acceleration can 
only be determined by observations on the overturning or 
fracturing of various bodies, At two places in the province of 
Owari, it exceeded 4300 mm. per sec. per sec. ; while at Nagoya, 
in the same province, it was found to be 2600 mm. per second, 
and the greatest displacement 220 mm. 
IN the January number of Watur und Offenbarung (Minster), 
Dr. J. W. van Bebber gives an interesting account of the methods 
employed and the success attained in the telegraphic weather 
service of the Deutsche Seewarte at Hamburg, and traces the 
history of this branch of meteorological science since the in- 
vention of the optical telegraph in 1793. The question of the 
actual results attained is not so easy to decide as might at first 
sight appear, owing to the various methods employed in check- 
ing them, and the different purposes for which the forecasts are 
used, Seamen are mostly concerned with the direction and 
force of wind, while agriculturists are chiefly interested with 
temperature, and fine or wet weather. In the present state of 
the science, the former conditions are much easier to predict 
than the latter. So far as storm warnings are concerned, the © 
author has investigated the cases in which shipping casualties 
have occurred on the German coasts for a considerable number 
of years, and inds that in nearly all cases successful warnings 
were issued. The methods employed are nearly similar to those 
followed in this country; telegrams are received at various 
hours showing, according to the international code, the actual 
conditions, and the changes since the previous reports. In the 
morning five weather charts are simultaneously prepared, show- 
ing respectively the barometric pressure, wind direction and 
force, state of the sky, temperature, and rainfall, &c. In the 
afternoon two charts are drawn, showing the air-pressure, 
temperature, and the variations since the morning, and during 
the unsettled season (September to April) further charts are con- 
structed, showing the conditions in the evening. 
