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144 
Pfoundes was announced.—Mr. E. B. Tylor, F.R.S., read a 
paper on the Asiatic relations of Polynesian culture. The 
author called attention to some new evidence relating to the 
transmission of civilisation from the Indo-Chinese district of 
Asia through the Indian Archipelago to Melanesia and Poly- 
nesia, The drawings of wooden tombs in Borneo by Mr. Carl 
Bock show architectural design, apparently derived from the 
roof-projections of pagodas of Cochin China. The flute played 
with the nostrils may be traced from India (where it is said to 
have a ceremonial use to prevent defilement through touching a 
low-caste mouth), through South-east Asia into Borneo, to the 
Fiji Islands, and down to New Zealand. Among the traces of 
mythical ideas having spread from Asia into the Sonth Sea 
Islands, Mr. Tylor mentioned the notion of seven or ten heavens 
and hells, apparently derived from the planetary spheres of the 
Pythagoreans. The Scandinavian myth of the fishing up of the 
Midgard serpent bears, as Prof, Bastian of Berlin has pointed 
out, a striking resemblance to Mani’s fishing up the Island 
of New Zealand, and the Maori myth of the separation of 
heaven and earth has one of its best representatives among the 
Dayaks of Borneo. Leaving the question of race on one side, 
it is becoming more and more certain that much of the culture 
of the Polynesians came in some way from civilised nations of 
Asia.—The following papers were also read :—On Fijian riddles, 
by the Rev. Lorimer Fison.—On the stature of the inhabitants 
of Hungary, by Dr. J. Beddoe.—Notes on the affinity of the 
Melanesian, Malay, and Polynesian Languages, by the Rev. 
R.-H. Codrington.—The discussion on Mr. Codrington’s ;aper 
was adjourned to the next meeting, on December 13. 
Institution of Civil Engineers, November 22.—Mr, Aber- 
nethy, F.R.S.E., president, in the chair.—The paper read was 
on the ‘‘ Forces and Strains of Recoil considered with reference 
to the Elastic Field-Gun Carriage,” by Mr: H. J. Butter. 
Victoria (Philosophical) Institute, December 5.—The first 
meeting of the new session was held at the Institute’s House, 
7, Adelphi Terrace, on Monday evening, when a paper on Mr. 
Herbert Spencer’s ‘‘ Theory of the Will” was read. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, November 28.—M. Wurtz in the 
chair.—M. Faye presented the volume of the Connaissance des 
Temps for 1883.—The following papers were read: -New 
method of annulling the astronomical flexure of telescopes, by 
M. Villarceau. The simultaneous application to a well-made 
telescope of two weights in equilibrium, causes a variation of the 
astronomical flexure, proportional to their difference. Two iron 
rings, of fixed weight, are applied at distances from the axis of 
rotation, that are determined by formula.—On the isomeric 
states of haloid salts, by M. Berthelot.—Summary account of a 
zoological exploration in the Mediterranean with the Government 
vessel Le Zravailleur, by M. Milne-Edwards. This expedition, 
organised by M. Milne-Edwards, left Rochefort on June 9, and 
returned August 19, Part of June and all July was devoted to 
the deeper parts of the Mediterranean, /nfer alia, many Crus- 
taceans, known only in the Atlantic before, were got in those 
depths ; also remarkable species of Mollusca, Bryozoa, Ccelente- 
rata, &c. The presence of the magnificent sea-star Brisinga 
was quite unexpected ; several specimens were dredged between 
550 and 2660m. No Infusoria, Bacteria, or Microbes were 
found at great depths; Rhizopods were rare; at 2660m. some 
small Actinophrys were obtained. In general the Mediterranean 
is not to be thought a distinct geological province ; its inhabi- 
tants have probably come from the ocean, and their development 
and reproduction have been more active than in their place of 
origin. Some have been slightly modified. The more we get to 
know of oceanic productions off the coasts of Portugal, Spain, 
Morocco, and Senegal, the more do differences from Mediterranean 
animals disappear.—Fossil man of Lagoa Santa (Brazil), and 
his present descendants, by M. de Quatrefages, Several human 
crania were long ago found in a cavern near Lagoa Santa, by 
Dr. Lund, a Danish savant, His letter about them (1844) seems 
to have been forgotten. Most were sent to Copenhagen, but 
have not been described. One remaining in Brazil has been 
studied by Drs. Lacerda and Peixoto, who find the skull to have 
strong points of similarity to skulls of Botocudos of the present, 
This M. de Quatrefages confirms, and he further finds the type 
quite distinct from European fos-il man, chiefly in the combina- 
tions of dolichocephaly and hypsistenccephaly, This Brazilian 
fossil man lived in the reindeer epoch, The type (with added 
ethnic elements not yet determined) is now met with in Ando- 
NATURE 
[Dee. 8, 1881 
Peruvian populations, as well as in Brazil.—Admiral Paris pre- 
sented a second series of his ‘f Souvenirs de Marine Conservés,”” 
plates of old or disappearing types of vessels, comprising Danish 
ships previous to the siege of Copenhagen, Arab vessels, French 
fishing-boats, Turkish boats, &c.—Researches on a new property 
of the nervous system, by M. Brown-Séquard. Various parts of 
the nervous system may act suddenly, or very rapidly, in a purely 
dynamic way and without intervention of nutrition, on other 
parts of this system, so as to increase the power of action of 
those parts. ‘lhus, ¢.g. by irritation of the skin the excitability 
of the phrenic nerve of the same side may be at once so increased 
that the minimum faradic current then required to set the nerve 
in action may be only one-sixth of that for the same nerve in a 
similar animal whose cutaneous nerves have not been irritated. — 
Observation of the new comet (g 1881) at Paris Observatory, by 
M. Bigourdan.—On algebraic equations of the form 
Ao 4 fA » rae o, 
4-G #-a x-a, 
by M. Laguerre.—Distribution of energy by electricity, by 
M. Deprez.—Decomposition of vapour of water by electric 
effluves, by MM. Deherain and Maquenne. ‘They show that 
certain electric discharges without sparks, and at a comparatively 
weak tension, will decompose water. They used sometimes 
MM. Thenard and Berthelot’s well-known apparatus with 
double glass envelope, sometimes a tube traversed by a play 
tinum wire, and having some tinfoil outside-—Contribution to the 
pathological anatomy of the spinal cord in poisoning with 
phosphorus, by M. Danillo. With phosphorus inflammator- 
Irritation may be produced either in the grey substances alone, or 
both in that and in the white.—Reply to a note of M,. Isambert 
on carbamate of ammonium, by MM. Engel and Moitessier.— 
On the post-embryonal development of Diptera, by M. Kiinckel. 
—On an electrolytic dosometer for measuring the intensity of 
the current during medical application of electricity, by M. 
Pulvermacher, The gases produced by decomposition of water 
are admitted into a chamber where they act on coloured water, 
forcing it up a tube to which a graduated scale is attached.— 
Mr. Axon communicated some facts about articulation by deaf 
mutes, confirming M. Hémént’s observations. —M. Bousset re- 
ported a curious case of double parturition by a cow. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Institute of Geology, Nov. 22.—The following 
papers were read :—R. Hoernes, contributions to the knowledge 
of mid-Meiocene Trionyx species in Styria.—Standfest, on the 
Devonian formation in the environs of Gratz. —F. Kreutz, con- 
tributions to the explanation of the ozokerite and naphtha occur- 
rence in Gallicia.—T. Woldrich, contributions to the knowledge 
of the fauna of Moravian caves.—E. Reyer, on the eruptive 
rocks of Toscana and Elba. 
ir = i SP har 
CONTENTS Pace 
SmoKge-ABATEMENT EXHIBITION . « - - © © © + «© «© © «© « 25 
DOUBLE-STARS.. 2s a! sei 4% Be te We es Sens Remy yore 
Our Book SHELF :— 
M'Alpine’s “* Zoological’ Atlas’ . 3 « « © « © 6 + = «5 ee 
Greville’s ‘* Student’s Handbook of Chemistry”. . . « « « + 123 
Letrers TO THE EDITOR :— : 
The Eira Arctic Expedition—Revy. A. E. EATON . « « « 6 « 123 
Helophyton Williamsonis.—Prof. WM. C. WILLIAMSON, F.R.S. . 124 
The Pronunciation of Deaf-Mutes who have been Taught to 
Articulate-—Dr. ALEXANDER GRAHAM Bett . . « « «+ + 124 
The Function of the Ears, or the Perception of Direction.—S. E. 
PRAL fo) esse) bp Wei neltaye: Abs aad eee ok ORs 
An Audible Photometer.—J. W. Gittay (With Diagram). . . 125 
Extraordinary Atmospheric Phenomenon.—J. B. HANNAY « + « 125 
Papin.—Dr. E. GeERLAND. « «6 + + + ee + 8 © es 6 1OS 
A Question for Naturalists.—Dr. J. Rar, F.R.S. - . s+ + 126 
Earthquake Vibrations.—Prof. Joun Minne . . - « «© + + + 126 
The Geological Survey of Italy.—Prof. G. A. Lepour. . + « « 126 
Our ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN :— 
The Provincial Observatories of France. . + + + + + + * 126 
Denning’s Comet... + s 0.2 «0 8 © 5 + 0 0 ms 6 ep ee 
A New Comete oe pees a ss 0 os ee re 
Tue Pressure Errors OF THE ‘‘ CHALLENGER’? THERMOMETERS, 
Il. By Prof. Tait (With Diagrams). « « + + 6 © «© © + + 3287 
Tue Grass BARRIERS OF THE NILE . « + © + © © © © © © © 130 
Tue WeaTHER OF NovEeMBER, 1881. . « - + © © © «© © « + 132 
PuorocraPu or Comer B, 1881 (With Diagram) . » « « + + + 332 
On ArtiFictaL DeroRMATION OF THE HumMAN SKULL IN THE 
MA.ay AxCHIPELAGO. By Dr. A. B. Meyer (With /ilustrations) 132 
NOTES. couse ® oso ses ue ea) 9 bee eee, er eee 
Tur Rovat Socmmty—AppRESS OF THE PresipENT, II... . - 13 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE cr sh 142 
SCIanTrviC SERIALS fs (05 © 6 op le len te Bl eh Sge el ve is) ea eee 
SocigT1gS AND ACADEMIES .. + + © + © © © © © = & 142 
