80 
NATURE 
| May 25, 1871 

be wanting in other salt-deposits. The author notices the mine- 
rals sylvine, and kainite, which occur scattered in this upper 
stage at Stassfurt, and mentions their occurrence in the salt- 
deposit at Kalusy, in Galicia, and partially at Hallstadt, as indi- 
cations of the upper stages. He also notices the crystalline forms 
of the kainite and sylvine of Kalusy, and of the kieserite of 
Hallstadt.—Prof. L. Ditscheiner presented a memoir on some 
new Talbotian phenomena of interference, describing the phe- 
nomena manifested in the spectrum when the object-glass of the 
telescope is half-covered with crystalline plates of various thick- 
ness, whilst two Nicol’s prisms are placed before the fissure and 
before the eye-glass.—The same gentleman also communicated 
a paper on a simple apparatus for the production of complemen- 
tary pairs of colours with Briicke’s schistoscope, and a notice 
supplementary to his determinations of wave-lengths, published 
some years ago. —M. Franz presented a memoir on the theory of 
simultaneous substitutions in double and triple integrals ; and M. 
Oskar Simony noticed three mathematical problems, one belong- 
ing to the integral calculus and the two others to algebraic 
analysis.—Prof. A. Bauer presented a memoir on some com- 
pounds of lead with other metals, in which he showed that lead 
combines both with palladium and with mercury to form definite 
chemical compounds, having the formule Pd* Pb and Hg*Pb?. 
The same gentleman communicated a paper by M. J. Stingl, an 
analysis of rocks and spring deposits of the Teplitz thermal 
district. 4 
Paris 
Academie des Sciences, Morales et Politiques, April 20. 
—The French Institute is divided into five branches, of which 
the Académie des Sciences is considered the senior. All the 
branches meet in the same hall on different days of the week ; 
the meetings of the Académie des Sciences take place on the 
Monday, and those of the Académie des Sciences Morales on the 
Saturday ; the other sittings are not public, and the three 
other sections do not issue a special periodical, although they 
keep regular records. The Académie des Sciences Morales was 
not less determined than its elder brother to maintain its sit- 
tings, and they were not interrupted up to April 29. But the 
number of the members, which had been five for the sittings of 
the 15th and the 22nd, had diminished again to only three, which is 
the smallest for making a quorum. The presidency was givento M. 
Naudet, the senior member by age, whois close to his 88th year. 
The Academiedes Sciences Morales et Politiques, which had been 
suppressed by Napoleon I. as being tainted with ‘‘ ideology,” 
was restored by Louis Philippe after the revolution of 1830, and 
M. Naudet is one of the original members, and was during many 
years perpetual secretary, resigning five years ago as being 
unable to fulfil the duties of his post. M. Leveque, one of the 
younger members, acted as perpetual secretary, and read over a 
short account of the proceedings of the last sitting. M. Pellat, 
the only third member present, sat on the benches, and held up 
his hand to approve the record. Then the reading of memoirs 
was proceeded with. A member of the Académie des Beaux 
Arts, whose name is not given to us, availed himself of the 
privilege granted to the academicians of every section, and 
took his seat by his colleague Pellat. The general public was 
represented by three persons. One of them was M. Mangin, 
a literary gentleman attached for years to the editorial staff of 
the Patrice. The Fournal Offciel of the Commune took no notice 
of the proceedings, which were reported in the Versailles 
Offciel. It is very likely that the Académie des Sciences 
Morales et Politiques will be extinguished for the time by the 
Communist rule, and there is only a faint hope that the 
Académie des Sciences itself will be able to find the three mem- 
bers required for a quorum. But some academicians propose to 
advise the five academies to hold a general sitting every week, 
so that the chance may be increased. 

BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnciisH.—The Sub-Tropical Garden: W. Robinson (Murray).—Horses : 
their National Treatment, &c., by Amateur (Ballitre, Tindall, and Cox).— 
The Builders of Babel : D. McCausland (R. Bentley).—The Meteoric Theory 
of Saturn’s Rings: A. M. Davies (Longmans).—The Physiological Anatomy 
and Physiology of Man, vol.i. pt. 2: Todd, Bowman, and Beale (Longmans), 


PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
Encuisu.—Report of the Observing Astronomical Society, Bristol. —Brown 
on the Throne.—Bivlogy v. Theology, No. 2, by Julian.—Transactions of 
the Society of Engineers of Scotland.—Memoirs of the Geological Survey 
of Ireland, Nos, 104, 113, by G. H. Kinahan,—Report of the Rugby School 



Natural History Society for 1870.—First Annual Report of the Natural His- 
tory Society of Derry —A First Catechism of Botany, by John Gibbs.—On 
the Physics of Arctic Ice, by R. Brown.—Descriptions of some New Oaks, 
by R. Brown.—On Double Spectra, by W. M. Watts —Proceedings of the 
Bath Natural History Field Club, vol. ii, No. 2—The Gold Fields of Nova 
Scotia, by A. Heatherington.—Report of the Palestine Exploration Fund.— ~ 
Science and Revelation, by R. P. Smith.—Materialistic Theories, by the 
Archbishop of York.—Transactions of the Clifton College Scientific Society. 
—Address delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Geological Society, 
by J. Prestwich.—On the Physiology and Pathology of the Lower Animals, 
by Dr. Lauder Lindsay.—The Historical Difficulties of the Old and New 
Testament, by Rev. G. Rawlinson.—Positivism: a Lecture by Rey. W. 
Jackson.—Transactions of the Scottish Arboricultural Society for 1870. 
AMERICAN aNnp CoLonrat.—Third Annual Report of the Noxious and 
Beneficial Insects of the State of Missouri, by C. V. Riley—Report of the 
Fruit-Growers’ Association of Ontario.—On the Solar Corona, by Prof C. 
A. Young.—On a Method of Fixing Photography, and Exhibiting the Mag- 
netic Spectra, by Dr. A. M. Mayer. 
Foreicn.—Plaidoyer en fayeur de Paris; W. de Fonvielle. 


DIARY 
THURSDAY, May 25. 
Royat Socigry, at 8.30.—On the Temperature of the Earth as Indicated a 
Observations made during the Construction of the great Tunnel throug! 
the Alps: D. T. Ansted, F.R.S —Some Remarks on the Mechanism of 
Respiration: F. Le Gros Clark.—On a New Instrument for Recording 
Minute Variations of Atmospheric Pressure: W. Whitehouse.—Note on 
the Spectrum of Uranus, and of Comet I., 1871: W. Huggins, F.R-S. 
Society OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—Ballot for the Election of Fellows. 
Roya InstituTion, at 3-—On Sound: Prof. Tyndall, F.R.S. 
FRIDAY, May 26. 
QvueketT Microscoricat Crus, at 8. 7 
Royat InstiTuTION, at 9.—On Bishop Berkeley and the Metaphysics of 
Sensation: Prof. Huxley, F.R.S. 
SATURDAY, May 27. 
Royat Scuoot or 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 29. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 8.—On the Quissama Tribe of Angola: F. 
G. H. Price.—On the Races of Patagonia: Capt. Musters.—On Chinese 
Burials: Dr. Eatwell. 
TUESDAY, May 30. 
Royat InstiTuTIoN, at 3.—On the Principle of Least Action in Nature: 
Rey. Prof. Haughton. 
WEDNESDAY, May 31. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—On the Employment of Women: Mrs. Grey. 
THURSDAY, June x. 
LinnEAN SOCIETY, at 3. 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.—On Ozone: Dr. Debus, F.R.S. 
Roya InsTiTuTION, at 3.—On Sound: Prof. ‘I'yndall, F.R S. 


CONTENTS Pace 
Tue SMALLER LECTURESHIVS AT THE LoNDON Menicat Sctoots, IT, 
Tue TRUE FuNCTIONS OF THE SMALLER SCHOOLS. . . ... . 61 
M. Tatne on INTELLIGENCE. By Prof. G. Croom RoperTsON. . . 62 
A Storm-ATLAs For Norway. Prof. B. Stewart, F.R.S. . . . . 63 
Our Boox Suger i Ss ee ie) wo eget ec 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Thickness of the Earth’s Crust.—D. Forses, F.R.S.. oe ea 
The Geographical Distribution of Insects —G. R. Crotcu, F.L.S.. 65 
The Coronal Rifts —A. BroTHEerRs, F.R.AS. . . 2. . . 1. 66 
Spectrum of the Aurora.—T. W. BACKHOUSE . . ..... . 66 
Science\for/Farmets —W..LitteEe ys) .) se) st eGo 
Dees for Engineering Students at London University —Dr. F. T, 
OND Ge. te! bel) 1s GoMteDny aco ic etc emcees «20 fe eet 
Mechanical Equivalent of Heat—Rey. H. Hicuton; Dr. J. P. 7 
JOULES RSS. Re Se Se 
OpticalPhenomenon:—T. Warp) . 2 5 2 . . | 2 SeeeEnDS 
MelloweRain'—A\EENSPS oe. sel e) usw kee we mee : 68 
The Irish Fern in Cornwall.—E. F. 1a Tourn ...... . 68 
orce and iEnerg yy eee) canes Sere a) 
Pangenesis.—A. C. RANYARD . ..... o | 0y,re a ay 
Str JoHN HERSCHEL . 0. Seth ao @ as A wee 69 
Sir J. HERSCHEL ON OcEAN CURRENTS * 3 Meads) Reais o 9r 
PAEMOZOICICRINOIDS |.) 1s ays) oie) sc 5c pee enne eee - 72 
INOTES) S\\citiet cat leo Siete. ae ete: so EN Dae Fe ee 72 
Pror. WyviILLe THomson’s InTRopuctory Lecture AT EDINBURGH 
UNIVERSITY (Ri. <3) See eee Aric oes On era 
SCIENTIFICISERIALS 4 ole) jo el sue enue . oe «© + = BO 
SocIETIES AND ACADEMIES . . 9. 5s 5 ss ee se ewe ee OF 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED ..... « hes 80 
OTS ee ei OMG Okc oo a were) ae oc, ie - 8 


Errata —Vol. tv. p. 40, in Table of Contents, for ‘Lieut. S. P. Oliver, 
R.N.” read “Lieut. S. P. Oliver, R.A”; p. 45, 2nd column, line 16, for 
“slow enough to exceed” read “slow enough not to exceed"; p. 47, 1st 
column, line 28, for “ December 29” read ‘* December 15”; same column, 
and line of footnotes, for ‘1871 ” read “1870.” 
