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| Feb. 97, 1873) 
NATURE 
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_ lected during the two expeditions of H.M.S. Porcupine in 1869 | remarkable relations between the mean motions of Jupiter, 
and 1870.—Mr. W. K. Parker, F.R.S., read a memoir on 
ABgithognathous Birds, in which it was shown that the peculiar 
_ palatal structure of this group was met with in three stages. 
_ These might be denominated incomplete, complete, and com- 
pound Aigithognathism.—Mr. A. H. Garrod read some notes on 
the anatomy of the Binturong (Arctictis binturong) founded on 
the dissection of a male specimen of this animal which had 
recently died in the Society’s Gardens.—Mr. E. L. Layard, 
_ H.B.M.Consul atPara, communicated some notes on Mr. E. W.H. 
__ Holdsworth’s recently published catalogue of the birds found in 
Ceylon.—A communication was read from Mr. H. Adams, 
¥F.L.S., containing descriptions of eighteen new species of land 
and marine shelis, the former from Borneo and the Island of 
Tobago, and the latter from Mauritius, the New Hebrides and 
the Persian Gulf. Mr, Adams proposed to establish a new 
sub-genus of /e/ix, under the name Ca/dwellia, for H. philyrina, 
Morel, and some allied species from Mauritius and the Isle of 
Bourbon. 
Chemical Society, Feb. 20.—Dr. Frankland, F.R.S., pre- 
sident, inthe chair. The first paper read after the usual busi- 
ness of the society had been transacted, was entitled “ Solidifi- 
cation of nitrous oxide,” by Mr. Wells. The gas having been 
_ previously liquefied by compression in a strong iron vessel, can 
be caused to solidify by the rapid evaporation of the liquid in a 
current of air. It somewhat resembles solid carbonic acid in 
appearance.—A paper on aurin, by Messrs, R. S, Dale and C. 
Schorlemmer, F.R.S., was then read, giving an account of the 
authors’ investigation of the composition and chemical properties 
of this dye.—‘* Researches on the action of the copper-zinc 
couple on organic bodies, I. on iodide of ethyl,” by J. H. 
Gladstone, F.R.S., and A. Tribe, was read by Dr. Gladstone; 
and the last communication, ‘‘ On the determination of ammonia 
in the atmosphere,” was read by the author, Mr, A. H. Smee, 
Jun. Themethod employed is to collect and examine the mois- 
ture condensed from the atmosphere, on the external surface of 
a suitable glass vessel filled with ice. The lecture was illus- 
trated by carefully-made drawings of the magnified crystalline 
forms which are left on evaporating the liquid. 
Royal Horticultural Society, Feb. 11,—Annual General 
Meeting.—Lord Henry G. Lennox, M.P., in the chair.—The 
Report of the Council stated that there were now 3,572 Fellows 
on the books. They thought that, notwithstanding that a por- 
tion of the Fellows preferred to have the Garden and Society 
kept dis'inct from the Exhibition, it was for the interest of the 
former that the two establishments should work harmoniously. 
They have accordingly done their best to make arrangements 
with Her Majes'y’s Commissioners for the present year. The 
nature of these arrangements appeared in a letter from the Com- 
missioners appended to the Report. They excited a very stormy 
discussion, and the further consideration of the Report was re- 
ferred to an adjourned meeting. é 
Feb. 12,—Scientific \Committee.—Dr. Masters, F.R.S., in 
the chair.—A letter was read from Col. Jervoise, stating that the 
two plan's of Agave Americana which had flowered during the 
past summer were 23 years old in 1797. The presence of the 
Phylloxera vastatrix on vines about London was stated as having 
been ascertained without doubt. A discussion then took place 
on a letter from Major-General Cotton as to the best means of 
rresting a belt of moving sand which threatens the destruction of 
Beyrout. General Meeting.—Mr. Wilson Saunders, F.R.S., in 
the chair—The Rev. M. J. Berkeley commented on a fine 
specimen of Vanda Cathcarti, which, though a native of the hot 
alleys of Sikkim, was found to succeed best under a cool treat- 
ent. A sezd-pod of Yucca Draconis, sent by Mr. Wilson 
aunders, was noteworthy, because Yuccas rarely fruited in this 
country. 
_ Feb. 18.—Adjourned Annual General Meeting.—Mr. Wilson 
Saunders, F.R.S., in the chair—The consideration of the 
Report of the Council was resumed. A letter was read from 
e Commissioners reverting to the subsisting agreement between 
hem and the Society. On the motion of Sir Alfred Slade, the 
eport of the Coun il was not adopted. The Council then inti- 
mated their intention of resigning, and the meeting again 
journed. 
PHILADELPHIA 
American Philosophical Society, March 15, 1872.—A 
aper by Prof. Daniel Kirkwood was read, entitled ‘*On some 
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.” 
April 15.—On the Magnetism of Rocks of the Marquette 
group, by Prof. F. B. Brooks, State Geologist of Michigan. 
Beds of this formation were shown to possess such an influence 
on the needle, as to be correctly located by it, even when at 
considerable depths.—Prof. Pliny E. Chase presented numerous 
new relations which he had obtained by his method of coms 
paring molar and molecular forces. He showed that the 
principal maxima of the annual auroral curve follow the principal 
annual meteoric displays; that all the primary planets are 
arranged near centres of inertia, or centres of primary or 
secondary oscillation ; that superficial gravity both at Jupiter 
and at the earth, acting against orbital force for a ,half-rotation, 
gives a velocity nearly equivalent to that of a planet revolving at 
the sun’s surface; that solar gravity under the same circum- 
stances gives the velocity of light ; that the sun-spot period is 
governed by the centre of gyration of the planetary system ; that 
polarity is a necessary consequence of a rotating uniformly 
elastic fluid ; that the elasticity of hydrogen is nearly perfect, 
and that, therefore, its density is, approximately, 54, 130,000,000 
times as great as that of the luminiferous ether. He also gave 
several additional physical approximations to the sun’s distance, 
all of which are within the limits of the best recent astronomical 
estimates. 
May 3.—Prof. Rogers described a new form of galvanic 
battery.—Prof. Lesley described a fault in the Unaka Mountains, 
on the Nolichucky River in East Tennessee.—Prof. E. D. Cope 
made some observations on the life of the Wyandotte Cave, 
Indiana, y f 
May 17.— Prof. Chase exhibited an annual auroral curve, 
and explained its relations to the periodic maxima and minima 
of meteoric displays, &c. He then presented a number of tables 
expressive of recent calculated planetary relationships.—Prof, 
Rogers explained his manner of obtaining an unlimited supply 
of electricity from a high-pressure steam jet, not insulated and in 
all weathers.—Dr. Emerson and Mr. Trego described the de- 
struction of Adies excelsa, Maclura, and Thuja during the 
preceding winter as far south as lat. 40°._—Prof. Blodget described 
the meteorology of March s, 6, and 7, during which a dry cold 
gale prevailed. In the succeeding spring fruit trees exhibited 
an inability to blossom as though paralysed. 
July 19.—A paper was received from Prof. Cope ‘‘On the 
Tertiary Coal and Fossils of Osino Nevada.” The fossils were 
shown to be /Vanoréis and other freshwater forms; insects 
(largely Dzptera) in beautiful preservation, and fishes. The 
shales resemble the papier kohle of Bonn, and contain great 
numbers of leaves.—Prof. Chase read a paper on ‘‘ Aetherial 
Oscillation, the primordial force ;” and stated that certain 
me'eorological predictions had been verified, which had been 
based on his observations of the rainfall at San Francisco. 
August 16.—‘‘ Descriptions of some new Vertebrata from the 
Bridger group of the Eocene; second account of new extinct 
Vertebrata from the Bridger Eocene,” In the former, among 
other new forms, was described Afesonyx, a genus of Carnivora 
or allied form with teeth with only one row of conic tubercles 
and with flat claws, allied to Hyacnodon. Also a genus allied 
to both Proboscidians and Rodents, without molar teeth, called 
P.eudstomus.—A communication from Prof. Cope was read on 
his discovery of ‘‘ Proboscidia in the Wyoming Eocene,” this 
order having been previously unrecognised below the Miocene in 
America, A new genus, Zodasileus, was described ; dentition, 
i, 0; c, 1; pm, 3; m, 2, horns on the top of the head. Three 
species were described, Z. cornutus, of gigantic size, represented 
by cranium, scapula, vertebrze, pelvis and femur complete. The 
horn cores trihedral, the muzzle with two horizontal superior 
shovel-like expansions. £. /wrcatus with bifurcate nose, with 
spatulate proce:ses ; and £. pressicornis with massive feet, flat- 
tened horns and high occiput. The tusks were dangerous 
weapons, a foot long, and sabre-shaped, but the molars were 
small, 
ITaLy 
R. Accademia del Lincei, Jan. 5.—Prof. Respighi, in a 
note upon the solar diameter, proposed to show that the differs 
ences of the results in the daily observations of the duration of 
the meridian passage of the solar disc, ought not to be attributed 
to real variations in the diameter of the solar disc, caused by the 
temporary enlargement or diminution of the photosphere, or to 
variations in brightness arising from the constitution of the 
