60 
NATURE 
| May 18, 1871 

elicited some observations from M. Chevreul, who read after- 
wards on his own account a short report ona small pamphlet 
written by him during the investment of Paris. The title of this 
brochure is somewhat long, and explains clearly the meaning of 
the work: ‘‘On a fault of reasoning which is committed very 
often by people engaged in natural philosophy when reasoning on 
the concrete. The explanations are drawn from the last writings 
of M. Chevreul.” These writings are mostly communications 
presented by M. Chevreul to the Academy for the last three 
years, when he was strenuously advocating a new classification of 
sciences as well as of the different objects of nature.—M. Trécul 
read some interesting observations on the Vegetation of Ferns. 
—M. Sant Venant, a member of the Section of Mechanics, 
presented a paper written by M. Boussinerg, a promising young 
French mathematician, who does not belong to the Academy. 
The paper related to the observations of an immense number of 
transcendental equations which present themselves to the mathe- 
matical inquirer when studying physical phenomena. 
April 24.—The account of this sitting was published in the 
last number of NATURE. We have nothing of importance to 
add toit. All the Comptes Rendus of the period are signed by 
M. Elie de Beaumont, acting as perpetual secretary. M. 
Elie de Beaumont was formerly a senator, although it can hardly 
be said he has ever meddled with politics. M. Delaunay, the 
present director of the National Observatory, has inaugurated the 
regular publishing of a monthly abstract of meteorological ob- 
servation. It is a practice which is revived from Arago’s, but was 
stopped by M. Leverrier when he stepped into office in 1854. 
BERLIN 
Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, March 6.—M. 
Roth read the continuation of his historical remarks upon the 
theory of metamorphism, and the production of crystalline slates, 
—Prof. A. W. Hofmann read papers on phosphuretted hydro- 
gen, and on the direct substitution of the alcoholic radicals 
for the hydrogen in that compound. 
March 9.—M. Riess read a paper on the action of the subsi- 
diary currents of the electrical battery upon the main current and 
upon each other. 
March 30.—Prof. Hofmann described an eudiometer with 
movable wires. ‘The apparatus consists of a glass tube, with 
two short narrow tubes attached to it at right-angles, and open- 
ing into it opposite to each other ; these are closed by steel caps, 
through which steel screws pass, bearing the platinum wires. 
The screws are furnished with loops for the attachment of wires, 
—Prof. Hofmann also read a memoir on isodicyanic zethers, com- 
pounds which occupy a middle place between the cyanic and 
cyanuric ethers ; and another on biuret and allied compounds, 
—Prof. Dove read a paper on the behaviour of agate in the mag- 
netic field, 
VIENNA 
I, R. Geological Institution, April 18.—Prof. Peters, of 
Gratz, sent a communication about a newly discovered mineral 
spring at Hengsberg, near Gratz. Sesides a large quantily of 
free carbonic acid and carbonate of lime, the water contains 
chlorine, bromine, traces of iodine, boracic acid, and among the 
alcalies a considerable quantity of lithium.—M. J. Pauer related 
a remarkable phenomenon which has occurred during recent 
years in the large lake of Neusiedel, near Oldenburg, in Hungary, 
This lake, which measured nearly six German (about 150 English) 
square miles, was entirely dried up in the year 1865, and the 
ground was gradually converted into arable land. During the 
last winter, however, the water regained its territory, and to the 
great damage of the cultivators the basin is again filled up nearly 
to the same extent which it occupied formerly. Documents were 
found which prove that similar events took place in former 
centuries, and on one spot were discovered trunks of trees root- 
ing in the ground as much as three feet indiameter. They prove 
that at a former period the lake was dry through a long series of 
years.—M. E. v. Mojrisovics presented a memoir on the so- 
called alveolaric Orthoceratites from the Triassic and Liassic de- 
posits of the Alps, He proved that they all are the phragmocones 
of a particular genus of the family of the Belemnitidz, and that 
their isolated rostra are the forms which Giimbel called 
Attractites. The genus was described many years ago by Fr. v. 
Hauer and named Aulacoceras, but he had united it with the 



family of the Orthoceratidee. To Aulacoceras belong all formerly 
so-called Orthoceratites with a marginal sipho, from the mesozoic 
formations of the Alps, and only the species with a central sipho 
are real Orthoceratites. : 


.f 
t 
EncGiisu.—Discourses on Practical Physic: Dr.” B. W. Richardson 
(Churchill). —The Coming Race (Blackwood and Sons). } 
Foreicn.—(Through Williams and Norgate)—Vorwort zu der Physik der | 
Erde: Dr. R. Reuschle.—Grundziige der technischen Natur-lehre: Dr. Ph. 
Huber.—Lehybuch der Physik und Mechanik: Dr. L. Blum.—Lehrbuch 
der Physik : Dr. W. Eisenlohr.—Anatomie und systematische Beschreibung © 
der Alcyonarien: Dr. A. Kélliker. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 


DIARY 
THURSDAY, May 18. 
Soctety oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—Exhibition of Stone Implements (Palzo- 
lithic), with Papers by A. W. Franks, V.P., and J. Evans, F.R.S. 
Cuemicac Society. at 8—On a New Double Salt of Thallium: R. J. 
Friswe!l.—On a New Benzolic Derivative: Dr. Armstrong. 
Royat InstitTuTIon, at 3.—On Sound: Prof. Tyndall, F.R.S. 
FRIDAY, May 19. 
Royat InstitruTIoN, at 9.—On Bishop Berkeley and the Metaphysics of 
Sensation: Prof. Huxley, F.R.S. 
Royat Unitep Service InstiruTiONn, at 3.—The Winds of the North 
Atlantic: Captain H. Toynbee, F.R.A.S. 
SATURDAY, May 20. 
Roya. Scuoot oF Mines, at 8.—Geology : Dr. Cobbold. 
Roya InsTITUTION, at 3.—On the Instruments Used in Modern Astro- 
nomy: J. N. Lockyer, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, May 22. 
Roya GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 1.—Anniversary Meeting. 
TUESDAY, May 23. 
Roya InsTITuTION, at 3.—On the Principle of Least Action in Nature; 
Rey. Prof. Haughton. 
WEDNESDAY, May 24. 
Geotosicat Society, at 8.—Geological Observations on British Guiana : J. 
G. Lawkins, F.G.S.—On the Principal Features of the Stratigraphical 
Distribution of the British Fossil Lamellibranchiata: J. Logan Lobley, 
F.GS. 
Linnean Society, at 3 —Anniversary Meeting. 
THURSDAY, May 25. 
Royat Society, at 8.30. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Royat INsTITUTION, at 3.—On Sound: Prof. Tyndall, F.R.S. 



CONTENTS Pace 
Tue Peorie’s UNIvERSITY. By Prof. H.E. Roscoz,F.R.S. .. . 42 
TuHe'Sun. By Prof. \S:INEWCOMB 3) 5: 6) 0 90 a eae) nl oe 
ForEIGN SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATIONS. . . «. « « © © © « « «© © MG 
Our Book SHELF. (With Illustration.) . . . « « + «© «© + «© «+ 4 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Thickness of the Earth’s Crust.—A. H. GREEN . ... . 2 + + 45 
Pangenesis: Graft-Hybrids.—R. Metpora F.C.S.; Atrren W. 
Bennett, FVLS) 60. 20S. ora ae 
The Rey. Mr. Highton and Thermodynamics . . . . + + + + 46 
On the Radial Appearance of the Corona.—Prof. OssoRNE Rey- 
NOLDS~. 9. 2s) Mstlies E9S cn hs Sic le cn, ate 
A few more Words on Daylight Auroras.—J. JEREMIAH . . + + 47 
The Conservation of Force.—N. A. NICHOLSON . . . «© « « «© 47 
THE Bic Gun oF Woo_wicH . ......- . oh le ey ree 
A New INEXTINGUISHABLE STORM AND DANGER SIGNAL LiGHT . . 49 
FRESHWATER BATHYBIVS < 23 3 © fs «0 6, + (0) 0 ota 
Pte) 1 ai er eR ES enon OMSL OO OME oc G2 Se 
REPORT ON THE DesERT OF THE Tin. By Cuas. F, Tyrwuitt- 
DRAKE. 5 0s euuseislaedte Ps Fok Otel edeng scp ae 
IAMERIGAN NOTES: sige cieeucsieies Us ele po ts) 5 on 
SCIENTIVICISERIALS |. \walelis) @) s,s) <0, 40. (eyelet Mee nate 
56 
Societies AND ACADEMIES - . 2 2s 2 es ee fo ee ee te OF 
BoOkSRECRIVED = Poe oo a) oe uo) © whi) auete ni Stan pote na mney 
TT VAe RS Co 60 
