NA TURE 



{Oct. 9, 1884 



influence of density on the viscosity of dropping liquids, by E. 



Warburg and ]. Sachs. — On the conductibility of heat of tour- 

 maline, by Franz Stenger(2 figures). — The expansion of crystals 

 by heat, by Eug. Blasius (3 figures). — On the passage of electri- 

 city in gas, by F. Narr (with tables). — Remarks on the resist- 

 ance box of Siemens and Halske, by E. Dorn (4 figures). — On 

 the known dichromatic colour-systems, by Arthur Konig ( I figure). 

 — I >n the sensibility of normal eyes for the perception of light of 

 Ion; wave-length, by Arthur Konig and Conrad Dieterici (1 figure 

 and" tables).— Metallic and total reflection of isotropic media 

 explained by means of Neumann's system, by E. Ketteler. — 

 Experimental determination of the wave-length of the invisible 

 prismatic spectrum, by S. P. Langley (5 figures and table). 

 Demonstration research on the relation between light polarised 

 by reflection and by refraction, by G. Krebs (4 figures). — On a 

 freezing apparatus, by E. Lommsel (I figure). 



Journil de Physique theorique et appliqulc, August.— On 



the electric conductibility of very weak saline solutions, by 

 M. E. Bouty (7 parts, 30 pages, with figures and tables). — The 

 influence of heat and magnetism on the electrical resistance of 

 bismuth, by M. A. Righi. — Variation in the physical properties 

 of bismuth placed in a magnetic field, by M. Hurion. — Varia- 

 tion of the resistance of bismuth and some alloys with the tem- 

 perature, by M. A. Leduc. — On some experiments illustrating 

 an explanation of Hall's phenomenon, by Shelford Bidwell. — 

 Note on Hall's phenomenon, by Herbert Tomlinson. — The ex- 

 plosive wave, by MM. Berthelot and Vieille. — Researches on the 

 compressibility of gases.by E. H. Amagat.— Memoir on the com- 

 pressibility of air and carbonic acid at I, 8, and from 20 to 300 

 atmospheres, by E. H. Amagat. — On a new form of the rela- 

 tion F(pvt) =0, relating to gases, and on the law of the 

 expansion of these bodies at constant volume, by E. II. Amagat. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 Sydney 



Royal Society of New South Wales, August 6.— H. C. 

 Russell, B.A., President, in the chair. — Four new members 

 were elected. 1 lunation . received consisted of 327 vols, and 

 pamphlets, forty-six anthropological photographs, and a collec- 

 tion of fossils. — A paper was read by Mr. Lawrence Ha-grave 

 on the trochoided plane. The paper was explanatory of some 

 models of animal progression exhibited by the author before the 

 Society, and gave in detail the opinions and deductions he had 

 formed from his observations of the natural motions of animals. 

 The author was of opinion that there was evidence to show that 

 Nature almost universally used the trochoided plane for the trans- 

 mission of force, and that its use by man opened up a wide field 

 for engineers ; he asked the opinion of the members whether 

 there were grounds for believing that the trochoided plane was a 

 distinct mechanical power, and if not under what head they 

 classed it. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, September 29. — M. Rolland, Pre- 

 sident, in the chair. — Remarks in connection with a work " On 

 the Origin of the Earth," presented to the Academy by M. 

 Faye. The book is described as mainly historical, recording 

 the various theories on the cosmogony of the universe that have 

 prevailed from primitive times down to the present day. — Ob- 

 servations on a preceding communication dealing with the theory 

 of the form of the planets, by M. F. Tisserand. — On the vege- 

 tation of the Amaranthacese t distribution of the fundamental 

 substances amongst the various parts of this family of plants and 

 its congeners at the various periods of their growth, by MM. 

 Berthelot and Andre. — A simple process for effecting the separa- 

 tion of cerium and thorium from mixtures in which these ele- 

 ments are found, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. — On the solu- 

 bility of the prussiate of gallium ; rectification of a previous 

 communication by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. — On the trinomial 

 linear equation in matrices of any order, by Prof. Sylvester. — 

 Report of the Commissioners, MM. Bonley, Bert, Gosselin, 

 Marey, Pasteur, Vulpian, and Richet, on various communica- 

 tions touching the treatment of cholera. Of the eight communi- 

 cations received since the last report, five are undeserving of 

 mention. The three others are rather theoretical than practi- 

 cal, and that of Dr. Pereda y Sanchez alone seems to 

 contain a few suggestions worthy of further consideration. 

 — On the second experiment made by MM. Tissandier brothers 

 to propel a screw balloon by means of electricity, by M. G. 



Tissandier. This trial, made on September 26 at Auteuil 

 with improved appliances, yielded all the results that could be 

 expected from a balloon constructed with an exclusive view to 

 experimental study. The vessel proved perfectly stable, obeying 

 every movement of the rudder, and enabling the aeronauts to 

 execute numerous manoeuvres in various directions above Paris. 

 — Observations of Barnard's comet and of Luther's planet made 

 at the Observatory of Nice, by M. Perrotin.— Observations of 

 Wolfs comet made at the Paris Observatory (equatorial of the 

 West Tower), by M. G. Bigourdan.— Observations of the same 

 comet made at the Paris Observatory (equatorial coudi), by M. 

 Perigaud. — Observations of the same comet made on September 

 21 at the Observatory of Bordeaux with the meridian circle, by 

 M. Courty. — Note on the group of points in involution 

 marked on a surface, by M. Le Paige.— Description of a 

 new polarising prism presenting some advantages over those 

 of Nicol and of Hartnack and Prazmowski, by M. E. Bertrand. 

 — Note on the products obtained from tellurium acted 

 on by nitric acid, by MM. D. Klein and J. Morel.— On the 

 employment of the sulphate of copper (blue vitriol) for the 

 destruction of mildew, by M. Ad. Perrey. Vines recently 

 treated with this solution in the department of Saone-et-Loire 

 were everywhere distinguished from the surrounding plants by 

 the bright green colour and healthy appearance of their foliage. 

 But this remedy seems to be efficacious only in the case of young 

 vines from four to six years old. — Report on the present climatic 

 conditions and sanitary state of the isthmus of Panama, by M. 

 R. Regnier. The prevailing notions regarding the insalubrity 

 of this region appear to be unfounded. Its temperature varies 

 from 24 to 30 C. in winter, rising to 35° in summer. The 

 climate is hot and moist, with two seasons, summer and winter, 

 the latter being the rainy season and the shorter of the two. 

 Although the climate does not produce the same depressing 

 effect on Europeans as many other tropical countries, certain 

 hygienic precautions should be taken and scrupulously observed. 

 Two large hospitals, one at Panama, the other at Colon, have 

 been erected for the treatment of the men at present employed 

 in the construction of the canal. A health resort has also been 

 established at Taboga, and these various measures are stated to 

 have reduced the mortality almost to a lower rate than in many 

 great centres of industry. It is at present about 2-5 per cent., a 

 proportion no t exceeding the average of European countries. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Cholera Poison 557 



The Sanitary Institute at Dublin 557 



Contributions to Phenology 55 s 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Younger School of Botanists.— W. T. Thisel- 



tonDyer, C.M.G., F.R.S 559 



. The Solar (Dust ?) Halo.— Prof. E. Douglas 



Archibald 559 



Cole's Pits.— Rev. A. Irving 5°° 



The Flow of Streams.— George Higgin 560 



Lepidoptera.— G. Lovell Gulland 560 



Animal Intelligence.— Dr. Hyde Clarke 561 



Shifting of the Earth's Axis.— W. M. Flinders 



Petne 5 6 ' 



To Find the Cube of any Number by Construction. — 



R. Tucker 5 6 i 



The Ascent of Water in Plants 5 UI 



Natural Science in Tasmania 5 62 



Explorations in Iceland. By Th. Thoroddsen . . 563 

 The Connection between Chinese Music, Weights, 



and Measures 5^5 



Notes 5°6 



Physical Notes 5 6s 



Geographical Notes 5 6 9 



A Gigantic Earthworm. By F. E. Beddard ... 570 

 The Action of Ammonia upon some Lepidopterous 



Pigments. By George Coverdale 571 



Scottish Fishery Researches 57 2 



The British Association : — 



Section D— Biology— Department of Zoology and 



Botany 573 



Department of Anatomy and Physiology -575 



Section H — Anthropology 577 



Scientific Serials . ...'.' 579 



Societies and Academies 580 



