maize (gzasto) affected with the Pencillum glaucum. The author 
maintains that the maize in this state acts injuriously. G. San- 
galli, who replies to the paper, maintains that the effects are due 
to another cause.—New comet discovered at the Royal Observa- 
tory of Milan, by G. Tempel ; communicated by G. V. Schia- 
parelli—The continuation of P. Cantoni’s paper on electrical 
adherence is given.—The other papers are on the propagation of 
the corpuscle cornalia, by C. Gibell, and a letter ona purulent 
disease of one hemisphere of the brain, by L. Porta. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
PHILADELPHIA 
Academy of Natural Sciences, June 3.—Dr. Ruschen- 
berger in the chair.—“‘ Fertilisation of Pedicularis canadensis.” 
Mr, Thomas Meehan drew attention to the structure 
of the flower of Pedicularis canadensis, in which it was 
evident self-impregnation was impossible, and there seemed 
to be no special arrangements for fertilisation by distinct 
agency, as there were in so many allied plants. In this 
case the stamens were included in the closely compressed 
arch «f the corolla, and, with the anthers, were directed retrorsely 
to the pistil, which at an early stage, and long before the ma- 
turity of the pollen, was protruded beyond the corolla, rendering 
self-fertilisation almost impossible in this ower. But the flowers 
were always abundantly fertile, and though the arrangements 
were such as seemingly to afford no chance even for insects to 
aid in the fertilisation, it was also probable that in some way it 
was accomplished by them. Both last season and this he had 
devoted some time to watching the plant, but failed to find any 
clue to the process. A species of Bombus seemed to have the 
plant especially under its charge, visiting the flowers in great 
numbers ; but they bored through the corolla on the outside of 
the tube for the saccharine matter, and the anthers or pollen did 
not seem to bein the least disturbed by this. Still it was so 
highly probable that in some way some insect aided in the cross- 
fertilisation of these flowers, that it might serve a useful purpose 
to direct attention to it, as others with time and opportunity might 
discover what he had failed to find. 
RIGA 
Society of Naturalists, April 16—M. Tank communicated 
some observations on honeydew, which he thinks is an imme- 
diate excretion of the leaves due to cooling.—M. Behrmann 
gave reasons for doubting the supposition that certain fires which 
occurred almost daily from October to December last year, in a 
village of the Orel Government, arose from phosphuretted hy- 
drogen out of the marshy ground. " 
April 23.—M. Petzholdt read a paper on the composition and 
formation of Imatra stones. Various hypotheses of formation 
have been given—the gyratory, the stalactitic, the geological, 
the vegetable, the animal, &c. Parrot supposed the stones to 
be petrified, shell-less molluscs. M. Petzholdt formulates his 
view thus :—In a slimy layer of fine sand, mud, and carbonate 
of lime, are formed, through mutual attraction of particles of 
the latter, several ball-heaps of lime. Next, dry deposition of 
the whole at a later epoch. Disturbance of the stratum by 
water, setting free the hard spherical masses (Imatra stones). 
April 30.—M. Pfeiffer showed a small headless chick with 
large legs, found dead with another, which was alive in the 
same egg, The two were connected bya fibre. After separa- 
tion the living chick throve normally. 
May 21.—M. Glasenapp gave a note on blackened wood in 
certain trees blown down in a storm, The blackening is attri- 
buted to a kind of fungus which formed on the north side of 
the trees while yct standing.—M. Gottfriedt read a paper on 
enclosure of diamonds in xanthophyllite; the supposed dia- 
monds he finds to be merely hollow spaces, erosion figures, 
—M. Teich gave an account of an excursion to North-West of 
Kurland.—The Correspondenz Blatt, No. 9, contains a descrip- 
tion of the snakes of the Baltic Provinces, of which there are 
patel species— Vipera verus, Tropidonolus natrix, and Coronella 
laevis. 
GOTTINGEN 
Royal Academy of Sciences, Aug. 6.—Dr. Paul du Bois- 
Reymond communicated a paper on the representation of func- 
tions by Fourier’s series. J 
_Aug. 13.—M. Waitz compared some points in the Annales 
Sithiensis, relative to Pippin and Charlemagne, with other 
a SS 
‘| Oct. 16, 1873 
annals of the time.—M. Ewald gave a paper on the passage, — 
Ezek. xlv. 12: ‘‘ Twenty shekels, five-and-twenty shekels, ten- 
and-five shekels shall be your maneh.” The maneh, it is known, — 
originally contained 60 shekels (which these numbers make up), 
and this enumeration, he thinks, was in order to exactness and 
certainty, not because there were coins of these several values. 
The Septuagint version (rightly read) makes the maneh 50 
shekels, and it is known there wassuch a maneh. The author 
advances a theory, on which the passage affords evidence of both 
manehs having been known in the first half of the sixth century 
B.C.—Dr. Voss communicated a note on the geometry of focal 
surfaces of congruences. i | 
Aug. 20.—M. Minnigerode gave a long paper on a new 
method of solving Pell’s Equation #2 Du=1. 5 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, October 6.—M. Bertrand in the 
chair.—The following papers were read :—Note on the means 
used to obtain a constant temperature in rooms and on the 
methods of moderating it during the heat of summer, by General 
Morin.—On new propyl compounds, by M. A. Cahours. The 
author described several ethers of the propyl series.—Certain 
considerations on the yellow elastic tissue and its immediate 
organic analysis, by M. Chevreul, —Treatment of carbuncle and 
malignant pustule by carbolic acid and ammonic carbolate, by 
M. Déclat.—Statistical tables of the losses of German armies in 
France during the war of 1870-1, by Capt. D. H. Leclere.—The 
subcutaneous infarctus of cholera, by M. Bouchut,—On the im- 
provement in healthfulness caused by the growth of Zucalypius 
globulus in marshes, by M. Gimbert.—Studies on the Phylloxera, 
by M. Max Cornu.—On the action on the vine of the carbonic 
disulphide used to destroy the Fhylloxera, by M. Lecocq de 
Boisbaudran.—On the size and variations of the sun’s diameter, 
by S. Respighi. The author in his letter criticised Secchi’s 
statements as to the difference between the nautical almanac 
diameter and his own observations by monochromatic light. He 
regarded Secchi’s observations as erroneous.—On the theory of 
the thrust of earthworks, by M. J. Curie.—On the condensation 
of gases and liquids by carbon, by M. Melsens. The author — 
noticed the thermal phenomena produced by the contact of the — 
liquids with carbon, &c,—On the production of certain borates in — 
the dry way, by M. Ditte.—Researches on tribromacetic acid, — 
by M. H. Gal.—On the development of Aatrachians. This was 
a note on the embryos of Hy/odes martinensis, by M. Bayay. 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
Enc isu.—Synopsis of all the Mosses known to inhabit Ireland: David 
Moore, Ph.D.—Lobley’s Geologist’s Excursion to the Malvern District.— — 
Proceedings of the Belfast, Natural History Society for 1371-2—Leyton Astro- 
nomical Observations.—Report, Chester Society of Natural Science.—Law 
of Elliptic Motion deduced from the Laws of Gravitation and Compound 
Rotation: G. Hamilton.—Milk, Typhoid Fever and Sewage : Alfred Smee, — 
—Contributions to the Knowledge of the Meteorology of the Antarctic 
Regions.—A new Method of obtaining the Differentials of Functions; Profs. 
Rice and Johnson.—Count Rumford, How he Banished Beggary from 
Bavaria: T. L. Nichols, M.D,—A Scamper across Europe: T. L. Nichols, — 
M.D. ' 
CONTENTS 
D’ALBERTIS’ EXcurRSION INTO THE INTERIOR OF New GuInBA . . 
Tue Morion or PRoyecTingS). ss "s 515 15) 0 pense 
Our Book SHELF. . . a's) 0) (eke, foes <c0l be «atta 
LETTERS TO THE EpiTor :— 
Dr. Huizinga’s Experiments —Dr. J. Burpon SANDERSON, F.R.S. 
Experiments on the Development of Bacteria in Organic Bodies.— 
EH. Rav LANKESTER:. [45s ) <5 sje |e 8 Se, a 
Variations of Organs.—G, H. Darwin . . . . « 
Oxford Physical Science Fellowships.—J. PERRY . Aes Rear 
Simple Method of Studying Wave Motion.—C. J. Woopwarp. 
The Glacial Period:—J..EiRouRs' | J), 4) LS 
Tue Owens CoLLeGE, MANCHESTER. « . « «+ « 6» sa 6 
ON THE APPENDIX VERMIFORMIS AND THE EvoLuTIOoN Hyporuesis . 
Tue Common Fros, II. By St. Gzorce Mivarr, F.R.S. (Wath 
> ie Sale 
Wihistrarcons) De. > “ae Oe oe bei tev ge. 
JBAN CRACORNAC)- » 3s (0 gia Qs ys vk pbs) ve) We 
SCIENCE LECTURES AT CAMBRIDGE...» . 4 « «© jou neueene 
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION “(TEES ore oo) oe enn 
INOTES hte sg hd CORRE Sob n a ce tS Ae 
‘Tue British Association MEETING AT BRAprorD.~. Section A. . . 
Sanitary Procress. By Prof, Corrigtp,M.D. . ...... 
ScreNTIFIC SERIALS . . . ss «+ °. = ele" ane a oe 
SocigTIEs AND ACADEMIES . . ... 6 eee - 
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PAMPHLETS RECEIVED. < ga§ss > 1c is) + Le 
