316 
The boxes of grapes were washed ashore, and the seeds germi- 
nated in abundance, so that the governor was able to collect 
plants for his garden. 
BERLIN 
German Chemical Society, July 28.—O, Liebreich, vice- 
president, in the chair.—A, Laderburg described a simple way of 
obtaining zinc-methyl and its action on silicic ether. The result 
is a liquid boiling at 150° of the formula SiCH,(OC,H;),, to 
which he gives the name ortho-silico-acetic ether. The same 
chemist, conjointly with Demole, has transformed chlorhydrine 
into acetochlorhydrine of glycol. The latter by treating oxide of 
ethylene with aniline has obtained a single base of the formula of 
phenylated mono-oxyethylene-amine CH,OHCH,NHC,H,.—-0. 
Jacobsen has been able to investigate human bile obtained from 
a fistula of a strong and healthy man. It contained no tauro- 
cholic acid, while other human biles obtained from patients con- 
tained both glyocholic and taurocholic acids in variable propor- 
tions.—A. Faust has transformed monochlorinated phenol into 
resorcin (and not, as Peterssen communicated lately, into hy- 
drochinon.—H. Limpricht has compared sulfo-ortho-tolindinic 
acid, and many of its derivatives, with those of sulfo-pseudo-tolui- 
dinic acid. —Thomas Dykes Barry described several derivatives of 
propiophenone C,H;COC,H, : viz., two isomeric mononitro- 
propiophenones, amido-propiophenone, and secondary propyl- 
benzol-alcohol C,H;CH.OH.C,H;.—G. Goldschmiedt, in treat- 
ing benzol and bromal with sulphuric acid obtained diphenyl- 
tribrom-ethane (C,H;),CH.CBrg. This treated with potash 
yields diphenyl-dibrom-ethylene (CgH,;),C,Br,, and heated with 
zine powder, it is transformed into stilbene C,,H,,.—P. Liechto 
has determined the atomic weight of molybdenum=95'86, and 
describes the following chlorides :—MoCl,, MoCl,, MoCl,, 
MoCl,, and MoO(OH),Cl,.—A. Michaelis and G. Kéthe find 
that iodide of lead treated with sulphite of sodium yields sulphite of 
lead and iodide of sodium, and that the salt formerly described 
by Zinero 1,59,(ONa), does not exist.—A, Michaelis and 
O. Schifferdecker describe the following compounds of 
sulphur :—SCl,, existing only at temperatures below — 20°, 
$,0;Cl,, (a solid body obtained by treating SO,HCI with 
SCl,), and its product of decomposition by moist air S,0,Cl,. 
—A. Mitscherlich described a new method of organic analysis. 
He replaced oxide of copper by that of mercury, weighs the 
reduced mercury, CO, and H,O in the ordinary way and thus 
determines the oxygen contained in the substance, as well as 
the Cl, I, Br retained by the mercury or the sulphur and phos- 
phorus transformed into sulphate and phosphate of mercury.— 
A. Borodin in treating valeric aldehyde with solid caustic 
potash at o° obtained aldolic products of condensation of the 
following formula; C,)H,g0 Cy9HggQ3. The former left for 
three years with diluted soda yielded crystals of the composition 
Cy Hg205 = (Cy) H299,) + HO. 
(polymeric valeral) 
C. Engles, by treating monochlorinated acetonitrile NC.CH,Cl. 
with aniline replaced Cl by NHC,H,, thus obtaining a base, 
anilido-acetonitril.—A. Emmerling and C, Engles have obtained 
from acetophenone the corresponding pinacone and secondary 
alcohol. — E. Baumann, by treating cyanamide with sulphuric acid 
and water, has obtained a body of the composition of urea, but 
hygroscopic giving a nitrate of a different crystalline form, and a 
double salt with chlorive of platinum, n iat differences that 
seem to i dicate that this body is a new compound isomeric with 
urea,—E. Mulder described several derivations of uric acid and 
of urea.—C, Tiemann compared two methods for determining 
nitric acid in water. The wells of Berlin yield water con- 
taining terrific quantities of nitric acid, viz. 17 in 100,000 instead 
of 04 which is generally admitted to be the maximum quantity 
allowed for drinking purposes. It should be known, however, 
that the water-works supply the town with river water of good 
quality.—C. Biedermann showed beautitully coloured salts of 
mononitropheno! with alkalis and alkaline earths. —W. H. Pike, 
of London, has succeeded in obtaining some of the higher 
homologues of oxaluric acid by heating a moiecular mixture of 
urea or sulpho-carbamide with an anhydnde of a dibasic 
acid. The acids already obtained are succincarbaminic acid 
NH,—CO—NH—CO—C,H,—COOH,, succin-sulpho-carba- 
minic acid OH,—CS—NH—CO —C,H,—COOH, and citra- 
con-sulpho-carbaminic acid NH,—CS—NH—CO—C,H,— 
COOH.—The next meeting of the society will take place the 
13th of October. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, Aug. 4.—M. Bertrand, president, 
in the chair.—The following papers were read :—A further 
NATURE 
[Aug. 14, 1873 
portion of M. Hermites’ paper on the exponential function.—A 
reply to M. Vicaire’s theory of the sun, by M. Faye. The 
author controverted the statement that the sun is a cold mass of 
combustible matter burning at the surface only, in an atmo- 
sphere of oxygen. —On the determination of the wave-lengths of 
the lines in the ultra-violet, and also in the ultra-red parts of © 
the spectrum by means of phosphorescence, by M. Ed, Bec- 
querel.—On the action of armatures applied to compound 
magnets, by M. Jamin.—On the reciprocal displacements be- 
tween the hydracids, by M. Berthelot. The author has been 
investigating the heat phenomena produced by these reactions.— 
Note on the cubic capacity and on the volume of air requisite to 
insure the healthfulness of inhabited places, by General Morin. 
The general vives the results of observations on barracks and 
hospitals. As regards the former, he thinks that 16—20 
cubic metres of space are required per man, equal to 565— 
706 cubic feet.—The fourth part of M. A. Ledieu’s paper — 
on thermodynamics was then read.—An analysis of Dewalgnite 
from Saim Chateau, Belgium, by M, I. Pisani.—On the 
Cocuyos of Cuba, by Sefior de dos Hermanas. The cocuyo is 
a luminous insect, said by M. Blanchard, at the conclusion of 
the paper, to belong to the genus Ayrophorous, to which also a 
Mexican insect of the same name belongs. —Memoir on cerebral 
localisations, and on the functions of the brain by Dr. Fournie. 
—On polychromic photography, by M. L, Vidal. This was a 
description of a recently patented method of obtaining coloured 
prints by the use of various pigments, as in carbon printing.— 
M. Lichtenstein communicated a paper on the present state of 
the Phylloxera question, and M. Signoret one on the evolution 
of the Phylloxera.—Fourth note on the maximum resistance of 
magnetic coils, by M. T, du Moncel,—-On electric condensation, — 
by M. Neyreneuf.—Studies on nitrification, II., by M.Schlcesing, 
— On the corundum of North Carolina, Georgia, and Montana, 
by Mr. Laurence Smith.—On Roman essence of chamomile, by 
M. E. Demargay.—On the characteristics of the true polyatomic 
alcohols, by M, Lorin. —Cn the variation in the amount of urea 
excreted under normal nourishment, and under the influence of 
tea and coffee, by M. E. Roux. The author found that these 
substances very largely increase the amount of both urea and 
chlorine voided in the urine, if they be taken after abstinence 
from them, but that when continuously used, the quantity 
gradually returns to its normal amount. Hence he regards this 
action as that of the washmg out of accumulated urea.—On the | 
uniformity of the action of the heart when that organ is free from 
external nervous influences, by M. Marey.—On some effects 
preduced by lightning at Troyes, on July 26, 1873, by M. E. 
Parent. 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
Enc.isH.— Improved Method of Recording Telegrams ; Richard Herring, 
—Report of the kKadcliffe Observer to the board of ‘Trustees, read at their 
meeting at Oxford. 
ForeiGn. - Medizinische Jahrbucher heraus geben von der K. K. Gesell- 
schaft der Arzte, redigirt von 5. Stricker, Jaurgang 1873, Heit i. and ii. 
(W. Braunmuller, Wien.).—Ofversigt af Kongl. Vetenskaps Akademiens 
Férhandiingar, Trettionde Argangen, 1873, Nos. 2, 3, 4 (Stockholm). —Bul- 
letins de la Société d’Anthropolugie de Paris, Masc. i, jan. et Feb, 1873. 
CONTENTS 
Pace 
Tue ENDowMENT OF RgsgaRCcH, V. - . . » + © «© » © « «© » 297 
On Loscumipr s EXPERIMEN fs ON DIFFUSION IN RELATION TO THE 
Kinetic UHgory oF Gases. By Prof, J, Cuerk-MAXxweuL, F.R.S, 298 
Tue Last Gracia Epoch . «ss - eee = pres ete BOD 
Dr. SMITH OW\FoopS, © Vers © 6 +. « oe le pee Ry ee vat atoms 
Our BOOK SHELF. 0s Wer 2 6 te 8 ee ee » 302 
Lerrers TO THE EpIToR:— 2 ’ 
The Huemul.—P. L. Schaver, F.R:S.. . . « s « «= eo sy goa 
Perception and Instinct in the Lower Animals.—A. R. WALLACE, } 
IBZ i> =a a) Re oe. ke 0 aS eee 
Collective Instinct.—E.C Buck, B.C.S, . . . . » « » « « 302 
Ants aad the lamtofthe Hand. . . . . . 5 » © =) see gum 
Venomous Caterypillars.—Culonel R. Benson, F.L.S. « « « « + 303 
Abnormal Ox-eye Daisy.—). J. Murpny, F.G.5, . . . « « + 303 
Canarese Snakes.—E H. PRINGLE oe le eens Rien eT 
British MepicaL AssociATIONmABSTRACT OF Dr. SANDERSON’S ~ : 
ADDRESS ON PHYSIOLOGY. 5 . . . «1» » =» « =) Reeeeennee 
LAKEs WITH TWo OuTFALLS. By Prof. W. STANLEY JEVONS. . . 
Tue New Eirp or ParaDisE. 
Tikustration) . ‘5 %\ aaeeeeas> ge. is lel ls us| “sh cae 
On THE SCIENCE OF WEIGHING AND MEASURING, AND THE STANDARDS 
OF WEIGHT AND Mzasurg, II. By H. W. CuisHo~m, Wardenof the 
By P. L. Scrater, F.R.S. (With 
Standards (With Jitustrations) . . . » . « «© + 2 1 + © « 307 
Or-opon RemaAINs IN THE WOODWARDIAN Museum, CAMBRIDGE, 
ByiG. T. BETTANY, Bisset ae te Re oe ets BDO. 
ASTRONOMICAL ALMANACS. . + «2 + + « oe os Oa om iE. 
NODES alesse. ic. 920 a 6 ueve Pere yee, Lie! 
SciENTIFIC SERIALS,.,.ceme iets «<= Lepage a wh aes 
SOCIETIRS|AND ACADEMIES) S «(06 sc + os 5 on eoee 315 
PAMFHLETS RECEIVED Jlisis. 0 ss) «0. «6 slo) sh ¢ MOnReeREREG 
