May 12, 1870} 
NATURE 
a9 
opinion that the theory of “ unequal elevations,’”’ which had been 
proposed to account for these beds being found at so many 
different levels, was quite untenable, being a most objectionable 
and unphilosophical theory in every respect. He believed the 
true explanation was to be sought, not by supposing the beds to 
have been strictly contemporaneous, or formed at the same level, 
and afterwards “ unequally elevated,” but by considering them 
to have been successive, formed at different levels during the 
gradual sinking or rising of the land, as the depth of the sea, 
its freedom from ice, and other conditions, became favourable to 
the various forms of marine life, whose remains are found in the 
beds referred to.—Mr. John Young then exhibited some speci- 
mens of finely-laminated clay from the excavations in the College 
grounds, pointing out the traces of organisms which they pre- 
sented, some of which were supposed to be of Annelides, others 
of Crustacea. Arrangements for the society’s excursions during 
the summer months were afterwards announced, and the pro- 
ceedings terminated. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, May 2.—M. Le Verrier com- 
municated a note by M. Aoust on roulettes in general.—The 
following papers on physical subjects were read :—A memoir by 
M. Becquerel on the cause of the electrical effects produced by 
the contact of metals with distilled water, in which the author, 
after discussing the opinions of previous writers on the subject, 
and describing his experiments, comes to the conclusion that 
these effects are due to the reaction of the water upon the gases 
absorbed by the inoxidisable metals, whilst those furnished by 
oxidisable metals arise from the presence of a slight coat of oxide 
upon their surface, which renders them positive relatively to 
metals not so protected. By M. J. Jamin and M. Cornu, 
notes in opposition to the results obtained by M. Croullebois 
with regard to the index of refraction of water; and a 
a reply by M. Jamin to the recent note by M. Renou on the 
latent heat of ice. A memoir by M. Lecog de Boisbaudran on 
the constitution of luminous spectra, containing a comparison of 
the spectra of chloride, bromide, and iodide of barium, showing 
that an augmentation of mean wave-length in some degree pro- 
portional to the augmentation of molecular weight, is caused by 
the substitution of one halogen for another, as well as by the 
substitution of one metal for another. A continuation of M. P. 
Desains’ researches upon calorific spectra. A note by M. E. 
Bouchotte, communicated by M. E. Becquerel, on the estimation 
of the relation existing between the dynamic work expended and 
the quantity of electricity produced in Holtz’s machine, in 
continuation of a note upon the same subject presented in 
February last; and a note by M. Limouzin, presented by 
M. Bussy, relating to a communication by M. Duclaux on the 
formation of liquid drops, and remarking that the author, more 
than a year ago, presented to the School of Pharmacy an 
alcoholometric apparatus constructed upon the principle indi- 
cated by M. Duclaux.—A note by M. Lacoine, on the effects 
produced by the Aurora of the 5th April on the Turkish 
‘Telegraphic lines, was presented by M. Leverrier. The author 
observed a complete stoppage of transmission in the line from 
Pera to Semlin, the line being traversed by a strong current in 
the opposite direction, indicating a terrestrial current from north 
to south, —M. Descloizeaux presented a note on the crystalline 
form and optical properties of a compound of protochloride of 
platinum and triethylophosphine analogous to Magnus’s salt. — 
The following strictly chemical papers were also read :—A 
note by M. Morren to the president on the combustibility 
of the diamond, and the effects produced upon it by high 
temperatures. The author stated that when heated by means 
of common coal, or brought to a white heat in a current 
of coal gas, diamonds become blackened on the surface, but 
without change of weight ; with pure hydrogen no alteration is 
produced ; with carbonic acid they lose lustre and weight. He 
added that diamonds burn readily when exposed to the blow-pipe 
flame of a glass-blower’s lamp upon a piece of platinum, and 
that the whole substance does not burn with equal readiness, so 
that if the operation is interrupted, the surface of the residue 
shows numerous small equilaterally triangular faces belonging to 
minute octahedra, —A note on the solubility of chloride, bromide, 
and iodide of silver in salts of mercury, by M. H. Debray.—A 
memoir on a new process for the volumetric determination of 
copper, by M. F. Weil, communicated by M. Dumas. This 
process depends on the facts that in presence of an excess of 
free hydrochloric acid, and at a boiling temperature, the least 
trace of bichloride of copper gives a distinct greenish yellow 
tinge to its solution, and that under these circumstances proto- 
chloride of tin instantly converts the salts of binoxide of copper 
into colourless proto-salts. The termination of the reaction is 
determined by means of bichloride of mercury, which pro- 
duces the characteristic white precipitate of calomel with the 
slightest excess of chloride of tin.—A paper on the products of 
the fermentation of pyrotartaric acid and its homologues, by M. 
A. Bechamp. The author stated that as succinate of lime by 
fermentation furnishes butyric acid, with evolution of hydrogen 
and carbonic acids, its homologue, pyrotartaric acid, might also 
be expected to produce butyric acid, but that at the close of the 
operation the apparatus contains only carbonate of lime, whilst 
the gases evolved are carbonic acid and marsh gas. He also 
noticed the behaviour of several organic acids when fer- 
mented by means of chalk in presence of a small portion of 
flesh.—A note by the same author on the preparation of pyro- 
tartaric acid. He operates upon anhydrous tartaric acid mixed 
with pumice, and obtains about 20 per cent. of pyrotartaric acid. 
—A note by M. F, Pisani on the minerals obtained in the copper 
mine of Cap Garonne (Var) was communicated by M. Des- 
cloiseaux. These minerals are Adamine (of which the author 
gives analyses), Chalcophyllite, Lettsomite, Brochantite, Olivenite, 
Mimetese, Azurite, Malachite, and Barytine.—M. Prunieres for- 
warded some specimens of charcoal and carbonised wood, col- 
lected in the Lozére from a sedimentary deposit between granite 
and basalt, at a depth of 40 metres. Some of them bore remark- 
able notches, ‘‘ which will have to be studied from another 
point of view.”—M. Duméril communicated some obser- 
vations by M. E. Moreau, on the structure of the 
chorda dorsalis in Amphioxus lanceolatus. Appended to the 
chorda dorsalis in this fish, the author finds neurapophyses 
and hemapophyses; he also describes the sustaining pieces 
of the fins, especially the dorsal, which he regards as re- 
presenting fin-rays amalgamated with interspinous pieces.— 
M. Brongriart communicated a memoir by M. A. Gris, con- 
taining anatomical and physiological observations on the pith in 
ligneous plants. The author distinguishes three medullary ele- 
ments, namely, active, znert, and crystalligenous cells. When 
the first and third of these are present, he calls the pith 
homogeneous medulla ; the first and second constitute a hetero- 
geneous medulla, Fyrom the presence of starch in the active cells 
of the pith in large branches and trunks showing from eighteen 
to twenty-eight circles of growth, the author concludes that the 
supposed inertia of the medulla is by no means tertain. Ie 
regards it as an organ of reserve. 
BERLIN 
Royal Prussian Academy of .Sciences, January 6.— 
The following scientific paper was read:—On the theory 
of the newest Electrophorous machines and on supernumerary 
conductor. By M. Riess. 
January 17.—Professor W. Peters read a memoir on the 
Ductus pneumaticus of the lower jaw in the crocodile. 
February 10.—Professor W. Peters read a memoir on the 
African monitors and their geographical distribution, in which he 
indicated the synonymy and distribution of the following species :— 
Monitor niloticus, Hasselqu.; AZ. saurus, Laur, ; AL. albogularis, 
Daud. ; AZ. ocellatus, Riipp. ; JZ. exanthematicus, Bosc ; and AM. 
griseus, Daud, Headopts the Cuvierian name for the genus, as it 
is three years earlier than Merrem’s !aranus. Prof. Peters also 
read a contribution to the knowledge of the herpetology of South 
Africa, including a list of a few species of lizards, snakes, and 
batrachia, chiefly from Hantam, in the Calvinia district. A new 
species of gecko, Chondrodactylus angulifer, is described and 
figured by the author ; it is the type of a new genus, allied to 
Stenodactylus, but destitute of claws. The author also remarks 
upon the characters and synonymy of Agama hispida, Linn, ; A. 
atra, Daud. ; Zremias capensis, Smith ; and Luprepes vittatus, 
Oliy. ; and figures two small species of tree frogs, namely, 4r- 
throleptis Wahlbergii, Smith; and Hyperolius tuberilinguis, Sun- 
devall. He proposes to change the name of his Hemdactylus 
variegatus to H. picturatus.—A memoir by M. Kostka, on the 
determination of the ellipsoidal figure of equilibrium of a homo- 
geneous mass of fluid rotating round a fixed axis, when its den- 
sity and period of rotation are known, was presented by M. 
Weierstrass. 
February 14.—Professor Dove read a note on the compensation 
of the cold observed in Europe in January of the present year, 
by an unusual elevation of the temperature in America. —Pro- 
fessor Ehrenberg made a preliminary communication on the beds 
