456 
NATURE 
toria Cave, Settle,” by William Brockbank, F.G.S. For various 
reasons, he submitted, there is no ground for the theory of 
glacial action as put forth by Messrs. Boyd Dawkins and 
Tiddeman, but on the contrary that the filling of the Victoria 
Cave was the work of long ages, by the action of running water, 
and that there is no reason to suppose that the remains found in 
it are older than the glacial epoch.—The President exhibited a 
syphon barometer, the peculiarity of which consisted in the in- 
troduction of a small quantity of sulphuric acid over the ends of 
the mercurial column.—Mr, Spence, F.C.S., communicated to 
the Society the result of an experiment in heating a diamond, 
which will considerably modify the general impression as to that 
gem being combustible only at an extremely high heat. A friend 
of his had brought over a number of diamonds from the African 
mines. Some of these were what is called ‘‘off colour,” not 
being purely white, and he put one of these into Mr. Spence’s 
hands to try some experiments for displacing the colour if prac- 
ticable. ‘This diamond, the size of a small pea, was immersed 
in fire-clay in a small crucible, the clay being mixed with a little 
carbonate of soda and hydrate of lime; the crucible was then 
placed ina muffle, and for three days and nights exposed to a 
heat, which at no time was beyond a low cherry red. After 
cooling, the crucible was broken, and the lump of hardened fire- 
clay was carefully broken up to extract the diamond ; after two 
or three fractures of the lump an impression or hole in the indu- 
rated clay was discovered just at the spot where the diamond 
should have been, but not a vestige of the precious stone 
remained. 
DUBLIN 
Royal Irish Academy, March 15.—The Rey. Prof. 
Jellett, B.D., president, in the chair. The annual report 
of the council was read by Dr. Ingram, secretary to council. 
The election of the president and members of council was 
proceeded with, when the Rey. J. H. Jellett, B.D., was re- 
elected President. 
Royal Geological and Zoological Societies of Ireland. 
A joint meeting of these societies was held on Wednesday evening, 
March 12. Colonel Meadows Taylor read a paper on the coal 
fields of Central India.—Prof. Edward Hull, F.R.S., read a 
paper on the Microscopical Structure of the Limerick Carboni- 
ferous Trap Rocks.—A Geological Map of New Zealand, and a 
fine recent specimen in spirits of Pentacrinus Miilleri Orst were 
exhibited. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, March 31.—M. de Quatrefages, 
president, in the chair.—The following papers were read :—On 
the theory of the normal magnet, and on the means of indefi- 
nitely increasing the force of magnets, by M. J. Jamin.—On the 
carpellary theory of the Ranunculacez, by M. A. Trecul.—On 
the proposed apparatus for pumping out and elevating water by 
means of the action of waves on the shores of the Mediterranean, 
by M. A. de Caligny. The author has suggested a means of 
utilising the force of the waves for the above purposes.— New 
papers on the shock of earthquake in Italy, observed on the 12th 
of March, 1873, by M. P. de Tchihatchef.—The Academy then 
proceeded to elect a member in the place of the late Marshal 
Vaillant. After two votings, in which no candidate ob- 
tained an absolute majority, a ballot was proceeded with, 
when M. Cosson obtained 31 and M. de la Gournerie 30 
votes, M. Cosson was then declared duly elected.—A 
report on two memoirs on the silicified vegetables of the 
Autun coal measures, by M. B. Regnault, was then read, and 
followed by M. Roger’s fourth memoir on capillary phenomena, 
which dealt with the mathematical nature of the subject.—On a 
new method of optically determining the velocity of projectiles, 
by M. M. Deprez. The method consists in attaching a mag- 
nesium fuse to the projectile and observing its flight by means of 
two telescopes. The method is an application of that used for 
meteors.—The Secretary read a number of extracts from a paper 
on a new classification of clouds, by M. Poey.—On certain 
points in M, Faye’s theory of the solar spots, by M. Tacchini. 
Father Tacchini thinks that the hydrogen carried down by 
cyclones, according to M. Faye’s theory, would become so 
violently heated that it would rush back with such force as to 
destroy the cyclone, and also that if such a process really 
occurred the gas would carry up with it metallic vapours; as 
these are not generally visible in prominences, he thinks the 
explanation untenable.—On the foci (/aisceaux) of circles, by M. 
Ribaucour.—On the spectrum of boric anhydride, by M. Lecocq 
de Boisbaudran.—On alcohol and normal acetic acid from milk 
considered as products of, the functions of microzymes, by M. 
A. Béchamp. ~ 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Aprit 10. 
MATHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—On Systems of Porismatic Equations, 
Algebraical and Trigonometrical ; Note 6n Epicycloids and Hypocyeloids ; 
Locus of point of concourse of perpendicular Tangents to a Cardioid ; 
Elliptic motion under acceleration constant in direction: Prof Wolsten- 
holme.—On the calculation of the Value of the theoretical unit-angle to a 
great number of decimal places: Mr. J. W. L. Glaisher. 
SATURDAY, Apriv 12. 
Roya Botanic Society, at 3.45- 
TUESDAY, Aprit 15. 
STATISTICAL SOCIETY, at 7.45. 
WEDNESDAY, Apri 16. 
Society or ARTs, at 8.—Ou the Condensed Milk Manufacture: L. P. 
Merriman. 
METEOROLOGICAL Society, at 7.—On a proposed new form of Rain Gauge, 
“‘The Atmospileometer;” J. J. Hall.—Discussion on the Report of the 
Proceedings of the Meteorological Conference at Leipzig. 
Lonpbon INSTITUTION, at 7.—Third Musical Lecture; Prof, Ella. 
THURSDAY, Aprrit 17. 
LinnEAn Society, at 8.—Burmese Orchidee, from the Rey. C. P. Parish: 
Prof Reichenbach.—Perigynium of Carex: Prof. McNab. 
CueEmicat Society, at 8.—On Heat produced by Chemical Action: Dr. 
Debus, F.R.S 
Numismatic Society, at 7. 
ZooLocicaL Socrety, at 4. 
= —— 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
Encuisu.—A Manual of Photography. 8th edit. : G. Dawson (Churchill). 
—Electricity and Magnetism. 2vols: C. Maxwell (Macmillan).—Flies and 
Fly-fishing : Capt. St. J. Dick (R. Hardwicke).—A Catalogue of the Collec- 
tion of Cambrian and Silurian Fossils in the Geological Museum of the 
University of Cambridge: J. W. Salter, Prof. A. Sedgwick, Prof. Morris 
(University Press, Cambridge).—Fever and Cholera from a new point of 
view: A. Smith (Calcutta).—Illustrated Guide to the Fish Amphibian. 
Reptilian and supposed Mammalian remains of the Northumberland Car- 
bonilerous Strata, with Atlas; T. P. Barkas (Hutchings).—A Journey through 
the Caucasus and the interior of Persia: A. H. Mounsey (Smith and Elder). 
—A Journey to the Source of the River Oxus. znd edit.: Capt. J. Wood 
(Murray.)—Turning for Amateurs.—Birds of the Humber District: J. 
Cordeaux (Van Voorst).—A General System of Botany, Descriptive and 
Analytical: Emm, de Mout and J. Decaisne. Translated by Mrs. Hooker, 
Edited by Dr. Hooker (Longmans).—The Principles of Animal Mechanics : 
The Rev. S. Haughton (Longmans).—Field and Forest Rambles: A. L. 
Adams (H, S. King & Co.). 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
Enc.isu.—The Agricultural Returns of Great Britain for 1872,—Quarterly 
Weather Report of the Meteorological Office, Pt. 2, April-June, 1872.— 
A Message to the British Entomologists by the Ghost of the Rector of 
Barham: E. W. Janson.—Journal of Mental Science, No, 49, April: 
H. Maudsley and Thos. Clouston, M.D. (Churchil!).—The Potato Disease, 
its cause and its remedy: S. Smith (Smart & Allen).—General Report on the 
Operations of the great Trigometrical Survey of India during 1871-2: Major 
Montgomerie, R.E., F.R.S. 
ForeiGn—Anales del Museo Publico de Buenos Aires, 1872-73.—Report 
of the Commissioners of Fisheries of the State of New York.—Recherches 
expérimentales sur l'influence que les changements dans la pression baro- 
metrique exercent sur les phenomenes de la vie (8th note): M. P. Bert. 
CONTENTS 
Pace 
InstincT. By Georce Henry Lewes  . . . . 6 « + + «© « 437 
HANDBOOK FOR THE PuysioLocicaL Lanoratrory (With, [llus- 
PVAEONS.) «5 oi eeum es auth fat wee cee, je! 0 tah ae 
Witson’s INORGANIC CHEMISTRY . » 5). 2. . « 1s «0s eee 
Our Book SHerr ...5 9 a) oe a Sn ee 
LetrTers TO THE EDITOR :— 
Leaf-Arrangement.—Dr. HuBeRT AIRY. . . . « « « + + « 442 
The Hegelian Calculus—W. RoperTson SMITH . . « « 5 « 442 
Meteorology of the Future.—E. J. Srone. F.R.A.S. . ogee 
Bright Meteor.—Commander Epmunp H. Verney. R.N, . . « 443 
The Great Meteoric Shower of November 27, 1872.—Dr. A. ERNST 443 
The Antiquity of Man.—SzarLes V. Woop, Jun. . . . . . 443 
Skeletons at Menton@ia 5, + 2 as 2 0) ¢ 5) ee ee 
Instinct.—CHartes Darwin, F.R.S. ; James D. Hacue: J. D. 
WETTERHAN ; Ac JOBUCKLAND! » 205 0 6 so) 8) om pag 
Acquired Habits in:Plants, (i.e 3 | ee a: \e- 0 coo ee 
SCIENCE AND THE Press INAMERICA. . . + «© «+ . » + 6 + « 445 
ON THE ORIGIN AND METAMORPHOSES OF InszscTs, I. _ By Sir JoHN 
Lussock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S. (W2thk [dlustrations.). . » « « « 446 
Cororpaxi—TueE First ASCENT OF THE GREAT VOLCANO . . . « 449 
Capt. Perrigr’s GEODETIC OPERATIONS IN ALGERIA. By M, Cornu 
(With Map.) . EEN Sue (ese = ee |e Sons pine se 
NoTks”~ . . . . ¢ SMMEGBDe ce) fe". |e Gar ale ee 
Prenisroric CULTURE OF FLAx . . . SS ods Oly ay 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS ..\ Sees el 2.0 ge! slab ge Ea 
SocreTigs AND ACADEMIES «+ ~ « Pts A 2 ae o's teyge ee 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED . - in 5 te Perri ire Che ei) 
DIARY 246.) oo. 4 I tee ete 8 ie aera eife 450 
[April 10, 1873, 
