308 
NATURE 
established by himself and other experimenters, such for example 
as the relation between the density of a crystal and the temper- 
ature at which it is made to crystallise out.—An elaborate 
experimental paper on the relative electro-chemical positions of 
wrought iron, steels, cast metal, etc., in sea-water and other solu- 
tions by Mr. Thomas Andrews, Assoc.M. Inst.C.E., F.C.S., was 
communicated by Prof. Crum Brown. The time changes in the 
galvanic relations were very curious, showing in some instances 
a complete reversal of the poles. This was regarded as probably 
due to the penetration of the liquid into the plates, which would 
thus seem to he very far from homogeneous. The experiments 
have evidently an important bearing on the question of erosion 
in sea-water. 
SYDNEY 
Linnean Society of New South Wales, October 25) 
1882.—Dr. James C. Cox, F.L.S., &c., president, in the chair. 
—The following papers were read:—Description of a new 
species of Solea from Port Stephens, by E, P. Ramsay, F.L.S. 
This new species of sole, of which a drawing was exhibited, was 
proposed to be named S. /ézeata.—Contributions to Australian 
oology (continuation), by E. P. Ramsay, F.L.S. In this paper 
the author gave descriptions of the nests and eggs of nineteen addi- 
tional species of Australian birds, whosenidification and oology had 
previously heen imperfectly known.—Deccriptions of Australian 
Micro-lepidoptera, by E. Meyrick, B.A. This, the eighth paper 
by Mr. Meyrick on the Micro-lepidoptera of this country, treats 
exclusively of the Oecophoride, a family represented in Australia 
by about 20co species. Fifteen genera and 107 species are 
described at great length in the present paper.—Notes on the 
geology of the Western coal-fields, by Prof. Stephens, M.A., 
No.1. This was a brief account of the Wallerawang and 
Capertee conglomerates and overlying coal-measures, together 
with some description of the Devonian beds of the Capertee 
Valley and Coco Creek. Specimens of Brachiopoda and Favo- 
sites, together with a large P/eurotomaria as well as of Porphyry 
and other rocks obtained from the same locality were shown in 
illustration of the paper.—Notes on the oyster beds at Cape 
Hawke, by James C. Cox, M.D., &c, This was a paper in 
support of the author’s views, as expressed in a previous paper, 
of the undoubted <pecific difference between the drift oyster and 
rock oyster of our coasts. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, January 15.—M. Blanchard in the 
chair.—The following papers were read :—Choice of a first 
meridian, by M. Faye (Reyort in name of Commission). This 
is favourable to the American proposal.—On the mechanical 
and phy-ical constitution of the sun (first part), by M. Faye. 
He presents a réswmé of his researches on the subject.—Re- 
searches on alkaline sulphites, by M. Berthelot.—On alkaline 
hyposulphites, by the same.—On complex units, by M. Kro- 
necker.—Separation of gallium (continued), by M. Lecoq de 
Boisbandran.— Table concerning the ramification of Zsatés dinc- 
toria, bs . Trécul.—On hydraulic silica, and on the 7é/e it 
plays in the hardening of hydraulic compounds, by M. Landrin. 
The pure ilica obtained by decomposing a solution of silicate 
of potash with an acid, and repeatedly washing and drying at a 
dark red heat, he names Aydyaulic silica, and he considers it the 
cause of the final hardening of hydraulic mortars. The alu- 
minate of l:me cannot concur in this effect, because of solubility, 
but at the moment of immersion it facilitates the intimate union 
of the hydraulic elements, hinders water from penetrating the 
mass of mortar, and so aids the slow reciprocal action of the 
lime and hydraulic silica.—Chemical studies on maize, &c. (con- 
tinued), by M. Leplay.—Treatment of typhoid fever at Lyons, 
in 1883, by M. Giénard. Instead of the expectant method, 
which awaits complications, combating them as they arise, the 
method «of treatment with cold baths has been adopted 
in Lyons (as in Germany), with a view to preventing 
those complications. The mortality is thus greatly reduced 
(e.g. in the civil hospitals of Lyons from 26 to 9 per cent., 
in private practice to 1 or 2 per cent.),—On the proposals 
of M. Balbiani for opposing phylloxera, and on the winter egg 
of the phylloxera of Aierican and European vines, by M. Tar- 
gioni-Tozz iti, He throws doubt on the data on which the 
Phylloxera Commission have proceeded, in directing effort 
towards the de-truction of the winter-egz, M. Balbiani replies 
at length to his arguments, none of which, he states, are new.— 
Treatment of phylloxerised vines, with sulpho-carbonate of 
potassium in 1882, by M. Mouillefert, The surface treated was 
2225 hectares, on 385 properties, and a steady increase is shown 
since 1877. The amount of sulpho-carbonate used was 821,317 
kg. ; the cost varied between 200 and 450 francs per hectare ; 
0 05 fr. and 0°04 fr. per stock.—Observations on the sulject of 
the Circular of the United States Government, concerning the 
adoption of a common initial meridian and a universal hour, by 
M. de Chancourtois. He advocates the adoption of a decimal 
division of the day and of the circle (the latter into 400 degrees, 
the right angle containing 100). The ancient meridian of 
Ptolemy, about 31°7 degrees from that of Paris, he considers 
the best for the initial meridian.—On the hypergeometric func- 
tions of superior order, by M. Goursat. —On Fourier’s © 
series, by M. Halphen.—On a general property of an 
agent whose action is proportional to the product of the 
quantities in presence and to any power of the distance, by M. 
Mercadier.—Methods for determination of the ohm, by M. 
Brillouin.—Reply to a note of M. Maurice Lévy.—Researches 
on the relative oxidisability of cast iron, steel, and soft iron, by 
M. Gruner. 
four corners, were immersed simultaneously in water acidulated 
with 0’5 per cent. of sulphuric acid, or sea-water, or were simply 
exposed in moist air of a terrace. Jmfer alia, in moist air, 
chromate steels were oxidised most, and tungsten steels less 
than mere carbon steel. Cast iron, even with manganese, is 
oxidised less than steel and soft iron, and white specular iron 
less than grey cast iron. Sea-water, on the other hand, attacks 
cast iron more than steel], and with special energy white specular 
iron. Tempered steel is less attacked than the same steel 
annealed, soft steel less than manganese steel or chromate steel, 
&c. Acidulated water, like sea-water, dissolves grey cast iron 
more rapidly than steel, but not white specular iron; the grey 
impure cast iron is most strongly attacked.—On the losses and 
gains of nitrogen in arable land, by M. Deherain, The losses 
are due not only to the exigencies of crops, but also, and for the 
most part, to the oxidation of azotised organic matter. When 
the land is not stirred, but kept as natural or artificial meadows, 
the combustions are less active, and the gains of nitrogen 
exceed the losses. Thus a farmer will more easily enrich a soil 
with nitrogen by keeping it ina meadow than by prodigal manur- 
ing.—Physiological action of picoline and lutidine, by MM. de 
Coninck and Pinet.—New experiments on irian grafts, with a 
view to establishing the etiology of cysts of the iris, by M. 
Masse.—On the solutions of continuity produced at the moment 
of moulting, in the apodemian system of decapod crustaceans, 
by M, Nevequard. 
CONTENTS PacE 
Tue THIRST FoR SCIENTIFIC RENOWN . . . « 2 © © «© + « @ 295 
CINGHONA PANTING, 3) ae cd GP S08 ea cen 
MARINE SURVEYING. . abe foeear to taleke ere aie Sha. (ste 289 
LETTERS TO THE EpITOR:— 
Natural Selection and Natural Theology.—Prof. Asa GRAY 201 
Intelligence in Animals.—J. G. GRENFELL. . » « + « + «© + 292 
On a Relation existing between the Latent Heats, Specific Heats, 
and Relative Volumes of Volatile Bodies—F. TRouroN . .- 292 
The Gresham Funds.—W. B. « - . . « «© » » « = « « © 292 
Siwalik Carnivora—RicHARD LYDEKKER. + + + + + + + + 203 
Earthquakes.—Prof. Gzorce Lawson; GrorGeE F. BurpDEr ; 
es Gelbecorn Mime yee ty oF OF bor of oo Oo. 6 293 
The Sea Serpent.—F. T. Morr (/Vith [ilustration) . . .« + 293 
A Novel Experiment in Complementary Colours.—JoHN GORHAM 294 
The Projection of the Nasal Bones in Man and the Ape.—J. PARK 
ELARRISON) «, sibs) fu.tist ce’ lafpst eu eet ey leyieat a MRS eR TO ORTOnaO. 
Hoverinc or Birps. By Husert Airy (With Diagram) . - 294 
Tue LATE Epwarp B. TAWNEY . + © + + = + © + © © + © 295 
REMARKS ON AND ORSERVATIONS OF THE METEORIC AURORAL PHE- 
NOMENON oF NoveEMBER 17, 1882. By Dr. H. J. H. GRonEMAN 
(With Illustration) «© » . + © © © © = © © © 8 8 296 
Whey Sors 6 of Omloed Pe ee ede or neh wo 208 
Our AsTRONoMICcAL CoLuMN!— 
TheiGreat Comet o£:1882%- <2, s+) shel vis si teluce nn emme . 300 
The Washington Observatory, U.S... - 2. + = + + # » # 300 
GyomarcaNowes:c 3) beaks, nde sateen sad hel oe tn ee 
Tue Hyporuesis or ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT BY PRIMOGENI- 
TURE, AND ITS PLACE INTHE THEORY OF EvotuTion, II. By Prof. 
ASA. Ws ELUBRECH I, <0) ccnp spt ues ts ese 30 
Tue Eruer anp its Funcrions. By Prof. Ortver Lopce. . 304 
ONIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE « + « + 306 
ScusnTIFIC|SBRIALS» + sl eu sMiss sr) ete ie 0) cs) 2s oe 306 
SocIRTIES AND ACADEMIES » « © + 6 © © © © » « « » » « 306 
[ Fan, 25, 1883. 
; 
Various plates, suspended in a frame, by their — 
