56 



NATURE 



\May 17, 1877 



— The first of a series of lectures founded in honour of the late 

 Prof. J. Quekett was delivered by Sir John Lubbock, Bart, M.P., 

 "On Some Points in the Anatomy of Ants." Commencing by 

 reference to the occasion, and appropriately giving a short history 

 of the life and labours of Prof. J. Quekett, the lecturer jjroceeded 

 to describe in a minute and interesting manner the general struc- 

 ture and microscopic anatomy of these insects, pointing out the 

 differences found to exist between individuals of different species, 

 and also between the various classes of the same species. Atten- 

 tion was specially drawn to the structure of the antennce, and to 

 certain organs presumed to be those of hearing, also to the struc- 

 ture of the mouth, with its extensive muscles and mouth-sac. 

 At the conclusion of the lecture, the "(Quekett Medal" of the 

 society, struck for the occasion, was presented to .Sir John 

 Lubbock by the president, amidst great applause from the 

 fellows. 



Victoria (Philosophical) Institute, May 7. — Dr, C. Brooke, 

 F.R.S., in the chair. — A paper on the indestructibility of matter 

 by Prof. Challis, F.R. S., was read. 



Rome 



R. Accademia dei Lincei, March 4. — The Roman Tuscia 

 and the Tolfa, by M. Ponzi. — On graphical statics, by M. Patta- 

 ligni. — On some cavern-myriapods of France and of Spain, by 

 M. Fonzago. — Studies on some anouran amphibians of Pied- 

 mont, by M. Lessona. — On a new function of the liver and tlie 

 effect of ligature of the vena porta, by M. Tommaso-Crudeli. — 

 On the Meibomian glands, by the same. — On the cliemical con- 

 stitution of the cyanamidcs, by MM. Fileti and Schiff. — On the 

 tenacity of copper, steel, brass, and aluminium, at various tem- 

 peratures, by M. Pisati and others. — On the dilatation, , capil- 

 larity, and viscosity of fused sulphur, by M. Pisati. — On 

 organisation of the meteorological services of forecast for agri- 

 culture ; on publication of meteorological observations ; and on 

 history of the atmosphere, April to .September, 1876, by M. 

 Tarry. — On the small proof plane, by M. VolpiceUi. — Epheme- 

 rldes and graphic representation of the height of the water 

 surface of the Tiber, measured daily in 1S76, by M. Pelocchi. — 

 On titanite and apatite of the plain of Spedallacio, near Sarsalba, 

 and on mancinite, by M. Uzielll. — Indian corn and pellagra, by 

 M. Selmi. 



Paris 



Academy of Sciences, May 7. — M. Peligot in the chair. — 

 The following papers were read : — Two general laws of geo- 

 metric curves, by M. Chasles. — Studies of Mr. Sylvester on the 

 algebraic theory of forms, by RI. Ilermite. — Note a propos of 

 M. Favc's communications on the theory of heat, by Si. Resal. 

 lie opposes M. Fave's views. — On determination of the differ- 

 ence of longitude between Paris and Berlin, by M. iSIouchez. 

 The first series of astronomical observations are on the eve of 

 comi^letion. — Researches on the law of Avogadro and Ampere, 

 by M. Wurtz. Oxalate of potassium loses its water when heated 

 in dryjair under a certain pressure, but does not lose it, if heated 

 under the same pressuie, in chloral vapour or in a mixture of air 

 and water vapour. We may infer that hydrated chloral vapour 

 does not act like dry air, but like a mixture of anhydrous chloral 

 and water vapour. — Chemical researches on the green matter of 

 leaves, by M. Fremy (third paper). He thinks it proved that the 

 colouring matter of leaves is a mixture of phylloxanthine and phyl- 

 locyanate of potash. During life chlorophyll acts by decomposing 

 CO... When the leaves die and fall the colouring matter is destroyed 

 and gives up to the ground the salt of potash it contained. — 

 Change of colour of chlorophyll ; its passage to blue and to red 

 or orange, by M. Trecul. — On meteorological predictions sent 

 from the United States, by M. Faye. Some think the success of 

 these owing to the role of the Gulf Stream, which they suppose 

 to be the grMid route taken by storms in traversing the ocean. 

 M. P'aye shows this to be a mistake ; the path of storms de- 

 pending on currents in the higher regions of the atmosphere. — 

 On the identity of anthrax in all the species of domestic animals, 

 by M. iJouley. Contagion is its most essential character. — M. 

 Bernard made some remarks in presenting his Lecons siir It: 

 diabcte d la glycogaicsc animali. — Reports on the geodetic and 

 topographic works executed in Algeria, by M. Roudaire. This 

 relates to his measurement of the meridian of Biskra, and survey 

 of the region of the Chotts. — Practical reduced form of the develop 

 ment of Taylor, by M. Rouyaux. — Integi-ation of linear differential 

 equations of any co-efticients, with or without second member, 

 by M. Andre. —Solar spots observed at Madrid in April, 1S77, 



by M. Ventosa. Another 'confirmation of what M. Janssen 

 observed. — On M. Janssen's communication on the sudifen 

 formation of a very important sun-spot, by M. Gazan. Me thinks 

 tlie spot was not formed suddenly ; all spots are preceded by 

 violent agitation of the luminous matter. lie passes some other 

 strictures. — Researches on accidental double refraction, by M. 

 Mare. The double refraction produced by hardening is iden- 

 tical with that produced by a regular heating of the contour 

 of the plate. — On the interior resistance of thermo-electric 

 elements, by M. Rolland. The experiments were m.ade with 

 Clamond's pile. The curve of resistances oscillates continually ; 

 its course, at first rather irregular, becomes nearly normal only 

 after about twenty minutes ; it is then fixed at a height which 

 it retains during about ten minutes. When the p'le cools the 

 curve again oscillates irregularly. — On acid acetates, by M. Les- 

 coeur. — On .some derivatives ofacetylaceticether.byM. Demaixay. 

 — On nitrosalicylic acid, by M. Phipson. — Action of toxical and 

 antiseptic vapours on the fermentation of fruits, by MM. Le- 

 chartier and Bellamy. The action of vapour of phenic acid, 

 cyanide of potassium, and camphor destroys or diminishes con- 

 siderably the vitality of fruit cells. — On the same subject, by 

 M. Gayon. He tried chloroform, ether, and sulphide of carbon 

 with similar results. Sulphide of carbon and camphor (in the 

 two series of experiments) acted less powerfully than the other 

 substances; they allowed a little fermentation. — On two new 

 niobates, by Mr. Lawrence Smith. These, found in North 

 Carolina, he names HatchdlnUti: and Rogersite. — Researches on 

 the mode of formation of Cyclopia, by M. Dureste. — Note on 

 the peristaltic movement of the intestine, by M. Guerin. The 

 matters in the intestine are not moved along by an action a tcrgo, 

 resulting from simple circular contraction of the muscular mem- 

 brane, but by a double jiropulsive and suctional action, realised 

 through contraction of the circular and longitudinal planes of the 

 intestine. — On a whale, properly so called, caught in the Bay of 

 Tarentum, by M. Capellini. — On the mines of New South 

 Wales, by M. Simon. 



CONTENTS Page 



.Science and War. By H. Baiikn Pkitchard 37 



The Owens College University Question 38 



Nicholson's "LiFE-HisTOUY OF THE Earth" 39 



Our Book Shelf : — * 



" Geological Survey of Canada. Rcporl of Progress for 1874-75." — 



R L.Jack 1 40 



Brown's " Schools of Forestry in Europe. A Plea for the Creation 

 of a School of Forestry iu Connection witlt ttie Arboretum at 



Edinburgh" 41 



Schmidt's " Unser SonnenltOrper, nach seiner physikalischen, 



sprachlichen und mythologischen Seite hin betrachlet " .... 41 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Passa2:e of Plants Across the Atlantic— Haplomitrium Hookeri, 



LyelL— Henry H. Higgins 41 



P.-Uenas in Ceylon. — Rev. R AniiAV 41 



The Greenland Sr-il Filwrv -Thomas Southwell 42 



A New Lerlni V , I t for Proving the Coinpoiind Nature of 



White Lmlii — W ■ I I I ii.i 42 



The Arauc.iiM,-i . M I. iimp 42 



The Hiberii.iUM.1 ol Svv.,l,uwi,— X 43 



Two Remarliable Meteors— W. H, S. J. Hope 43 



Yellow Crocuses. — W. \on Fkeeden 43 



Sound and Light.— Dr. Henry Muirhead 43 



Cloud Colours — H. C 43 



The Progress OF Evolution 44 



Engineering Education in Japan 4 



Suspected Relations between the Sun and Earth, III. I!y 



Prof. Balfour bTEWART, F.R. S. (;KiM ///M/ni//OT«J 45 



The South African Museum 47 



Spongy Iron Filters 4S 



Centroius and their Application to So:\ie Mechanical Pro- 



ULEMS 48 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Total Solar Eclipse of 1SS2, May 17 49 



The Cometi of 1402 49 



Meteorological Notes : — 



Variations in the Relation of the Barometric Gradient to the Force 



of the Wind 50 



Climate of Pckin 50 



Why the Barometer docs not always Indicate Real Vertical Pres- 

 sure 50 



Thunderstorms at Antibes on March 36, 1877 51 



Meteorology in Italy 51 



Meteorology in France _ 51 



Sunday Weather Warnings 51 



Geological Notes : — 



Geological Map of Belgium sr 



Ice- Work in Labrador 52 



Human Remains in a Raised Beach 52 



Notes 53 



University Intelligence 5-4 



Societies and Academies 55 



