376 
for westerly winds. In north and south winds, and those closely 
neighbouring, the heights measured both ways closely agreed. 
The differences between true and barometric altitude for the 
same gallery increase regularly, but in contrary directions, from 
the meridian to the azimuths east and west, when they each at- 
tain their maximum value. The height, barometrically mea- 
sured; increased, as a rule, with the velocity of the wind. No 
connection was demonstrable between barometric height and 
inclmation of wind. Observations at Namur and Brussels are 
compared with those at Antwerp, and show acycle like that just 
described, only the regions to which the maximum and minimum 
(barometric) altitude correspond are, at these places, in the con- 
trary direction to those at Antwerp.—M. Melsens communicated 
a paper on the effect of reducing alcoholic drinks to very low 
temperatures. A liquor like brandy may be cooled to—60° C. 
without being painfully cold to a person taking it. 
phenomenon of congelation in ordinary and sparkling wines, M. 
Melsens seeks to show how wines and beer also may be im- 
proved by application of cold.—M. Louis Henry described re- 
searches on the etherised derivatives of alcohols and of poly- 
atomic acids; also on propargylic compounds.—M. de Selys 
Longchamps made a third addition to his ‘‘Synopsis of the 
Gomphines,” of which he can now enumerate 188 species (seven- 
teen of these being new), arranged in forty-three genera and sub- 
genera.—M. Van Beneden gave a summary account of results 
from a voyage to Brazil and La Plata. His main object had 
been to study the fauna of the American coast, and specially of 
Rio. He describes the frequent formation of lagoons by the 
deposit of a transverse bar separating the water of a bay from 
that of the sea. Ffesh water continually entering such lagoons, 
their saltness disappears, and an interesting question was, how 
had the original ocean fauna, here enclosed, been affected by the 
change of physical conditicns. M. Wan Beneden made various 
dredgings in the bay of Rio (in which the tidal changeof sea- 
level is very small), and in these lagoons, and promises future 
communications on the subject. He mentions having found in 
some lower forms of Crustacea (Lernanthropides and Clavelline) 
a double circulatory system like that in Annelides. Besides the 
lacunar system, in which circulates a colourless liquid having 
white globules, there is a complicated system of vessels with 
proper walls, containing red blood without globules. There is 
no connection ; the two liquids do not mix. The colouring 
matter is hemoglobin. The branchiz and trunk, alternately 
contracting and dilating, put the liquids in circulation. The 
author also mentions having dissected a lamantin (disinterred for 
his benefit), and a dolphin, and describes exceptional features in 
both. ‘The paper gives several interesting zoological facts. 
July 5.—-M. Quetelet read a paper on the calculation of pro- 
babilities, applied to the science of man ; reviewing recent pro- 
gress of statistical science in this direction, and giving numeri- 
cal results in the case of stature and mortality—M. Van 
Beneden presented two coloured drawings of Cetacea captured 
at the Cape of Good Hope. He thinks zoologists have too little 
regarded the system of coloration in such animals, and his re- 
marks bear chiefly on this—M. L. Henry communicated a 
paper on diallylic compounds, being part of a series of researches 
on glyceric derivatives. —M. Swarts followed with a note on 
some properties of pyrocitric acids.—-M. Spring communicated 
some facts with reference to the oxygenated compounds of 
sulphur, 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, Aug. 18.—M. Bertrand, president, 
in the chair—The following papers were read :—Fourth note 
on guano, by M. Chevreul. The author has found that the crys- 
tallisable matter C, described in his late notes, is an ammonia 
salt, and that the other body insoluble in cold water is a very 
complex mixture containing acid. He gave no further details, — 
Direct demonstration of the fundamental principles of thermo- 
dynamics, by M. A. Ledieu.—On the movements of the Py/- 
Zoxera from place to place, by MM. J. E. Planchon and J. 
Lichtenstein.—M. de Lesseps demanded the appointment of a 
Commission by the Academy to examine his project of a Central- 
Asian railway.—M. Daubrée communicated a letter from Mr, 
Nordenskiold, giving an account of the discovery, in recently 
fallen snow, of a carbonaceous snow containing metallic iron, 
This was first found at Stockholm ; but the author, fearing that 
the powder might be due to the soot of the city, wrote to his 
brother, then in the centre of Finland, to collect snow there. 
The results were the same, and Mr, Nordenskiéld has obtained 
sufficient for a quantitative analysis which he proposed to make 
NATURE 
From the | 
[Sept 4, 1873 
during the coming winter.—Researches on secondary a 
currents, and their application (continuation), by M. G. Plante, 
—A description of the cryptograph, by M. Pélegrin—On alge- 
braic left-handed curves, by M. Picquet.—Experimental re- 
searches on explosives, by MM. Roux and Sarrau.u—A new 
method of estimating ammonia, organic nitrogen, and nitric acid — 
in waters, soils, and manures, by M. Piuggari, The author 
proposed to convert all nitrogenou$ bodies into ammonia and 
nitric and nitrous acids by acting on them with a mixture of 
argentic chloride and potassic hydrate, and then converting the 
oxidised nitrogen into ammonia by nascent hydrogen. He pro- 
posed to estimate the resulting ammonia by Nessler’s process, 
except when below o’oooo! grm., when he proposes a special re- 
agent, composed of two drops of phenol and 5 or 6 c.c. of hypo- 
chlorite of soda, which gives a fine blue-violet colouration to 
ammoniacal liquors.—On the hydrochlorate of terpene, and on 
the isomerism of the bodies having the formula C,, H,, HCl, 
by M. Riban.—On the variations of haemoglobin in the zoologi- 
cal series, by M. Quinquaud.—-On the variations of the wine 
under the influence of caffeine, coffee and tea, by M, Rabuteau, — 
—On the zoological position, &c:, of the parasitic Acariaus 
known as Hyfopus, by M. Mégnin.—On a deposit of silicified 
vegetables in the coal basin of the Loire, by M. Grand’Eury.— 
On the existence in the quaternary period of a large glacier in 
the mountains of Aubrac (Lozére) by M. G. Fabre.—Note on 
the meteors of November 27, 1872, by M. Ch. Dufour.—On the 
meteors of August 9 and 10, by M. F. Tisserand.—A note on 
the same subject, by M. Chapelas, concluded the business of 
the session. i 
August 25.—M. Bertrand in the chair.—The following papers — 
were read :—On Zollner’s theory of solar scoriz as being the 
cause of spots, by M, Faye. The author observed that this 
theory as recently developed in a communication to the Royal 
Saxon Academy agrees better with the known facts of the 
motions of the spots than does Secchi’s eruption theory. —On 
the polar planimeter, by M. H. Resal.—On the thoracic and 
abdominal phosphorescent organs of the cocuyo of Cuba, by 
MM. Ch. Robinand A. Lubvulbéne. The systematic name of 
this insect is Pyrophorous noctilucus (later noctilucus L.) 
Direct demonstration of the fundamental principles of thermo- 
dynamics, part vii., by M. A. Ledieu.—On the rapidity and re- 
production in the Pfylloxera, by M. Lichtenstein.—On a 
principle of union in universal chemistry, as applicable to organic 
chemistry, by M. E. Martin.—-A letter was received from M. 
Wolf announcing the discovery of two new comets by MM, 
Boreilly and Paul Henry.—On the spectrum of comet III, 1873, 
by MM. Wolf and Rayet.—On the spectrum of the solar at- 
mosphere, by M. G, Rayet. The author announces the dis- 
covery of the fact that the least refrangible of the two D lines is 
longer than the other, as he saw the former reversed when the 
latter was invisible—Twelfth note on the effects of barometri 
changes on life, by M. P. Bert.—On hay-fever, by M. E. 
Decaisne. The author asserted that this disorder has no actual 
existence as a separate disease. —Experiments on the scolex of 
Tenia mediocanellata, by M, Saint-Cyr.—On the movements 0 
the stamens in Awfa, by M. G. Carlet. 
CONTENTS 
THE TesTIMONIAL TO MRiICOLE . © 3 « « o = 6 SS 
Pace’s Apvyancep Text-Book oF Puaysica. GroGrapny. By 
Atrrep R. WaLiacs, FVZ.S.9 . . 2 2. es nt eo 
Our Book!SHELF*. (. \./Malic('a)¢ s)\e 0 le) sce) is) nee 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Atoms and Ether jy sys Pis | 0 os fe) 0.) ws Sul le 
Reflected Rainbows . ° e\ ie) ates ee eee 
The Origin of Nerve Force.—A, H. Garrop. . . . «. + « « 
The Flight of Birds —Hupert Airy. . . . . . + « « 
Mallet-Palmieri’s ‘‘ Vesuvius”.—Davip Fores, F.R.S.. . . . 362 
Explosion of Chlorine and Hydrogen. . . . . « . «sw 
A New Busa.e From ApyssIniA. By Dr. J. E. Grey, F.R.S. . . 
From AMERICA TO ENGLAND BY BALLOON. . « « - + - + « « 
Mayne's Sipereat Dia, By Capt. Aston Mayne (W7th Illus - 
tration . © 6. eects! © ae Shed oe vain 
On THE SctENCE OF WEIGHING AND MEASURING, AND THE STANDARDS 
or WEIGHT AND Mzasure,1V. By H. W. CuisHoim, Wardenof the 
Standards (With Jiiusteateams) <.. .- » . ..\\. « as 1» ae 
‘THE FRENCH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE . . 
Notes . Ae et), ow eee 
A possipLE NEW METuHop oF ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATION eg 
Growtu or EvoLuTion of STRUCTURE IN SEEDLING PLANTs. - By 
Dr. J. C. Draper . 
Scientiric SERIALS . 1 sss ote ate 
SociETIEs AND ACADEMIES .. . 
