40 
NATURE 
| May 11, 1872 

members.—Dr. Hector called attention to a live katipo or 
poisonous native spider, with nest and young ones, on the table, 
and read a short notice by Mr. Duigan, of Wanganui, of an extra- 
ordinary flight of beetles that passed over that district in Decem- 
ber last.—A paper was then read by Mr. Travers from Mr. 
Shand, of the Chatham Islands, describing the different kinds 
of Mokihi or flax stalk canoes that the natives used in former 
times, a model of one of whichis in the Museum.—Dr. Hector 
gave an interesting account of the reports he had received from 
more than thirty stations respecting the magnificent meteor that 
passed over New Zealand on the Ist instant, at 8.30 p.M., which, 
he stated, had a general course from about a point west of north 
through the zenith of Picton, over which place it passed at less 
than thirty miles altitude above the surface of the earth, travelling 
with an apparent velocity of 12 miles per second. Its form was 
that of a ball intensely luminous, of a reddish hue, with a long 
very brilliant tapering tail, the light of which resembled burning 
magnesium wire, but giving off red sparks. It completely 
eclipsed the light of the moon which was shining brightly. The 
area over which it had been seen has a length of 700 miles, and 
width of 300, from lat. 36°S., long. 122° E., to lat. 46°S., long. 
175° E. The apparent diameter of the head was 10’, and the length 
of the tail tapering about 1° Some of the observations appear to 
indicate that its course must have descended towards the earth’s 
surface, but this depends on mere estimates of angular altitude, 
which cannot be dependedon. The prolonged detonation which 
followed the passage of the meteor does not appear to have been 
heard at all the stations, but chiefly at those in the vicinity of 
Cook Strait, where the path of the meteor intersected New 
Zealand, all the observers in the North Island having seen it to 
the west, and those in the South Island to the east. When 
nearest to Wellington it must have been at a distance in a direct: | 
line of fifty-five miles, which agrees with the time, five minutes, 
which elapsed before the report was heard. This shows that the 
report did not proceed from the final bursting of the meteor, but 
proceeded from it at the time it was nearest to the observer. In- 
deed, from the length of the path in which the meteor was seen, 
its sudden disappearance, as if by bursting, must have been an 
optical illusion in the case of all the northerly observers. Mr. 
Marchant stated that he had witnessed another meteor, almost 
equal in brilliancy to the above, on the previous evening (27th 
inst.), passing from east to west. Mr. Floyd of the Telegraph 
Department, stated that this meteor was reported at several 
stations in the North Island, and appeared to have passed over 
Napier on the east, to Patea on the west coast. Its colour was 
blue.—After some further discussion two important papers on 
the electromotive and conductive power of mineral sulphides, 
were read by Mr. Skey, in which he claims to have made some 
discoveries. 
Paris 
Academie des Sciences, April 21.—Eighteen members 
present. The sitting wasnotdevoid of interest, although the comm1- 
nications were far from numerous. M. Egger, professor of Greek 
at the Sorbonne and member of the Academie des Belles Lettres, 
availed himself of the privilege granted to the members of dif- 
ferent academies. He read a very long dissertation on a papy- 
rus found in 1866, which gave a great deal of information on the 
state of ancient Egyptian civilisation. It related chiefly to the 
prices of different articles used in those times. The bursting of 
the shells and the thunder of French artillery was distinctly 
heard. It was an impressive scene to see these learned men dis- 
cussing a civilisation which was swept from the earth so many 
centuries ago at a time when their own country was threatened 
by ruin not less awful and perhaps more disgraceful. The 
Comptes Rendus of the 7th April had gone through the press as 
usual. Its most important article was a communication from 
Prof. Simon Newcomb on the new method invented by him for 
discussing the inequalities of the moon’s motion. The extract, 
four pages in length, is an abstract from the original communi- 
cation, which was left by the American astronomer in the hands 
of the Committee instructed to report upon it. These Comptes 
Rendus are printed by Gauthier-Villars, printer to the Academy, 
at a great expense, and with the greatest difficulty. The conti- 
nuation of the publication is highly creditable to that firm, of 
which the head, M. Gauthier-Villars, is a former pupil of the 
Polytechnic School. To show how difficult the business must be 
to manage, we must say, moreover, that the publisher of the 
Connaissance des Temps for 1872 is stopped merely because it is 
impossible to find working men for the printing of the last four 


sheets, which are ready to go through the press. If things 
continue for some time, French navigators sailing for distant 
Pacific Ocean expeditions will be obliged to resort to the 
Nautical Almanack. 


DIARY 
THURSDAY, May 11. 
Roya Society, at 8.30.—An Experimental Inquiry into the Constitution 
of Blood, and the Nutrition of Mu:cular Tissue: Dr. Marcet, F.R.S.—On 
Non-Spontaneous Generation. On the Influence of Heat on Protoplasmic 
Life. On the Preparation of Nitrogea: Prof. Crace-Calvert, F.R.S. 
Society oF ANTIQUARTES, at 8.30.—Sepulchral Remains at Rouen: The 
Abbé Cochet, Hon. F.S.A.—Letter to Mr. John Stanhope, from Sir Geo. 
Buck: Earl Stanhope, President S.A.—Sir James Tyrrell cleared (a.p. 
1483): Rev. W. H. Sewell. 
Marsematicat Society, at 8.—On the Singularities of the Envelope of a 
non-Unicursal Series of Curves: Prof. Henrici.—On the Resultant of a 
large number of Vibrations of Irregular Phase, as applied to the Explana- 
tion of the Coronas: Hon. J. W. Strutt.—A Question in th: Mathematical 
Theory of Vibrating Strings: W. Spottiswoode, F.R.S —On the Problem 
of Finding the Circle which cuts Three given Circles at given angles 
(communicated by Prof. Cayley, F.R.S.): J. Griffiths, M.A. 
Royac Institution, at 3.-—On Sound: Prof. Tyndall. 
Lonpon INSTITUTION, at 7-30.—On Economic Botany: Prof. Bentley. 
FRIDAY, May 12. 
ASTRONOMICAL Socirty, at 8, 
QueEKETT Microscopicat Crus, at 8, 
Roya InstTITUTION, at 9.—On the Defence of the United Kingdom: Col. 
Jervois, R.E. 
SATURDAY, May 13. 
Roya Scuoot oF MINEs, at 8.—Geology : Dr. Cobbold. 
Roya InstiTuTIon, at 3.—On the Instruments Used ia Modern Astro- 
nomy: J. N. Lockyer, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, May 15. 
Lonpon InsTITUTION, at 4.—On Astronomy: R. A. Proctor, F.RAS. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 8.—On Dreams, Sympathy, Presentiment, 
and on Divination and Analogous Phenomena among the Nativesof Natal: 
Dr. H. Callaway.—Notes on a Cairn at Khangaum, and on a Kist in 
Argyleshire : Dr. A. Campbell. 
TUESDAY, May 16, 
SratisticaL Society, at 7 45.—On the Influence of a High Bank Rate of 
Discount on Monetary Crises: R. H. Patterson. 
ZOOLOGICAL Society, at 9.—A Description of the Madreporaria dredged up’ 
during the Expedition of H.M.S. Porcupine in 1869-70: Dr. P. Martin 
Duncan.—On Speke’s Antelope and the allied species of the genus Tra- 
gelaphus: Sir V. Brooke, Bart.—On a new Humming-bird, discovered by 
Mr. Whiteley, in Peru: Mr, J. Gould. 
Rovat InstiTuTion, at 3.—On Force and Energy : Charles Brooke, F’.R.S:. 
WEDNESDAY, May 17. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—On the Utilisation of Prison Labour: Captain E. 
F. Du Cane, R.E. ‘ cae anni 
RT ook ees at 8.30.—On Shakespeare’s Birthday: 
THURSDAY, May 18. 
Roya Socigrty, at 8.30. 
Society OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Cuemicavt Society, at 8. 
Royat InstiTuTIon, at 3.—On Sound: Prof. Tyndall. 


CONTENTS Pie 
we ProroseD COLLEGE OF PuysicaL Science At NEWCASTLE-CYON 
YNE. 
Sravetry’s BRITISH Insects. By ‘A R, WaLtack F.Z.S. (With 4 
Itlustrations.). . . . « Ee Fe me 3 e 22 
AMERICAN GEOLOGY Arik Matar haveomcehan & PS eae 
OuR/Boox SHEuRI SH. serie, tes 6a, dates ara a 
Lenress TO THE EDITOR :— ae 
angenesis.—Dr. Liongt S. BEALE, F.R.S.; Si 
aA ee ce ma ae % epee ° a 25 
oises at Sea off Greytown.—Lieut S. P, Over, RN... |. 
Mechanical Equivalence of Heat.—Rev. H HUE : : = 
Aurora by Daylight.—Rev. T. W. Wenn, RAS... 1... 29 
The Coronal Rifts.—A. C. RANYARD, F.R.AS. ; . ae 
The Name\“Britain.”—R EDMONDS = o)n) | ee ee Fo 
be peueton of Gelouns J. Murpuy, F.G S. 4 2 a oe 
e Cave-Lion in the Peat of Hold ss.—C. BLAKE . 2 
Eozoén Canadense.—J. B, Eeawe ee ae 3 : 
THICKNESS OF THE EARTH’s Crust. By Ven, Archdeacon Pratt, F.R.S. : 
. -Archdeacon Pratt, F.R. : 
A Tueory OF A Nervous ATMOSPHERE es 
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATION . Sha ee Sie 2 
INOTES' (el ste Rees). oa ee 2 ee +) 88 
Report ON THE DESEat OF THE Tin 5 so hy. ee * eae 
ScreNnTIFIC SERIALS Phy 2D. oe ortAas ae oS 
SocigTIES AND ACADEMIES. . . . -Ps OMe ee 2 
IO SG gle 3d Gy oe: Re Bevieaa ie eters 5 ‘ 3 4 s., re 


ErrATuM.—In vol. Iv. p. 20, 2nd columny line 7, for 
“M. Hartog.” ““N. Hartog” read 
