72 
NATURE 
a A _—. ee | 
[Nov. 17, 1881 : 
F. im Thurn read a paper on the animism of the Indians of 
British Guiana. After defining animism as belief in the exist- 
ence of spirit in any form, the author stated that the animi-m of 
the Indians of Guiana, in common probably with that of many 
other American tribes, is not only of an exceedingly pure and 
rudimentary kind, but is much more primitive than has yet been 
recognised by students of religious evolution. The Indian belief 
is that each object and pheaomenon of the visible world con- 
sists of body and spirit ; and these countless dual beings differ 
from each other only in bodily form and in the degree of brute 
force or cunning which they possess, but are none of them dis- 
tinguished by the possession of any sort of divine character, 
There is no belief, of genuine Indian origin, in gods or a God, 
in heaven or hell, or in reward or punishment after death ; nor 
is any form of worship practised. ‘Lhe author also indicated 
how in this belief may be found the germs from which all the 
features of the higher religions have arisen by modification. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, November 7.—M. Wurtz in the 
chair.—The following papers were read: -On the limits of 
electrolysis, by M. Berthelot. In the electrolysis of sulphate 
of potash (as also of haloid salts), the smallest sum of 
energies capable of working the decomposition is far below 
that which would be required for the previous setting at liberty 
of the alkaline metal. It is equivalent to the separation of the 
acid and the base, plus either the separation of the oxygen and 
the metal at expense of the base, or the decomposition of the 
acidulated water.—On the combustions effected by bioxide of 
nitrogen, by M. Berthelot. The property of burning at expense 
of bioxide of nitrogen under influence of a flame or electric 
spark, depends mainly (the author shows) on the temperature 
developed. Of the mixtures tabulated, none that develop a 
temperature theoretically under 7000° are inflamed ; while those 
developing a higher temperature burn or detonate.—Synthetic 
experiments in artificial reproduction of meteorites, by MM. 
Fonqué ond Lévy. By igneous fusion they have obtained 
bodies closely resembling some oligosideric meteorites; one 
type containing felspathic products, and another not. The 
former contains anorthite associated with pyroxyene and 
enstatite (eukrite) or peridote (howardite); the latter peri- 
dote, enstatite, oxydulated iron, and a pyroxene exclusively 
magnesian.—Solution of two que-tions of maritime hydraulics, 
by M. Cialdi. One refers to the force governing the sand 
of banks and harbours ; (Cialdi’s theory that the undulatory 
motion is the prime force is now accepted, as against that which 
puts the littoral current first). The other refers to the method of 
construction of moles for harbours by the Romans ; (they did not 
make these with apertures where there was exposure to the open 
sea).—On the comparison of the waters of the Isére and those of 
the Durance in their hydrographic and agronomic relations, by 
M. de Gasparin. He controverts some views of M. Dumont. — 
Report on a memoir of M. Leauté on teledynamic transmissions, 
The author’s solution of the problem is pronounced complete, 
theoretically and practically.—On silica and silicates of lithine, 
by MM. Hautefeuille and Margottet. Jwter alia, three new 
crystallised silicates of lithine have been obtained (by means of 
chloride of lithium in fusion), and it is proved that silica may 
take the form of quartz in presence of a fused chloride.—On the 
means to employ for destroying the winter-egg of phylloxera, by 
M. Mayet. He considers it best to operate where the vines 
have every year galls on the leave-, and to treat (with insecticide) 
only the wood of two or three years.x—A work by M. du 
Bocage (Lisbon) on the ‘‘ Ornithology of Angola” was pre- 
sented,-—Elements of Denniag’s comet (1881_/), by M. Schulhof.— 
On a general formula for development of the principal part of 
the perturbative function, by M. Baillaud.—On the reduction of 
Abelian integrals, by M. Picard. —O1 linear differential equations, 
the integrals of which verify relations of the form F(9(x)] = 
W(x)F(x), by M. Appell.—On the integration of an equation 
with partial derivatives of the second order, by M, Teixeira.— 
Mode of transmission, in an isotropic solid (in equilibrium) of 
the pressure exerted on a very small part of its surface, by M. 
Boussinesq.—On the possibility of electric equilibrium, by M. 
Lévy.—On the product and the limit of operation of the trans- 
port of force by electricity, by M. Lévy.—Articulated systems, 
giving rectilinear motion or circular curvature, by Prince 
Gazarine.—Experimental method of determination of the ohm, 
by M. Lippmann.—Action of cold on the voltaic arc, by M. 
Tommasi. He used as rheophores, copper U-tubes (placed vis- 
a-vis horizontally), through which ran cold water, The luminous 
power is considerably weakened ; the are is very unstable; it 
does not ignite paper held o'004m. above it; it is very mobile, 
and its form is like that of a drop of liquid in the spheroidal 
state; it is attracted and put out by a magnet; and there 
seemed to be more ozone than when the arc is not cooled, 
The flame was slightly green.—On an electric method for de- 
termining, with a needle, the pcsition and depth of a projec- 
tile, or other metallic substance, in the human body, by Prof. 
Bell. A fine needle, connected by wire with a telephone, is 
inserted ; and a metallic plate, similarly connected, is applied to 
the skin. A sound is heard when the ball is reached. A 
trembler may be introduced into the circuit giving a musical note 
in the telephone on contact of needle and ball; a battery may 
also be included.—New cemcnstration of Riemann’s theorem, by 
M. Croullebois.—The direct-vision spectroscope with calcareous 
spar, by M. Zenger. He combines a single prism of spar of 75° 
refringent angle, with a fluid prism (sulphide of carbon, oil of 
cassia, or other liquid) of the same angle. The dispersion is 
great. The red image of the protuberances can be obtained with 
great intensity, there being small loss by absorption and none by 
reflection,—On the function which expresses the gaseous state, 
by M. Gouilly.—On cuproso-cupric sulphite, by M. Etard.—On 
a hydrate of chromic bromide, by M. Varenne.—Action of 
hydracids on alkaline chromates, by M. Varenne.—Reply to M. 
Debray on dissociation of sulphydrates of ammonia, by MM. 
Engel and Moitessier.—On the vapour-tensions of carbamate of 
ammonia, by M. Isambert.—Modifications of composition of 
green fodder kept en s/o, by M. Lechantier. Maize and 
trefoil lost a little of their azotised matter, but the loss of 
glucosides was much greater; the chief loss being now in 
the glucose and sugar group, now in the starch and cellulose, 
Fatty matter increased.—Artificial peridote produced in presence 
of steam, at ordinary pressure, by M. Meunier.—Action of 
hydriodic acid on chloroiodide of propylene and on chloride of 
isopropyl, by M. Silva.x—On the contagion of tuberculosis, by 
M. Toussaint. Jnter alia, tuberculosis becomes more powerful 
and rapid in its action the oftener it is inoculated.—On the 
physiological action of codethyline, by M. Bochefontaine. This 
action seems to consist in an exaltation of the reflex properties 
of the grey substance of the bulbo-medullary nerve-céntres.— 
Contribution to a study of Flagellata, by M. Kunstler. He has 
found an organism very like noctiluca, but living in fresh water. 
—Observations on rotators of the genus Afelicerta, by M. Joliet. 
—On the vitality of germs of Artemia salina and Slepharisma 
Jateritia, by M. Certes.—On the winter spores of /eronospora 
witicola, by M. Prillieux.—Discovery of gypsum in the strata of 
the superior Eocene formation of Peru, by M. Caraven-Cachin, 
—On the charac’ers of speech in deaf-mutes taught to articulate, 
by M. Hément. He maintains that these persons have the 
accent of their country, indicating organic conformations similar 
to those cf their parents. M. Blanchard disputed this.—On the 
spontaneous irfsensibility of the sensitive plant, by M. Musset. 
A sudden fall of temperature suspends spontaneous movements 
of the plant (as chloroform, &c., suspend provoked movements) 
CONTENTS Pace 
SystTEMATIC MINERALOGY. By L. FLETCHER. ~« . . 2 2 «© « © 49 
A TREATISE ON CuEMIsTRY. By H. Watts, F.R.S. . . . . « + 50 
Oux Book SHELF :— 
Piper’s ‘‘ Acoustics, Light, and Heat” . . . . «+ «+» + + SF 
Lerrers TO THE EDITOR :— 
The Parasitic Habits of Molothrus.—Cuaries Darwin, F.R.S. . 51 
The Velocity of Light.—Lord Ravueich, F.R.S . . . - . ss 
The Struggle of Parts inthe Organism.—Dr. Wittiam B. Car- 
SENTER, FoRUS: ys) ou. use erase soy als. eee 
The Aurora and its Spectrum.—J. Ranp Carron (With Diagram) 53 
Arctic Research.—Dr. J. Rak, F-R.S. es 
A Photographic Experiment with Swan’s Incandescent Light.—H. 
BADENIPRITCHARD. 5c << isce co See «his 68s neue 
Sound-producing Ants.—JOHN FOTHERINGHAM «© + +. « = + 
Heaps ann Hats. By F. F. Tuckerr; CxHaries Roparts; 
CHares H. Brackiey; W. G. Smirn; Epwarp F. WILLOUGHBY 55 
Mono IsLanp, TRINIDAD alee a er es) 6 ence oe 
RoperT MAtteT, F.R.S. . «+ sw 2 ee ew ee et ee 
Tue LAND oF THE Mipnicut SuN (W%#th Jilustrations) . . . « - a 
a: hy Oe 
Norns.) do Date oe hee ler es 8) ee oe 
Experiments oN Corour. By Lord Ravieicu, F.R.S. . . . +. 64 
Macxeric DisrwrBaNces, AURORAS, AND EARTH CURRENTS. By 
Prof. W. Gryiis Apams, F.R.S. Nas ste Chat Gee ee 
Universtry AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. . « - + © © «© + JE 
SocigTigs AND ACADEMIES .« 3 <» af) -ws lh, Pe 
oleae it 5 5 | Rs eg ee eee 
Erratum.—Vol. xxiv. p. 509, in the letter of Prof. Alex. Agassiz, for 
Polydonia read Polyclonia 
