60 
—every grain being like its parent. The corn plant produces two 
ears on each stalk. As soon as the ‘‘silk”’—the pistils of this 
second ear—appeared, the pollen—ina “tassel ”—of the common 
yellow flint corn was procured, set in a bottle of water tied near 
the developing ear, the plant’s own tassel having been cut away 
sometime previous. After a short time this set of male flowers 
was removed, and a panicle of male flowers from a white variety 
was introduced to the same bottle in order to afford it the oppor- 
tunity of operating on the same female flowers. The result was 
the ear now presented. The base of cach grain was of the 
yellow flint corn, but the «fer half of the white variety. The 
result was he thought no escape from the conclusion, not only 
that there was an immediate influence on the seed and the 
whole fruit structure by the application of strange pollen ; but 
the still more important fact, hardly before more than suspected, 
that one ovule could receive and be affected by the pollen of 
two distinct parents, and this too after some time had elapsed 
between the first and seconde impregnation, 
February 4.—Mr. Vaux, vice-president, in the chair.—The 
following papers were presented for publication :—‘‘ On the 
Lingual Dentition of certain Terrestrial Pulmonata from the 
Unired States, with remarks on their systematic value,” by 
Thos. Bland and Wm. G. Binney; ‘*Catalogue of the recent 
species of the Class Brachiopoda,” by W.H. Dall, U.S.C.S.; 
‘Descriptions of Mexican Ichneumonide,” by E. T. Cresson, 
_** Notices of Remains of Fishes in the Bridger Tertiary Forma- 
tion of Wyoming.’ Prof. Leidy remarked that among the 
multitude of fossils which had been collected from the tertiary 
clays and sandstones of the Bridger Group of Wyoming, there 
were comparatively few pertaining to fishes. Nevertheless the 
remaias of these are not unfrequent, but they are not so com- 
plete as one might have expected from the nature of the beds 
containing them. They usually occur as isolated bones, scales, 
and teeth, and mostly indicate fishes related with our living 
Gars (Lefidosteus) and Mud Fish (Amia). Many of the frag- 
ments appear to indicate the following extinct species previousiy 
undescribed :—Lefidosteus atrox ; L.simplex ; L. notabilis; Amia 
(Pretamia) uintaensis; A. (Protamia) media A. (Protamia) gra- 
cilis); Fypamia elegans ; Pimelodus antiquus ; Phareodus acutus, 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, May 5.—M. de Quatrefages, presi- 
dent, in the chair.—The deaths of Baron Liebig, foreign associate 
of the Academy, and of M. Hausteen, correspondent, were 
announced.—The following papers were read:—On the heat 
p:oduced by the reactions between water and ammonia, calcic, 
baric, and strontic, oxides, by M. Berthelot. The author had 
estimated the heat produced by the solution of dry NH, in water, 
and also on the dilution of the former solution with more water ; 
he has found that as regards the latter case the heatis in inverse 
ratio to the water already combined with the ammonia. The 
determinations of the heat in the case of calcic, baric, and 
strontic oxides, was made by dissolving them in HCL, 
and from the result obtained the heat for their combi- 
nation with water was calculated.—On the separation of 
potash and soda in vegetables, 5th memoir, by M Eug. 
Peligot. The author finds that in those cases where plants 
growing near the sea contain sodium salts, this fact is to be 
attributed to their absorption of them, through their leaves, 
from the spay in the air, and not from the soil.—A report on 
M. Bertin’s memoir on the resistance opposed to rolling by the 
keel of a vessel, by MM. Paris, Jurien de la Graviére, and 
Dupuy de Léme.—On the conditions of the integrability of 
simultaneous equations, &c., by M. Collet.—On the use of 
the meat of tuberculous animals for food; can this meat 
c-use the development of pulmonary phthisis? by M. G, 
Colin. The author, from the results of thirty experiments 
where as many animals were fed on every kind of tuberculous 
fl sh, answers the question in the negative. Where other 
experimenters have obtained opposite results, he believes 
tbat they have either experimented on animals already dis- 
sased, or have allowed portions of the tuberculous matter to 
find admission to the lungs of the animals in the air they breathed. 
—On the action of ezone on absolute alcohol: on the combina- 
tion of hydrogen and cyanogen under the influence of the silent 
electric discharge, by M. A. Boillot.—.A new observation of 
comet il., 1867, by M, Stephan.—On the effects produced by 
_clectricity on mercury immersed in different solutions, by M. 
Th. du Moncel.—On the purification of hydrochloric acid by 
M. Engel.—On the estimation of sugar by Barreswil’s method by 
NATURE 
[May 1 *, 
M. E. Feltz.—Experiments on the respiration of fish, by M. 
Quinquand.—Contribution to the history of microzymes and 
Bacteria : physiological transformation of Bacteria into micro- 
zymes and of mycrozymes into Bacteria in the digestive tube of 
the same animal, by MM. Béechamp and Estor.—On the remains 
of Ziephas priscus found in the quaternary formation of the en- 
virons of Paris, by M. J. Reboux. . 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, May 15. 
Royat Society, at 8.30.—On the Periodicity of Rainfall in Connection 
with the Sun-spot Periodicity: C. Meldrum.—On the Heating of a Disc 
by rapid Rotation in Vacuo: B. Stewart and P. G. Tait.—Ono Jere 
rite: Major Ross.—Determination of the number of Electrostatic Units 
in the Electromagnetic Unit made in the Physical Laboratory of Glasgow 
University: D. McKiehan. . 
SocteTy OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—Remarks on some Pictures by Quintin 
Matsys and Holbein, in the Collection of the Earl of Radnor, at Longford 
Castle, lately exhibited at the Royal Academy: J. G. Nichols. 
CHEMICAL Society, at 8.—On Isomerism: Dr. H. E, Armstrong. 
NouMIsMaATIc Society, at 7. 
Roya Institution, at 3.-—Light: Prof. Tyndall. 
FRIDAY, May 16. 
Roya InsTITUTION, at 9 —Limits of Certainty in Taste: Sidney Colvin, 
HoRTICULTURAL SOCIETY, at 3.—Lecture. 
SATURDAY, May 17. 
Royat InsTITUTION, at 3.—Ozone: Prof, Odling. 
MONDAY, May 19. 
Lonpon InsTITUTION, at 4.—Elementary Botany: Prof, Bentley, 
Asiatic Society, at 3.—Anniversary. 
Victoria INSTITUTE, at 8.—Anniversary. s y 
Society oF ArTS, at 8.—Cantor Lectures. On Wines; their Production, 
Treatment, and Use: J. L. W. Thudichum, M.D. 
TUESDAY, May 20. 
Rovat InsTITUTION, at 3-—Early Roman History and Architecture, 
INSTITUTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8. 
STATISTICAL SOCIETY, at 7-45- 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL InsTITUTE, at 8.—On the Egyptian Colony and Lan- 
guage in the Caucasus: Hyde Clarke. ie 
ZooLoGIcAL Socizty, at 8.30.—On African Buffaloes: Sir Victor Brooke, 
Bart.—Remarks on varieties of the Carp: Lord Arthur Russell.—On 
Lepilemur cheirgaleus, and on the Zoological rank of the Lemuroidea: 
St. George Mivart. 
WEDNESDAY, May 21. , 
METEOROLOGICAL Society, at 7.—Discussion on Proceedings of Meteoro- 
logical Conference at Leiozig—On Land and Sea Breezes: J. K. Laughton. 
—Notes on aa Double Rainbow observed at Kirkwall: R. H Scott.—On 
some Results of Temperature Observations at Durham: J. J. Plummer, 
HorticuLtTurat Society.—Exhibition of Ericas, Pelargoniums, &c. 
SocreTy oF ARTS, at 8.—Recent Processes for the Production of Gas for 
Iluminating Purposes : Thomas Wells 
Lonpon INsTITUTION, at 7.—Fourth Musical Lecture. 
THURSDAY, May 22. 
Royat InstitvTion, at 3.—Light: Prof. Tyndall. 
Society OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
CONTENTS Pits 
A Voice From CAMBRIDGE, IT. (2°. 1s © 6 ess) ss 
LoncoMANs’ TEXT-BooKS OF SCIENCE . 2. 2. + + © © © © «© «© © 42 
ZoOLOGICAL MYTHOLOGY. 0. - «0 ss # 6 + © 8 « “els sg 
Our Book SHELF «(0 scsriesss we ee 8s * 6) ww so) ene 
Lerrers TO THE EpiTor :— 
Agassiz and Forbes.—G. Forges © ie ee _e) son gl 
Venomous Caterpillars. —Dr. Fayrer: H.S.WiLson. . . « . 44 
Onsome Errors ot Statement concerning Organ-pipes in recent 
Treatises on Natural Philosophy.—HrerMANN SMITH . . « » 45 
Rock Inscriptions of Brazil—Hype CuarKE . . . . « « «© « 46 
Abzormal Coloration in Fish—A. Nicots . . . + . + - » 46 
Phosphorescence in Wood.—W. G. SMITH . . « « « « es « 46 
Coincidence of the Spectrum Lines of Iron, Calcium, and Titanium. 
—W. Mattieu Wititiams F.C.S. . . « « + « 6 6 2 e 2 46 
Musical Stones.— R. J. NELSON. . . . 2 « © © © « © @ « 40 
Acqu-red Habitsin Plants. . . . « « «© «© + © © © «© « « 46 
Joun SrvartT Mine. See! - «© ical os a a 
Miners’ RuLEs IN THE 17TH CENTURY. By Sir P. pe M. Grey- 
Ecerton, Bart. F.R'SJ2e 7, 2s we 8 a 
Suppression oF SCENT IN PHEASANTS. By W. B. TEGETMEIER. . « 48 
Tue New Proressor oF ENGINEERING AT GLasGow. By. J. MAYER. 49 
‘THe FERTILISATION OF THE WILD Pansy. By A. W. Bennett, F,L.S. 
(With Illustrations). Webs (ese os + sw + 5 sp ea 
Nores From THE Chadlenger, 11. By Prof.Wyvitte Tomson, F.R.S. 
(With Illustration) i ec I ee 
x MopeErN STERNBERGIA. By Principal J. W. Dawson, F.R.S . . 53 
OTEs ee Po 
Tue Birra or Cuemistry, X. By G. F. Ropwe tt, F.C.S. (ith 
Ldlustvations.) ~~ 2° ies? = os 0 a = sike) sen 
ScrenTIFIC SERIALS . . 6 © s+ © © « oe @ a) (ole) Kenan emer, 
SocieTIzs AND ACADEMIES « - + + + + + © ee # @ wth Jere 
DIARY . 0 t 0 0 RUNS Rh Ae 0 eo on) oe 
