tus, which had been caught on board a ship in the vicinity of the 
city. This rat is exceedingly rare, but is said to have once been 
common enough, and is also said to have been nearly exter- 
minated by the common brown or Norway Rat. 
April 8.—Dr. LeConte announced the death, at Davidsburg, 
York Co., Pa.,on March 10, of Freidrich Ernest Melsheimer, 
M.D., a correspondent of the Academy, aged nearly ninety-one 
years. He inherited great taste for entomology from his father, 
E. F. Meisheimer, a clergyman, who cultivated natural science 
with much success, and not only was a highly esteemed corre- 
spondent of Knoch and other European entomologists of the end 
of the past and beginning of the present century, but an active 
collaborator with Say, the founder of descriptive entomology in 
the United States. Entomology also owes to Dr. Melsheimer 
the catalozue of the described Coleoptera of the United States, 
which was published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1853. It 
was the first work of bibliographical importance in the modem 
history of that branch of science, and gave a powerful impetus to 
its development in the United States, and has greatly diminished 
the labour of those who have continued the study of that de- 
partment: 
April 15.—‘‘ Observations on a Change of Structure of a 
Larva of Dryocampa imperialis,” by Thos, G. Gentry.—‘' Re- 
marks on Extinct Mammals from California. Prof. Leidy 
directed attention to some fossils, which he had borrowed, 
through Prof. E. O. Hovey, from the cabinet of Wabash Col- 
lege, Crawfordsville, Indiana. The most interesting specimens 
consist of an upper molar and a complete lower molar series of 
a lama as large as the existing camel. Remains of a still 
larger species from California have been previously indicated 
under the name of Auchenia californica, The present specimens 
were referred to a species with the name Auchenia hesterna. 
Prof. Owen has described some remains of an equally large lama 
from Mexico, which he refers to an allied genus with the name 
Palauchenia magna, and which perhaps may be the same as the 
Auchenia hesterna. An inspection of Prof. Owen’s figures of a 
series of molar teeth leads to the suspicion that he has inadver- 
tently mistaken the upper series for the lower ones, and has thus 
beea led to refer them to a genus different from Auchenia, 
April 22.—“ Influence of Nutrition upon Sex among the 
Lepidoptera,” by Thos. G. Gentry.—‘‘ Fungus Parasite on a 
Mouse.” Prof. Leidy exhibited a mouse with several whitish 
masses adherent to the ears, side of the face, and nose. The 
mouse had been caught in the children’s department of Blockley 
Hospital. The white matter examined beneath the microscope 
proved to be composed of sporular bodies, single, double, or in 
short chains of a dozen or more, They measure about the y3> 
of a line in a diameter. The fungus is a Torula or Oidium, and 
resembles that found in Aptha. Perhaps the disease in the mouse 
is the result of feeding upon articles imbued with adherent por- 
tions of apthous matter from the mouths of children. 
BERLIN 
German Chemical Society, June 24.—C. Rammelsberg, 
vice-president, in the chair.—F. Romer has investigated the fol- 
lowing derivatives of normal propylic alcohol :—The mercaptan 
and its mercury-compound, propyl-xanthogenic acid and its 
sodium salt, and the monamine, By heating cyanate of potash 
with propyl-sulphate of potash no cyanurate of propyl was 
formed, but a well-crystallised biuret in which three atoms of 
hydrogen are replaced by three molecules of propyl.—R. Otto 
sent a well-crystallised specimen of phosphate of ammonium and 
Magnesium from the cesspool of an old house in Brunswick, analo- 
gous to the crystals of * Struvite” found in Hamburg in 1842.— 
C. Scheibler showed a specimen of glass ground by a new 
method, which has come to us from America, and is now prac- 
tised in the wlassworks of M, Hasenclever at Hollberg, near 
Aix-la-Chapelle. By means of Giffard’s injector a current of fine 
hard sand is thrown with great force on the glass, which is thus 
ground ; but any pattern cut in paper and pasted on the glass 
remains unaltered. Even hard minerals, such as corundum, can 
be ground by this process. —C. Bottinger has studied the action 
of baryta on pyruvic acid. According to Finck two acids are 
thus produced, one crystalline, which he called uritinic, and one 
syrupy body, to which he gave the name of uritonic acid, Mr. 
Lottinger’s researches throw doubts on the existence of the latter 
body, which seems to be a mixture of uritinic, acetic, and oxalic 
acids.—C. Rammelsberg communicated new researches on the 
composition of vesuvians of different origin.—W. H. Pike, of 
London, has treated sulfo-urea with chloride of benzoyle, obtain- 
ing well crystallised benzoyle-sulfo-urea (C,H;ONH)CS(NH)z2 
of the melting-point 170°, 
NATURE 
[Fuly 17, 1873 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, July 7,—M. de Quatrefages, presi- 
dent, in the chair. The following papers were read:—New 
clinical researches on the localisation, in the anterior lobes of 
the brain, of the action by which the brain contributes to the 
psycho-physiological faculty of speech, by M. Bouillaud. At 
the conclusion of this somewhat long paper, M. E, Chevreul 
made some remarks on Dr. Bouillaud’s conclusions.—On the ex- 
ponential function, by H. Hermite.—On the heat of combina- 
tion referred to the solid state, a new expression for thermo- 
chemical reactions, by M. Berthelot.—The election of Dr. 
Carpenter, Mr. Steenstrup, and Mr. Dana, as recorded in 
our notes, then took place.—On a system of optical tele- 
graphy, invented during the siege of Paris, by a commission ap- 
pointed by the Governor, by M. Laussedat.—On the nutritive 
and milk-producing properties of Galega officinalis, by M. 
Gillet-Damitte.—On the constitution of the sun and the theory 
of the spots, by M. E. Vicaire. The author vigorously sup- 
ported the scoriz theory of spots, which he regards as formed 
by the fall of heated products of combustion into a boiling 
liquid ; he considers that the prominences are formed at the same 
time and by the same agency.—Solar cyclones compared to those 
of our own atmosphere, by M. H. Tarry.—On a new isomer of 
valeric acid, by MM. Friedel and Silva.—On the transformation 
of succinic into malic acid, by M. E, Bourgoin. The author 
has succeeded in effecting this by heating fine and dry argenetic 
malate, mixed with fine sand, to 180°.—On the mode of decom- 
position of explosive bodies as compared with the phenomena 
of supersaturation, by MM. Champion and Pellet—On the 
action of benzyl chloride on napthalamine, by MM. Ch. Froté 
and D. Tommasi.—Experimental researches on the action of 
nitrous oxide, by MM. F. Jolyet and T. Blanche. The authors 
believe that this gas is not a true anesthetic, but acts by pro- 
ducing asphyxia.—Researches on the floral organogenesis of the 
hazels, by M. H. Baillon.—Discovery of the makis and the 
horse in the fossil state in the phosphorites of Lot, by M. E. 
Delfortrie.—On the crystalline forms of Scotch Lanarkite, by 
M. A. Schrauf.—Details of the earthquake of the 29th of June, 
by M. W. De Fonvielle. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
ENGLIsH.—Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man, 4th ed.: Sir 
Charles Lyell (J. Murray)—Human Longevity, its Facts and Fictions: 
Wm. J. Thoms (J. Murray).—The Human Mind ; a System of Mental Phi- 
losophy: jas. G. Murphy (W. Mullan, Belfast).—Mrs Taylor's A BC of © 
Chemistry. Edited by W. M. Williams (Simpkin, Marshall & Co.).—Six 
Lectures on Light, delivered in America: John Tyndall, F.R.S. (Long- 
man & Co.),—Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, and Series, No. 12_ 
(Macmillan & Co.).—Relations of the Air to the Clothes we wear, &c. : Dr. 
Max von Pettenkofer : translated by Dr. Hess (Triibner & Co.).—The Royal 
Readers, No. 6 (‘T. Nelson & Sons).—Essay on the Mathematical Priaciples 
of Physics: Rev. Jas. Challis, M.A. (Deighton, Bell & Co., Cambridge).; 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
ForeiGn.—Sitzungsberichte der Kénigl Bohmischen Gesel. in Prag, Jan. 
to June and July to Dec., 1871, Jan. to June 1872.—Eleven copies of Proceed- 
ings of Ditto: K, W. Zenger, A. von Waltenhofen, O. Feistmantel, J, Schobl, 
J. Dienger, J. M. Solin, E. Weyr, W. Matzka. K. Domalip, and C. Kiipper. 
ieee eraunnes der Thiere und ihr psychischer Horizont: von Dr. Karl 
oblus, 
CONTENTS 
Tue Pay or Scigntiric MEN . . + + «ss ew 
Tue “ Poraris” Axctic Exrepition (With Map) . A 
SctENCE AND ANGLING . oes ee 
Mivart’s “ELEMENTARY ANATOMY” . 2. + e 
Our Book SHELF . ants 
LETTERs TO THE EDITOR:— 
Agassiz and Forbes; =AUSAGASSIZ . «. 3 0 5 0% ee nee 
Probosces capable of sucking the Nectar of Anagrecum sesquipe- 
ae 6 ¢ (a i? ee 
dale.—Dr, HERMANN Mu Ltsr (With Jilustration) eo] 
An Order of Merit—A. H. Brownz. . . « + «© «+ «© « «© «© 223 
Geological Subsidence and Upheaval.—J. F. ANDERSON. . . + 223 
Curious Kainbow.—G. J. RoMaNngs . 224 
CHLOROPHYLL CoLourING-MaTTERs, II. By H. C “Sorsy, ERS. 
Tue New LasoraTorigs OF THE NATURAL History Museum, Paris 
(With (Uustration). Ge ss 5 + se te en ar 
AgRIAL SPECTRES (With Illustrations) . . . . 1 « © © © «© «© 229 
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIANA «©. . ee se + 8 ew eo 228 
INTELLECT OF Porpoises. By W. SAVILLE Kent. «. + « + «© «© 229 
AN INTERNATIONAL COINAGE . 9. .. 0. « 0 © « © swans) eee 
Norss . gee ies s =  os eee te Pe Ye hot ger be’ 
On THE GERM THEORY OF PUTREFACTION AND OTHER FERMENTA- 
TivE CHANGES. By Prof. Lister, F.RS. . . . -« + 2 «© + 232, 
Screntiric SERIALS . » . 2. « + ers 1 ides. 233 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES’: (c< < as 0 ss =) © = 50 seseeeemeeeeel 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED . « + a ay oe ee 
