'” 
a case is weak, one hesitates to point out its weaknesses for fear 
ofja total collapse. No. The Meteorological Society never 
advanced so rapidly in numbers as it has in 1 the two last years, 
and if it will but apply the pruning knife to fruitless observations 
and try to secure the application of more brain power to the 
many problems yet unsolved, it will contine to receive an ever- 
increasing amount of recognition and support, and to maintain 
that high position among kindred societies which it at present 
holds.” —The following gentlemen were elected Officers and 
Council for the ensuing year :—President, John Knox Laughton, 
M.A., F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S. Vice-Presiients : William Ellis, 
F_R.A.S., Rogers Field, B.A., Joseph Henry Gilbert, F.R.S., 
Baldwin Latham, F.G.S. Treasurer, Henry Perigal, F.R.A.S. 
Trustees : Hon. Francis Albert Rollo Russell, M.A., Stephen 
William Silver, F.R.G.S. Secretaries: George James Symons, 
F.R.S., John William Tripe, M.D. Foreign Secretary, Robert 
Henry "Scott, F.R.S. Council: Edmund Douglas Archibald, 
M.A., Arthur Brewin, F.R.A.S., John Sanford Dyason, 
F.R. c S., Edward Ernest Dymond, Henry Storks Eaton, M.A., 
Charles Harding, Robert John Lecky, F.R.A.S., William 
Marcet, F.R.S., Edward Mawley, F.R.H.S., Richard Strachan, 
George Mathews Whipple, F.R.A.S., Charles Theodore 
Williams, M.D. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, January 16.—M. Jamin in the chair, 
—The following papers were read:—On the velocity of propa- 
gation of explosive phenomena in gases, by MM. Berthelot and 
Vieille. These experiments were fuller and more exact than the 
former. An explosive mixture of H and O in a straight hori- 
zontal lead tube about 40m. longand 0°005 m, internal] diameter, 
was fired at one end with an electric spark, and the’ travelling 
flame broke two electric circuits in passing (by acting on fulmi- 
nate of mercury). Again, the tube was divided into a series of 
connected parallel pieces. For both cases the high general average 
of 2841 m. per second was obtained. Thesame with a caoutchouc 
tube (excluding the idea of a vibratory motion of metal inducing 
rupture of the circuits). With narrower capillary glass tubes 
the mean was 2341m. The velocity was not affected by one or 
other orifice, or both, or neither, being open. The propagation 
was. uniform in the tubes. The velocity was independent of 
pressure. COand O gave a yelocity of 1089 m., and dilution 
of the other mixture with air reduced the velocity. —Chemical 
studies on the skeleton of plants; second part, vasculose, by 
MM. Frémy and Urbain. Vasculose most abounds in the parts 
that present resistance or hardness, To get it pure, the authors 
treat elder pith with weak hydrochloric acid, the ammoniaco- 
cupric reagent, &e. Jnter alia, atmospheric oxygen seems, in 
time, to transform vasculose into resinous acids soluble in alka- 
lies. In reaction of fused alkalies on wood, it is the vasculose 
only that forms the different ulmic acids ; while cellulose produces 
acetic and oxalic acid. Methylic alcohol is specially generated 
by vasculose. The composition of vasculose is CjgH.90jg. 
Many vegetable fibres (hemp, &c.) have a layer of vasculose, the 
thickness of which has influence in retting, bleaching, and 
dyeing,—On the mode of publication most favourable to the 
progress of scientific studies, by M. de Saint-Venant. He urges 
the printing of mathematical and other works on such paper as 
will allow of annotations, in ink, by the reader.—On two small 
epidemics of plague in Khorassan, by M. Tholozan. This re- 
gion, thought refractory to plague, has been attacked in a way 
which is apparently not explained by contagion.—M. Hirn gave 
some «account of a controversy between himself and M. Zeuner, re- 
lative to steam-engine cylinders.—M. Gaudry was elected Member 
in Mineralogy, in place of the late M. Sainte-Claire Deville.—On 
the spherical representation of surfaces, by M. Darboux.—New 
theorems on the indeterminate equation ax4 + dy4 = 2°, by M. 
Pepin.—On an extension of the arithmetical notion of genus 
(continued), by M. Poincaré.—On waves produced in water at 
rest in a canal, by immersion of a solid cylinder plunged cross- 
wise into. the canal, by M. Boussinesq.—Influence of the form 
of polar surfaces on the explosive potential, by M. Baille. The 
results with concentric cylinders and spheres of different diame- 
ters (exterior to each other) are given. In the latter case, for a 
given explosive length, the potential is maximum when the spark 
passes between two spheres of the same diameter; and it de- 
parts from the maximum more, the greater the difference of 
curvature and the higher the potential.—On the essence of 
sayory, by M. Haller.—On a diatomic alcohol derived from 
B-naphtol, by M. Rousseau.—Phosphoric acid in the arable land 
of the north of France, by M, Ladureau. A farmer at Honplin 
et NAT ORE 
(Nord), for twenty years grew beet and wheat Sirernstely 
on the same land, to which he applied, every two years, 
the vinasses (or liquid residue) of a distillery he had, and 
a very little dung, The beet kept good, but the wheat crop 
steadily went down. M. Ladurean showed that the ground 
had too little phosphoric acid. The evil was remedied by 
large use of soluble and insoluble phosphates of lime,—Dis- 
covery of some new genera of fossil mammalia in the deposits of 
phosphate of lime at “Quercy, by M. Filhol, One belongs to the 
Moschidz, and is to be placed near Gelocus, The other resembles 
Cainotherium. The deposits belong to the Upper Eocene.— 
Anatomical researches on Spatangus purpureus, by M. Keehler. 
—On the discordance between the respiratory variations of the 
intracarotidian and the intrathoracic pressure; second note by 
M. Frédericq.—On the interpretation of the weight of the brain 
and its applications, by M. Manouvrier. The increase of mass 
of the body is a cause of increase of absolute, but of diminution 
of relative, cerebral brain-weight. He offers an explanation of 
this in mathematical form, based on the fact that the develop- 
ment of the intellectual faculties is not proportional to that of 
the body. The impossibility of ranking species and individuals 
hierarchically according to weight of brain did not arise from 
the imperfection of the term of comparison chosen between the 
brain and the mass of the body (as some suppose). The author 
finds a more suitable term in the skeleton. The portion of the 
brain whose development is in ratio of the intellectual faculties 
serves for classifying hierarchically; man is then above all 
animals ; and different races, &c., take their right places.—Con- 
tributions to the geological knowledge of Japan, by M. Metch- 
nikoff show that Japan is not so exclusively volcanic as has been 
supposed, 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, January 5.—V. Burg in 
the chair.—The following papers were read :—Albert von 
Ettingshausen, determination of the index of diamagnetism: of 
metallic tungsten in absolute measure.—Dir, Hann, on the tem- 
perature of the southern hemisphere. 
January 12.—V. Burg in the chair.—The following papers 
were read :—E. Mach, on the fundamental notions of electro- 
statics. —G. Gruss, determination of the trajectory of the Comet 
V. 1877 (it is found to be a parabola).—T. Haubner, on the 
stationary streaming of electricity through flat-shaped conduetors, 
—A. v. Obermayer, on the diffusion of gases, 
Imperial Institute of Geology, January 10;—The anni- 
versary meeting was held.—Franz vy. Hauer gave the president’s 
address, Then the following papers were read :—Fr. Kraus, on 
finds of remains of Ursus sfeleus in the Dachstein Mountains.— 
Edm. y. Mojsisowic, on the Russian Triassic formations.—V. 
Uhlig exhibited geological maps of the North-Easte Tran- 
sylvania. 
CONTENTS Pace 
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Mr. Mivarr on THE Cart. By W. “AL "FoRsEs od or ons oe we Ree 
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY . . 2. «© «© « = ee eee 
Our Book SHELF > — 
Hunter’s “ Encyclopzdic Dictionary” oat s ‘* Imperial 
Dictionary of the English Language ’’ Paar) er a et 
Jones's ** First Steps toa New Selenography "* ~ ie) ep OF ee 
Guthrie’s “ First Book of Knowledge ” o- cove 5 a 
Cumming’s ‘‘ Lady’s Cruise in a French ‘Man-of-War. 1... 289 
Letreks TO THE EDITOR :— 
The Mid-day Darkness of Sunday, pepe! 22. Fe — «= 28 
Earth-Currents.—W. H. Preece, F.R.S. - 289 
The Storage of Electricity. —-Epmunp P. Tov. eG Stes aD: 
A Solar Halo.—J. T. Brownett . . - =e yo 
Coltsfoot.—T. S. MASKELYNE . oe ha 
The Absolute Sine Electrometer.—Ggorce M. “Mincuins 2]! ago 
Puysicat Nores . 290 
TORNADOES, WHIRLWINDS, Watensrours, AND Hanistorss, ‘T. 
(With Diagram) . os eee 291 
ELECTRICITY AT THE CRYSTAL Pavacr, I 292 
Epwarp WILLIAM crear ng E.R.S., FG. Si By Dr. J. P. Joure, 
F.R.S... 293 
Tue Late CHANGES Is THE Vasuvian Cone. By i. J. ” JounsTon- 
Lavis . . .- 204 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF New orn RArk ANIMALS IN THE Zoovocicat 
Sociery’s Livinc aia sei Vi Ora ageceeatee . oi Se 
Tue Lick OBSERVATORY . . = 0), be Aye Una eee eee 
Norges. . oe ow Siemans ee ae ew ve wo « SD 
GRoGRAPHICAL Norrs . . goa 
FurTHER ReSEARCHES ON Anintans Contarsine Cutonornvac, ‘By 
Patrick GeppES . . .« $42 ee & > 303 
ScINNTINIGC SERIALS . «0 se we "Ss 8 We Ph) ae as) oe 
SocieTizs AND ACADEMIES . . + + © + © © © © © © © «© + 305 
