EDINBURGH, 
Royal Society, February 20,—Prof. Aaitlagan vice-presi- 
dent, in the chair.—Prof. Turner read a paper on a specimen of 
Batenoptera borealis or laticeps, which was captured in 1872 at 
Boness, on the Firth of Forth. Comparing this species with the 
other three species of Balznoptera, the author noted how highly 
characteristic of each were the number of vertebrze and the 
appearance of the whalebone. The skull, ribs, and other bones 
of the present specimen were of a peculiarly smooth texture as 
compared, for example, with those of Balenoptera Sibbaldii— 
indicating probably a less amount of oil in the bones of the 
former. The hyoid bone was particularly referred to as of a 
highly characteristic form.—Prof. Tait communicated a quater- 
nion note by M. Gustav Plarr, on Minding’s theorem.—Prof. 
Heddle presented chapter vii, of his chapters on the mineralogy 
of Scotland, dealing in the present instance with the ores of 
manganese, iron, chromium, and titanium, Two new ores of 
iron were described.—Prof. Tait communicated a paper by Mr. 
W. J. Millar, C.E., on the dimensions of cast iron at various 
temperatures, the greatest novelty in which seemed to be the 
conclusion, based on careful experiment, that the coefficient of 
linear dilatation of iron diminishes markedly with rise of 
temperature.x—Mr. M. M. Pattison Muir, M.A., in a short 
chemical note, gave the properties of an oxycyanide of bismuth, 
and recorded the discovery of a new oxide, which he called the 
hypobismuthic oxide.—Mr. T. B. Spragne communicated an 
extremely neat and complete graphical representation of the 
well-known theorem, due to Cauchy, reiating to the number of 
roots in an equation of the wth degree.—Dr. R, S. Marsden 
supplemented his former communication on the function of car- 
bon in steel by a short paper on the influence of silicon (which 
behaves somewhat similarly to carbon), phosphorus, manganese, 
and other elements. 
PARIS 
“Academy of Sciences, March 6.—M. Blanchard in the 
chair.—The following papers were read :—On the normal car- 
bonic acid of atmospheric air, by M. Dumas. After noticing 
the defects of several methods of measurement, he commends 
the exactness of M. Reiset’s, and accepts his result, that about 
3 vol. in 10,000 represents the general (little varying) ratio of 
CO, in air. The variations through great movements of the 
atmosphere now require study, by observers placed at many 
different and distant stations, and the transit expeditions should 
keep this in view. MM. Miintz and Aubin’s methods are most 
-suitable for this.—On sou e applications of the theory of elliptic 
functions, by M. Hermite.—Experiments on a Fanre secondary 
battery, by MM. Allard, Le Blanc, Jaubert, Potier, and Tresca. 
The charging of the battery (formed of thirty-five elements, new 
model) required a total mechanical work of 1558 horse-power 
during 22h. 45m., or 1 horse-power during 35h. 26m. The 
battery really received only 0°66 of this work. 60 per cent. of 
the work of 6,382,100 kgm. thus stored was recovered in dis- 
charge (Maxim lamps being used). The use of the accumulator 
thus cost 0°40 of the work furnished by the dynamo. This loss 
would in many cases be outweighed by advantages.—On the 
double decompositions of haloid salts of mercury by hydracids 
and by haloid salts of potassium, by M. Berthelot.—On the 
formation of two dibasic acids, sebacic and suberic, in distilla- 
tion of crude fatty acids by means of a current of superheated 
steam, by MM, Cahors and Demargay.—Experimental studies 
on the action of permanganate of potash on poisons, forms 
of virus, and zymotic diseases, by M. Vulpian. The method 
can only be efficacious, he thinks, when the bite is very 
recent; in one hour, or more it must be useless, the per- 
manganate (in the dose recommended) being unable to overtake 
the poison, and being soon decomposed. Intravenous in- 
jection of an efficacious dose of permanganate would be fatal.— 
Memoir on the generation and regeneration of the bone of cad- 
ucous and persistent horns of Ruminants, by MM. Robin and 
Herrmann. They controyert the view that in the present case 
there is an exceptional form of osteogenesis, viz. metaplastic 
ossification, or direct transformation of cartilage into bone.— 
New pump for compression of gases, by M. Cailletet. A special 
feature is the presence of mercury above a plunger piston, with 
which the mercury moves. An hour’s work will give 400 or 
500 gr. of liquid carbonic acid or protoxide of nitrogen, The 
author stores compressed gases in bundles of metallic tubes com- 
municating with each other, and each holding about four litres, 
Pressures of several hundred atmospheres are attained. The 
movement of ww mercury. in, the pump eitencs heati 
Quick method of determining the density of gases, by 
Chancel. This depends (like M, Dumas’ method for apo) 
on displacement of the air of aspherical glass vessel by the gas 
whose density is to be measured, and which enters by a lateral 
tubulure in the neck, passing thence down a bent tube (soldered 
to the hollow stopper), which opens near the bottom of the 
vessel, At the proper time the stopper is turned, the supp! 
tube (caoutchouc) detached, a cock above the stopper ced 
and the vessel weighed.—M. Villarceau made some remarks 
presentng a memoir on the methods of Wronski in celestial 
mechanics.—On rules to be followed in hypnotisation of hyste- 
rical persons, by MM. Dumontpallier and Magnin. This relates 
to the ways of producing each of the periods of hypnotism, To 
make a state disappear, one should use the same agent as pro- 
duced it.—On the determination of the genus of an entire 
transcendental function, by M. Laguerre.—On the law of — 
deviation of Foucault’s pendulum, by M. Hatt.—On the com- 
pressibility of gases, by M. Sarran, He seeks to verify a relation 
given by Clausius, for other gases than carbonic acid.—On a 
vibratory movement in production of a s eam jet, by M.. Vantier. 
A plate placed across the jet at a certain height is repelled ; but 
if lowered parallel to itself, it is attracted, and at about o°2 mm, 
from the orifice it oscillates, with sound, —-Hydrodynamic expe- 
riments (third note); direct imitation, with liquid currents, of — 
the actions of electric currents on each other, by M. Decharme. 
—On the retrogradation produced by the electric ef/uve in trans- — 
formation of oxygen into ozone, by MM. Hautefeuille and 
Chappuis. This change of ozone into oxyven is due to libera- 
tion of heat, accompanying the spontaneous destruction of Pcs 
raised to a high temperature by the effluve ; it occurs onk 
low pressures of oxygen.—On some phosphates a 
litmus, by MM. Filhol and Lenderens.—On an isomer of oreine, — 
lutorcine, by MM. Vogt and Henninger.—On the soluble and — 
insoluble modifications of the ferment of gastric digestion, by — 
M. Gautier.—Division of embryonal cells in Vertebrates, by M. 
Henneguy. These observations were on the ova of trout.—On — 
the circulatory apparatus of starfishes, by MM, E. and J. Perrier, ; 
—On some types of Cestodes, by M. Moniez.—On the organisa- 
tion of the mouth of Dochmius or Ankylostomas, apropos of 
parasites of these two genera found in the dog, by M. Magnin.— _ 
Diabetic endocarditis, by M. Lecorché.—Ophitic rocks in the — 
Pyrenees ; ages ; relations with saliferous substances ; origin, by 
M. Dieulafait,—Variations of temperature with altitude in the 
valley of the Seine during the period of high pressures in January, 
by MM. Lemoine and de Tréandeau,.—A “geological map of the 
Loire valley (scale zy455), by M. Griiner, was presented. 
CONTENTS Pack 
ARISTOTLE ON THE PARTS OF ANIMALS. ah Dr. Benjamin WARD “Ss 
Ricuarpson, F.R S. staf! BY os 8 ee) janes ee 
FLAMMARION’S “ASTRONOMY”? . 0 0s ssw ee 450 
Our Book Suetr:— : s 
Engelman’s ‘* Popula fre Astronomie von Sim. Newcomb” . 456 
Loew and Bokorny’s “Chemical Cause of Life ‘Theoretically : } 
Examined”. . . ae ° 9 M52 
Mrs. Mulhall’s “‘ Betw een the Amazons and Andes » oy ee ee, ST 
Constable’s Geometrical Exercises for Sega . + ele oo) Cee { 
Gross’s *‘ Algebra” . . . 5) arenas o ele oe 
Lerrers ro THE Eprror :— { 
Pronunciation of Deaf-Mutes who have been Taught to Speak.— 
Prof. ALEXANDER GRAHAM Bett; F. J. Farapay. . . . . 458 ; 
Vignettes from Nature.—GRANT ALLEN . + as a > 
Miss Cobbe and Vivisection.—H. H. Jounstox Sa ee gag ae 
The Electrical Resistance of Carbon under Pressure- ~_Hernert 7 
TOMLINSON . oe e ee = 6450S 
Palzolithic Floors.—WorTHINGTON Gro. Smitx |... « 4007 @ 
The Advance of Norwegian Glaciers —]. Innes RoGers . . « 460 — 
Intelligence in Birds.—Mrs. E. Husparp . ate Do ee 
Auroral Display. —W. E. Kocn. . os « 46e 
ON THE CHEMIsTRY OF THE PLANTS AND Faure ACCUMULATORS. -. 2 
ByéDrs. J. H. Grapstong, F.R.S., and Atrkep TripzE . . . . 461 
THe CHANNEL TunNnEL. By A. ent “ "ith Diag ven 4 o,) » Oe > 
Six CHARLES Wyvicte THOMSON , . . “erat 
Tuomas ROMNEY Ropinson, DD. . . . « + 6 © oe » «| gene 
Norgs ... BS slic sto. t, Deatan ee ‘ 
Our ASTRONOMICAL Couumn: i 
Variable Stars. . oe 6) a et Woes, 3 eee 
The Total Solar Eclipse of May «We tk) Shales, 6 ae ee 
Galle's Method for Solar Parallax. . . . «© « © «© + « & «© 472 
The Temple Observatory, Rugby . . . . + + + «© © © + » 472 
GroGrarHicat Norges... ove 5 eee 
On THE ELECTROLYSIS OF SuLPHATE or Correr “By G. Gore, 
LL.D., F.R.S, . ap eles eles ois 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE on m. Laer + 474 
SocieTigs AND ACADEMIES « . « . © 5 © © © © © «© © © © 47h 
