236: 

Académie des Sciences, July 10.—M. Claude Bernard in the 
chair. Notification was received of the death of M. Haidinger, the 
keeper of the great aerolitic collection at Vienna and a corre- 
spondent in the section of mineralogy. —The public sitting, which, 
according to the rules, was held before the secret one, was rather 
long and interesting. M. Puiseux was unanimously elected a 
member of the section of geometry (this honour is very seldom 
paid to any member). M. Puiseux belongs to the scientific staff 
of the National Observatory. He was much praised many years 
ago by Cauchy for his calculations on variations of weight and 
of its effects. He was a contributor to Lionville’s Fournal de 
Mathematigues.—M. Boussingault described some experiments 
showing that water is not liable to freeze irrespective of the de- 
gree of cold to which it is submitted, as long as it is not 
allowed to expand in order to change into ice. It is the 
complement of the celebrated Flo-entine experiment. M. Bous- 
singault exposed water to —13° Cent. enclosed in strong steel 
tubes as used for rifled guns, without any congelation 
taking place. On unscrewing the steel end of the barrel, 
the congelation was instantaneous. The fluidity of the 
water was made manifest by small steel spheres, which moved 
freely inside the guns during the whole process, and would have 
been stopped by congelation. A very long conversation took 
place between M. Boussingaultand several members who proposed 
many objections, to which he found ready answers.—M. Saint- 
Venant read a long report on a memoir presented by M. 
Maurice Levy on several Equations showing the internal 
movements of molecules when a ductile body is submitted to 
external pressure.—M. Faurneyron was a French engineer of 
great reputation, known by the invention of ‘‘turbines” or 
hydraulic wheels. He bequeathed to the Academy a certain 
sum in the funds to give a 40/. prize to the best memoir on 
Practical Mechanics every two years. The Academy appointed 
a committee of five of its members to draw up a programme 
for the next competitisn. The competiticn is to be open to 
all, irrespective of nationality and qualification, except to the 
members of the different French academies.—M. Brown, the 
astronomer at the celebrated Trevandum Observatory, read a most 
important note on the ‘* Diurnal Lunar Variation,” which he 
proved has sometimes to exceed the solar variation. The 
law is illustrated by calculating the maximum_ Every 
day there are two maxima of lunar action. In June, 
when the moon is on the 6th and 18th horal meridian, in 
December on the oth and 12th, and in the intermediate months 
on the intermediate meridians, according to progressive changes. 
The excursions are greater when the moon is nearer to us (peri- 
gee), and when the passage of the moon to the maximum meridian 
is by daylight. This difference is very great, the zocturna/ max. 
reaching only + of diurnal max. The law is worth the most 
serious consideration, as connections between variations of mag- 
netism and temperature are becoming every day more and more 
frequent. It may lead to the discovery of the lunar influence on 
meteorology, which discovery will be zctiwm sapientic.—M. W. 
de Fonvielle sent a note discussing certain singular phenomena 
which were observed in Scotland during the stormy periods of 
June 18 and July 18. The facts were quoted from the Scotsman, 
an Edinburgh paper. The note was printed in the Comptes 
Rendus. The author is anxious to see if ‘* mirages,” as observed 
on the Isle of Man, can be considered as having beena presage 
of the stormy weather. He wrote also upon certain accidents, 
showing that it is dangerous to move metallic objects during 
thunderstorms. M. Chapelas presented the results of observa- 
tions made during twenty years (1848-1868) on 39,771 meteors, 
out of these 23,481 were observel in summer when the nights 
are short, only 2,145 in winter when the nights are long. The 
mean direction is S.S.E. The numbers of meteors vary in 
inverse ratio with their magnitude :—Ist magnitude 2,497, 2nd 
magnitude 3,918, 3rd magnitude 7,137, 4th magnitude 8,847, 
5th magnitude (an exception to the rule) 8,050, 6th magnitude 
9,322 (very slight augmentation). He says, moreover, it shows 
that falling stars are more frequent in high altitudes. It is true, 
assuming falling stars to be essentially of the same magnitude, 
and differing only apparently from distance. 
RIGA 
Society of Naturalists, February 1.—Prof. Schell dis- 
coursed upon the importance of water-levels on the coasts of the 
Baltic provinces, and described some anemometers. — M. 
Schroeder communicated a notice relating to the avifauna of the 
Baltic provinces, in which he mentioned several species to be 
struck out of or added to the previously published lists. He 

NATURE 

| bone cave by Chas. M. Wheatley, stating the number of species 



| Fuly 20, 1871 
made the total number of species, 272.—Baron F. Hoyningen- 
Huene communicated a continuation of hisphznological observa- 
rf 
tions, during the year 1870, containing a report on natural phe- — 
+ 
PHILADELPHIA : 
American Philosophical Society, April 1.—Prof. Cope H 
made remarks on the Vertebrata obtained in the Port Kennedy — 
nomena observed from March to October. 
\ 
to be forty-two. The Mammalia were referred to orders, as — 
follows :—Edentata, 6 species; Rodentia, 14; Insectivora, I ; ; 
Chiroptera, 1; Ungulata, $8; Carnivora, 4; total, 34, of which 
about half are new to science. Birds and Reptiles, 8 species. 
He made remarks on the nature and origin of the post-pliocene 
fauna, the origin of the caves, and possible topographical history 
of the country in that connection.—Pliny E. Chase read a paper 
on ‘‘ Resemblances between Atmospheric, Magnetic, and Ocean 
Currents.”—Lieut. Dutton presented some views on regional 
subsidence and elevation, and mentioned the physical changes 
produced by the metamorphism of rocks as an agent in changing 4 
the contour of the earth’s surface. The obliteration in specific — 
gravity produced by change of chemical constitution of interior — 
rock strata was an important cause of the elevations and subsi- — 
dences of the earth’s crust, generally overlooked. 
* 
P 
4 
- 

. 


BOOKS RECEIVED 
EncuisH.—Our Sister Republic; a Gala Trip through Mexico in 1869-70 
(Triibner and Co.). 
ForeiGN.—(Through Williams and Norgate)—Medizinische Jahrbiichen : 
S. Stricker, &c., vols. 1 and 2.—Naturwissenschaftliche Vortrage: J. R. 
Mayer. 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
EnG.itsH.—National Health: H. W. Acland, M.D.—How to Live on 6d. 
a Day: Dr. Nichols.—A Sanitary Inquiry: R. Weaver.—Art and Religion: 
J. Gilbert.—The Universal (hange in Natural Elements: R. Mansill.— 
Fauna Perthensis, part 1: Lepidoptera: F. Buchanan White, M.D.—Pro- 
ceedings of the Liverpool Field Club for 1870-71.—Transactions of the Chemi- 
cal Society of Newcastle-on-Tyne, vol. 1, for 1368-71.— Mechanical Building : 
G Ryland.—Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association for 1870.—A Key to 
the Natural Orders of British Flowering Plants: T. Baxter.—Natural His- 
tory Transactions of Northumberland and Durham, vol. iv., part 1.—The 
Manufacture of Russian Sheet-Iron: J. Percy, M.D.—The Quarterly 
Weather Report of the Meteorological Office.—Transactions of the Norfolk 
and Norwich Naturalists’ Society, 1870-71.—Papers on the Cause of Rain, 
&c.: G. A. Rowell. 
AmERICAN.—Report of the Committee on Building Stores to the Board of 
Capitol Commissioners of the State of Iowa: Prof. Hinrichs.—The School 
Laboratory of Physical Science: Prof. G. Hinrichs.—The Principles of Pure 
Crystallography: Prof. G. Hinrichs.—Third Annual Report on the Noxious, 
Beneficial, and other Insects of the State of Missouri: C. V. Riley.—Bulletin 
of che Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, vol. iii , No. r. 
—Preliminary Report on the Vertebrata discovered in the Port Kennedy 
Bone-Cave: Prof. E. D. Cope. 
ForEIGN.—L’Académie des Sciences pendant le siége de Paris: G. G. de 
Caux, Paris.—Bulletin de l’'Académie Imp. des Sciences de St Petersburg, 
vol. xv., No. 17-3, vol. xvi., No. 1-4,—Ricerche sulla propagazione dell’ 
electricita nei liquidi: Dr. D. Macaluso, Palermo. 



CONTENTS Pace 
Tue NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE COLLEGE OF Puysicat SCIENCE . .- 237 
Percy's. METALLURGY OF LEAD! 55 igo pins, eo =) ose lal tote a 
Newman's British ButTerrvies. By W. S. Dattas, F.Z.S. (With 
Wilustratzpus.) ie acute) =0ne) eles Sos ee: Si! ee ae 219 
QOuR/BookSHEURY. 5.) ayta iS Res meee 1 ie een eee etn 220 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Cotteau’s *‘ Echnides de la Sarthe.”"—A. Acassiz 22:2 an 
Mr. Howorth on Darwinism.—A. R, WALLAcE, F.Z S,; Dr. L. S. 
Beate, F R.S. ; T. Tver; Dr. J. Ross; B. 7. Lowne, F.R.C.S. 221 
Recent Neologisms.—A. R. Wattace, FZ.S. . . .. .. . 222 
Fertilisation of the Bee Orchis.—A. W. Bennett, F.L.S. . . . 222 
Saturn’s Rings.—R. A. Procror, F.R.AS.. . . +... 223 
Qcean'Currents.—J. K- LAUGHTON <<) =) <= a) = 1s) 2) See 
Formation of Flints.—M.H. Jounson, F.G.S. . . . . . . . 223 
Affinities of the Sponges eee empty Go <n: 
Sun-Spots.—T. Perkins ei ROMONC AC! Oc. 
E/DOUARD (RENE CLAPAREDE = cos let) ciel enone nat 224 
ALEXANDER KeiTH JonHnston, LL.D. . . 1. . «=.» « « » « 225 
Papers ON IRON AND STEEL. V.—The Bessemer Process. By W. 
Mattieu WittiAms, F.C.S. 5 Shc Re: ser Mal Gal, "s be, teenies 
Tue Cause oF Low BAROMETER IN THE POLAR REGIONS AND IN 
THE CENTRAL Part or Cyctones. By W.FerReL. . . . . . 226 
Recent Moa Remains 1n New ZeaALanp, IL. By Dr. James 
Hector, F.R.S. . ain Ss TRS eka oc ee 
1 Cy: nee tees. Gin omc nd aos aes Tel 
On THE Recent Sotar Ecuipse. By J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S. 230 
Screntiric INTELLIGENCE FROM AMERICA . . . «+ 6 « « «© « 233 
SCUENTIFIC SERIALS < S/o peseretccale |. clue) of Ciel aiilel tenner mann 
SocisTies AND ACADEMIES. 2. .(.°. 6 « = 5 © = Waele ental 
Booxs AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED. . « « «ss 6 «© © © « «© 236 


ERRATUM.—Vol. rv. i 
p.* 203, first column, line 27, for 
“50° C.” 
* 503° C.” read 
