NATURE 



\_May 26, 1 881 



( p. Conyteari) from the Lower Lia^ of Charmouth, with obser- 

 vations on P. inemccphalus, Stutclibury, and P. brachycephalus, 

 Owen, by Prof. W. J. Sollas, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.G.S., &c., 

 Professor of Geology in University Cnlleije, Bristol ; accom- 

 panied by a supplement on the geological distribution of the 

 ae.nxi^ Pksiosaums, by G. F. Whidborne, M.A., F.G.S. The 

 Greater part of this paper was devoted to the description of a 

 remarkably fine specimen of Flsiosniirus from the Ammonitcs- 

 obtusiis zone of the Lower Lias, Charmouth. For the species 

 the name of P. Conybeari is proposed. P. Conybeari asrrees 

 closely with P. Et/ierid^ii in the relative length of bead and 

 neclv ; but it has eight more cervical vertehros than the last- 

 mentioned species. In the numlier of the cervical vertebrje it 

 agrees with P. homalospondylus, but has a much larger cervicii- 

 cephalic inde.\. — On certain quartzite and sandstone fossiliferous 

 pei'bles in the drift in Warwiclshire, and their probable identity 

 with the true Lower Silurian pelihles, "ifh similar fossils, in the 

 Trias at Budleigh Salterton, Devonshire, by the Rev. P. B. 

 Brodie, M.A., F.G.S. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, May 10. — Mr. Brunlees, 

 F.R.S.E., vice-president, in the chiir. — The paper read was on 

 torpedo boats and light yachts for high speed steam navigation, 

 by Mr. John Isaac Thornycroft, M.Inst. C. E. 



Meteorological Society, May 18. — Mr. G. J. Sym^ns, 

 F.R.S., presiilent, in the chair. — D. W. Birker, B. Jumeaux, 

 W. Oelrichs, H. Porter, W. Ro|ier, and Rev. G. R. Wynne 

 were elected Fellows of the Society. — The following papers 

 were read : — Comparison of Robiii'Oii'sand Osier's anemometers, 

 with remarlis on anemometry in general, by Richard H. Curtis. 

 The author in this paper gives a very clear statement of the 

 present state of anemometry, and [loints out the defects in Osier's 

 and Robinson's anemometers, which are the chief forms of re- 

 cording instruments used in this coutitiy. — Notes on waterspouts 

 observed at Cannes in Jaimary or February, 1S72, by the Hon. 

 F. A. KoUo Russell, M.A. — On some Swedish meteorological 

 observations in connection with the return of the seasons, by 

 Alexander Beazeley, M.Inst.C.E. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, May 16. — M. Wurtz in the chair. — 

 The following papers were read : — Meridian observations of 

 small planets at the observatories of Greenwich and Paris during 

 the first quarter of 1S81, communii-ared hv M. Mouchez. — 

 Nebulse discovered and observed at the Observatory of Mar- 

 seilles, by M. Stephan. — On the supposed presence of Proteacece 

 of Australia in the flora of ancient Europe by M. de Saporta. 

 He give^ reasons for doubting the supposed relati m of the fossil 

 plants, and the anomalous direct implantation in the heart of 

 ancient Europe of a whole colony of plants that are now con- 

 fined to a re-jion in the southern hemisphere. — M. Berthelot pre- 

 sented the second edition of his " Traiie eleaientaire de Chimie 

 organique ' (which is about double the first). — Report ■ m a memoir 

 of M. Graeff relative to a series of experiments at the Furens reser- 

 voir on outfli>w of water. — On the transformation of morphine 

 into codeine and homologous bases, by M. Gremaux. Codeine 

 he regards as a methylic ether of morphine, considered as phenol. 

 He transforms morphine into codeine by heating it with alcoholic 

 potash or soda and iodide of methyl. Using ethylic iodide, a 

 new base is got, homologous with codeine ; indeed a series of 

 these cndeitt'S (as the author calls them) may be had, as nume- 

 rous as the series of ether> of an alcohol. — On the most 

 ancient reptiles found in France, by M. Gaudry. He pre- 

 sented a fine specimen of remains of i,ter eorachis dominans. 

 By their enlarged ribs, the arrangement of the thorax, 

 the scales with spines, and especially the characters of 

 the humerus, the Permian reptiles of France (like some fos- 

 sils of South Africa, studied liy Prof. Owen), somewhat lessen 

 the wide intervnl between reptiles and inim itrematous mammalia. 

 They have trails of resemblance to reptiles of the Trias, and to 

 tho-e of the Permian in the United States, studied by Mr. Cope. 

 — Ob-ervations on Swift's comet at Marseilles Observatory, by 

 M. Sorrelly.— On the separation of roots of numerical equations, 

 by M. Lagucire. — O.i the principle of omservation of electricity, 

 by M. Lippuiani). The principle is expre-sed by a condition of 

 integratiility. In the memoir the author's method of analysis is 

 applied to vaious phenomena — dilatation of glass of a Leyden 

 jar during char.^e, electrisation by compression of hemihedral 

 crystal-, and pyroelectricity of crystals. The existence and law 

 of certain new phenomena, not yet verified, are deduced. — On a 

 mode of graphic representati^-n of phenomena produced in 



dynamo-electric machines, by M. Deprez. A curve, called the 

 characteristic of the machine, is got thus : Communication being 

 first broken between the ring and the exciting electro-magnets, a 

 known current, from an external source, is sent through the 

 lat'er. The ring is then rotated with a given velocity ; then the 

 difference of potential between the two extremities of the (broken) 

 induced circuit is measured. The [auxiliary current is varied, 

 and its intensities are taken as abscissce ; the ordinates are the 

 differences of potential of the ends of the induced circuit. — 

 On the theory of rotatory polarisation, by M. Mallard. 

 — On the hydrates formed by chloride of calcium, by 

 M. Lescreur. He recognises the existence of CaClHO, of 

 CaCl2H0, of CaCl4HO (only under 129°), and of CaC16HO 

 (under 65°). — On the solubility of mercurous chloride in hydro- 

 chloric acid, by MM. Ruyssen and Varenne. — Peptones and 

 alkaloids, by M. Tanret. — On the non-existence of Microzyma 

 a-eta:, by MM. Chamberland and Roux. The Meudon chalk 

 behaves like chalk sterilised liy heating, and contains nothing 

 capable of producing n.icroscopic organisms or any fermenta- 

 tion ; thus M. Bechamp's observations (i856) are controverted. 

 — On the crystallisation of alums, by M. Loir. The different 

 faces of a crystal have not the same attractive power towards the 

 solution of the substance employed to feed it. — Phyllotaxy, by 

 M. Baron. — Studies on the coal formation of Commentry, by 

 M. Fazol. Pie supposes that all the materials of this formation 

 have been carried by water and deposited in a deep lake during 

 a tranquil geological period. — On the milch sheep, by M. Tayon. 

 There is an inverse correlation betw een the ]nroduction of v.ool 

 and that of milk. The presence of hairs directed upwards on 

 the teats and neighbouring parts is noticed. — On the alterations 

 of milk in sucking bottles, ascertained along with the presence 

 of a cryptogamic vegetation in the caoutchouc tube fitted to the 

 glass Ijottles, by M. Fanvel. Of thirty-one sucking-bottles 

 examined in the creches, twenty-eight contained this cryptogamic 

 vegetation. 



Vienna 

 Imperial Academy of Sciences, May 19. — V. Burg in the 

 chair. — Dr. W. Biedermann, contributions to general nerve and 

 muscle physiology (part vii.) : on the chemical changes during 

 polar excitation by electric currents. — Dr. E. Weiss, supplement 

 to his communication of May 12 on the Swift comet. — Prof. L. 

 V.v . Zepharovich, crystallographical-optic examinations into the 

 camphor-derivates. — Dr. Hans Molisch, on the deposits of car- 

 bonate of lime in the stems of dicotyledonous wood. — Dr. F. 

 Lippich, contributions to the theory of the Polyhedra. — G. 

 Czeteczka, researches into yeast. — T. Haubner, on the magnetic 

 behaviour of u-on powders of different density. 



CONTENTS Pack 



The Evolution OF THE Cryptogams. I. By J. Staekie Gardner 73 



Prof. Robertson Smith on the Old Testament 75 



OuK Book Shelf:— 



Jenkin's " Manuals of Elementary Science — Electricity" .... 76 



Blyth's "Natural History of the Cranes " 77 



McAlpine's " Zoological Atlas " 77 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Dr. Carnelley's E.xperiraent with Mercuric Chloride. — J. B. 



HiNNAY 77 



The Conservation of Electricity.— Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson . 78 



The Florence Herbarium.— John Ball ■ 7S 



Barometer Pumps. — James Johnstone 79 



The Hutton Collection of Fossil Plants — Prof. G. A. Lebour . . 79 



'* How to Prevent Drowning." — E. Hill- 79 



The Effects of Pressure on the Germination and Growth of Plants.- 



William Carter 79 



The Magnetic Survey of Missouri— Prof F. E. NiPHER .... 80 



An Optical Illusion.— C. J. Woodward; Joseph John Murphy . 80 



Th» Speaking-Tube Anticipated ?— Dr. W. Curran 80 



Origin of the English Mile. ByM. Faye 80 



Laurentian Gneiss of Ireland. By Prof Edward Hull, F.R.S- 81 



Joseph Barnard Davis 82 



M. H. Milne-Edwards (W-VM ///Mira^/oKi) 83 



The Zoological Results of the Socotran Expedition iJViih 



Illustrations) 83 



A Geologist's Notes on the Royal Academy. By Prof. G. T. 



Bonney, F.R.S 85 



Notes 86 



Geographical Notes 89 



On Discontinuous Phosphorescent Spectra in High Vacua. By 



William Crookes, F.R.S 89 



The Distances of the Stars. By Prof. Robert S. Ball, LL.D., 



Y .V.S. (With Diagrams) 91 



The SscuLAR Inequalities in Terrestrial Climates depending 

 ON THE Perihelion Longitude and Eccentricity of the Earth's 



Orbit. Ey the Rev. Dr. Haughton. F.R.S 93 



University and Educational In 



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Societies and Academies . . . 



