72 



NA TURE 



[A/ay 19, 1 88 J 



University, Baltimore. — The following communications were 

 made:— On Ptolemy's theorem, by Mr. Men-ifield, F.R.S.— The 

 summation of certain hyperjjeomctric series, by the Rev. T. R. 

 Terry. — Quaternion proof of Mr. S. Rnberts's theorem of four 

 co-intersecting spheres, by Mr. J. J. Walker. — Some solutions 

 of the " 15-girl " problem, by Mr. Carpniael. — Note on the co- 

 ordinates of a tangent line to the curve of intersection of two 

 quadrics, by Mr. W. R. W. Roberts. — Shorter communications 

 were made by the President, Prof. Cayley, F.R.S., Mr. Hart, 

 and Mr. J. J. Walker. 



Entomological Society, May 4. — H. T. Stainton, F.R.S., 

 president, in the chair. — Two new Members and one Subscriber 

 were elected. — Mr. R. Trimen made son.e observations on the 

 sexes of Pteris saba^ DiatU-/na tiiima, and Papilio cenea^ and 

 exhibited specimens in illustration. He also remarked on Titim 

 ^gantella iTaving been lired from the hoof of a dead horse, and 

 on the uncertainty which still exists as to whether the larva of 

 this species ever feeds on living horn or not. — The Secretary 

 read a letter from the Colonial Office respecting the occurrence 

 of Phylloxera vustatrix on vines in Victoria. — Mr. A. G. Butler 

 communicated "Descriptions of New Genera and Species of 

 Heterocarous LepidopUra from Japan — Noctuites." 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, May 9. — M. Wurtz in the chair. — 

 The following papers were read : — Reply to some criticisms of 

 the note of Ftbruary 21, on the parallax of the sun, by M. 

 Faye. He invites his English critics to correct his ten numbers 

 according to their best information, and expects they will reach 

 nearly the same result. — On nitrate of diazohenzol, by MM. Ber- 

 thelot and Vieille. This solid crystalline body (CijHjNjNO^H) 

 detonates with extreme violence when heated above 90^ (and 

 is thus much more sensitive to heaf than fulminate of mercury). 

 It also detonates when struck with a hammer or rubbed. It is 

 now much used in making colouring matters. — On a new deriva- 

 tive of nicotine obtained by the action of selenium on this sub- 

 stance, by MM. Cahours and Etard. The collidine obtained is 

 one of the propylpyndines corresponding to the isomeric posi- 

 tion, still unknown, of nicotianic acid. Theory anticipates six 

 coUidines of this species. Selenium is found to be capable of 

 removing nitrogen from an organic substance. — r)n the divisors 

 of functions of periods of primitive roots of unity, by Prof. 

 Sylvester. — On the densities of liquefied oxygen, hydrogen, and 

 nitrogen in presence of a liquid w ithout chemical action on these 

 simple substances, by MM. Cailletet and Hautefeuille. The mix- 

 ture was chiefly with carbonic acid. The density varied con- 

 siderably with temperature and pressure. The coefficients of 

 dilatation are so little different that the densities must be 

 sensibly in the same ratio at 0° and at - 23°. The atomic volumes 

 calculated are 17 for O, 30 '3 for H, and 318 for N (dividing each 

 of the atomic weights by the density at -23°, viz. O, o'Sg, H, 

 o'033,and N,o'44). Gaseous O, H, and N diverge very unequally 

 from Mariotte's law, at the pressures em| loyed (275 and 300 

 atm.), and there is not then a simple relation between the atomic 

 weight and the density ; but on change of state by lowering of 

 temperature in presence of a gas easily liquefiable, the atomic 

 volume is found to reveal a positive relation between density and 

 equivalent weight.— M. de Gasparin was elected Correspondent 

 in Rural Economy, in room of the late M. Kuhlmann. — On dis- 

 placement of a figure of invariable form in its plane, by M. 

 Dewulf — On the work-product of secondary batteries, by M. 

 Regnier. — M. Mascart stated that Admiral Clone, Minister of 

 the Marine, would probably organise an expedition to islands 

 near Cape Horn, taking part in the international scheme of 

 simultaneous ob-ervations on terrestrial magnetism, &c. — On 

 seeds of two species of Chinese vines discovered in 1S72 by 

 Abbe David in the province of Chen-si, by M. Du Caillaud. — 

 M Vinot submitted a telescope made on a suggestion of M. 

 Canssin. The image formed by one telescope is looked at with 

 another of the same or different power. — Observations of 

 Saturn's satellites at Toulouse in 1879 and lS8o, by M. Baillaud. 

 • — Observations, elements, and ephemerides of the comet a 1S81 

 (discovered by Mr. Lewis Swift on April 31), by M. Bigourdan. 

 — On a system of differential equations, by M. Halphen. — On 

 Irilinear forms, by M. le Paige. On some actinometric measure- 

 ments made in the Alps in 1880, by M. Paiseux. The total radiation 

 (that diffu-ed by ground and sky as well as that direct from the sun) 

 was found to be increased 010 at an altitude of 800 m. and o'2i 

 at 2100 m. At greater heights (3380 and 3251 m.) the numbers 

 were much higher, but less easy of interpretation, because of 



snow and mist ; the reduced figures were I '25 and I "24 (showing 

 good agreement with the others). Phanerogamic plants are 

 found up to 3900 ui., and must accomplish all their phases in 

 the three summer months at a temperature below that of a polar 

 summer. Doubtless the intensity of radiation compensates. — 

 Action of lis;ht on phosphorescent substances, by M Clemandot. 

 He notes the confirmation, by M. Yung of Geneva, of his views 

 that the phenomenon is physical, and the vibratory influence 

 strongest in the blue ray. M. Becquerel called attention to his 

 own researches thirty years ago. — Action of light on bromide of 

 silver, by M. Noel. Ceteris paribus, silver bromide retains 

 longer the molecular modification impressed on it by the 

 chemical spectrum, the greater its sensibility, and when this 

 first modification disappears it seems to have recovered its 

 initial sensibiHty. — Action of carbonic acid on baryta and 

 strontium, by M. Raoult. — On the products of action of per- 

 chloride of phosphorus on acrnltine, by M. van Romburgh. — 

 On the nature of the troubles produced by cortical lesions of the 

 brain, by M. Couty. He rejects the theory of localisations, both 

 on anatomical and physiological grounds. — On the poisonous 

 action of the juice of manioc, by M. tde Lacerda. It is not 

 great, and it seems to affect the central nervous system. — On the 

 role of marine currents in geographical distribution of amphibian 

 mammalia, particularly Otaria, by M. Trouessart. These animals 

 seem to have radiated from Antarctic regions. Their course to 

 the North Pacific, &c., corresponds remarkably with that of 

 certain cm rents. — Movements of juices and various plant-organs 

 referred to a single cause ; variations of hydrostatic tension, by 

 M. Barthelemy. 



Vienna 

 Imperial Academy of Sciences, May 12. — V. Burg in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read : — C. Claus, on tomora 

 and tomorella. — Prof. L. Ditscheiner, on searching for spots 

 of interruption at insufficiently insulated circuits. — E. Sathey, on 

 the phenomena of exsiccation and imbibition on the involucra of 

 Cymareae. — Dr. R. Maly, on yolk-pigments. — E. Weis, on 

 the comet discovered by Lewis Swift (Rochester, U.S.) on May 2, 

 &c. — E. Weiss, on a new method of computation of the 

 apparent anomaly in orbits of great excentricity. — Dr. Zd. 

 Skraup, on cinchonidine and homocinchonidine. 



Imperial Institute of Geology, May 3. — The following 

 papers were read : — Prof. Cornel. Doelter, on the geological 

 state of the Cape Verde Isles. — M. Vacek, exhibition of the 

 geological map of Trieste. — Dr. L. Szaynucha, on the occurrence 

 of petroleum at Sloboda Rungurska. — Dr. E. Hussak, on the 

 inclusion of resinous matters in the pycrite porphyry of Steyrdorf. 



CONTENTS Pagb 



" A Book OF THE Beginnings" 49 



The Scottish Celtic Review 50 



OiiR Book Shelf:— 



Bleuler and Lehmann's " Lislu and Sound " 51 



Dresser's '■ List of European Birds" 5= 



Southwell's "Seals and Whales of the British Seas" 52 



Casey's " Sequel to the First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid " 52 



Jackson's "Accented Four- Figure Logarithms" 5^ 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The so-called "Bunsen-Pump."— Dr. H. Sprengel 53 



Tide-Predicting Machines.— Rev. F. Bashforth 53 



Sound of the Aurora. — F. C Constable 53 



Meteorological Bibliography.— A. Ramsay 53 



An Optical Illusion.— William Wilson (iF;VA Z'/«frnOT) ... 53 



Science in China, II. By John Frver 54 



The WiLLUGHBY Society 57 



Zoology of the Dutch Arctic Expedition 57 



Dr. Holud's African Travels. II. (»'iM/&«i'-<!/i"("«) 58 



Electric Lighting, III. ((*/M ///»i/'vi/iOT/i) 60 



How to Prevent Drowning. By Dr. Henry MacCormac ... 62 



Notes «3 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



Variable Stars °J> 



The Satellites of Saturn 65 



Swift's Comet(i88i a) 65 



The Asirofioinische Naihrichten . . 66 



Biological Notes: — 



Limulns polyfltemus . . 66 



The Nummulidc Echinids of Egypt 66 



Sponges of Lake Baikal . . • °° 



Microscopical Examination of Farina 66 



Tne Hypophysis in Ascidians 66 



Physical Notes 66 



Geographical Notes 67 



The Hypophysal Gland IN AsciDiANS. By W. A. Herdman . . . 68 



Storing OF Electricity 68 



University and Educational Intelligkncb 69 



Scientific Serials ^° 



Societies and Academies 7o 



