ae re RET er 
NATURE 255 
oxidise the alkaline solution of triamido-otcin by exposure to the 
air. Trinitro-orcin is also reduced by treatment with tin and 
hydrochloric acid, or zinc and hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. 
Amido-diimido-orcin hydrochloride.—The hydrochloride ob- 
tained in the preparation of amido-diimido-orcin may be purified 
by crystallisation from hot water ; but as heat decomposes solu- 
tions of the salts of this base, it is better to precipitate a cold 
solution of the acetate by a slight excess of hydrochloric acid, in 
which the hydrochloride is but slightly soluble ; the precipitate 
should be thoroughly washed with alcohol, pressed and dried. 
Amido-diimido-orcin sulphate is readily prepared by precipi- 
tating a dilute solution of the acetate with sulphuric acid, when 
; forms minute lustrous plates which are purple by reflected 
ight. ; 
P daestdieainor cit nitrate is prepared, like the sulphate, by 
adding a slight excess of nitric acid to a moderately strong solu- 
tion of the acetate and washing the precipitate with alcohol. 
Amido-diimido-orcin acetate dissolves readily in acetic acid, and 
on carefully evaporating the solution at a low temperature, the 
acetate is obtained in ill-defined crystalline plates having a purple 
iridescence. It is readily soluble in cold water, but only slightly 
soluble in glacial acetic acid. 
Amido-diimitlo-orcin oxalate.—Very slightly soluble purple 
scales obtained by precipitating a solution of the acetate with 
oxalic acid. 
Amido-diimido-orcin picrate.—On adding a solution of picric 
acid to a dilute solution of amido-diimido-orcin acetate and wash- 
ing the precipitate with alcohol, the picrate is obtained in iride- 
scent green needles and plates, It is insoluble in alcohol, and 
but slightly soluble in water. 
Prof. Owen read a paper ‘‘ On the Fossil Mammals of Austra- 
lia.—Part VIII. Family A/acropodide ; Genera Macropus, Os- 
phranter, Phascolagus, Sthenurus, and Protemnodon.” 
In the present part of the series of papers on the fossil mam- 
mals of Australia, the author enters upon the description and 
determination of the fossils referable to the family of Kangaroos 
(Macropodide) ; restricting, however, the latter term to the 
species in which the molar teeth have two transverse ridges for 
the chief character of their grinding-surface, and excluding the 
Potoroos (/ipsifrymnide), in which the working-surface of the 
molars is formed by four tubercles in two transverse pairs. The 
large extinct species of Kangaroo indicated under the names 
Macropus Titan, M. Atlas, and M. Anak in former publications 
here receive further elucidation of their specific distinction from any 
known living Kangaroos and of the grounds (according to the value 
assigned thereto by present zoologists) for referring two of these 
(MZ. Adas, M. Anak) to distinct subgenera of Macropodide. The 
author then enters on the elucidation, aided by the facts pre- 
mised, of Macropfus Titan, M. affinis, Osphranter Cooperi, O. 
Gouldit, Phascolagus altus,,Sthenurus, Atlas S. Brehus, Protem- 
nodon Anak, P. Og, P. Mimas, and P. Rechus. The maxillary, 
mandibular, and dental characters of these extinct species are 
illustrated by the subjects of eight plates. 
Zoological Society, January 21, Prof. Newton, F.R.S., 
V.P., in the chair.—Dr. Giinther, F.R.S., exhibited and made 
remarks on a supposed ancient Egyptian, skull—A communica- 
tion was read from the Rev. John T. Gulick, containing remarks 
on the classification of the family Achatinelline ; which he re- 
garded as containing ten well established genera, seven of {which 
were arboreal and three terrestrial in habit.—Mr. A. H. Garrod, 
read a paper on the visceral anatomy of the Sumatran rhinoceros 
(Ceratorhinus sumatrensis) based on a specimen of this species 
_ lately living in the Society’s gardens.—Mr. A. D.. Bartlett 
gave an ‘account of the birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros which 
had taken place on board the Ovchis at the Victoria Docks on 
December 7. The mother and an adult male of the animal along 
with her had been brought from Singapore, but the male had 
died on the passage. The young one suckled freely and lived 
for about a fortnight, and was said to have been accidentally 
killed.—A communication was read from Surgeon-Major Francis 
Day on some new or imperfectly known fishes of India and 
Burma.—A communication was read from the Rev. O. P. Cam- 
bridge on some new genera and species of Araneidea, chiefly 
from Mr. Thwaites’ Ceylonese collections. —A communication 
was read from Dr, J. E. Gray containing a description of the 
skeleton of the New Zealand Right Whale (AZacleayius australiensis) 
and of other whales, Dr. Gray concluded with a general list of 
the known species of the marine mammalia of New Zealand.—A 
communication was read from Mr. G. B. Sowerby, giving de- 
scriptions of several new shells of the genus Coxus.—A commu- 
nication was read from Dr. J. C. Cox, containing descriptions of 
new land shells from Australia and the Solomon Islands. 
Anthropological Institute, Jan. 21. Annual general 
meeting.—Sir John Lubbock, Bart, F.R.S., president, in the 
chair. The Report of Council showed that the income for 1872 
was 1,238/. 5s. 4d., and the expenditure 1,084/. 18s., leaving a 
balance in hand of 153/. 75. 4d.; and that after deducting the 
expenses of the year, the debt of the Institute had been reduced 
by 249/. 9s. 6d. The president delivered an address, in which 
he reviewed the chief anthropological works of the past year by 
continental and American authors. He also drew attention to 
the continued destruction of prehistoric monuments, and made 
further suggestions for their preservation. Prof. George Busk, 
F.R.S., was elected president. - 
Meteorological Society, Jan. 15.—Dr. Tripe, president, in 
the chair. The first paper read was on solar radiation, by Rev. 
Fenwick W. Stow, M.A. This paper treated of the comparison 
of the measure of solar radiation obtained by a Herschel’s 
actinometer with that indicated by the difference between the tem- 
perature of a blackened bulb zz vacuo, and that of the air in the 
shade ; the comparison of the latter with the difference of tem- 
perature of blackened and unblackened bulbs zz vacuo ; sugges- 
tions for a standard solar thermometer or actinometer ; errors of 
thermometers iv vacuo, and the necessity of comparing them ; 
experiments with blackened bulbs in glass air-jackets ; and the 
objects to be aimed at in investigations of solar radiation, and 
the importance of such investigations to meteorology and physics. 
The next paper, also by the Rev. F. W. Stow, entitled ‘On 
Temperature in Sun and Shade,” was an account of experi- 
ments with different thermometers exposed (1) to full sun, (2) to 
sun, but not to sky in zenith, (3) to sky in zenith, but not to 
sun, (4) on open thermometer stand, and (5) in louvre board 
screen, ‘The author found that ordinary mercurial thermometers 
are affected more by radiation from the ground than from the 
other sources of heat ; and concluded with some remarks on 
open stands and louvre board screens.—The other communica- 
tions read were—‘‘On the ‘Pocky’ Cloud observed July 27, 
1872,” by J. S. Harding, F.M.S.; *‘ Account of the Hurricane 
which passed over the Nichol Bay district of Western Australia 
on March 20, 1872,” by R. J. Sholl, Government Resident ; 
and an ‘‘ Account of a phenomenon observed on board H.M.S, 
Fawn, on May 16, 1872,” by H. P. Knevitt. 
Institution of Civil’Engineers, Jan. 14.—Mr. Thomas 
Hawksley, president, in the chair, Colonel W. H. Greathed, 
C.B., R.E., Chief Engineer of Irrigation to the Government of 
the North-Western Provinces, read a paper ‘‘ On the Practice 
and Results of Irrigation in Northern India.” The object of 
the Paper was to describe what had been done and what was 
now doing in that portion of Upper India where irrigation had 
been longest practised, and on the largest scale. 
GLASGOW 
Geological Society, Jan. 9,—James Bryce, LL.D., F.G.S., 
read a paper on “The Upper Secondary Rocks of Sky and 
Raasay.” After referring to the observations which have pre- 
viously been published on the Lias and Oolite of Sky, Dr. Bryce 
noticed the great geological interval which separates these upper 
Secondary rocks in Scotland from the deposits on which they 
rest. In the east of Scotland they are found overlying the Old 
Red sandstone ; but in Skye and Raasay their base is formed of 
the Torridon or Cambrian Sandstone, in a great trough or hollow, 
in which they seem to have been deposited. He then described 
at length the general succession of beds observed in Skye, from 
the lower Lias at Lucy Bay to the middle Lias at Broadford, 
Pabba, and Raasay, and the upper Lias and inferior Oolite in 
the neighbourhood of Portree. Passing northwards these were 
succeeded by beds still higher in the scale, till, at Loch Staffin 
on the one side, and Uig on the other, members of the upper 
Oolite were found. He had also found indications of what 
appeared to be the equivalents of the ‘‘Purbeck beds” in 
England, and the fossils from these were now under careful 
examination. The paper was illustrated by maps and carefully- 
prepared sections, together with a tabular view of the beds re- 
ferred to, and a copious list of the fossils belonging to each 
horizon, including some new species not yet named. 
