156 

NATURE 
| Fune 22, 1871 

The spherical copper caps of the equatorials were perforated by 
many holes from Versaillists’ rifles, and the equatorials themselves 
were slightly hurt. But altogether the damage done is nothing 
i1 comparison with the harm which was contemplated.—Dr. 
Guyot sent a paper on Dynamite, and the means of protecting 
storchouses from spontaneous explosion. Dynamite is known 
to be a mixture of sand and nitro-glycerine. When it is 
wrapped in a cartridge, made as usual with paper, the capillary 
attraction works on the nitro-glycerine, which is slowly separated 
from the sand, and impregnates the protecting matter. In 
this new form nitro-glycerine is almost as explosive as in its ordi- 
nary liquid state, which may very easily be proved.—M. Elie de 
Beaumont read a circular noticing that the next session for the 
British Association will be held this summer at Edinburgh. The 
learned perpetual secretary expects that many members will try 
to attend it, so that French science may have a fair representa- 
tion, which is seldom the case on these occasions. 
June 12.—M. Delaunay in the chair. The greater part 
of the members, who were obliged to escape from Paris, 
have resumed their seats. M. Leverrier was congratulated 
on haying resumed his professorial duties at the Sorbonne, 
where he has opened this very morning his regular course 
of lectures on Mathematical Astronomy, Almost every scien- 
tific editor of the Parisian papers has returned also to his 
seat.—M. Serret presented a memoir on the principle of least 
action, economy of mechanical work by natural forces acting from 
certain centres by attraction. Euler and Lagrange had confined 
their exertions to show that the first differential was always zero. 
This was not sufficient, as such a differential may belong to a 
maximum if the second differential becomes negative, which 
was left to be demonstrated by Euler and Lagrange. The work 
was very difficult indeed.—M. Becquerel read a very long paper 
on atmospheric electricity. It was worked by himself as well as 
by his son, as the first part of a theory which can be reviewed 
only when completed. M. Becquerel, advocating the opinions 
started by Pelletier, thinks that the electricity of the upper 
regions is positive, and he says, moreover, that it comes from the 
sun, which isa focus of positive force. The electrical connection 
from the sun to our upper atmosphere is maintained through 
celestial space, which is not an absolute vacuum, but is 
filled with gases at a low pressure. The electricity of 
the earth is negative, and every thunder clap is a discharge 
between the earth and the upper regions through the air.— 
M. W. de Fonvielle sent a note reviewing the organisation of the 
Postal Telegraphic servicein England, and showing that the French 
Government is wrong in maintaining two different administra- 
tions. The case of the French Government is very bad, as the 
two administrations were amalgamated during the war by the 
Tours delegation, under M. Steenackers, and ultimatelyseparated. 
M. Buys Ballot, the celebrated director of the Utrecht Meteoro- 
logical Observatory, asked from the Portuguese Government the 
establishment of a Meteorological station, or rather system, in the 
Azores Archipelago. This will result in the issuing of regular 
reports when the south-western gales are on their way to visit the 
British Islands and Western Europe. M. Delaunay, who read 
over the note at full length in the name of M. Buys Ballot, 
strongly advocated the proposition of his learned colleague. It 
is greatly to be hoped that the Portuguese Government will 
yield very shortly to the suggestion. 
Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Letters, June 9.— 
The first sitting for a long period, as almost every member had been 
a refugee outside Paris, except a few officials. M. Haureau, di- 
rector of the National Printing Office, explained that nothing 
was disturbed at this establishment. The Oriental Department 
is in excellent working order. The manuscripts of several mem- 
bers, which are kept thereas well as valuable documents, are 
safe, owing to the mild rule of M. Debock, a working com- 
positor, who was appointed a delegate by the Commune, and who 
protected also the National Archives, which are located in an 
adjoining building.—M. Alfred Maury, who had been left as 
Director of Archives by the Commune, had much trouble in pro- 
tecting it against Communist fury, even with an order signed by 
Debock. M. Maury was praised for the energy exhibited and 
the courage shown in remaining at his post, running the risk 
of being taken as a hestage. He was much assisted in his 
work of protection by the gate-keeper, who severally turned 
out small parties of incendiaries coming with petroleum to 
execute their infamous orders. M. Leon Renier said that 
the stock of Borghesi works printed by the Academy, has 
perished at the same time as the Louvre Library. But the 


Borghesi manuscripts are safe. The 7th volume had not 
been distributed, and it will be necessary to print it again 
at the expense of the Academy, which had a limited 
credit for thé whole edition. M. Leopold Delisle said that the 
manuscripts of the National Library, which had been concealed 
in the Archives, are safe. A few shelves had been slightly attacked 
by damp, but the real damage amounts to very little. There 
are seven nominations required in order to fillup the vacancies ; 
death has removed four members, two ordinary members and one 
foreign associate. The Academy has adopted a proposition of 
M. Renan to fill up the vacancies gradually. On the 16th the 
Academy will appoint a commission for reporting upon the 
respective merits of candidates as foreign associate members. 
On the 23rd the Academy will examine the titles of the candi- 
dates for filling the seats of MM. Villemain and Alexander, 
whom the Academy lost before the Prussian siege. On the 30th 
the Academy will appoint a committee for reporting upon the 
candidates to two honorary memberships ; but the nomination 
for the last two ordinary memberships will be postponed till 
next winter. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnG.isH.—Scrambles among the Alps, 1860-1869: E. Whymper (Mur- 
ray).—The Antiseptic System: Dr. A. Sansom (H. Gillman).—Introductory 
Text-book of Meteorology: Dr. A. Buchan (Blackwood and Sons).—Manual 
of Modern Geography: Rev. A. Mackay, 2nd edition (Blackwood and Sons). 
ForeiGN.—(Through Williams and Norgate)—Die Grundziige des gra- 
phischen Rechnens u. der graphischen Statik: K, yon Ott.—Der Seidenspin- 
ner des Maulbeerbaumes: F. Haberlandt. 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
EnGLIsH.—Chemical Phenomena of the Blast Furnace, Pt. II.: J. Lowthian 
Bell.—Annual Address by the President of the Royal Geographical Society. 
—Practical and Experimental Philosophy, Pt. II ; R. Willis —Report of the 
Winchester College Natural History Society.—Vaccination viewed politi- 
cally: F. W. Newman.—An Essay ou Unsolved Ethical Questions: 
D. Rowland. — Transactions of the Northumberland and Durham 
Natural History Society. —On Barometric Differences and Fluctua- 
tions: J. K. Laughton.—Thirty-eighth Annual Report of the Royal Corn- 
wall Polytechnic Society.—A Catalogue of Hardy Perennials, &c.: W. 
Robinson.—British Statesman and Churchman, No. 1o.—Will the Earth be- 
come a Sun-Spot ?: R. Holmes. 
AMERICAN AND CoLoniAL.—Australasian Medical Gazette, No. 37.— 
Catalogue of the Iowa University, 1870-71.—Lectures delivered at the In- 
dustrial and Technological Museum, Melbourne, during the Spring Session 
of 187c.—Population: its Law of Increase: N. Allen.—The Physiological 
Laws of Human Increase: N. Allen. 
ForgiGn. —Ueber einige Trematoden und Nemathelminther: R. von W. 
Sakow.—Ofversigt af konigl., V. Akademie, Forhandlingen.—Die Geo- 
graphische Verbreitung der See-graser. 




DIARY 
FRIDAY, June 23. 
QuEKETT Microscopicat Cup, at 8. 
MONDAY, June 26. 
Roya GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
WEDNESDAY, June 28. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—Anniversary Meeting. 


CONTENTS Pics 
Stave MEDICINE .« SLD ones rs 137 
Primitive Cutturze. II....... ay (owe 138 
Our Book/SHEERIS (60). Ge vs) es) oe ©) fei Nie! Ye -ive. Yel toga 140 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Thickness of the Earth's Crust—Mr. Hopkins and M. Delaunay.— 
Archdeacon)J. H Prawn FOR-S..) =) sii yo eerie 
The Duties of Local Societies. -H. UttyeTT .. ... . . 14% 
Colour-—The Hons JWaiStRupe ee gerretes en ce 
A Hint to the Longsighted.—W. T. Raprorp . 3 142 
Lignite and Selenite. . . .. . < Leta) ceueamrey te 142 
Arctic Auroras.—P. KRropoTKINE . igo ORS 142 
Day Auroras in the Arctic Regions.—J. JEREMIAH 142 
Science iN Piarn EnGutsu. I. By W. Rusuton ° 42 
Moss Locus _ By J. AITKEN a gata Wve Rta seray sete ire” bye mate 
WriTERS ON SCIENCE caters rene UM: 
FEARFUL EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA . 
fo Beil kp pve aes jm le; ga eee 1 
ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE EEL’s SkuLt. By W. K. Parker, F.R.S. $ 
(Wath Tilustrations:) 52a eee eee 146 
iol) BO OueCIR EOE. 00:0, O60 v0 GREG lg Gog a 1 wis 
Mr. BeNTHAM’s ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS TO THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 
(Gasskared) vos 1. i aera Cte STIs ur nk 150 
GroLocy.—On the Supposed Legs of the Trilobite, Asaphus platy- 
cephalus: By: J-/H. DANAN Scie So lcnls (nec ane aR ORI: 
SclENTIFIC SERIALS . . hoo. Ghaus © 5 a6 8 . x52 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES MMsig citcteciilc heitcs items cia cinerea ae 153 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED. . . oe : + 156 
DDEARY, fol tal os a 6p) eueel Sitel 
