Fuly 3, 1873] 
8. ‘Ona new Tellurium Mineral, with Notes on a Systematic 
Mineralogical Nomenclature,” by J. B. Hannay. 9g. ‘‘ Note on 
the Relation among the atomic Weights,” by J. A. K. Newlands. 
The president, in adjourning the meeting until after the recess, 
congratulated the members on the number and importance of 
the papers that had been read during the session, 
Zoological Society, June 17.—The Viscount Walden, 
F.R.S., president, in the chair.—Mr. Sclater laid before the 
meeting the first sheets of a catalogue of the birds of the Neo- 
tropical Region, prepared by himself and Mr. Osbert Salvin, 
and shortly to be pablished under the title * Nomenclator Avium 
Neotropicalium.” The number of species included in it, as 
known tothe authors, was 3, 565.—Mr. Sclater exhivited and made 
remarks on a collection of birds recently made in New Guinea by 
Signor D’Albertis. The most remarkable of them was anew Para- 
dise bird belonging to the Epimachine Section, but peculiar for its 
long incurved bill, which was proposed to be called Drepare- 
phorus albertisi, afver its discoverer.—Mr. J. W. Clark exhibited 
the skull of a Seal from the Northern Pacific, which appeared 
to be Halicyon richardsi, of Gray, and explained his reasons for 
regarding it as indistinguishable from Phoca vitulina of the North 
Atlantic. —A communication was read from Lord Walsingham, 
giviog particulars as to the distribution of the different species of 
Deer and other Ruminants of Oregon and Northern California. 
—Dr. A. Leith Adams read a memoir on the osteology of the 
Maltese Fossil Elephants, in which was given the description of 
a large collection of remains discovered by him in Malta in the 
years 1860-1866, Dr. Adams referred these remains to two 
distinct species—a larger Zlephas mnaidriensis, and a smaller— 
the £. melitensis of Falconer, and assigned 2. falconert of Busk 
toa smaller form of the latter species— Mr. H. J. Elwes read a 
paper on the geographical distribution of Asiatic birds, in which 
he entered into the question of the best subdivision of the Indo- 
Malayan Region.—A ‘communication was read from Mr. 
W.S. Atkinson, of Darjecling, containing the description of a 
new genus and species of afilionide from the South Eastern 
Himalayas, proposed to be called Bhutanitis idderdalii—Mr. 
R. B. Sharpe contributed the fourth of a series of papers on 
African birds. The present memoir dealt with the African 
Cuckoos, which were fully described and their geographical dis- 
t:ibution pointed out.~-Mr. R. B. Sharpe read a second communi- 
cation, describing three new species of birds, proposed to be 
called Macrodipteryx speriingi from the Bay of Malimba, West 
Africa, Chametylas princet from the Gold Coast, and Baza 
erythrothorax from Celebes.—Mr. Sclater read a paper on the 
Curassows, based mainly upon specimens now or lately living in 
the Society’s Gardens, and gave details on their geographical 
distribution and on the variations of sex of the known species. — 
A communication was read from Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese 
Deer, with notices of two new species proposed to be called 
Cervus kopschi and C. euopis.—Mr. Sclater read a note on the 
genus Ornithion of Hautlaub, and the synonymy of the four 
known species. -Mr. A, H. Garrod read a memoir on certain 
muscles of the thigh of birds and their value in classification, 
founded principaliy upon the examination of a large number of 
specimens that had lived in the Society’s collection. This 
meeting closes the Scientific Session 1872-73. 
Anthropological Institute, June 17.—Prof. Busk, F.R.S., 
president, in the chair.—Mr. J. G. Waller exhibited a series of 
bronze implements discovered on the site of an ancient camp 
near Hythe, Kent; and Mr, J. E. Price exhibited potiery and 
bones of Ses found at New Southgate.—Lieut. C. S. Holland 
read a paper on ‘The Ainos.” The following papers were 
also read :—Account of an interview with a tribe of Bushmans 
in South Africa, by G. W. Stow, F.G.S.—Specimens of native 
Australian languages, by A. Mackenzie.—A brief account of 
three microcephales, by Dr. John Shortt-—On a patoo-patoo 
from New Zealand, by Sir Duncan Gibb, Bart.—The healing 
art in the North of Scotland in the olden time, by Rev. Walter 
Gregor, M.A.—On a hypogeum at Valaquil, Isle of Uist, by 
A. Carmichael.—Heathen ceremonies still practised in Livonia, 
by the Baron de Bogouschefsky.—The westerly drifting of 
nomads from the 15th to the roth céntury, Part XI.—The Bual- 
garians, by H. H. Howorth. 
Entomological Society, June 2.—Sir Sidney S. Saunders, 
V.P., in the chair.—Mr. Miiller exhibited a remarkable Psyche 
case, sent by Mr. Rothney from Calcutta. It was eomposed of 
thorns, all of equal length (about 1} inches), arranged with the 
points all in one direction, so as effectually to guard the entrance 
NATURE 
195 
azainst an euemy.—Sir Sidney Saunders exhibited a series of ‘iving 
Hymenopterous larvze and pupz in briar stems lately received from 
Albania, These stems having been split, showed the occupan § 
in their natural cells. Specimens of the perfect insects rear ed 
from the larvee were also exhibited.—Mr. Miiller communi- 
cated some notes on the discovery by Dr. Joly, of Toulouse, of a 
nymph belonzing to the genus O/ieoneuria, the immature state o* 
which had been hitherto quite unknowa. Drawings of the upper 
ani under sides of the nymph acccompanied the notes.—Mr, 
Wo laston communicated a valuable paper ‘‘ On the genera of 
the Cossonide.” It comprised (1) a catalogue of the several 
groups, arranged systematically and tabulated; (2) full generic 
diagaoses, taken seriatim ; (3) Observations (diagnostic and geo- 
graphical) on each separate genus; (4) brief characters of 139 
species not hitherto recorded ; (5) a complete list of the particular 
members of the family (amounting in all to 253).—The Secretary 
read a letter he had received from Mr. Roland Trimen, of Cape 
Town, containing some remarks on the Rey. R. P. Murray’s 
“Notes on Variations of Neuration observed in certain Papilio- 
nid,” published in the Proceedings of the Society in Novem ber 
last, and referring certain cases of {variation to reversion to an- 
cestral characters, pointing to a remote community of origin 
between the Papilionide and the higher Heterocera. 
BERLIN 
Geographical Society, June 7.—Baron Richthofen, pre- 
sident, in the chair.—Dr. Neumayer spoke on methods of 
measuring the temperature of the water of the sea at great 
depth, and a new instrument for that purpose, invented 
by himself. The discovery of the fact that the bulb of an 
ordinary mercurial thermometer does not indicate correctly 
the temperature when subjected to the pressure of many atmo- 
spheres such as prevails at great depth, and that the errors of 
any single reading may react as muchas 12 degrees of Fahren- 
heit, first led to the improved method of surrounding the bulb 
with a larger one filled with alcchol. The thermometrical 
errors, so far as they relate to the working of the instrument 
itself, are thereby nearly abolished. The difficulty, however, 
remains of ascertaining the point in the scale which the column 
of mercury reaches at any required depth of water. The various 
methods devised for overcoming it are chiefly directed towards 
the introduction of means for indicating the maximum and 
minimum points. No one of them fully answers this pur- 
pose. Any further improvement must therefore have for 
its object the reading of the thermometer while under 
water. A step in this direction was made by Mr. N. Siemens, 
but it was argued that the results arrived at by this 
method are not satisfactory, although it may eventually 
be improved. Dr. Neumayer’s new principle is based 
upon the plan of devising a self-registering thermometer 
which may be lowered into the sea, and his first object was 
to find out a kind of light which should be able to do 
photographic work and yet not create errors by producing 
heat. The Geissler tubes answer these conditions, chiefly those 
filled with nitrogen, which emit a bright light and do not affect 
the temperature in any measurable degree. The new apparatus, 
which was exhibited and experimented with, consists of a large 
vessel of brass containing (I) two vertical thermometers, which 
perforate the bottom ani protrude into an open compartment 
underneath, free to theaccess of water; (2) a galvanic battery, 
with two Geissler iubes inserted, running in front of, and close 
to, the thermometers ; (3) two rollsof Talbot paper standing 
upright and immediately back of the thermometers, and re- 
volving by means of a clockwork. As soon as the ba'teries 
are closed avd the clockwork wound up, the luminous 
columns of the nitrogen cause the picture of the column of 
mercury to be reproduced on the photographic paper behind, 
together with all the lines marking the partition of the scale. 
The vessel is shut hermetically and lowered into the sea to any 
required depth. When raised again, the record of the tempera- 
ture which the surrounding water had at any minute, and there- 
fore at the particular depth to which the apparatus was then 
lowered, is read distinctly on the paper. An additional im- 
provement was made by attaching on the top of the ins‘ru + ent 
a co.npass-card turning freely around its axis, and on the out- 
side of the vessela sort of wing, which will be directed > by the 
current when the ship is in a slight motion. By an ingenious 
contrivance the deviation of the direction of the wing from 
the north ard south line of the card is indicated by the same 
photographic means. It is believed that the direction of the 
current at various depths will thus be determined.—Mr, Siemens 
