400 



NATURE 



\August 25, 188] 



between the two fences, no cattle will be alloned to pass or 

 exist. 



There is a bird (native name Jallak) which follows the 

 buffaloes about and perches on their backs. Query, can this 

 bird have anything to do with the spreading of the plague ? If 

 so I don't see what Government can do. They can't fence 

 him out. 



In all the parts where the cattle-plague has raged the most 

 awful fevers have been the result amongst the native population. 

 In Bantam alone 50,000 died in iSSo. In the Preanger and 

 Batavia the death-rate was also very high. There is no doubt 

 whatever that this is due to the imperfect interment of the 

 carcases. The Government says it is due to the wet season ; but 

 this is a lame excuse, for why is there no fever elsew here ? In 

 the wet season it is, of course, worse, for the heavy rains cause 

 more miasma. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



Journal of the Franklin Institute, July. — The direct manu- 

 facture of iron from ore, puddling, heating furnaces, and forge 

 cinders, &c., by Mr. Du Puy. Discussion on steel rails. — Ex- 

 periments with screw-propellers of different material and dimen- 

 sions, applied to the steamer Lookout, v\ith the hull coj pereJ 

 and not coppered, by Chief-Engineer Isherwood. — Percu-;sion 

 rock-drills, by Mr. Grimshaw. — Radio-dynamics, by Dr. Pliny 

 Earle Chase. 



Annaleu der Physik und Chcmie, No. "]. — On the forces 

 acting on the interior of magnetically or dielectrically polarised 

 bodies, by H. Helmholtz. — On the conductivities of metals for 

 heat and electricity, by G. Kirchhoff and G. Hansemann. — On 

 the same, by L. Lorenz. — The specific heat of liquid organic 

 compounds and its relation to their molecular weight, by ^I. A. 

 von Reis. — Contribution to the doctrine of induced magnetism, 

 by E. Riecke. — On crystal analysis, by 0. Lehmann. — On the 

 contraction observed in formation of haloid salts in comparison 

 with their heat of formation, by W. Miiller-Erzbach. — Auto- 

 matic mercury air-pump, by A. Schuller. — The theory of the 

 law of saturation, by M. Planck. — The so-called self-exciting 

 influence-machine, by P. Riess. — On K. Strecker's paper on the 

 specific heat of chlorine, &lc., by L. Boltzmann. 



Bulletin de V Acadimie Royale des Sciences de Belgique, No. 5. 

 — On curves of the third order, by M. le Paige. — On the structure 

 of the reproductive apparatus of Teleosteans (second paper), by 

 Mr. MacLeod. — On a registering apparatus for signals of the 

 mirror galvanometer, by M. Samuel. 



Journal de Physique, July. — Experimental researches on the 

 capacity of voltaic polarisation, by M. Blondlot. — Fundamental 

 equations of induced magnetism, according to Maxwell, by M. 

 Bouty. — Pumping machines and pneumatic apparatus, by M. 

 de Romilly. — Researches on the specific heat of mixtures of 

 heat and the three primary alcohols CjHjO.j, C4Hg02 and 

 CgHgOo, by Dr. Zetterman. 



Reale Istituto Lomhardo di Scienzt e Lettere. Rendiconti. Vol. 

 xiv., fasc. x.-xi. — Contribution to the study of Amoeba, by Dr. 

 Gra=fi. — On an evaporimeter with constant level, by Prof. 

 Fornioni. — Some researches on the distillation of cadaveric 

 alkaloids, by S. Soldaini. 



Memorie della Socitth degli Spettroscopisti Italiani, May. — 

 Solar observations at Palermo Observatory during the first quar- 

 ter of 1881, by Prof. Ricco. — On photographic photometry, 

 by M. Janssen. — Scientific monument to P. Secchi in Reggio 

 Emilia. — Spectroscopy applied to investigation of some colour- 

 ing'matters introduced into red wines, by S. Macagno. 



Alti della R. Accademia dei Lincei, vol. v. fasc. 14. — Pharma- 

 cological researches on unstriped muscles, and particularly on 

 the bladder, by P. Pellacani. — On some compounds of the 

 furfuric series, by G. L. Ciamician and M.Dennstedt. — On some 

 derivatives of pyrocol, by G. L. Ciamician and L. Danesi. — 

 Action of nascent hydrogen on apoatropine, by L. Pesci. — On 

 the saccharifying action of neutral salts, by F. Selmi. — Some 

 theorems in geometry of n dimensions, by S. Veronese. 



_ Rivista Seie7itifico-Industriale, No. 11, June 15 — Theory of 

 siphons, by Prof. Rovelli. — New application of powdered gra- 

 phite, by S. Mauri — On Elban poltuce, by S. Corsi. — On 

 radiant matter, by Prof. Mugna. 



Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles, No. 7, July 15. 

 — Essay on the periodic variations of glaciers, by F. A. Forel. 

 — Researches on Ihe influence of heat on respiration, by W. 

 Marcet. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, August 8. — M. Wurtz in the chair. — 



The following papers were read : — On the heat of formation of 

 perchlorate of potass, by MM. Berthelot and Vieille. — Specific 

 heats and heats of dilution of perchloric acid, by M. Berthelot. — 

 Note on the communication to last meeting, by M. Boulley, on 

 M. Toussaint's experiments on the infection produced by the 

 juices of heated viands, by M. Chevreul. — Researches on the 

 anhydrous chlorides of gallium, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. — 

 The standards of weights and meai-ures of the Obfervatory, and 

 the apparatus used in their construction, their origin, history, 

 and present state, by M. C. Wolf —On the Fuchsian functions, 

 liyM. H. Poincare. — On the imitation, by means of hydrodynamics, 

 of electrical and magnetic actions, by M. C. A. Bjerknes. — On 

 the compressibility of carbonic acid and air under weak pressure 

 and at a high temperature, Ijy M. E. H. Amagat. — On the action 

 of oxygen on mercury, by M. E. Amagat. — On the heating of 

 waggons, carriages, &c., by means of the crystallised acetate of 

 soda, by M. A. Ancelin. — Researches on the conditions of 

 manufa-ture of magnets, by M. G. Trouve. — Di-sociation com- 

 parison of formulas by experiment, by M. G. Lemoine. — Action 

 of sulphuric acid on bromic amylene, by M. Chatin. — On a solu- 

 tion, of density 3 '28, suitable for the immediate analysis of 

 rocks, by M. D. Klein. — Tuberculous infection by the liquids of 

 secretion and the serosity of vaccine pustules, by M. H. 

 Toussaint. — Note on hydrophobia, by M. H. Duboue. 



August i6. — M. Wurtz in the ch.air. — On cometary appear- 

 ances, by M. J. Jamin. — Researches on theanhydrous chlorides of 

 gallium, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. — Singular effects of a 

 gust of south-west wind, by M. G. A. Hirn. — Report of the 

 place of Claude de Jouffroy in the discovery of steam-navigation, 

 by M. de Lesseps. — The alcamines, by M. A. Ladenburg. — On 

 the solubility of carbonate of magne>ia in water charged with 

 carbonic acid, by MM. Engel and Ville. — On the cobalt.amines, 

 by M. Porumbaru. — On the seat of gustation in dipterous insects : 

 anatomical constitution and physiological value of the epipharynx 

 and hypopharynx, by MM. Kiinckel .nnd Gazagnaire. — On par- 

 asitism and tuberculosis, by M. H. Toussaint. — On the shooting 

 stars of August, 1881, by M. Chapelas. 



CONTENTS Pagh 



Papin 377 



Chemistry OF THE Farm. By Prof. A. H, Church 379 



Our Book Sheli' :— 



Claike and Roebuck's " Handbook of the Vertebrate Fauna of 



Yorkshire " 379 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Schaberle's Comet.— J. Rand Capron 380 



The Descent of Birds.— W. A. Forbes 380 



Mr. Wallace and the Organs of Speech. — HvDE Clarke .... 380 



Comets and BallDOns.— W. de Fonvielle 381 



Animal Instinct.— Dr. W. B Kesteven 381 



Italian Depp-Sea Exploration in the Mediterranean. By Dr. 



Henry Hillyer Giglioli 381 



On the Velocity op Light. By Lord Ravleigh. F.R.S 38a 



Electric Light IN Collieries 383 



Singular Sto.ve Hatchets 383 



International Bureau of Weights and Measures. By H. J. 



Chaney 384 



A Model Public Library 384 



Notes 3^5 



Physical Notes 387 



Biological Notes: — 



Relations between the Cranium and the Rest of the Skeleton . . 388 



The Colour Changes of Axolotl 388 



Sircdon licltowides 388 



Fish Mortality in the Gulf of Mexico 388 



The Blood of Insects 388 



New Pycnogonida , • 388 



New Zealand Desmids 389 



Protoplasm Stained whilst Living 389 



Large Telescopes. By Prof. Edward C. Pickering 389 



Solar Phvmcs— The Chemistry op the Sun. By J. Norman 



Lockyer, F.R.S. {With Diagrams) 39' 



Notes FROM the Malay Archipelago 399 



Scientific Serials 400 



Societies and Academies 4°^ 



