320 
NATURE 
[Aue.14, 1871 

mounds were made by Indians of Tupi descent. He thinks, on 
the other hand, that there are many resemblances between the 
pottery of Marajo and that of Peru and North America that are 
well worth study. 


SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
Paris 
Association Scientifique de France July 29.—M. 
Leverrier in the chair. The meeting took place in the hall of 
the Society for the Encouragement of National Industry, in the 
Rue Bonaparte, an1 was the first meeting since M. Leverrier was 
Director of the National Observatory. Subsequently to his dis- 
missal an Imperial decree, dated July 13, 1870, had proclaimed 
the association to bz an institution of public interest ; but no 
meeting took place in consequence of the events of the war. 
The number of members amounts to ten thousand, subscribing 
eight shillings each, and the funds of the society are to be em- 
ployed in promoting scientific experiments. The society is 
governed by a standing committee. M. Glais Bizoin, a member 
of the delegate government, M. Barral, the celebrated agriculturist, 
and many o-her scientific gentlemen, are counsellors. Many 
of the sabscriptions were discontinued during the war, and 
it is expected that not a few members will resign, owing to the 
pressure of the times ; but an active propagandism is contem- 
plated. The national exchequer being impoverished by the war 
indemnity, and every scientific expense being curtailed or sup- 
pressed, much is to be hoped from private exertions for saving 
France from scientific degradation. It is rumoured that the 
laboratories established at the Sorbonne and other public estab- 
lishments by the Empire duciag M. Duruy’s ministry will be closed 
for want of money.—M. Sanson, the general secretary, read a 
report adopted by the council at the meeting of July 18, which 
was also adopted by the General Assembly. Every member is 
asked jmost earnestly to pay at once all the contributions in 
arrear, and the contributions which become due up to the month 
of March 1872. In doing so the Association will be enabled 
to enlarge the field of its opepations, and to start with new life. 
The Association publishes every month a periodical, which is 
sent free to all its members, and is sold at the very low price of 
2s, 6¢. a year. This periodical publishes the account of the 
monthly meetings, as well as much scientific news of general 
interest. It was resolyed that the immediate attention of the 
Association should be devoted to the determination of the reports 
of the amount of rain in France, a subject of the highest im- 
portance for all agricultural purposes ; and to the observation of 
falling stars, a subject not less useful for the science of the consti- 
tution of the earth. The meteorological correspondents of the 
Society are instructed to notice the variations in the distribution 
of rain, which can be attributed to the presence of woods or 
the’r destruction, for agricultural purposes, as well as any facts 
relating to the pluviometrical history of the country. A special 
instruction is to be sent to those who have volunteered for the 
observation of falling stars, everyone is to be qualified by a pre- 
vious instruction in the knowledge of the constellations. The 
society published two or three years ago special maps, similar to 
the maps published by the British Association for the same pur- 
pose, but differing in many important details. M. Pierret, the 
director of the telegraphic lines, has given strict orders that 
telegraphic lines could be made use of for the comparison of the 
cironometers used in the stations. The exchange of telegrams will 
tike place on the 9th, roth, and rith August, at four o’clock in 
the evening, and at eight in the morning, between the different 
places, where temporary observations are to be made. Paris, 
Eyrecy (Calvados), Mans, Chartres, Rochefort, Poitiers, Bor- 
deaux, Limoges, Toulouse, La Guerche, Montpellier, Marseilles, 
Tournus, Lyons, Barcelonette, Toulon, Nice, Genoa, Turin, 
Bayonne, Agde : twenty-one stations and several in Italy or in 
Spain in connection with the French system, Competent calcu- 
lators are to reduce and compare observations. If the funds of 
the Society are sufficient, the labours will be paid for. The watch 
will bekept during the nights from 9-10, 10-11, 11-12. M. Leverrier 
will revise the calculations, give the proper directions for observa- 
tions and draw the general report.—M. Bert, who was formerly a 
prefect at Lille during the investment of Paris, has resumed his 
labours at the Jardin des Plantes, and read a very able paper on 
respiration.—M. Dagrou, a photographer, who escaped from 
Paris by balloon, read a paper on microscopic photograph, 
which he organised at Tours‘and at Bordeaux, The photograph 


is executed on a film of collodion, which he calls a pellicle, and 
which is lighter than paper ; it is, besides, perfectly homogenous, 
and can be submitted to very powerful instruments. M. Dagrou 
obtained extraordinary effects, which can be judged from the 
following facts. Tach pellicle has a weight of less than 3'; of a 
gramme, and the matter photographised on it is sufficient to fill 
from twelve to sixteen folio pages of ordinary print. A single 
pigeon carries 50,000 messages, weighing less than a gramme. 
Daring the investment of Paris 115,000 messages were sent in 
succession, but several of them were sent fifteen times. The 
total number of messages sent, counting each repetition a new 
one, was 2,500,000 ; of the carrier-pigeons very few found their 
way to Paris, and these ‘chiefly at the end of the investment. 
But owing to the repetition system, almost every message was 
received. Some of them were late, it is true, several carrier- 
pigeons having returned in February only. Observations are 
asked for a large bolide of the 19th of July, which might possibly 
have been observed in England. 


BOOKS RECEIVED 
Encuisu —A Course of Natural Philosophy: R. Wormell (Groombridge 
and Sons).—An Elementary Course of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 
2nd edition : R. Wormell (Groombridge and Sons). 
AMERICAN.—Twentieth Annual Report of the Regents of the University 
of the State of New York on the Condition of the State Cabinet of Natural 
History..—Annual Report of the Board of Regen's of the Smithsonian Jnsti- 
tution, 1869.— Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1869.—Monthly 
Reports of the Department of Agriculture for 1870.—Reports on the Diseases 
of Cattle in the United States. 
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
EnGuisu.—Life and the Equivalence of Force, pt. u. ; Nature of Force 
and Life: J. Drysdale —On the Undercurrent of the Ocean: Capt. Spratt. 
—Lisdoonvarna Spas and Sea-side Places of Clare: Dr. Mapother.—Ab tract 
of the Reports of Survey, and of other Geographical Operations in India, 
1869-70.—On Recent Investigations and Applicaticns of Explosive Agents : 
Prof F. A. Abel.—Reply to Prof. Allen Thomson’s Address to the British 
Association (Section D): R. H. Collyer.—Review of the Lazce?’s article on the 
History of Anzsthetic Discovery: R. H Collyer.—Mysteries of the Vital Ele- 
ment: R. H. Collyer.—John Hampden Triumphant.—A Shilling’s Worth of 
Political Economy: N, A. Nicholson.—Brazilian Republican Address.—Hand- 
book of Devonshire : Exeter. 
AMERICAN AND CoLonraL.—On the Evidence of a Glacial Epoch at the 
Equator: Prof. J Orton.—Vhe Huron Race and its Head-form: D. Wilson, 
Note on the Spectrum of the Corona: Prof. C. A, Young-—The Western 
Educational Review, July.—Embryological Studies on Drplax, Perithemis, 
and the Thysanurous genus Inostoma: A. S. Packard, junr.—Volcanic Mani- 
festations in New England: W. T. Brigham.—Proceedings, Communication, 
and Bulletin of the Essex Institute; a parcel.—Proceedings of the Albany 
Institute, vol. 1, pt. r.—In Memoriam Francis Peabody.—On Insects inhabit- 
ing Salt Waters, No. 2: A. S. Packard, jun.—Bristle-tails and Spring-tails: 
A.S. Packard, jun.—List of Insects collected at Pebas, Equador: A. S. 
Packard, jun.—Early Stages of Ichneumon Parasites: A.S Packard, jun.— 
Morphology and Ancestry of the King Crabs: A. S. Packard, jun —Embryo- 
logy of Limulus Polyphemus: A. S. Packard, jun—Catalogue of the Bala:- 
nidz of California :—A. S. Packard, jun. 
ForeiGn.—Bulletin Mensuel de la Société d’Acclimatation —Sulla influenza 
delle materie minerali, nei processi nutritivi dell’ organismo umano: Dr. G. 
Polli. 


CONTENTS Pace 
THE STATE AND THE INDIVIDUAL . ~ + + 0 « 0 «© «© « © « OX 
MACNAMARA ON (CHOLERA [2050 50) 69% os! 0 sis. 6 1s) le ms el ge 
OURSBOOKISBELE: fej yettelie, ei Zeb ce) (o) cele in) ire) ist ne OS 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Ocean! Currents.—J° CRoOUT., at ew) ie) ee oe a) 
The August Meteors.—J.E. CrarK . 2 3 2 8. 6) oe ls) god 
DaylightsAuroras.— J) QUGAS| 2 5) fic) 0 Gy oe OS 
The late Thunderstorm.—W. M. Roberts . . .. . +. «+ 305 
Sir William Thomson and the Origin of Life . . . . . +. . 305 
Meteorology at Natal.—Lieut. VincENT ERSKINE . . . - « ~ 305 
Onithe:Colours/ofithe Sea——Ja)s LAK Eie) (eerie) j= te) een eC 
Origin of Cyclones.—J. J. Murpuy, F.G.S. . . . - . . .» +» 305 
Saturn’s’Rings) i) vey at iat gah ocm lorie Retr teteamen eat ae aE 
Extinction of the Moa.—J. MeLtvin . . . . . . » =. ~s « 300 
INODES te) site oe ee se eo) 
Tue Gun-cotton ExpiLos:ion At Stow MARKET. .« 
Penpucum AutToGcrapus. I. By H. Airy (With Illustrations) . a 
Tue British AssociATION.—EpINsuRGH MEETING, 1874 . . « + 313 
Section A.—Sectional Proceedings Ae Se cimc, e ey 
Section B.—Sectional Proceedings . . ......+ +. + 316 
Section C.—Sectional Proceedings . .- ...-+.+-+.+ « s 3% 
Section D.—Sectional Proceedings . . . . . . ..»s « = 3Y7 
Section G —Opening Address by the President, Prof. FLEgMING 
S]ENICIN, Kaktooe laltemnete fe Ano) ce at eee ee ee 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS "(a toudben nese «tm. eltee eee eee te EK) 
SOCIETIES AND ‘ACADEMIES ge iyasie | wy cel ber os (ores irene AS 
Books AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED . . » « » « « © © « © « 320 

