or north-north-west.—Prof, Chrystal, in some suggestive} re- 
marks on dielectric strength, pointed out the error into which 
certain experimenters had fallen in imagining that the dielectric 
strength of a medium is at all determined by the maximum 
difference of potential that could exist between two conductors 
placed in it, the truth being that it depends on the dielectric 
tension (in Faraday’s sense), that is, upon the resultant 
electric foree or surface density at the point of rupture; 
and, in reference to this, described some experiments which 
he had lately carried out in conjunction with Dr. Macfarlane. 
From these it appeared that the difference of potential necessary 
to make a spark+pass between two charged balls was greater in 
the neighbourhood of a positively charged body, and less in the 
neighbourhood of a negatively charged body than when no such 
body was present. A strong magnetic field, on the contrary, had 
no effect on the dielectric strength of air, whether the lines of 
magnetic force were in the direction of or perpendicular to the 
direction of the electric force—even though the strength of the 
field was as much as 6000 absolute units.. The main part of the 
paper was taken up with a discussion, from the Faraday and 
Maxwell point of view, of the experiments of Thomson, Mac- 
farlane, De la Rue, and Baille. Amongst other theoretical con- 
siderations the effect of a particular variation in the specific in- 
ductive capacity was investigated. The ‘‘ water-electrometer,”. 
with which he and Dr. Macfarlane had made some measure- 
ments last year, was referred to as being in all probability an 
effective and accurate instrument of research in electrostatic experi- 
ments—being at all events handier and more rapidly worked than 
an absolute electrometer of the ordinary construction. The results 
obtained by it he hoped ere long to lay before the Society.—A 
Latin diagnosis of new and little known phanerogamous plants 
collected in Socotra by Prof. Bayley Balfour was laid on the 
table, 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, February 20.—M. Jamin in the chair! 
—The following papers were read :—Meridian observations ol 
small planets at Paris Observatory during the last quarter o 
1881, by M. Mouchez.—On some applications of the theory of 
elliptic functions, by M. Hermite.—Double salts of mercury, by 
M. Herthelot. © This relates to double iodides and chloroiodides, 
—Note on permanganate of potash considered as an antidote of 
snake poison, apropos of a publication of M. de Lacerda, by M. 
de Quatrefages. Vipers abound in Haute-Marne and some 
other departments in France (as is proved by the large numbers 
killed in consideration of a small premium on each viper). While 
the larger animals often recover from a bite, goats, sheep, and 
dogs often succumb, The effects on man, too, may be serious 
and even fatal. M. de Quatrefages desires the new method (some 
details of which he gives) to be made known. He also suggests 
it might be of use against the diseases treated by M, Pasteur.— 
Researches on a special influence of the nervous system causing 
the stoppage of exchanges between the blood and the tis:ues, by 
M. Brown-séquard. Lesion of almost any part of the nervous 
system will cause this stoppage, which is more pronounced the 
more sudden the cause. ‘The effects are chiefly these :—the 
venous blood becomes like arterial in colour; it holds less 
carbonic acid than normally; there are no convulsions before 
death ; the body-temperature falls ; the blood-vessels contract : 
after death, blood is found inthe left heart, and the properties of 
the spinal cord, nerves and muscles, persist. —Action of high atmo- 
spheric pressures on the animal organism, by M. de Cyon. To 
M. Bert’s apparatus he added arrangements for measuring the | 
variations of blood-pressure, pulsations, and respiratory move- 
ments, and for stimulating sundry nerves. 
is not a special poison for the organism; animals die at high 
atmospheric pressures, simply because, the carbonic acid (the 
chief excitant of the vasomotor and respiratory centres), dimin- 
ishing considerably, circulation and respiration stop ; the former, 
He finds that oxygen | 
because of too great lowering of blood-pressure; the latter, | 
because of apnea, The heart-beats are accelerated for the same 
reasons ; the oxygen increasing the action of the accelerating | 
nerves, while the moderating action of the pneumogastric is 
lessened through failure of carbonic acid.—On the parasite of 
malaria, by M. Richard. ‘This has been called by M. Laveran, 
Oscillaria malaria. ™M. Richard has traced its development, in 
the red corpuscles, into a collar of dark granulations (displacing 
the hemoglobin), Escaping, it appears like a flexible rod or 
whip; the thin end sometimes gets caught, and the organism 
then oscillates violently as if to free itself. In about an hour it 
dies, Generally, however, the parasite is inert. The parasiti- 
ferous corpuscles lose elasticity and become very viscous ; hen 
they accumulate in the capillaries.—A new apterous male 
Coccidians (Acanthococcus auris, Sign.), by M. Lichtenstein,— 
Observations of comet 6=III. 1881, at Paris Observatory, by 
M. Bigourdan.—On the distribution of protuberances, facul 
and solar spots, observed at Rome during the second and thi 
quarters of 1881, by M. Tacchini. The facule extended to higher 
latitudes than in the first quarter ; and protuberances were ob- 
served nearer the poles. In winter and summer a preponderance 
of protuberances appear in the sowh ; in spring and autumn, in 
the north,—Solar spectroscopic observations at the Royal Obser- 
vatory of the Roman College during the second and third quarters 
of 1881, by M. Tacchini. A continuous increase (not very 
rapid) of solar activity is indicated. In July the protuberances 
showed a secondary minimum, and the spots a maximum, and 
M, Tacchini attacks M. Faye’s doubts as to this.—On the distri 
bution, in the plane, of roots of an algebraic equation, of which — 
the first member satisfies a linear differential equation of the 
second order, by M. Laguerre.x—On the theory of uniform 
functions of a variable, by M. Mittag-Leffler.—On the integra- 
tion of the equation 4 ame SF we + = or ‘"¢ =o 
at” Gar ys eae 
—On the practical solution of the problem of transport of force 
to great distances, by M. Levy. He proposes to have # gene- 
rators connected in quantity, placed in # branch circuits, all con- 
nected with two points taken arbitrarily in the principal (biflar) 
circuit.—On the relative motion of the earth and the ether, by 
Mr. Michelson.—Compass without resistance, for measurement 
of intense currents, by MM. Terquem and Damien. This con- 
sists of a land-surveyor’s compass, under which is a first band of | 
copper for circulation of a current; under this a series of reet- 
angular pieces of wood and other copper bands, the whole borne 
on a central.rod. Two vertical bands bring the current into any 
one of the horizontal ones, according to the position in which 
you fix a peg.—Hydrodynamic experiments, &e. (continued), by” 
Decharme.—On the saturation of phosphoric acid by bases and 
on chemical neutrality, by M. Joly.—On ferricyanhydrie acid, 
by M. Joannis.—Action of iodine on naphtaline at a high tem-— 
perature, by MM. Bleunard and Vrau.—On the blue and green 
coloration of dressings, by M. Gessard. He isolated the 
organism which produces the blue pigment (pyocyanine), and — 
afterwards changes it to green.—Troubles of equilibration in 
young children deaf through otopiesis; their disappearance on 
return of hearing, by M. Boucheron.—On the evolution of teeth — 
of Balzenides, by MM. Pouchet and Chabon.—On the optical - 
properties of crystalline bodies presenting the spherolithic form, — 
by M. Bertrand.—M. Mouchez made some remarks on pre-— 
senting a magnetic map of Russia by Col. de Tillo. 
{ 
. 
? 
CONTENTS 
American Ants. By GrorGe J. Romanss, F.R.S. . . . 2. 2 2 405. 
Our book SHELF :— 
Housman’s ‘* Story of our Museum.""—AtFrep R. WALLACE . . 407 
Harrison’s “‘ Geology of the Counties of England and of North 
Pace 
and South Wales” , ». . - . . - oles or 
Sanderson’s “‘ University Colleg¢ Course of Practical Exercises in 3 
Physiology ” 408 
““ Mémoires de la Société des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles de 
Bordeaux? apis it., sone eee sete. coe ae 2 oe aoe 
Letrrens TO THE EDITOR :— 
Hypothetical High Tides.—S. V. Woop; J. Vincent EtspEN . 409 
Palzolithic Man and Liss.—W. J. KnowLes . . . - « « © 
Pronunciation of Deaf-Mutes who have been Taught to Speak.— 
B.A. AXORS) 6) eek ie white = ims) tise ote tan re 
A Strange Phenomenon.—James Mork. . . 2. 1 2 ee e + 410 
Intelligence in Birds.—X.. 2. - 2 + 6 2 ee we ew se ws 
A System of Meteorological Observations in the China Seas.—Dr. 
A WorIkor. .. eee os RP ae 
New Red Star.—Prof. Epwarp S. Hotpen . . . . 2. . + + 410 
Purification of Sewage-—X.. 3... 2 2 ew ww ee ws IO 
Tue INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES EXHIBITION. . . «© + + « « + 410 
Tue Cuemistry OF THE ATLANTIC, II, By J. Y. BocHANAN. . . 411 
Comer / 1881. By W. F. Dennine (ith Diagram). ». « » « = 433 
THe MAKING OF ENGLAND (With Maps) . . 2.» 6 0 © © © © 6 4IS 
Nores is. oie die ve jes ee We iwe bls) oD able Rea Hien 
Our ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN :— 
The Earliest Day-light Observations of Stars . . . « « « + + 422 
Binary:Stars’.< 4% 5 ee Get ee me ows) 6) kr ee 
GaROGRAPHICAL NOTES). 5 0 oe a 8 8 5 8 8 8 ee 
On THE Sense oF CoLourR AMONG soME oF THE LoweR ANIMALS. 
By Sir Joun Lunnock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S.. . . . + 2 + « = 422 
GLAcigrs AND GLACIAL Periops IN THEIR RELATIONS TO CLIMATE. 
By Dr: A. WomIKOF . . ». «+ + = » « eae ee | 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE 
outed <atr - 4 
SCrenririC/SERIALS «& » 2 e © 0 & os © 0 eS 5s 0 8 426 
SociretTigs AND ACADEMIES « «© + . + © © © © © © »© # « 426 
