256 
heaviest catches coincided with that of the absolute maximum 
temperature of the sea. It is premature to affirm that there is 
any absolute connection between those two facts, seeing, for 
example, that the herring season at Stornoway occurred in May 
and June, but it is, to say the least, a striking coincidence. The 
relations of the temperature of the sea to the migrations of the 
herrings will receive further elucidation when, the returns from 
Stornoway and other places being discussed, it is exactly deter- 
mined with what critical epochs of the annual march of the 
temperature of the sea, the herring seasons, and the periods of 
maximum catches in different districts correspond. In almost all 
cases the largest catches occurred with a high, steady baro- 
meter and light winds, indicating settled weather; and very 
light catches, in the height of the season, with thunder-storms, 
a low and unsteady barometer, northerly and easterly winds, and 
weather more or less stormy. It was recommended that, in the 
further prosecution of the inquiry, attention be given to investivate 
the causes which determine the time of the commencement of the 
fishing, the fluctuations of the catches in different districts or on 
different days, and the end of the fishing season. Self-registering 
thermometers, similar to those now in operation at Peterhead 
Harbour, established at different points on the coast, and obser- 
vations on the temperature of the sea, by the more intelligent 
fishermen on their fishing excursions, could not fail to contribute 
very material assistance to this difficult inquiry. The Committee 
was re-appointed to contiuue their investigation of this im- 
portant question, Mr. Thomas Stevenson, convener.—Mr. Robert 
Louis Stevenson then read a paperon “ Local Conditions in- 
fluencing Climate in Scotland ;” in which the effect of shelter 
from the East and West, and of relative proximity to the sea, 
were chiefly considered. The mean annual temperature of Unst 
and Monach, two of the Society’s stations, which, being situated 
on outlying islands, are almost wholly removed from the influ- 
ence of the land, was found to coincide with the mean sea tem- 
perature in their neighbourhood. A series of observations was 
proposed at three or four stations, provided with thermometers 
similarly placed and protected, one set being close to the shore, 
another a mile inland, and the others at intermediate distances, 
in order to decide in what manner the climatic influence of the 
sea extends inland, Mr, Milne Home stated his belief that the 
Society would he able to carry out the proposal, 
BERLIN 
German Chemical Society, July 14.—C. Béttinger has 
obtained a new acid from pyruvic acid, by heating it to 
130° with a small quantity of baryta, It is well crystallised, 
and having two atoms of hydrogen more than uritric acid, has 
obtained the name of hydruritic acid. Its mode of formation 
is expressed by the formula 
4C,H,O,; = C,H,,0, + C,H,O, + CO, + 2H,O. 
(new acid) (oxatic acid) 
A. Kekulé and A. Fleischer have treated camphor with iodine 
and thus transformed it into oxy-cymol, a phenotic body boiling 
at 231° of the formula C,)H,,0. Prof. Kekulé considers this 
reaction as a proof for a new graphic formula for camphor, which 
he intends to prove by further researches.—F. Landolph re-. 
ported on the action of nitric acid on various cymols. Cam- 
phor-cymol yields mono-nitrocymol and mono-nitro-toluyic 
acid, which is volatile below its fusing point. Cymol 
from ptychotis-oil yields dinitro-cymol and a mononitro- 
toluyic acid different from the above and fusing at 184°.— 
I’, Fittica ,has obtained identical products from the cymols of 
camphor, ptychotis-oil and thymol. All of them yield two diffe- 
rent mono-nitro-cymols, one solid, the other liquid.—A, Kekulé 
has found amongst the products of PCI; on phenol-parasulfuric 
acid a body of the formula PO. tale yielding with water 
2 
a corresponding acid and chlorophenol.—V. y. Richter has found 
that benzoate and formate of potassium fused together yield 
both terephthalic and isophthalic acids, a fact which renders 
untrue many conclusions on the constitution of aromatic bodies 
which have been founded on the production of either one or the 
other of the above acids with derivatives of benzol and formate 
of potash. Prof, Richter thinks that either one or the other of 
those isomeric acids are formed according to the temperature 
employed in fusing. —F. Baumstark has found in urine a new 
neutral crystallised substance of the formula C,H,N,O, 
which with alkalis yields lactic acid and ethylamine.—K. 
Birnbaum reported on the attraction of water by super- 
phosphate of calcium exposed to moist air.—G, Barbag- 
NATURE 
< 
[ Fuly 24, 1873 ; 
lia_ reported’ on ‘the impurities contained "in commercial * 
isobutylic aldehyde (chiefly acetone) derived from propylic 
alcohol, and on the conditions under which isobutylic alcohol 
yields acetone.—A. Oppenheim communicated the continuation 
of his researches on cymoles derived from various C,)H, ¢ isomers, 
Those from terpene and from citrene yielding both paratoluyic 
as well as terephthalic and acetic acils, can only differ in the 
position of the 2 atoms of hydrogen which they contin in addi- 
tion to cymol. . This renders improbable that all C,,H,, yielding 
cymoles should be constituted according to the view lately ex- 
pressed by Kekulé, 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, July 7.—M. Bertrand, president,— 
The proceedings commenced with the announcement, the 
perpetual secretary of the award of the Albert Medal of the 
Society of Arts to M. Chevreul.—During the meeting the com- 
mission charged with the recommendation of a candidate for the 
place left vacant by the decease of M. de Verneuil, presented its 
report, It recommends, Ist, M. de Lesseps; 2nd, MM. Bré- 
guet, du Moncel, Jacqmin, and Sedillot.—The following papers 
were read :—Theory of the planet Saturn, by M. N. J. Leverrier. 
—On an isochronous regulator constructed by M. Bréguet forthe 
Transit of Venus at Yokohama, by M. Yvon Villarceau.—On 
the method of action of the water during the reactions accom- 
panying the mixing of neutral, acid, and alkaline solu- 
tions, by M. Becquerel.—On the definition attainable with 
small astronomical telescopes, by M. d’Abbadie.—A direct 
demonstration of the fundamental principles of thermo-dyna- 
mics ; the laws of friction and concussion, by M. A. Ledieu. | 
—Thermal researches on saline solutions by M, P. A, Favre,— 
On the fossils ot the phosphatic chalk of Quercy, by M. P. Ger- 
vais. —On the development of the plague in the mountainous 
countries and plateaus of Europe, Atrica, and Asia, by Dr. 
Tholozan.—On the iron ores of the department of Ille-et-Vil- 
laine, by M. Delage.—Experiments on the action of ammonia 
and the prolonged action of water on the Phylloxera, by M. 
Gueyraud.—On magnetism, by M. du Moncel.—On the variable } 
period of the closing of a Voltaic circuit, by M. Cazin.—On an 
| 
‘absolute ” barometer, by MM. Hans and Hermary.—On the 
dissociation of mercuric oxide, by M. H, Debray.—On a method 
of comparing different gunpowders, by M. de Tromenec.—On 
the oxalins, or evhers of glycerin and the polyatomic alcohols, by 
M. Lorin, Oxalin is produced by the action of oxalic acid on 
glycerin. —On the zoological position and séle of the acarians 
known as Hypopus, Homopus, Trichodactylus, by M. Mégnin— 
Experimental contributions to the history of digestion in birds, 
by M. Jobert.—Observations on certain of the organic liquids of 
fish, crustacea, and cephalopoda, by M. F. Papillon—QOn the 
heat of combustion of explosive substances, by MM. Roux and 
Sarrau.— New experiments relating to the theory of the thrust of 
earthworks, by M. J. Curie. 
DIAR 
FRIDAY, Juty 25. - 
Queketr Cus, at 8.—Anniversary. : 
SATURDAY, Jury 26. 
Botanic Society, at 3 45. 
CONTENTS 
Pace 
Tue ENpowMeENT oF Resgarcu, III... . 2 ee ee 
ALEXANDER VON HuMBOLDT . arte Eo ee + = 238 
Stiruine’s ‘‘ PHrvosopHy,OF LAW” . .. . . sa ve 241 
Our Book SHELF . SSS 8 0 we jo 6 Mn) feline 
Lerrers TO THE Epiror:— 
The Pay ot Scientific Men.—Prof. W. H. Frower, F.RS.. . . 243 
Habits of Ants.—Cuarves Darwin, F.R.S.; J.D. Hague . . 244 
Fertilisation of Viola tricolor and cornuta.—W. E. Haxt, F.L.S, 24 
Spots on the Cherry-Laurcl —Prof. W. Tuisecton Dygk, F.L.S, 245 
alomitra—H H. Hiccins . . MC 
Periodicity of Rainfall—Rawson W. Rawson. . . 1, |! 245 
Norss FROM THE Chadlenger, IV. By Prof. Wyvitte Tuomson, F.R.S. 
(With Lilustrations) Soe Su eee 0s +e 
Pee el or Insacrs. By Sir Joun Lupsock, Bart., M.P., 
SaNene eek 8 8 ee ee ees 8 St dt ie ee 
Nores oN THE Hongy-MAKING ANT or Texas AND New Mexico, ig 
By Henry Epwarps (i!2th Ullusteation) . . . © citar NO: 
Norms. <-.) os = ceenienin bel seis cee 2. 4 (ou epee 
wala et ON EMERALDS AND Bexyis, By GREVILLE WILLIAMS, 
SociETIES AND ACADEMIES. . . . « . vo) ot iw (uel aia a 
Diary, , . °° CURES pois. is 2 9 a 
