276 
NATURE 
w, 
| Feb. 6, 1873 
teristics of any required system can be ascertained by inspection, 
‘An account is then given of the application of such systems to 
the new key-board, and particularly of a harmonium, which has 
been constructed, and contains at present the division of the 
octave into fifty-three equal intervals in a complete form. Rules 
for tuning are given. Finally, the application of the system of 
fifty-three to the violin is discussed, 
Throughout the work of former labourers in the same field is 
reviewed ; the obligations of the writer are due to Helmholtz, 
the late General T., Perronet Thompson, F’.R.S., and others. 
“© On the Composition and Origin of the Waters of a Salt 
Spring in Huel Seton Mine, with a Chemical and Microscopical 
Examination of certain Rocks in its Vicinity.” By J. Arthur 
Phillips. 
After giving some tables, the author proceeds as follows :— 
A consideration of the various phenomena connected with the 
occurrence of this and other apparently similar springs, which 
have at different times been discovered in the district, would 
seem to lead to the inference that they all have some more or 
less direct communication with the sea, and that they are either 
the result of infiltration of sea-water through faults, or are true 
and independent sources which, before being tapped below the 
sea-level, had found their way to the ocean through faults or 
channels, 
The following would appear, in the present state of our know- 
ledge, a probable explanation of the origin of the Huel Seton spring, 
The cross-course ,is believed to extend through both granite 
and clay-slate to the sea. From the close contact of its 
surfaces, the presence of clay, and from other causes, this 
fault may be supposed not to be uniformly permeable by 
water, which can only follow a circuitous passage. In this way 
it penetrates to depths where reactions take place, which, 
although not entirely in accordance with the results of daily 
experience in our laboratories, can, after the investigations 
of M. Daubrée, M. de Sénarmont, and others, be readily under- 
stood. By the action of sea-qater on silicates of calcium, silicates of 
sodium and chloride of calcium may be produced. The sulphate 
of sodium of the sea-water will be decomposed by this chloride 
of calcium, with the production of sadphate of calcium and 
chloride of sodium, The decomposition of clayey matter by 
common salt may produce chloride of aluminium and silicates of 
sodium, while the magnesium of the chloride of magnesium 
may be replaced by ca/ciwm ; lastly, a portion of the potassium 
in the sea-water appears to have been replaced by the /i¢hium of 
the granite. 
Royal Geographical Society, Jan. 27.—Major-General Sir 
H. C. Rawlinson, K.C.B., president, in the chair.—‘‘ Journey | 
from Bunder Abbas to Meshed, by Seistan,”’ by Sir Frederick 
Goldsmid. The object of the author's journey was to carry into 
effect a settlement of the frontiers of Seistan, with which he had 
been entrusted. He left Bunder Abbas for the interior, with his 
party, on December 23, 1871, travelling in an E.N.E. direction 
first towards Bam. Beyond Bam and Azizabad, the country was 
fertile and well cultivated; this afterwards ceases, and near 
Fahraj the central desert begins. Beyond this, to the west, is 
another tract of mountainous country, bounding the fertile dis- 
trict of Seistan. The Hamun Lake was found dry, except pools 
of water at the mouths of the rivers, and the party crossed its 
southern part, where the bed was perfectly dry. Its limits are, 
however, well-marked by belts of reeds, The waters of the 
Helmund near and in the Delta had been led off by irrigation 
canals. The area of Seistan Proper was estimated at 947 square 
miles, and the population at 35,000. Majors St. John and 
Lovett, R.E, the surveyors attached to the party, had super- 
intended the execution of a new wall-map of Persia, which was 
exhibited, and which gave quite a new character to the geo- 
graphy of many parts of Persia. The two great central areas of 
desert (1,500 to 3,000 feet above the sea-level) were clearly 
shown, and the snowy-ranges running in a north-west and south- 
east direction, nearly parallel to the Persian Gulf, well defined. 
One of these ranges rises to a height of more than 17,000 feet.— 
“On the Comparative Geography and Ethnology of Seis- 
tan,” by the President. The country physically is dependent 
entirely on the River Helmund ; and it is probable the earliest 
Aryan colonists drew off the whole of the water for irrigation, 
for in the earliest Geographical List, that contained in the ‘* Ven- 
didad,” the country was called, not from the lake, but from the 
river. None of the sites of the citiesand places named in an- 
cient history could be identified with certainty. Seistan formed 
me most southerly provin-e of the ancient Aryan country of 
ran. 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Fesruary 6, 
Royvat Society, at 8.30.—On the Osteology of Hyopotamidze: Dr. W. 
Kowalevsky.—Magnetic Survey of Belgium in 1871: G. J. Perry. 
Royat InsTiTuTION, at 3.—Formation of Organic Substances: Dr. Arm- 
strong. 
Bee Society, at'8.—Notes on Aristolochiacez : Dr, Masters. 
Cuemicac Society, at 8.—On Anthrapurpurin: W. H. Perkin —On the 
Solidification of Nitrous Oxide ; T. Welf§ —On Isomerism in the Terpene 
Family: Dr. C. A. Wright. : 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On Donnington Castle; H. Goodwin. 
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7. 
Roya. InsTITUTION, at 9.—Old Continents : Prof. Ramsay. ‘ 
GEoLoGIsTs’ ASSOCIATION, at 7 30.—Annual Meeting.—On the Diprionide 
of the Moffat Shale: Charles Lapworth. 
PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY. at 8.15. 
ARCHAOLOGICAL INSTITUTION, at 4. 
Oxp CHANGE MicroscopicaL SocigTy, at 5.30.—On the Internal Economy 
of Insects: T. Rymer Jones. 
SATURDAY, Fesruary 8. 
Rovat InsTITUTION, at 3.—Comparative Politics: Dr. E. A. Freeman. 
Roya Botanic SocigTy, at 3.45. 
MONDAY, FEBRUARY Io, 
Royat GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
Lonpon InstITUTION, at 4.—Physical Geography: Prof. Duncan. 
TUESDAY, FEpruary 11. 
PuHoroGRapPuic Society, at 8.—Annual Meeting.—The Achromatisation 
ofan Object Glass: Prof, G. Stokes. 
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12. 
Lonvon InsTITUTION, at 7.—Fresco and Siliceous Painting; Prof, Barff. 
Society oF ARTS, at 8. 
ARCHAOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, at 8. 
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13- 
Royat Socrety, at 8.30. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30 : 
MaTHuHEMATICAL SOCIETY, at 8,—On Systems of Linear Congruences : Prof. 
H. J. S. Smith. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
ENGiisH.—On a Hzematozoon inhabiting Human Blood: T. R. Lewis, 
Calcutta.—A Report of Microscopical and Physiological Researches into the 
Nature of the Agent or Agents producing Cholera: IT. R. Lewisand D. D. 
Cunningham.—Lhe Useful Plants of India; Col. H. Drury. Second Edit. 
W. H. Allen & Co.).—A Handbook of Hygiene; George Wilson (J. A. 
Churchill).—Chambers’ _Arithmetical Exercises: J. S. Mackay (W. & R. 
Chambers).—Standard Algebra (W. & R,. Chambers).—Chambers’ Elemen- 
tary Physical Geography: J. Donald (W. & R. Chambers).—Chambers’ 
Scientific Reader (W. & R: Chambers)—Chambers’ Electricity: RM. 
| Ferguson (W. & R. Chambers).—Recollections of Canada: Lieut. Carlile, 
R.A., and Lieut.-Col. Martindale, Quebec (Chapman & Hall, London). 
Foreicn.—Die Kalkschwamme: eine Monographie. 3 vols, Ernest 
Haeckel (Williams & Norgate)'—Gespinnst Fassern, &c. : Dr, R. Schlesinger 
(Williams & Norgate). 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
EnG.isH.—Potential Functions and their Applications in Physical Science : 
Prot. J. E. Davies,—Symon’s Monthly Meteorological Magazine, No. 74, 
Vol. vit _January.—Quarterly Journal of Education, No. 5, January 
(Grcembsidee) Meee of Mathematics, No. 21, January (Macmillan 
& Co). 
Foreicn.—Correspondenzblatt des Naturforcher: Riga —Sulla Corona 
Sollare: Prof, L. Respighi. 
CONTENTS 
Sepcwick By Prof Puiurs, F.R.S . .- 
Pavmigri's Vesuvius, By Davin FoRBEs, 
tion.) «0 + 6 MEE! ie ib nee 
Our Book SHELF. . 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :-- 
Dr. Bastian’s Experiments.—Dr. J, Burpon SANDERSON, F.R.S. 
Eyes and no Eyes Wage se) 8 ee 
Meteor at St. Thomas—Hon. Rawson Rawson . . - 
PAGE 
Pr hy 
» ERS. (With Illustra- 
- © eo 8 ee 8 im ee) ei 
ie. 
Brilliant Meteor.—-G. St, Carr, F.G.S. . . . + . 
The Antinomies of Kant.—Dr, C. M. InGLEpy . . . 
The Source of the Solar Heat —Maxwett HALL . . 
The Twinkling of the Stars.—THos. HAWKSLEY . : 
Meteorological Cycles. 9.9. s 5 + « +» 0 + sl 
On THE OLD AND New LABORATORIES AT THE RoyAt InsTITUTION, 
an ale a ee 
n 
an 
cs} 
II. By W. SrortiswoopE, Treas RS... ..-- . « « » 963 
Tue GrowTH aNp MicRAvIONS OF HELmiInTHS. By M. Cornu. . 265 
A PkivaTE CIRCUMNAVIGATING EXPEDITION . . . = + rg 
Fosstu UrypToGrams. By Prof.McNaB,. .. +--+ + «+ « » 267 
INGTES .. ss «4s SRUMMEIERSMSUR SDS 5: 0 a) cote at 
On THE CoAL Question. By Sir W. ARMSTRONG, C.B.. . « + + 270 
Rapiant Heat. By Capt. J. Ericsson (With Lédustration.). . + 273 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS . ee ew ee we ew a) ie reas 
SocrETIgs AND ACADEMIES » << «© 2 - + + + 6 = «@ - 2 6 275 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED, . . - + + « » #© « «© «© « 276 
IDEARY << s" «, 0 0° SgiMRNAEIGIp te eh > Soe cutee a 
