él ee LARA 
496 
NATURE 
se irae 
[April 24, 187 
be caused by differences of the vegetables out of which the 
coal has been formed. 
PHILADELPHIA 
Academy of Natural Sciences, Oct. 1, 1872.—Prof. 
Leidy remarked that he had visited a corundum mine recently 
opened in the city of Unionville, Chester Co., Pa. The accumu- 
lation is perhaps the most extraordinary discovered, and its 
extent yet remains unknown. The corundum, as exposed 
to view at the bottom of a trench, appears as the crest 
of a large body or vein lying between a decomposing 
gneiss and a white talcose schist. The exposed portion averages 
about six feet in depth and five feet in thickness at bottom, and 
is estimated to contain about fifty tons. It looks as if it pro- 
mised to be the most valuable deposit of corundumeever found. 
The corundum is the pure material, and is not emery. 
October 8.—Mr. Thomas Meehan remarked, that as botanists 
well knew, Quercus prinoides seldom grew more than two feet 
in height. 1t was one of the smallest of shrubs. In his collec- 
tions in Kansas, he found oaks in the vicinity of Leavenworth, 
which made small trees from ten to fifteen feet high, and with 
stems {rom one to two jeet in circumference. He was entirely 
satisfied that it is identical in every respect but size with the 
Q. prinoides of the Eastern States. Among trees there are few 
which produce forms as low shrubs ; but the Pinus Banksiana, 
in the East but a bush of five or ten feet, grew often forty feet 
along the shores of Lake Superior ; the Castanea pumila, Chin- 
quapin chestnut, when it gets out of the sands of New Jersey 
into the clayey soils west of the Delaware, often grew as large as 
many full-grown apple trees ; while the Celtis occidentalis, which 
in the East 1s general y but a straggling bush along fence corners, 
is in Ohio a large spreading tree with enormous trunk, and in 
Indiana is as lofty and as graceful as an elm. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, April 7.—M. Bertrand in the chair. 
The following papers were read :—On batteries and on electro- 
capillary actions, by M. Becquerel.—On a new method for the 
application of the third theorem to the control of geodetic lines 
and to the determination of the true figure of the earth, by M. 
Yvon Villarceau.—On the discovery of Lunar variation by Aboul 
Weld, by M. Chasles.—On an access: ry reduction in the number 
of periods produced by juxtaposition at the moment of the 
formation of a double point, by M. Max Marie.—On Metallic 
Reflection, by M. Mascart.—On the action of electric currents on 
atmospheric air, by M. Boillot ; a paper dealing with the for- 
mation of ozone by tubes coated wita carbon powder.—Note on 
a new series of samples of crystalline or crystallised substances 
obiained in the dry way, by M. Ch. Feil. —A letter was received 
from M. Van der Mensbrugzhe, stating that he had been com- 
pletely convinced by the arguments and experiments of M. Gernez 
and Violette, in the recent controversy on crystal'isation, and 
secing that the superficial tension of liquids did not play the 
important part he assigned to it, he requested the Academy to 
consider his recent papers as not received.—A note on Tempel’s 
comet (1867, 11), was received from M. Stephan.—On com- 
posite elec ric sparks, by M. Gazin.—On the Phonoptometer, 
an instrument for the study of periodic or con'inued movement, 
by M. J. Lissajous. —Note on the effects produced by currents of 
electric ty on mercury immersed in different sclutions, by M. 
Th. du Moucel.—On the solvent action of glycerine on metallic 
oleates, calcic oleates, and culcic sulphate, by M. Asselin—On 
the a; tion of chloracetylic chloride on aniline and toluidine, by 
M D. Tommasi.—On the toxic effects of the iodides tetra- 
methylammonium, and teiramylammonium, by M. Rabuteau ; 
the author has found that so long as an atom of hydrogen remains 
unreplaced, the amyl and methylammonium compounds are 
harmless, but that as soon as the last atom of hydiogen is re- 
placed by the radicle, the body becomes excessively poisonous, 
with an action like that of curara.—On the age of elevation of 
Mount Lozére, by M. Fabre.—Note on the public fountams of 
Toulouse, by M. Grimaud de Caux. During the meeting an 
election to the vacant chair of the late M. Delaunay, in the astru- 
nomical section, took place. M. Lewy obtained 31,M. Wolf 24, 
and M. Stephan 2 votes; M. Loewy was declared elected. 
April 14.—M. de Quatrelages, presivent, in the chair.—Ex- 
planation o! the text of Aboul Wefa on the third irregularity of 
the moon, by M, Chasles,—A long and detailed reply to M. 
Faye’s late criticism on the solar spot theory was received from 
Father Secchi; this was followed by an answer by M Faye, 
who also answered M. Vicaire’s attempted revival of Herschel’s 
theory in the same paper.—A correspondent for the astronomical 
section, in place of the late M. Quoy, was then elected, M. 
Mulsant obtayned 31 votes, M. Baudelot 8, and M. Joly 1; M. 
Mulsant was therefore declared duly elected.—A report on 
M. Boussinesq’s ‘‘ Essay on the theory of running waters” was 
then read.—On the residues relative to Asymptotes, classification 
of the quadratics of algebraic curves, by M. Max Marie.—New 
observations on the theory of solamcyclones, by M. Vicaire.—A 
memoir on substitutions (mathematical), by M. C. Jordan.—On 
a new determination of the constant of attraction and of the mean 
density of the earth, by MM. A. Cornu and J. Baille.—On the 
effects produced by electric currents on mercury immersed in 
different solution, by M. Th. du Moncel, a continuation of the 
paper read at the last meeting.—On irradiation, by M. F. P. Le 
Roux.—On the hybrid reproduction of Echinoderms, by M. A, 
Marion, -On the trunk ot a Nemertian hermaphrodite from | 
coasts of Marseilles, by M. E. Zetler.—A study on the carboni- 
ferous formations of the Bas Boulonnais, by MM. Gosselet and 
Bertaut. 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Aprrit 24. 
Royat Society, at 8.30.—On the Durability and Preservation of Iron Ships, 
and on Rivetted Joiuts Sir W. Fawbairn.—un the Employment of 
Meteorological Statistics in determining the best course for a Ship whose 
Sailing Qualities are known; F. Galton, 
Roya LasTiTuTION, at 3.—Light: Prof. Tyndall. 
GresHAM LEcTURES, at 7.—Ou Climate: E. 5, Lhompson. 
FRIDAY, APRIL 25. 
Roya InsTITUTION, at 9 —Palzoutological Evidence of Modification of 
Animal Forms; Prot. Flower. 
HorricuLtTurat Society, at 3 —Lecture. 
QuEKETT CuUvs, at 8. 
GresHaAM LecTuRES, at 7.-—On Climate in Health and Disease: E. S. 
‘Thompson. 
SATURDAY, Aprit 26. 
GresHAM LEcTURES, at 7.—Oun Stimulants: E. S. Thompson. 
Royac INSTiTU 110N, at 3.—Oz ne: Prot Odling. 
Roya BoTANIC SOCIETY, at 3 45- 
GEOLuGIsTs’ ASSOCIATION, at 8 —Excursion from Charing Cross (2.25) to } 
Charlton. 
MONDAY, Apxit 28. 
‘ 
GEOGRAPHICAL Society, at 8 30. -On the prob«ble existence of unknown 
Lands within the Arctic Circle : Capt. Sherard Usborn, R N. 
Lonbon INSTITUTION, at 4.—Llementary Kowany; Prot. bentley. 
TUESDAY, Aprit 29. 
ZootocicaL Society, at 8.30.—Anniversary. 
Royar InsriTuTion, at 3 — Music of the Drama: Mr, Dannreuther, 
Sociery oF ArTS, at 8.—Un the British Settlements in West Africa; Go- 
vernor Pope Hennessy. 
WEDNESDAY, Apri 30. 
Lonpon INsTITUTION, at 12.—Annusl Meeting. 
Society oF ARTs, at 8.—Uun the Condeused Milk Manufacture: L. P. 
Merriam. 5 i 
Geo tocicau Society, at 8.—On the Permian Breccias and Boulder-beds of 
Armagh: Prof, tdward Hull —Geoogical Notes upon Griqualand West: 
G W. Stow.—On some Bivalve Entomosiraca, chiefly Cypridiuide, of the — 
Carboniferous Formations: Prof. 1. Rupert joues. — 
THURSDAY, May t. 
LINnNEAN Society, at 8.—On Cinchonas; J, E. Howard, 
CHEMICAL DOcIETY, at 8.—On Zirconia: J. B. Hannay.—On a new class 
of Exp osives: Dr. aprengel. ¥ 
Roya. LnsriruTion, at 2.—Annual Meeting. 
CONTENTS PaGEe 
ScrenTIFIC ENDOWMENTS AND Bequests . . oa le lee ete 477° 
CvreKK-MAXWELL's ELeCrRICITY AND MAGNETISM. . . « « - + 478° 
UUK BOOK SHELF. . .- oat eis . + oh 5) wenn 
LE?rTERs TO THE EpIrorR :-- q 
Reflected and Transmitted Light—W. B. Woopnury and Prof. 
‘TYNDALL, FORIS) oo. eco 
The Zoological Coilection in the India House —Pro!, A. NEWTON 48e 
On the Affinities of Dinoceras ana its Allies —A. H. GaRKop « 481 
Auroral Display.—Prot. A. >. HERSCHEL, F.R.AS. 2. . - 481 
April Meteurs.—W, #. DENNING... Cat oa) samen 
Insunct: A Mecha ical Analugy.—J. J. Murpuy, F.G.S. . . . 483 
UNITED STATES SIGNAL DEKVICE . . - o. ee Se" fol ne 
‘THE ZOOLOGICAL AND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY OF VICTORIA . 484 
New FRENCH INSTITUTION FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES . . 485 
Possession Istanps (With didustration) . . . . 6 2 « es 5 480. 
ON THE OR:GIN AND Mevamorpuoses oF Insxcts, I. By Sir Joun 
Lupsock, Bart., M.P., F.R.>. (Wath Ldlustrations.). . .« . . . 486 
ON THE STKUCTUKE OF STRIPED MUSCULAR FIBRE. 2 « + + + 489 
NOTES 9s.) 6 yo oie, 0» ve Orn ago 
‘LHe BirTH oF CuEmistTRY, IX By G, F Ropwett, F.C.S. (With 
Iliustrations: AR meee. Wile a. s-\ se Baltes Py 
SCIKNTIFIC SERIALS. . + + ee ° 5 
SouciETI£s AND ACADEMIES « « « « 
DIARY’. 5: Sigemenmeetae eu) Ge 
1 
