300 
NATURE 
[Aug.10 1871 

Alphonse L. Pinart, the French naturalist, who is engaged in a 
scientific exploration of Alaska, announces his arrival at Unalaska 
on May 24, and his intended departure at an early day for Nus- 
gajak. We hope to lay before our readers, from time to time, 
the important features of the progress of this expedition.—A cor- 
respondent of the /Veckly writes to report the occurrence of a 
lunar rainbow at his residence, Oxford Depot, New York, on the 
2nd July last. At nine o’clock in the evening of that day a heavy 
rain-storm came up from the west, and when the sky was about 
half obscured a very distinct and beautiful rainbow made its ap- 
pearance, having an arc estimated at 90°. The top of the bow 
was a deep blue, the lower side red; and between the two colours 
appeared a distinct hazy green. The moon was just rising at the 
time, and the perfect bow was visible for about five minutes, and 
partially distinguishable for a quarter of an hour. 


SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
Paris 
Academie des Sciences, July 24.—No elections took place, 
but the members were rather numerous, as a secret committee is 
to take place at the close of the public sitting to discuss the merits 
of candidates. The secret committee was rather long, and a 
lively conversation took place. M. Lacaze-Duthiers was presented 
at the head of the list. After him came M. Gervais, and on 
the third line MM. Dareste and Alphonse Milne-Edwards. Each 
of these four gentlemen has respectable qualifications. M.A. Milne- 
Edwards is the son of M. Milne-Edwards, the great naturalist, 
who is chief of the section where the vacancy is to be filled up. 
—In the public sitting, M. Chasles gave a new series of theorems, 
which are to be demonstrated; but as they belong to a certain 
family of properties, and arranged seriutim, the very enunciation 
of them is more than half of the work to be done. These 
theorems are sixty in number, and are styled ‘‘ Properties of 
geometrical curves relating to their harmonic axes,” but none of 
them are of primary importance.—An observation was sent to 
M. Leverrier with respect to the great bolide of the 18th july, 
which was seen at La Guerche (Cher). Its course was from 
e Cygnitoa Pegasi. No track but a great quantity of light, 
first white and afterwards red ; local time 11h. 5m., duration 3”. 
—Details were given by M. Sainte-Claire Deville of a bolide 
seen on the night of 17th and 18th March. A bolide was seen 
also in Italy by P. Denza at Moncalieri, but the accounts do 
not agree. It is supposed that P. Denza saw another bo- 
lide, which is not much to be wondered at, as the 18th of 
March is considered to be favourable for the appearance 
of large meteors, and P. Denza says he saw many of them 
on that very night when there was no moon.—P. Secchi 
sends a new letter ‘‘On solar protuberances and the relations 
between faculze and spots ; the communication cannot be con- 
densed.—M. Delaunay presented a new volume of the ‘‘ Annales 
de l’ Observatoire National,” the twenty-third of the collection, 
and full of observations. —The Academy appointed a com- 
mittee for the Bordin prize, which will be given for the best 
memoir on the Comparison of the Natural Productions of South 
Africa, South America, and South Australia, as well as inter- 
mediate lands. The programme was very cleverly drawn up, 
and answers most admirably to the controversies on the ‘* Origin 
of Species.’ The election was contested, and MM. Milne-Ed- 
wards, Brongniart, Elie de Beaumont, Quatrefages, and Decaisnes, 
wereappointed. The report will be written with great care.— 
An invitation was addressed to the Academy by the International 
Congress, which will meet at Antwerp on the 22nd August; no 
formal answer is given to it.—M. Berthelot, who for some time 
had not published any report in the Comfpres Rendus, attempted to 
give a very cleyer explanation of the immense explosive force of 
some organised compounds derived from nitric acid. He says 
that there is an intimate union between nitric acid and the organic 
matter upon which the acid has acted. But the action takes 
place with scarcely any heat being produced. The _ heat is 
kept in reserve within the molecules of the explosive body for 
future action. His theoretic views are supported by calorimetri- 
cal experiments, Thus an equivalent of nitric acid being employed 
in the manufacture of nitro-benzine, gives only 4,300 calorics, 
and in the fabrication of nitric ether 6,000 calorics. Nitric 
ether being inexplosible, the greater explosibility of nitro- 
benzine can be explained by the 1,700 calorics—M. Milne 
Edwards presented, in the name of M. Joly, a paper on a 

transformation. which /Padizgeura virgo undergoes before its 
final metamorphosis. These intermediate and imperfect meta- 
morphoses are less scarce and exceptional than was supposed— 
M. Ledillat, who is a very learned Arabic scholar, as well asa 
very good astronomer, sent a paper to support his previous 
assumption relative to the immense number of Arabic words 
which are to be found inthe French language. His views will | 
be supported by every Frenchman acquainted with the Arabic 
language, and there are a good many owing to the occupation 
of Algiers, and all these Arabic etymologies were omitted syste-— 
matically by M. Littré in his great Etymological Dictionary.— | 
An electro-magnetic machine on a new plan for exciting con- | 
tinuous currents was exhibited on the 17th by M. Gramme, who | 
was highly pratsed by M. Jamin. M. Bazin raised a claim for 
the priority of the invention, and a paper placed by him in the 
hands of the perpetual secretary in the sitting of the 1oth July 
was opened. The description given by him is similar. But | 
the construction of M. Gramme’s machine was certainly in full 
operation by that time.—We learn with much concern that M. 
Saigey, a very clever philosopher and mathematician, who had © 
contributed many very valuable papers to the Comptes rendus, 
arl to several scientific periodicals, and who was the author of 
many interesting books on scientific matters, died from actual 
want during the Communist insurrection. He was found dead 
in his room on the 19th of May, after having been left unassisted 
during more than three days. M. Saigey was a genuine free _ 
thinker and a Republican by heart. He was expelled from the 
Normal School when twenty-four years old, under the Bourbons, 
in consequence of his liberal opinions. He remained tre to his 
colours during his whole life, had never a single appointment 
from the State, and died of starvation when seventy-four years 
old. 
July 31.—M. Faye in the chair.—M. Lacazes-Duthiers — 
was elected a member by a large majority to fill the room 
of M. Longet. The new academician is a very accurate 
observer, who inaugurated his scientific career by discover- 
ing the extraordinary reproductive system of corals by the 
inspection of corals living on the Algerine sea coasts. Every 
year he has spent his summers~at some sea-side station in order 
to enlarge his knowledge of inferior organisms. He will be a 
very useful member.—The election for a free member will take 
place on August 7. M. Belgrand, a meteorologist and an 
engineer, will very likely be returned. Some opposition is ex- 
pected, although according to every probability it will not be 
successful.—aA letter from M. Janssen was read with respect to 
the observation of the next total eclipse, but the discussion was 
postponed till after the next meeting of the Section of Astro- 
nomy, which intends to propose an expedition. 

r 




BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGuiisH —Handbook of British Fungi, 2 vols.: M. C. Cooke (Macmillan 
and Co.).—Sir Isaac Newton's Principia, edited by Sir W. Thomson and H. 
Blackburn (Glasgow: J. Maclehose).—A Digest of Facts relating to the 
Treatment and Utilisation of Sewage, 2nd edition. W. H. Corfield (Mac- 
millan and Co.).— The Estuary of the Firth and Adjoining Districts Viewed 
Geologically : D. M. Home (Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas). 


CONTENTS Pace 
THE ORGANISATION OF Locat ScrenTIFIC EFFORT, . . . . . . 28% 
RENGSEE Vis “7ATLASTOe) se ce Bg tae Renee 282 
Quz Boom Sure... % 7. 5. Se a Ae) ee 284 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Science Teaching in Schools, &e.—W. M. Wittrams, F.C.S. 285 
Cramming for Examinations.—T. A.ORME . . alnrenara 285 
Volcano near Celebes.—A. B. MEYER . . . « 286 
NOTES) ce os) eee ete are a Om TeCe iets Ae Ce a SS 
Tue British AssoctaATION,—EDINBURGH MEETING, 1871 . . - 288 
Section A —Sectional Proceedings . a Hw @ ROX 
Section B.—Sectional Proceedings . . . . . 0 291 
Section C.—Sectional Proceedings ceo, oe oes « « 292 
Section D —Opening Address by Prof. ALLEN THOMSON. . . 293 
Section E,—Opening Address by Col. H. Yutr,C.B. . . . . 297 
Secticn F.—Opening Address by Lord Neaves . . . , 298 
Screntiric INTELLIGENCE FROM AMERICA . 298 
SOCIETIES AND/ACADEMIESEE cetcs (3) calcul eres o} ene sOR 
BOoks RECKIVED), \c\nremes cite Gxt ludeet © « “er 300: 

