Dec. 29, 1881] 
D. Cope and A. S. Packard, jun., on the fauna of Nickajack 
Cave. Many miles were explored, and no end reached. The 
_ invertebrate fauna of the caves proved very considerable, and 
several new species are described and figured ; one of the most 
interesting is the blind crayfish (Ovconectes hamulatus, Cope).— 
Recent Literature, Scientific News, &c. 
Rivista Scientifico-Industriale, No 18, October 15.—Malfatti’s 
fossil Italian insects—On the rectification of the cycloid, by 
Prof. Dainelli. 
Verhandlungen der k.k. geologischen Reichsanstalt, No. 14, 
September 30.—Inclosures of foreign stones in crystalline lime- 
stone, by T. Fuchs.—Picrite-porphyry of Steierdorf, by E. 
Hussak.—On tentaculites, by O. Novak.—A note on the dilu- 
vium of Masenderan in Persia, by E. Tietze.—Travellers’ 
reports. 
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. 1. part 2, No. 3, 
1881 (October 22).—Geofirey Nevill, on new or little-known 
mollusca of the Indo-Malayan fauna (plates 5 to 7).—Dr. O. 
Feistmantel, a sketch of the history of the fossils of the Indian 
Gondwana system.—Prof. V. Ball, additional note on the iden- 
tification of the ancient diamond mines visited by Tavernier.—J. 
Wood-Mason and Lionel de Nicéville, list of diurnal Lepidoptera 
inhabiting the Nicobar Islands. 
Revue des Sciences Naturelles, tome 1, série 3°, No. 1, Sep- 
tember, 1881, contains :—P. Gazalis de Fondouce, on Tertiary 
man in Portugal.—Prof, S. Berggren, on the prothallus and on 
the embryo of Azolla (plate 1).—G. M. Viguier, studies on the 
formation of tufas of the present epoch.—Dr. P. Amans, ana- 
tomical and physiological researches on the larva of schna 
grandis (plate 2).—Account of the Zoological Station at Cette. 
Revue internationale des Sciences biologigues, October, 1881, 
contains :—M. Bochefontaine, on the effects of the obstruction 
of the coronary arteries on the heart’s action.—Jules Soury, on 
the modern doctrine of hylozoism (the doctrine which considers 
matter as living).—-Prof. Hanstein, protoplasm considered as 
the basis of animal and vegetable life——Dr. W. Roberts, on the 
digestive ferments. 
Tue last number of the Yowrval of the Russian Chemical and 
Physical Society contains, besides the minutes of proceedings, 
papers by Prof. Menshutkin, on the etherification of polybasic 
acids ; on the bromides of vinyle, and on cholic acid, by M. 
Kutcheroff; on the affinities of sulphur with metals, and on the 
means of discovering cadmium in presence of copper, by M. 
Orlovsky ; and on the potential of hydrostatic pressures, by M. 
Latchinoff. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON ; 
Royal Society, December 8.—‘‘ On the Coefficients of Con- 
traction and Expansion by Heat of the Iodide of Silver AgI ; 
the Iodide of Copper Cu,I,; and of five Alloys of these 
Todides,” by G. F. Rodwell, F.R.A.S., F.C.S., Science Master 
in Marlborough College. 
The experiments herein described are a continuation of those 
telating to the anomalous expansion by heat of certain iodides, 
published at intervals during the last five years in the Proceedings 
of the Royal Society. New determinations of the coefficients 
of iodide of silver are given. Certain physical and chemical 
properties of cuprous iodide are detailed, and its coefficient of 
expansion is determined. Five compounds or alloys were pre- 
pared, and their physical characteristics examined. They pos- 
aay the following composition, and percentage of iodide of 
silver :— 
Composition. Percentage of Iodide of Silver. 
Cu,Ig.Agl 38° 2233 
Cu,I,.2AgI 55°3006 
Cu,1,.3AgI 64°9884 
CuyI,.4Agl 71'2225 
Cu,1,. 12AgI 88-1304 
They are compared with the five chlorobromiodides of silver 
previously examined by the author (Proc, Roy. Soc. vol. xxv. 
p- 303), and with the lead-silver iodide alloy last described 
(Proc. Roy. Soc. vol. xxxii. p. 540). 
The following are some of the results observed in connection 
with the new copper-silver iodide alloys :— 
‘yt, The specific gravity varies but slightly, viz. from 5°7302 
NATURE 
PON 
to 56950, and is a little above the mean specific gravity of the 
constituents.” 
‘©2, The melting points are in all cases much lower than that of 
either iodide of silver or iodide of copper, for while the former 
is 527° C., and the latter 601° C., the highest melting-point of 
any one of the alloys is 514° C., and the lowest 493° C. 
*¢3, Some of the alloys possess three points of similar density, 
and some two, at different temperatures. They are resinous in 
fracture, and transparert in thin layers. When pulverised they 
furnish brilliantly yellow powders, unaffected by light. 
‘4. When heated in a current of carbonic anhydride they 
volatilise very slowly. Heated in dry oxygen iodine is freely 
evolved, and oxide of copper appears on ihe surface of the mass. 
When heated in dry hydrogen hydriodic acid is produced, and 
the metal is reduced. 
«x. The coefficients of expansion of the alloys below the point 
at which contraction on heating commences, was found to 
decrease as the percentage of iodide of silver was augmented. 
“6, While the iodide of silver commences its considerable 
contraction at 142° C., the five chlorobromiodides of silver, the 
percentage of iodide of silver in which varies from 26°1692 to 
73°9285, and the lead-silver iodide alloy, the percentage of 
iodide of silver in which amounts to 33°794, all commenced 
their contraction at 124° C., that is 18° C, lower, although the 
coefficients of expansion of the associated bodies necessarily 
differ. Thus it would appear that 124° C, is the temperature at 
which iodide of silver commences its passage from the crystalline 
into the amorphous condition when freed from the attraction of 
its own molecules, provided no other attraction or influence 
supervenes ; while the attraction exerted when it exists un- 
alloyed with any other substance, and when its molecules are 
hence much nearer to each other, raises the point at which the 
change commences to 142°C. 
‘©7, When the same result was looked for in the case of the 
copper-silver iodide alloys, it was not found, In fact the pre- 
sence of the iodide of copper, instead of promoting the assimila- 
tion of molecular motion and lowering the point at which the 
change from the crystalline into the plastic condition commences 
was found to considerably raise it ; although the coefficient of 
expansion of the iodide of copper is lower than that of either 
chloride or bromide of silver or of the iodide of lead which enter 
into the composition of the other alloys. Thus: 
Percentage of iodide of silver in the Temperature at which contraction 
copper-silver iodide alloys. on heating commences. 
382232 284° C, 
55°30606 233° 
64°9886 214° 
71°2225 199° 
88-1304 153. 
Hence while 66206 per cent. of iodide of lead lowered the point 
of change 18° C., the presence of 61°7767 per cent. of iodide of 
copper raised it 142° C.” 
A general discussion of the results is given and the special 
properties of the alloys described. 
Linnean Society, December 15.—G. Busk, F.R.S., in the 
chair.—Prof. T. S. Cobbold exhibited a large guinea-worm 
(Dracunculus) taken from a pony, and forwarded by Vet. Surg. 
Frederick Smith from Madras. Only one previous instance of 
the occurrence of this parasite in the horse has been mentioned, 
and its authenticity was doubted by Fedschenko and other 
helminthologists.—Mr. G. S. Boulger brought before the meeting 
a set of large papier-maché models of insectivorous plants made 
at Breslau by Herr Brendel under the superintendence of Prof. 
Cohn. Mr. Boulger explained their adaptation for teachinz 
purposes, and made special referenre by a diagram to the various 
stages and physiological distinctions of these plants, viz. from 
simple viscidity of surface to the more complex apparatus in 
Dionza and Aldrovanda.—Mr. T. Christy called attention to a 
volume of the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Agri- 
culture, Washington, U.S. (1879), wherein was embodied much 
valuable information on the insects and parasites destructive to 
crops, &c.—Prof. Duncan thereafter gave the gist of a paper 
on the morphology of the test of the Temnopleuraidz. 
—A paper by Dr. Maxwell Masters followed, dealing with 
a new species of cotton (Gossypium Kirkii) from East Tropical 
Africa. It has an interest historically from being probably the 
origin of very numerous cultivated varieties. It was obtained 
by’ Sir John Kirk growing wild at Dar Salam, Dr. Masters 
regards it as most nearly allied to G. barbadense, which is most 
