120 
Tay Bridge disaster attention had once more been directed to the 
subject of wind pressure. He suggested that a conference of 
delegates from societies specially interested in the subject should 
be held, who should make experiments and carefully consider the 
whole question. 
Entomological Society, November 2,—H. T. Stainton, 
F.R.S., president, in the chair.—Exhibitions: An aberration of 
Orapteryx sambucaria, L., Mr. C. O. Waterhouse.—A new 
species of Anther@a from the Gold Coast ; and some microscopic 
preparations of the saws, &c., of various Hymenoptera, prepared 
by Mr. P. Cameron of Glasgow, Mr. W. F. Kirby.—Pieces of 
honeycomb constructed on a bare wall, without any protection ; 
and specimens and figures of new varieties of drmadillium vul- 
gare, L., and Forcellio icaber, Latr., Rev. A, E, Eaton,—A 
specimen of Lycena icarus, Rott., var Jcarinus, Scriba, Dr. 
H. G. Lang.— An unde cribed species of Cicadide from Borneo, 
with unu-ually developed opercula, Mr. W. L. Distant.—A 
female specimen of Dufourea minuta, Lep., Mr. T. R. Billups. 
—A specimen of Scleroderma domestica, Westw. ; the larva was 
found parasitic on that of a Longicorn beetle in a pine-tree at 
Lyons ; and some D/ftera which attack figs in Turkey and Egyp*, 
Sir S. S. Saunders (this led to an interesting discussion on fig- 
parasites and caprification).—Some remarkable tubes formed by 
Lepidopterous larvze at Aden; and a specimen of Cerura vinulo, 
L., which it was thought at first might belong to C. erminea, 
Esp., the President.—Papers read : Descriptions of new genera 
and species of Heterocerous Lepidoptera from Japan (concluded), 
by Mr. A. G. Butler ; and a memoir on the various Dipterous 
insects (A/uscide av.d Tipulide) destructive to cereals in Britain, 
by Prof. Westwood. 
Geological Society, November 2,—R. Etheridge, F.R.S., 
president, in the chair.—Richard Paley Gardner, Henry Neville 
Hutchinson, Henry Johnson, William Regester, and George 
Tate, Ph.D., were elected Fellows of the Society. — The follow- 
ing communications wereread: On the genus Sfo/iczkaria, Dunc., 
and its distinctness from Farkeria, Carp, and Prady, by Prof. 
P. Martin Duncan, M.B. Lond., F.R.S., F.G.S., Pres.R.M.S. 
—On the elasticity- and strength-constants of Japanese rocks, 
by Thomas Gray, B.Sc., F.R.S.E., and John Milne, F.G.S.— 
The glacial deposits of West Cumberland, by J. D. Kendall, 
CE., F.G.S. 
EDINBURGH 
Royal Society, November 28.—The following were elected 
office-bearers, viz. :— President, the Right Hon, Lord Moncreiff ; 
Vice-presidents : David Milne Home, LL.D., Sir C, Wyville 
Thomson, LL.D., Prof. Douglas Maclagan, M.D., Prof. H. C. 
Fleeming Jenkin, F.R.S., Rev. W. Lindsay Alexander, D.D., 
J. Hi. Balfour, M.D., F.R.S.; General Secretary, Prof. Tait ; 
Secretaries to ordinary meetings: Prof. Turner, Prof. Crum 
Brown; Treasurer, Adam Gillies Smith, C.A.; Curator of 
Library and Museum, Alexander Buchan, M.A. ; Members of 
Council: Prof. Campbell Fraser, Prof. Geikie, Rev. Dr. 
Cazenove, David Stevenson, Prof. Chrystal, Sheriff Forbes 
Irvine, Prof. A. Dickson, the Right Rey. Bishop Cotterill, Rev. 
Prof. Duns, Dr. Ramsay Traquair, John Murray, William 
Ferguson. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, November 21.—M. Wurtz in the 
chair.—The following papers were read: - On the condition of 
achromatism in phenomena of interference, by M. Cornu. Ina 
system of fringes of interferences produced with heterogenous 
light having a continuous spectrum there is always an achromatic 
fringe which plays the vé/e of central fringe, and is found at that 
point of the field where the most intense radiations present a 
maximum or minimum difference of phase. M. Cornu indicates 
the properties of the achromatic line, and shows the inaccuracy 
of the accepted theory for determination of the central fringe. 
—Reactions of salts of gallium, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. 
—On a bed of reindeer remains near Paris, by M. Gaudry. This 
bed was found by M. Vasseur at Montreuil, and the remains 
have been sent to the Museum, They comprise, with numerous 
bones of reindeer, remains of elephant, rhinoceros, horse, bison, 
freshwater shells, &c. The deposit (which is surmounted by 
beds of grey sand and mud) is supposed to belong to the great 
glacial epoch cf boulder-clay. M. Gaudry is enabled to sketch 
the history of quaternary times in the Parisian basin.—Observa- 
tions on the vé/e of faults in the geological structure of the 
Western Alps, by M. Lory. Some large fractures can be traced 
continuously right through Dauphiné, Savoy, and Valais, 
NATURE 
[Dec. 1) 1881 
producing longitudinal zones with different orographie charac- — 
ters and strata.—On the crystallisation of sulphides of cad- 
mium ard zinc, by M. Hautefeuille—On the agreement ’ 
of the curve of solar spots with the actions resulti 
from the eccentric motion of large planets, by M. Duponch 
Reviewing the observations collected by Wolf from 1608 to 
our time, he finds the mean period of the oscillations not 
Il'2 years, but 11°86, the time of a revolution of Jupiter, with — 
which it seems really connected. The perturbationSof the curve _ 
are distinctly ex vapfort with the times of revolution of the 
three large superior planets. —On the winter egg of phylloxera, — 
by M. de Lafitte.—Elements of the orbit and ephemerides of the — 
planet (217) Endore, by M. Callandreau. On some series for 
the development of functions with a single variable, by M. 
Halphen.—On a particular curve of the third order and on cer- 
tain uniform functions of two independent variables, by M. 
Picard.—New method of dividing the circle in‘o equal parts, by 
M. Pellet.—Integration of differential equations of the vibratory 
motion of a spherical bell, by M. Mathieu.— Numerical applica- 
tion of the theory of maximum yield of two dynamo-electrie 
machines employed for transport of force, by M. Lévy. Re- 
ferring to a case discussed by M. Deprez, he shows that, by 
adopting different resistances, he would obtain 10 horse-power at 
50 km., with a maximum electromotive force of 5356 volts, in- 
stead of about 7000.—On M. Lippmann’s method for determina- 
tion of the ohm, by M. Brillouin.—Remarks on the electrolysis 
of water, by M. Tommasi. In decomposing water with a single 
element, copper wire being used as positive electrode, and 
jlatinum wire as negative, the quantity of copper dissolved is 
greater than the quantity deposited on the negative elec- 
trode; and this is explained by the thermal theory.—On 
the diformine of glycerine, by M. Van Romburgh.—On some 
spectral reactions of alkaloids and glucosides, by M. Hock. 
—Electric current produced by light, by M. Laur. Light 
affects the American process of amalgamation in Mexico. The 
author elucidated the action by experiments which reproduce, in 
complex form, effects that have been indicated by M. Edm. 
Becquerel (as that physicist pointed cu!),—On some new eases 
of phosphorescence in plants, by M. Crié. He lately observed 
Auricularia phosphorea and Polyporus citrinus to emit luminous 
radiations ; also RAizomorfha or the vegetative apparatus of 
many champignons ; also Xylaria polymorpha. This is the first 
time emission of light has been observed in Ascomycetes.—In- 
fluence of the nature of food on sexuality, by M. Yung. He fed 
separate sets of tadpoles with fish, meat, coagulated albumen of 
hens’ eggs, yellow of eggs, and with a mixed diet. These ali- 
ments do not appear to have a very distinct influence on the sex ; 
but along with M. Born’s experiments, those of M, Yung support 
the idea that a special diet afforded to young tadpoles from the 
time of leaving the egg, favours the development of a female 
genital gland.—Devyelopment of the egg of Melicerta, by M. 
Joliet.—On spermatogenesis in Selachians, by M. Hermann.— 
M. Hément communicated some further observations on the 
articulation of deaf mutes.—M. Daubrée presented an Italian 
work by Prof, Cossa, ‘f Chemical and Mineralogical Researches 
on the Rocks and Minerals of Italy.” 
a ee 
CONTENTS Pace 
Tue ACCIDENTS IN Mines COMMISSION . . 2 «© «© © + © © « «© G 
CaireEsTIAL Onjects FOR COMMON TELESCOPES «. . - + © + « + % 
CARNAG © 4-207 fe bro ae ere e u Lica sere aoe Pees are 99 
Our Book SHELF :— 
Faber's ‘‘Mind of Mencius” . . ..-. « - 99 
Lerrers TO THE EDITOR :— 
Primitive Traditions as to the Pleiades.—R. G. HALIBURTON - 100 
The tle pops of Deaf-Mutes who have been Taught to 
Arficulate—WiLLiaAM E. A. Axon. . ae Go neler 
Tanganyika Shells.—C. A. WHiTe . . . - » + + + + = + WOE 
Velocity of Wind.—Cnarves Avex. STRVENSON. . . + 6 ss 
Arctic Research.—Dr. J. Rar, F.R.S ; D. WETTERHAN . « + 102 
Spectrum of the Eleciric Light—J. Horkins WALTERS. . . - 
A GLImpse THROUGH THE CorRipors oF Time, II. By Prof. Ropert 
S. Baty LL. Dipl use heaton De Shake i 103 
Porutar Natural History (With Illustrations) . . . «© «© « + 17 
Amt Boug. Prof. Arcu. Gerxie, F.R.S. . 2. 2 2 © © 2 © © + 109 
NoTEs. . « « Be nt atk ty yee re ery ery ke 
Our AsTRONOMICAL CoLuMN :— 
The Saturnian System . Sosy tec-ye ore eae 
The Lunar Eclipse on December5 . . . «© + + © + «+ «© + Eld 
WarikbloStaxgc §c Sk a Se ee eee 
Tue Rovat Soctery—Appress oF THE PresipENT. By Dr. 
WILutaM Srorriswoopk, Pres. R.S. . . «ike rs 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE . - + + + + + + 419 
Societies AND ACADEMIES Fe el eet a oh oy. oe 
=e 
