> Se 
NATURE 
with, Their social and marital relations, superstitions, tradi- 
tions, beliefs, &c., were reserved for discussion on another 
occasion. The author also exhibited an album containing a 
number of his photographs of the Andamanese, their huts, 
weapons, &c., and he further illustrated these subjects on a 
screen by means of a sciopticon and limelight.—Dr. J. G. 
Garson exhibited an Andamanese skeleton recently presented to 
the Royal Collexe of Surgeons by Mr. W. Beatson, of the 
Bengal Medical Service. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, March 2.—L. I. Fitzinger 
in the chair.— (he following papers were read:—W. Biedermann, 
contribution to general nerve and muscle physiology (Part 8), 
on the apparent ‘* Oeffhung:zuckung” of injured muscles.—W. 
Becker, on the knowledge of the mouth-parts of the Diptera.— 
Fr. Weechter, on the material particles in the felectric spark.— 
Josef Boehm, on the formation of sulphuretted hydrogen from 
sulphur and water.—M. Holl, on the correct explanation of the 
transyere processes of the lumbar vertebrz and the development 
of the spinal column of man.—E, Lecher, on radiation and ab- 
sorption.— L. Burgerstein, a geological study on the thermal 
springs of Deutsch- Altenburg.—A Koch, on the Meteoric fall 
of Moes in Transylvania.—E. Hann, on the Foehn at Bludenz. 
—V. Mises, on the nerves of the eyelids. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, March 13.—M. Blanchard in the 
chair.—iThe following papers were read :—Double decompo- 
sitions of haloid salts of mercury, by M. Berthelot.—On the 
reproduction, by photography, of different phases of the flight 
of birds, by M. Marey. An instrument, like a rifle in shape, 
gives twelve successive images per second, each image taking 
1-7ooth of a second. In bright sunlight, the time of exposure 
may be reduced 1-1500 sec. (a chronograph regulates the time). 
With Plateau’s phenakistscope, the motion indicated by those 
images may be easily analysed. M. Janssen (whose “‘ photogra- 
phic revolver’ for observing Venus’ transit seems to have been 
suggestive to M. Marey) made some remarks. —On photography 
of the spectrum of the great nebula in Orion, by Dr. Hugzins. 
—On an application of the theorem of Abel.—Considerations 
on the kinetic theory of gases, and on the vibratory state of 
matter, by M. Ledieu. This is meant to show that the present 
theory of gases presents a secondary kinetic hypothesis, which is 
quite gratuitous, aud three errors of principle. Hence, a certain 
amount cf experimental invalidation of it recently. But the 
general kinetic hypothesis remains intact.—Crystallised oxy- 
chloride of gallium, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran.—On a case 
of preservation against anthracic disease observed in man, by M. 
Cosson. A farmer had a slight anthracic affection, in 1854, and. 
in February last, another attack of very threatening character, 
from which, however, he quickly recovered. The earlier attack, 
M. Cosson conceives to have acted like vaccination.—New facts, 
proving the extreme frequency of transmission, by heredity, of mor- 
bid organic states, produced accidentally in ascendants, by M. 
Brown-Séquard. He has now, at the College of France, more than 
150 animals showing this kind of heredity, all of them guinea-pigs 
(a -pecies in which the nervous system seems to have a specially 
str ng influence on nutrition and secretions). The new facts 
here given relate chiefly to alteration of nutrition of the eyeball ; 
also to muscular atrophy through section of the sciatic nerve.— 
On uniform functions of an analytic point (x, 7), by M. Appell. 
—Tempering by compression, by M. Clémandot. This new 
process consists in heating (say) steel to a cherry red, compress- 
ing strongly, and keeping it compre'sed till quite cool. The 
metal becomes very hard, and, like tempered steel, can be per- 
manently magnetised. In either process of tempering amorphism 
is probably produced, There is advantage in the power of 
graduating the compression.—On the use of bitumen of Judsea in 
antiquity, as a preservative of the vine, by M. Leclerc. He 
quotes from an Arabian physician and naturalist of the tenth 
century, Temimi,—The death of M. Poitevin was announced and 
commented upon.—The Minister of Agricultnre communicated 
a letter from M. Balbiani urging the importance of methodical 
experiments (of a nature indicated) both in the laboratory, and 
in cultivation on a large scale, with a view to destroying the 
winter egg of phylloxera.—On the theory of uniform functions 
of a variable, by M. Mittag-Leffler.—On uniform functions pre- 
senting lacune, by M. Goursot.—On the compressibility of 
gases, by M. Sarran, He gives some results with a method 
previously indicated.—Boiling temperature of zine, by M. 
Ville, He o'tains 930°, closely agreeing with M. Edm, ‘ 
Becquerel (932°). MM. Deville and Terrost’s figure was 10g0°.. 
The great difficulty of the determination lies in the small calorific 
capacity of the vapour.—Hydrodynamic experiments (fourth 
note) ; imitations with liquid currents, of Nobili’s rings, obtained — 
with electric currents, by M. Decharme. A thin liquid stream 
falls from a vertical glass tube, on a horizontal glass plate 
covered with a fine layer of minium suspended in water. Con- 
centric rings, &c., are formed.—Apparatus for rezulating the 
flow of a gas at any pressure, by M. Ville. This is plrced 
between an evceinte and a reservoir of compressed gas, and, as 
the pressure in the former diminishes, admits a compensating 
quantity from the reservoir. Mercury, in a special manumeter, 
closes a circuit, actuating an electromagnet, and thereby a valve, 
—On the heat of formation of ferrocyanhydric acid and of some 
ferrocyanides, by M. Joannis,—On the products of distillation 
of colophony, by M. Renard.—On chlorin tion of camphor; | 
formation of bichlorinated camphor, by M. Cazeneuve.—On the 
essence of Licart kanali, by M. Morin.—On determination of 
tannin and cenogallic acid in wines, by M. Jean.—On gastric 
digestion, by M. Duclaux. Jxter alia, raw albamen resi-ts 
gastric juice much, and often leaves the stomach without suffer- 
ing more than superficial action. Cooked albumen is more 
quickly attacked ; then comes gluten, then blood-fibrin. The 
question why the stomach does not digest it-elf is not perplex- 
ing, when we know that gastric juice does not act indifferently 
on all albuminoid matter, but “ respects” some. —Influence of the 
nervous system on the lymphatic vessels, by M, Bert. Stimula- 
tion of the mesenteric nerves caused constriction of chyliferous 
vessels ; of the splanchnic, dilatation; but, with a curarised 
animal, there was dilatation in either case. —Chemical action of 
different metals on the frog’s heart, by M. Richet. The toxicity 
of metals is not, apparently, related ‘to atomic weight. These 
experiments give considerably different results from those with 
fishes. Some metallic chlorides stop the heart in systole, some 
in diastole.-—On the passages by which the seminal liquid and 
the eggs are evacuated in the common Asteria, by M. Jourdain. 
—Geographical distribution of Coleoptera in Abyssinia, by M. 
Raffray.—Mode of formation of the coal-basin of the Loire ; 
causes which modify, at various points, the nature of the coals, 
by M, Gruner. 
CONTENTS 
TRCHNICAZ EDUGADION«( 245 iss 9 6 emp 0 de os we en 
THE ART OF DINING «(6 p.0) tensity o0 10, 1s, he, = ¥ey pS 
Our Book SHELF :— 
Lankester’s ** Studies on Apus, Limulus, and Scorpio” . . . 479 
Flower’s ‘* Fashion in Deformity” . . . © » - © © - + + 480 
Whire’s ‘‘ Cameos from the Silver-Land"’ . . 2. . 2. « « « «© 480 
Mueller’s ‘‘ Select Extra Tropical Plants”. . . . . . « « « 486 
LErrers TO THE EDITOR :— 
Vignettes from Nature.—Dr. W. B. CARPENTER, F.R.S.. . . ~ 480 
Fisher’s ‘* Ear h’s Crust.’’"—Prof. A. H. GREEN. . . - « - + 48% 
An Equatorial Solar Spot.—WentworTH Exck . . + « « « 48f 
Seasonal Order in Colours of Flowers.—Dr. J. C. Coster - 48t 
The Electrical Resistance of Carbon under Pressure.—Prof. Sm- 
VANUS Pi THOMPSON!) - «5-2 sieys «5 Spade gts 
Vivisection.—Dr. ANNA KincsrorD; CHARLES ALEX. STEVENSON 482 
Muffs and Vivisection.— Miss Frances Power Cosse. Sa 
Pasteur’s Inoculation. —A STUDENT . . . + + + «© «© «© + 483 
“Eophyton.”’"—A. G. NATHORST. . ). . . = - - + 2 = 483 
“Telescopic Definition in a Hazy Sky.”.—A.S. ATKINSON. . . 483 
The Weather in South Australia— Mrs. MERRIFIELD. . . + 483 
Variable Cygni (Birmingham) 1881.—J. BrrminGHAM. . « . « 484 
A Strange Phenomenon.—B.. . «2 0 7 se ee ee ws ABH 
Steno. By Prof. Tomas McKenny Huoues, F.R.S. . . . + + 4! 
Winp M&ASUREMENTS .©. s + _¢ = = 0 s © s © @ © © © 0 ff 
Tue ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND “JUMBO” . . . . . . « . « « 487 
On Dust Exptosions 1n Co.zieries. By Prof. T. E. THorrs, 
F.R.S. (With Diagram) . 2. 6 6 2 ee ee « =: ey ee 
Tue PHorocraruic SPECTRUM OF THE GreaT NEBULA IN ORION. 
By Wirttam Hueeins, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. (With Dé m) . 489 
Tue ACTION oF CARBONATE OF AMMONIA ON THE Roots oF CERTAIN 
PLANTS, AND ON CHLOROPHYLL Bopies. By CHARLES Darwin, 
Ce erm Te 
Noras sc atlie Se Sete we Webi eile Seek (opel Celts ee 
Our AsTRONOMICAL COLUMN :— 
The Approaching Transit of Venus. . + + + «© © «© + + = 493 
The Topography of the Planet Mars. . . - + + © © + © = 493 
Ceraski’s Variable Star UCephei . . . - + - © + 5 + + + 493 
Tue Current Meter oF Prov. A. R. Hartacner. By RIcHarD 
Brum (With Diagrams). - + + s+ 2 2 + + © en ee 8 ADF 
Tue STORAGE OF ENERGY. By Prof W. E. Ayrton, F-R.S.. . ~ 495 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE - - + - = = » 499 
SocieTigs AND ACADEMIES «©. + 6s «+ © © * © © © # © + $99 
——— an 
Erratum.—P. 463, column 1, line-17 from bottom, for 6} Ampéres read 
“*6) Milli-Ampéres.’ 
ee 
