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NATURE 
[ Fucy 10, 1873 
China.—Sir S. S. Saunders communicated a paper ‘‘ On the 
habits and economy of certain Hymenopterous Insects which 
nidificate in briars; and their parasites.” The insects were 
exhibited at the last meeting, and Sir Sydney Saunders further 
exhibited a specimen of a Raphiglossa, which he had suffocated 
with cyanide of potassium, whilst asleep, showing the remark- 
able position of the insect during repose, as described in the 
paper.—Mr. Butler communicated a list of the species of 
Galeodides, with description of a new species in the British 
Museum. 
PHILADELPHIA 
American Philosophical Society, March 7.—Hector 
Orr made a communication on the microscopic slide of Mr. 
Holman.—Dr. Leiler exhibited a modification of apparatus 
for showing the vibration of molecules in light.—Prof. J. P. 
Lesley presented a map of the subterranean portions of the 
collieries of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.—Prof. P. E. Chase read 
a paper on Planetaxis, the relation of the rotation of the sun and 
interior asteroids to the sun-spot period, and on the relative 
velocities of light and gravity. 
March 21.—Prof. P. E. Chase pointed out the precise acord- 
ance of the wave-length of the Fraunhofer I line with the wave- 
length of the F note in the 26th musical octave. The other 
Fraunhofer lines also correspond very closely with the musical 
notes which are designated by corresponding letters. If this 
accordance indicates that the luminiferous ether is a material 
medium, it appears that Winnecke’s estimate of the sun’s dis- 
tance is the most accurate of those that have been based on 
astronomical observations.—Prof. Persifor Fraser exhibited an 
apparatus for the better manipulation of the lime-light.—Mr. 
Holman exhibited a slide for the microscope, designed for the 
better observation of substances suspended in fluids, especially 
the different corpuscles of the blood. The slide contained two 
concavities on its face, which were connected by a groove, aud 
covered by a thin plate of glass. It was highly sensitive to 
changes of temperature.—A resoiution was adopted recom- 
mending the passage of a bill by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, 
inaugurating a new Geological Survey of the State. 
April 4.—Prof. P. E. Chase showed that, by making the dif- 
ferences symmetrical at each extremity of the planetary series, 
the supposed failure of Bode’s law in the case of Neptune was 
only apparent, and that it gave the rule a higher generality. He 
also gave two new planetary series, based, like his modification 
of Bode’s law, on laws of oscillation. If the mean distance of 
Neptune be divided by successive powers of the ratio of a cir- 
cumference to its diameter, the points of division will fall in 
alternate planetary orbits, Saturn, Asteroid, Earth, Mercury. 
The last term of this first ser.es brings us to the orbital axis of 
the centres of gravity of the sun and Jupiter. The second series 
is in regular harmonic progression. Taking Jupiter’s perihelion 
distance as the unit, 
Ef 3 t b Tp pa ts 
respectively designate orbital positions of Mars, Earth, Venus, 
?, Mercury’s aphelion, Mercury’s mean, Mercury’s perihelion. 
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are also in harmonic progression 
beyond Jupiter. If we express this spheral harmony by musical 
intervals, they are generally such as to produce chords between 
any two adjacent planetary positions. But where quarter tones 
occur, the discordant vibrations seem to have broken up or 
disturbed the tendencies to planetary aggregations, thus aiding in 
producing the asteroidal belt, giving Mars and Mercury their 
diminutive masses and great eccentricity, and obliterating the 
theoretical planet between Mercury and Venus.—Prof. W. C. 
Kerr, State Geologist of North Carolina, communicated a paper 
on Topography of the Earth’s surface, as affected by the rotation 
on its axis. He pointed out that the rivers of southern and 
castern North Carolina flowed towards the ocean ina south- 
easterly direction, and that their south-western banks are elevated 
and bluffy, while the north-eastern descend very gradually 
to the water. They flow through, yielding materials of the 
cretaceous and tertiary formations, and have apparently under- 
gone change of location, in the course of which they have ex- 
cavated their south-westem banks.—Prof. Kerr exhibited some 
mathematical reasons why this change might have been effected 
by the earth’s rotation. —Prof. E. D. Cope read a paper on the 
flat-clawed carnivora of Wyoming. ‘this group embraced two 
genera, Mesonyx Cope, and Synoplotherium Cope, which bore 
some resemblance in dentition to Hyacnodon. In both the claws 
were broad, flat, and fissured above, and without projecting 
endinous insertion below, and hence little prehensile use. In } PAMPHLETS Recerve . 
Mesonyx the astragalus has two distal facets ; in Synoplotherium 
the scaphoid and lunar bones were distinct. The genera were 
thought to be of aquatic habit. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, June 30.—M. de Quatrefages, presi- 
dent, in the chair.—During the meeting the Academy proceeded 
to elect a Foreign Associate in the place of the late Baron Liebig, 
Sir Charles Wheatstone obtained 43 votes, M. d’Omalius 
d’Halloy, 2; Sir C. Wheatstone was therefore declared duly 
elected.—The following papers were read :—Reflexions on La- 
grange’s memoir on the problem of three bodies, by M. J. A. 
Serret.—A° comparison of the refraction indices of several 
isomeric compound ethers, by MM. Pierre and Puchot. The 
authors have found these indices sensibly the same when calcu- 
lated for temperatures equally distant from the respective boiling 
points of the bodies in question.—On the analytical theory of 
the satellites of Jupiter, by M. Souillart.—Researches on the 
reflexion of solar heat at the surface of Lake Leman, by M. L. 
Dufour.—On the transplantation of the marrow of bones in 
sub-periosteum amputations, by M, Feélizet.—New observations 
concerning the presence of magnesium round the entire disc of 
the sun, by M. Tacchinii—On the want of agreement between 
the old theory of the thrust (Zowssée) of earth and experiment, 
by M. J. Curie. This was a paper dealing with fortification 
Note on magnetism, by M. J. M. Gaugain.—On the cooling and 
freezing of alcoholic liquids and wines, by M. Melsens.—On 
the decomposition of metaliic carbonates by heat, by M. L. 
Joulin. —On the calculus of the moments of inertia of molecules, 
by M. G. Hinrichs.— On the production of glycerin starting from 
propyiene, by MM. Friedel aud Silva.—On a glycerin of the 
aromatic series, by M. E. Grimaux.—On the estimation of 
sugar by Barreswil’s method, by M. Loiseau.—Erythrophenic 
acid, new reaction of phenol and aniline, by M. Jacquemin.—On 
crystallised mercurous iodide, by M. P. Yvon.—A summary of 
the state of silk culture in 1873, by M. E. Guérin-Meéneville, 
DIARY 
FRIDAY, Jury 1. 
QuekettT Cus, at 8. 
SATURDAY, Juty 12. 
Boranic Society, at 3.45. 
TUESDAY, Jury 15. 
British Horoocica Institute, at 8.30.— Anniversary. 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
Enctisu.—Official Guide-Book to the Brighton Aquarium: W. Saville 
Kent, F.Z.S.—Third Annual Keport of Devon and Exeter Alozrt Memorial 
Mu-eum Schools of Science and Art.— Quarterly Weather Report of the 
Meteorological Office, Part 11I., July to September, 1871.—Keports and 
Proceedings of the Miners’ Assoctation of Cornwall and Devon for 1872-3. 
AUSTRALIAN.—Notes on the Climate of Victoria: Robert L. ji Ellery.— 
Record of Results of Observations in Meteorology, Terrestrial Magnetism, 
fe, — at the Melbourne Observatory during February 1873: Robert 
» J. Ellery. 
CONTENTS Pace 
THe ENpowMenT oF Research, II. . . Spin o SL aay 
THoMe’s LeHRBUCH DER ZOOLOGIE Serer 
VALENTIN'S QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS . + + + e+ + ¢ © © © «© + 199 
Our Book SHELF . « + s 6 «© © © © © © ee 8 ew OY 
LETTEKs TO THE EDITOR :— 
Dr. Sanderson’s Experiments and Archebiosis.—Dr. CHARLTON 
BASTIAN, F/RSs ssp ele ate le! Ste Re gin 
Dr. Bastian’s Experiments.—W. N. HartLEY «. . + « «= «+ 200 
Temperature and Pressure—Maxwett HALL . . . + « + + 200 
Laivz of Membracis serving as Milk-cattle to a Brazilian ies 
of Honey-bees.—Dr. HERMANN MULLER (/4 ith /lustrations). 20% 
Free-standing Dolmens.— WILLIAM C. BoRLASE  . . « + + + 202 
Ferniisation of the Pansy.—A. IT. Myers . . . - + « «© « = 202 
European Weeds and Insects in America.—JosEPHJOHN MuRPHY, 
BGS.) 0 RRS a 
CuHLoRoPHYLL CoLourinG-MaTTERS. By H.C Sorsy,F.RS. . . 202 
Recent RESEARCHES ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF LIGHT. . 204 
ON THE FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS BY INSECTS, AND ON THE RECI- 
PROCAL ADAPTATIONS OF BOTH, II. By Dr. HERMANN MULLER 
(With [lustrations) OP59 oe ew 
On THE ORIGIN AND MeTamorPHosES OF INskEcTs, VIII. By Sir Joun 
Lussock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S, (With Idlustrations). . + « « « 207 
INGTES SLs 3 us = ¢ ae as PS are 
On THE Germ THEORY OF PUTREFACTION AND OTHER FERMENTA- 
TIVE CHANGES. © By Prof. Lister, F.RS. . . 2 « 2) ss tele ate 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS © 5.5 BIRD Bk. bin) Je) co om Em el 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES/bs (ss. «0: 6.5 «1; 10) 0s ae eee 
JD ga ee © EBERT A in ign he 6-8, 15 ne ee 
Nh ea a A Ie i ae hes 
