156 
PHILADELPHIA 
Academy of Natural Sciences, March 4.—Mr. Vaux, 
vice-president, in the chair,.—Mr. Thomas Meehan exhibited a 
flower of Bletia Tankervillia (Phaius grandiflora of some 
authors), in which the dorsal sepal (or, as some authors contend, 
petal), had united with the column, and had been much retarded 
in its development accordingly. He said that he had several 
dozen of flowers produced in this way this winter, all, however, 
confined to separate spikes from those which bore the perfect 
flowers. It was usual to pass over these appearances as ‘‘mon- 
strosities,” but in truth the whole Orchid structure was little less 
than a monstrosity. He did not think as much had been made 
out of the changes of structure in orchids in the study of evolu- 
tion, as might be, in consequence of the impression that these 
abnormal forms, as they were termed, were monstrosities, or the 
results of cultivation. There had been already on record accounts 
of changes in wild orchids more remarkable than many much 
dwelt on by many modern writers on development. He further 
remarked that, in examining closely the flowers of Bletia Tan- 
kervillia early in the morning, he found on the outside, at the 
base of the three exterior petals, a liquid exudation from a 
small gland. It was highly probable that these glands were ru- 
dimentary spurs, and that, if the course of nutrition which sus- 
tained the cohering power of an orchid could in any way be 
diverted before the final direction of form, each of these outer 
petals might take on some of the labellate character;with its at- 
tendant spur, which gave such a peculiar appearance to so many 
orchidaceous plants. 
March 18.—The president, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 
—‘* On the Occurrence of an Extinct Hog in America.”—Prof. 
Leidy exhibited the fragment of a lower jaw of a pig which Prof. 
Hayden had picked up, together with many remains of extinct 
mammals, in the pliocene sands of the Niobrara River, Ne- 
braska. The specimen he viewed as of recent character, and not as 
a true indigenous fossil. Prof. Leidy remarked that he had never 
seen any remains of the hog which he could confidently view as 
true American fossils.—Prof. Cope stated that Dr. Hayden 
handed to him for determination some bones on a fragment of 
the Green River shale of the Eocene of Wyoming, ‘They indi- 
cated a species of Anourous Batrachian, but as the individuals 
were not fully developed, he was not prepared to identify the 
genus. They constituted the first indication of this order in 
time ; those previously known from Europe and India being all 
of Miocene age. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, June 9.—M. de Quatrefages, presi- 
dent, in the chair.—M. Dupuy de Lome presented to the 
Academy, in the name of the Minister of Marine, the first 
number of the ‘‘ Memorial of Marine Artillery’ and its ap- 
pendix, ‘‘ The Artillery Remembrancer.” These are published 
for the use of French naval officers, and contain an immense 
amount of information on the armament of foreign ships of war. 
Great space is devoted to English naval matters, and the Memo- 
rial is well worthy of the attention of our own naval authorities. 
—The following papers were read :—Researches on new propyl 
derivatives, No. 2, by M. A. Cahours. The glucinum, silicon, 
and boron compounds of propyl were described.—On normal 
and abnormal speech, by M. Bouillaud.—On the intervention of 
atmospheric nitrogen in the phenomena of vegetation, by 
M. P. P. Dehérain. The author described some experi- 
ments which showed that, in the presence of ammonia, glu- 
cose absorbs nitrogen from the air.—On the multiple causes 
which provoke the fall of lightning, by M. W. de Fonvielle.— 
On the theory of the spots and the dark nucleus of the sun, by 
M. E. Vicaire. The author replied to M. Faye’s recent answer 
to him ; he thinks that Respighi’s observations quoted by M. Faye 
tend to support his views rather than those of that astronomer, 
i.e, that the absence of the chromosphere over the spots is due 
toa cessation of the emission of the gases of which it is com- 
posed, and not to their being swallowed up by a cyclone.— 
Researches in spectrum analysis in relation to the spectrum of 
the sun, by Mr. J. N. Lockyer. This was a letter to M. Dumas 
giving an account of the author’s late paper read before the 
Royal Society.—An answer to M. Raynaud’s late note on the 
resistance-maxima of magnetic coils, by M. Th. du Moncel.— 
On the relation between electric and capillary phenomena, by 
M. G. Lippmann.—On the boiling points and molecular volumes 
of the chlorinated isomers of the ethylic series, by M. G. Hinrichs. 
—On ethylacetylene formed by synthesis, and onits identity with 
NATURE 
| Fune 19, 1873 
eee 
crotonylene, by M. L. Prunier. The author has synthesised this 
body by passing equal volumes of ethylene and acetylene through 
a porcelain tube heated to dull redness.—On the synthesis 
of phenyl-allyl, by M. Chojnacki. The author obtained this 
body by acting on a mixture of equal weights of benzine and 
iodide, or bromide of allyl, with 3th of its weight of powdered 
zinc.—On the combinations of titanic chloride with the ethers, 
by M. Demarcay.—On phenyl-cyanine, by Mr. T. L. Phipson.— 
Note on M. Méne’s paper on the preparation of ammonic sul- 
phate from nitrogenous waste, by M. L’Hote.—On the estima- 
tion of phosphoric acid in manures, coprolites, and fossil phos- 
phates, by M. Ch. Méne,—Mineralogical note on the dibasic 
plumbic sulphate of V’Ariége, by M. E. Jannettaz,—On the 
affinities of Ztheostomata (Agassiz), by M. L. Vaillant.—Mag- 
netic observations, by M. Diamilla-Muller.—Spectroscopic re- 
searches on the fumerolles of the eruption of Vesuvius of April 
1872, and on the actual state of that volcano, by M. L. Palmieri. 
This was a very short extract from a letter, the only points 
being that thallium and boric acid are found in the sublimates 
from these vents, and that since the eruption the mountain has 
exhibited a state of abnormal quietude, 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, June 19. 
Royat Socrety, at 8.30.—On the Fossil Mammals of Australia, Part IX. 
Family Macropodidae : Prof. Owen, C.B.—On the Nature and Physio- 
logical Action of the Poison of Naja Tripudicans, and other Indian Veno- 
mous Snakes: Dr. Fayrer and Dr. Brunton —Researches in Circular 
Solar Spectra Applied to Test Residuary Aberration in Microscopes and 
Telescopes: Dr. Royston-Pigott.—On the Structure and Development of 
the Skull in the Pig (sus scrofa): W. K. Parker.—Results of the Com- 
parisons of the Standards of Length of England, Austria, Spain, United. 
States, Cape of Good Hope, &c.: Lieut.-Col. Clarke.—On Comparative 
Vegetable Chromatology : H. C. Sorby. 
Society OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On Further Excavations at Silchester : 
Rev. J. G. Joyce. = 
LInNEAN Socikgty, at 8. 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.—On the Influence of Pressure upon Fermenta- 
tion. Part II, : Horace Brown.—Researches on the Action of the Copper- 
Zinc Couple on Organic Bodies, III., and on Normal and Iso-Propyl 
Jodides: Dr. J. H. Gladstone and A. Tribe.—On Cymenes from different 
sources optically considered: Dr. J. H. Gladstone.—On the Action ot 
Bromine on Alizarine: W. H. Perkin.—On some Decompositions and 
Oxidation Products of Morphine and Codeine Derivatives: E. L. Mayer 
and Dr. C R.A. Wright.—On the Decomposition of Tricalcic Phosphate 
by Water: R. Warrington.—Oa a new Tellurium Mineral, with Notes on 
a Systematic Mineralogical Nomenclature: J. B. Hannay.—Communica- 
tions from the Laboratory of the London Institution, No XII ;—On New 
Derivatives of Cresol: Dr. H. E, Armstrong and C. L. Field. 
Numismatic Society, at 7.—Anniversary. 
FRIDAY, June 20. 
Mepicat Microscoricat Society, at 8.—The 
Diptheria and Croup: Jabez Hogg. 
MONDAY, June 23. 
GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8,30. 
WEDNESDAY, June 25. 
Society oF ArTS, at 4.—Anniversary. 
GEoLocicaL Society, at 8.—On Six Lake-basins in Argyllshire : His Grace 
the Duke of Argyll, K.T, F-R.S., President.—Descr-iption of the Skull 
of a Dentigerous Bird (Odontopteryx toliapicus, Owen), from the London 
Clay of Sheppey: Prof. Richard Owen, F.R.S.—Contribution to the 
Anatomy of Hyfsilophodon Foxit, Huxley: J. W. Hulke, F.R.S.—On 
the Glacial Phenomena of the Long Island, or Outer clebrides: James 
Geikie.—On Fossil Corals from the Eocene Formation of the West Indies: 
Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S.—Note on the Lignite-deposit of Lal-Lal, 
Victoria, Australia: R. Etheridge, Jun. 
THURSDAY, June 26. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Pathological Relations of 
CONTENTS PAacE 
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Jacor’s Puivipping ISLANDS. . - + «© © + © © © © © « « « 338 
MILLER’s ROMANCE OF ASTRONOMY «. «© + + «© © «© © © «© «© «© 240 
Our Book SHELF ... . ais = = 8 © © 0 ©» 6) 9 )stisenee 
LETTERS TO THE EpIToR:— 
Dr. Bastian’s Turnip-Cheese Experiments —Dr. Burpon SANDEK- 
SON, F.R.S. (With Illustration) . » « «+ + « « « « «© « %4E 
aes of the,Pansy.—I’. E. Kircnener ; A, W. Bennett, 
eLNWss «© 2 0 © ee ene, sees » © ©... oe 
On THE OrIGIN AND METAMORPHOSES OF InsgcTs, VI. By Sir Joun ea 
Lussock, Bart. M.P., FaRiSs os = + 5 © «©. « = s)5 sie 
An Improvep Form or Ozone GENERATOR. By T. Witts (W2th 
Lélustration). .. « late gts tells sis S's in) ot othe ee 
Tue Law or Storms Devetopen, II. By Prof. T. B. Maury (With 
Lilustration) . re Aes 147 
Tue CoronAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE SUN, II. By M. JANSSEN. . . 149 
CHRONOMETER TESTS . 4 «. + © © «© © © © oe ee ae 
Norges. . ee. 4 ere 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS: .. 6) ilel« ep = © © © Sis) aklenen 
SOcIETIES AND ACADEMIES. . « + © © © © + + © «© + «© @ « 253 
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