276 
epoch of the Heersien Marls of Gelinden, by Count G. de 
Saporta and Dr, A. F. Marion, It was resolved to print this 
paper with the plates in the Memoires.—The following com- 
munications were made :—On frozen alcoholic drinks carried to 
very low temperatures, and on the cooling and freezing of ordi. 
nary or sparkling wines, which will appear in the Bud/etin for 
June.—Third addition to the synopsis of the Caloptergines, hy 
M. de Selys Longchamps. His first list was published in 1853, 
and additions in 1859 and 1869; the present long list cont:ins 
descriptions of many new species, as well as corrections of and 
additions to species already described. The author is indebted 
for the greater part of his material to Mr. MacLachlan. 
PHILADELPHIA 
Academy of Natural Sciences, May 6.—Dr. Carson, 
vice-president, in the chair. Double Flowers in Zpieca repens. 
—Mr. Thomas Meehan observed, that on several occasions, 
during the few past years, it had been noticed among the 
variations in nature, that the tendency to produce double flowers 
was, by no means, the special prerogative of the florist to ori- 
ginate. Many of our commonest wild flowers, which no one 
would think of cultivating, had double forms in cultivation 
which were no doubt originaliy found wild. Thus we had 
a double Ranunculus acris, R. bulbosus, RK. Ficaria, R. 
repens, and some others. There were, in plants, two methods 
by which a double flower was produced. The axis of a flower 
was simply a branch very much retarded in its development, and 
generally there were, on this arrested branch, many nodes 
between the series forming the calyx or corolla, and the regular 
stamens and carpels, which were entirely suppressed. But when 
a double flower was produced, sometimes these usually sup- 
pressed nodes would become developed, in which case there 
was agreat increase in the number of petals, without any dis- 
turbance in the staminal characters. But at other times there 
was no d sturbance in the normal character of the axis. The 
stamens themselves merely became petaloid. This was the case 
in the Zfzgea, recently found by Dr. Darrach.—Influence of 
Cohesion on Change of Characters in Orchidee. —Mr. Meehan al.o 
said thatin the early part of the winter he had exhibited some 
flowers of Phaius Tankerville, in which, by the mere cohesion of 
one of the dorsal petals with the column, a flower differing very 
much from the general condition was the result. Since that 
time Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, in the issue of the Gardeners 
Chronicle for April 12th, notices the receipt of a Phaius Wakichii 
in which there had been produced three spurs and regular petals, 
looking, Dr, M. says, rather like those of a gladiolus than of an 
orchid. % 
May 13.—Dr. Ruschenberger, president, in the chair. The 
. following paper was presented for publication :—‘‘ Observations 
on Nests of Sayornis fuscus,” by Thos. G. Gentry.—Prof. Cope 
exhibited and described some extinct turtles from the Eocene 
strata of Wyoming. 
May 20.—‘‘ Descriptions of new species of Orthoptera, col- 
lected in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, by the Expedition under 
Lieut. G. M. Wheeler,” by Cyrus Thomas.—‘‘ Observations on 
the Habits of the Neuters of Formica sanguinea,” by T. G. 
Gentry.—Lilium  Washingtonianum.—Mr.. Thomas Meehan 
referred to a paper by Prof. Alphonso Wood, entitled a 
‘*Sketch of the Natural Order of Liliacex,” of the Pac fic 
coast, published in the volume of the P oceedings for 1868, in 
which he describes a “new species” of Lilium, as Z. Washing- 
tonianum, giving, as a reason for the name, that it was gene- 
rally known as the ‘‘ Lady Washington” by the miners, Prof, 
W. said, in his paper, that it was remarkable so fine a plant 
had been overlooked by other botanists. It so happens that it 
had not been overlooked, but had been described ten years pre- 
vious'y by Dr. Kellogg, in the Proceedings of the Califoma 
Academy for 1858.—‘‘ On a Species of Delphkinus,” by Dr, H, 
C. Chapman, 
PaRIs 
Academy of Sciences, July 21.—M. de Quatrefages, presi- 
dest, in the chair—The following papers were read :—Note on 
changes of rate in isochronous regulators, by M. Yvon Villar- 
ceau.—Third note on guano, by M. Chevreul.—New researches 
tending to prove that the co-ordinating power over bodily move- 
ments lies in the cerebellum, &c., by M. Boudlaud.—The laws 
of friction and concussion on the thermo-dynamical theory, by 
M.A, Ledieu.—On the movement of a spherical segment on an 
inclined plane, by Gen. Didion.—On the spectra of iron, and 
i 6S Maen ote Lg a OES ee Ce ee 
NATURE 
a Rely sad Mid 
aes el 
7A ea 
eae 
[Fuly 31, 87: 
some other metals, by Father A. Secchi. The author had failed 
when examining the iron spectrum given by a battery of fifty 
cells, to observe the line 1474K, and he gave, in the present 
paper, an account of a further search for it. The same batter 
power, with new acids, was used ; various samples of iron wer 
burnt in the are, ei'her as iron poles or placed in hollow carbon 
points, and the sunlight was reflected into the spectroscope with 
heliostat. The line in question could not be found in any 
sample of iron used. His other observations are on th 
“structure” spectra of carbon and aluminium; he observe: 
that each line of the columnar bands is itself resolvable int 
a mass of fine lines.—On the permeability of the Fon. 
tainbleau sands, by M. Belgrand.—On the movement of 
the wash produced in artificial canals, and on causing watel 
to rise along an inclined bank to a sensibly constant height. 
letter from Mr. Nordenskidid, dated Mossel Bay, latitude 79 
54 N. was read by’ M. Daubrée.—New spectroscopic obs 
vations of the sun which do not agree wih certain sun-spot 
theories, by Father Tacchini. The theories are those of M, 
Fave and Father Secchi, The author describes watching 
facula over the sun and observing its appearance on the limb 
which was accompanied by the reversal of large numbers 
metallic lines in the chromosphere. This, Tacchini considered 
as evidence of an e:uption, and as miliiating against Faye’s 
theory because he considers that theory not to allow of eruptions, 
and against Secchi also, he having stated that faculze wei 
eruptions, and spots the erupted mater, and yet this facula h 
no spots during half a revolution.—On Euler’s constant a) 
Binet’s function, by M. E. Catalan.— Researches on electric 
condensation, by M. V. Neyreneuf.—Studies on nitrification it 
soils, by M. T. Schlcesinz.—On a combination of picric aci 
with acetic anhydride, by MM. Tomma-i and David, 1T 
authors considered this body as a picrale, in which one atom of 
metal is replaced by acetyl.—On pyrogallic acid in the presence 
of iodic acid, by M. Jacquemin.—On a natural combination of 
ferric and cuprous oxides, and on the production of atacamie, by 
M. C, Friede!l.—On the spontaneous changes of eggs, by M. 
Gayon.—An attempt to determine, by comparative emoryology, 
the analogous portions of the intestines in the superior verte: 
brata, by M. Campana, During the mecting, an election was made 
to the place of Membre libre, vacant by the death of M. Ver- 
neuil, M. de Lesseps obtained 33 votes, M. Breguet 24 votes, 
MM. du Moncel, Jacqueminand Sedillot, 1 each. M. de Lesseps 
was therefore declared duly elected. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
AmeERICAN.— Views of Nature: Ezra C, Seaman (Scribner & Co., N.Y.). 
FrencuH.—Traité Générale de Photographie. 6th ed.: D. v. Monckho 
(G. Masson, Paris), 
CONTENTS Pac 
THE ENDOWMENT OF RESEARCH, IVY... . <« « s 0) 0) ol Sine 
Carnes TRAVELS IN INDO-CHINA . . . oe «eh 
MOoTHER EarTH’'s BIOGRAPHY . . . . « «© 6 « © = )jstetsnnmnae 
Ouk BOOK SHELF. . . © eo art ee) 00 te eRe en 
Lerrers To THE EpIToR:— 
Endowment of Research.— Dr. C. E. APPLETON. - . . . ~ « 
Mechanical Combination of Coluu's.—F. J. smira (With Tilus- 
tration). Soames © ee ee ee 50. en 
On seeing the Red Flames on the Sun’s Limb with a common 
Telescope—R. LANGDON. .. . » 0)» «sie eeeee 
The Huemul—Dr iE Gray. .°... 5. «| 5 eee 
Colour of the Emerald . aS ee . 
Parasites of the House Fly . . . . . oe 0 
Bees and Aphides.—W. E. Hart, F.L.S.. . . . « . + « . 263 
Flycatcher’s Nest.—Exiz. H. MircHELL . . . . . .. . « 26 
Relics of the Pyramids.—E. H. Prince (With Jilustration) . . 263 
FISH DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR Action. By W. Savitie Kant, F.L.S. 263 
Oricin oF Nexve Force By A.H Garrop ..... . . . 265 
Norss FRoM THE Challenger, V. By Prot. WyviLLe THomsoN, F.R.S. 
(With Illustrations) See 0 ee ele 8 mw 6 ae 
On THR SCIENCE OF WEIGHING AND MEASURING, AND THE STANDARDS 
oF WE'GHT AND Mgasurg, I. By H. W. CHIsHoOLM, Warden of the 
Standards 5 .'. cae ee tacaecs We en crn ke ence 
Norges : ee ee rey 
ON 1HE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH BACTERIA, VIBRIONES AND THEIR — 
SUPPOSED GERMS AKE KILLED. By Dr. H. CHARLTON BASTIAN, 
ScjgnrTisic SERIALS iain is es. .s 3 0 ence © inte 27S 
Societigs AND ACADBMIES.s 2+. «5 « + « » © «© s 6) aye 
Booxs KECBIVED .. ~ [els shee 0 je + se (oan 
Errata.—P, 201, col. 1, rst line below table, after 
2 =insert A, P, , 
title of Fig, 2, for Salenica read Salenia. ne » 
