460 



NA TURE 



{Sept. 4, 1884 



matrix for native copper, Blayney. — On the oven-mounds of the 

 aborigines in Victoria, by the Rev. Peter MacPherson, M.A. 

 The situations, sizes, and structure (internal and extern.il) of 

 these aboriginal relics were considered, and measurements given. 

 The cooking oven, or smaller portion of the mound, was »pei tally 

 investigated. Besides the more common contents, namely, 

 ashes, charcoal, and stones, human remains were sometimes 

 found. Where no timber existed, a kind of turf and ci 

 were used as fuel. Circles of stones girdling the mound were 

 described. So far as appeared, no very high antiquity was re- 

 quired to account for the mounds.— Mr. W. Xeill exhibited some 

 very rich specimens of gold in quartz and mispickel from the 

 new mine Wahaup, East Ballarat. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, August 25. — M. Rolland, President, 

 in the chair.- — Remarks on aerial navigation, in connection with 

 the experimental trip made on August 9 by CaptS. Renard and 

 Krebs with their new balloon, by M. Dupu) de Lome. The 

 author regards the experiment as so far highly satisfactory, and 

 announces that it will be soon renewed with a screw machine 

 possessing double the motive power of the first, and calculated 

 to travel in any direction with an average speed cd fifteen miles 

 an hour. It is further pointed out that the balloon is constructed 

 on the principles expounded in a memoir addressed by the author 

 to the Academy of Sciences and dated February 2, 1S72. — 

 Contributions to the study of algebraic equations: (1) general 

 considerations, binomial and trinomial equations, by M. de 

 Jonquieres. — On the process of cold-hammering, and the varia- 

 tion in the limit of elasticity in metals and other solid substani es, 

 b\ M. Tresca. — Researches in organic botany; studies on the 

 formation and presence of nitrates in plants ; methods of analysis, 

 by MM. Berthelot and G. Andre. An account is here given of 

 the authors' attempt at a complete analysis of a vegetable 

 organism with a view to determining the chemical equation 

 during its development from the fertilised germ to its fructifica- 

 tion and reproduction. Experiments were also made for the 

 purpose of varying the physiological conditions of vegetable 

 growth, and for these various objects ten botanical species, in- 

 cluding six varieties of the Amaranthus were subjected to a 

 methodical and comparative study during the season of 1883. — 

 Note on astronomical measurements and especially on the choice 

 of a common meridian, by M. A. d'Abbadie. The author pro 

 nounces in favour of the west coast of Flores, one of the Azores, 

 for the chief meridian, or else for its anti-meridian, should the 

 latter be preferred. He also proposes the adoption of a unit of 

 10,000 kilometres for the measurement of celestial spaces, this 

 unit to be called a migiste (fxiyicr-rov). — A study of the sphincters 

 of the cardiac and other veins, with remarks on their hermetic 

 occlusion during the presystole state, by M. P. Durozicz.- Note 

 on the inequality in the distribution of the solar temperature 

 according to latitude and the activity of the photosphere, by P. 

 Lamey. — Observations of the new planet Palisa 239 made at the 

 Paris Observatory (equatorial of the West Tower), by M. G. 

 Bigourdan. — Observations of the Barnard comet and of the new- 

 planet Palisa 238, by M. Perrotin. — Remarks on the universal 

 hour, and on the formula — 



Universal time = local time - (12I1. + longitude), 

 where the longitude is reckoned eastwards from oh. to 24I1., by 

 M. Caspari. — Description of a thermo-regulator of simple con- 

 struction intended also to serve as a registering thermometer 

 (two illustrations), by M. E. II. von Baumhauer. — Researches 

 on the infra-red spectra of emission of metallic vapours, by M. 

 Henri Becquerel. The paper is accompanied by a table ol the 

 wave-lengths of the most intense rays, bands, or groups of rays 

 characterising the spectra of the vapours 1 if potassium, sodium, 

 strontium, calcium, zinc, aluminium, cadmium, lead, silver, tin, 

 and some other metals. — Determination of the indices of refrac- 

 tion by linear measurements, by M. Ch. V. Zenger. — On the 

 quality of the various farinas obtained by different pro 

 grinding, by M. Aime Girard. — Note on the poisonous properties 

 of urea, determined by a series of experiments made on frogs, 

 guinea-pigs, rabbits, and pigeons, by MM. Grehant and Quin- 

 quaud. The experiments consisted in subcutaneous injections 

 of aqueous solutions of pure urea, the doses being gradually 

 increased, and invariably terminating in tetanic convulsions and 

 death. The convulsions resembled those produoed by strych- 

 nine, and were followed by death in the course of from one to ten 

 hour-,. — Remarks on the action of high pressure on the pheno- 



mena of putrefaction and on the vitality of minute organisms in 

 fresh and salt water, by M. A. Certes. The object of M. Certes' 

 studies was to determine the processes and the conditions under 

 which organic matter is reduced to the inorganic state at the bottom 

 of the sea. Experiments were also incidentally made with the 

 bacteria of charbon, which preserved their vitality and virulence 

 under a pressure of 600 atmospheres, maintained for a period of 

 twenty-four hours. — Remarks on the action of lesions of the 

 rachiilian bulb on the digestive functions, by MM. Couty, 

 Guimaraes, and Niobey. — Experiments made to determine the 

 loss of nitrogen during the fermentation of farmyard manure, by 

 M. Ch. Brame. — On the dehiscence of the anthers in phanero- 

 gamous plants, by M. Leclerc du Sablon. — Report on the 

 present state of the Kiakatoa volcano, by MM. Breon and 

 Korthals. The report embodies an account not only of 

 Kiakatoa, but also of all the surrounding districts, which were 

 wasted by the eruption of August 26, 1S83. Some successful 

 photographs were taken, including the only exact profiles 

 hitherto obtained of Kiakatoa. 



Vienna 



Imperial Academy of Sciences, June 19. — R. Herth, 

 researches on hemialbumose or propeptone. — R. Scharitzer, on 

 the minerals and rocks of Jan Mayen. — F. Bayer, on the extre- 

 tnities of a young Hsetteria. — K. Natterer, on the opposition 

 of hydric chloride to dichlorocrotonaldehyde. — L. Tausch, on 

 some Conchylia from the fauna of Lake Tanganyika (Central 

 Africa), and their allied fossils. 



July 3. — E. Marenzeller, on Southern Japanese Annelids ; 

 description of species of the genera Ampharetea, Terebel- 

 lacea, Subellacea, and Serpulacea. — F. Bertolasi, on the ap- 

 plicability of Wittstein's and Kinkelin's formula? to volumetric 

 calculations. — S. Bernheimer, contribution to a knowledge of 

 the nerve-fibre layer of the human retina. — A. Nalepa, preli- 

 minary communication on the anatomy of Tyroglypha. — T. 

 Habermann, on acetonhydroquinone. — T. Zehenter, on the action 

 of phenol and sulphuric acid on hippuric acid. — E. von Oppolzer, 

 determination of the length of the pendulum at the Vienna Obser- 

 vatory. — M. Pernter, contribuions to a knowledge of the winds 

 in the upper strata of the air. 



July 10. — T. Lerch, researches on chelidonic acid. — A. Lieben 

 and A. Haitinger, on chelidonic acid. — F. Spitzer and T. 

 Kachler, on camphoronic acid. — H. Molisch, on aerotropism of 

 roots. — E. von Oppolzer, determination of the force of gravity 

 while using two Repsold's pendulums of different weights. 



CONTENTS Page 



Fungi and Bacteria 433 



Our Book Shelf:— 



McLachlan's " Monographic Revision and Synopsis of 

 the Trichoptera of the European Fauna" .... 434 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Lcewy's New Telescope System. — A. Ainslie Com- 

 mon 43+ 



Earthquakes in Japan.— F. Warrington Eastlake 435 

 "Udschimya sericaria," Rond., a Fly Parasitic on the 



Silkworm.— C. Sasaki 435 



Singular Instance of Instinct. — Thomas Harrison 436 



Przevalsky's Horse.— W. W. Watts 436 



" The Ores of Leadville." — Ernest Jacob .... 437 



Australian Orchids 437 



Grinnell Land 438- 



The British Association : — 



Section C — Geology — Opening Address by W. T. 

 Blanford, F.R.S., Sec.G^S., F.R.G.S., Presi- 

 dent of the Section 440 



Section H — Anthropology — Opening Address by 

 Edward B. Tylor, DX.L, F.R.S. President of 



the Section 44& 



" Comets "—Lecture by Prof. R. S. Ball, Astro- 

 nomer-Royal for Ireland 454 



Notes 457 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Comet 1884 b 45S 



Brorsen's Comet of Short Period 459 



The Cape Heliometer 459 



Scientific Serials 459 



Societies and Academies 459> 



