268 
NATURE 
[Fuly 28, 1870 
tribution over the hill, and the kind of rocks on which 
they occurred.—Notes on some British Mosses. By Mr. Wm. 
Wilson. Mr. Wilson referred to the British species of 
Andrea, which he had revised for the second edition’ of 
his ‘‘Bryologia Britannica,” and especially to Diédymodon 
jenneri, a moss recently described and figured in the Society's 
Transactions. The latter he believed to be inno way specifically 
different from Cynodontium polycarpon. —On the Ferns found in 
the Valley of the Derwent. By Mr. T. W. Mawson. Mr. Maw- 
son enumerated twenty-eight species and varieties of ferns as 
indigenous to the Valley of Derwentwater, including Asplenzune 
germanicum, A, septentrionale, Hymenophyllum wilsont, Osmunda 
regalis, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Allosorus crispus, &e. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, July 18.—M. Bertrand communi- 
cateda paper by M. L. Painvin on the determination of the 
elements of the angle of inflexion of a developable surface de- 
fined by its tangential equations.—Several papers on physical 
subjects were presented, namely—an extract of a letter from M. 
De la Reve to M. Dumas on the magnetic rotatory powers of 
liquids ; further researches upon electro-capillary action, and on 
the formation of crystallised oxychloride of copper and other 
analogous compounds by M. Becquerel; a memoir on the varia- 
tions of temperature produced by the mixing of two liquids by M. 
H. Sainte-Claire Deville, in reply to the last communication by 
M. Jamin, and a reply by the same author to the criticisms of 
M. Jamin upon a memoir published in 1860 ; thermical researches 
upon the metallic character of hydrogen associated with palla- 
dium, and ona voltaic couple, in which hydrogen is the active 
_ metal by M. P. A. Favre ; and a note by M. F. Lucas, commu- 
nicated by M. E. Becquerel, on the possibility of obtaining fire 
signals visible at a great disrance, for which purpose the author | 
proposes to employ an electric spark generated by an apparatus | 
described by him.—M. de Saint-Venant presented a memoir on 
the elementary demonstration of the formula of propagation of 
a wave or intumescence in a prismatic canal, with yemarks on the 
propagation of sound and light, on ressaults, and on the distinc- 
tion of rivers and torrents.—A note was read by M. Sonrel on 
the photographic investigation of the sun at the Imperial Obser- 
vatory of Paris. —MM. Becquerel and E. Becquerel presented a 
note on the observations. of temperature made beneath the soil at 
the Garden of Plants from 1864-1870, by means of thermo-electric 
cables, with tables of results.—The following chemical papers 
were read :—Investigations upon the action of the chlorides of 
platinum, palladium, and gold upon the phosphines and arsines, 
by MM. A. Cahours and H. Gall ; a note on the decomposition 
of oxalic acid by M. P. Carles, communicated by M. Bussy ; and 
anote by M. J. Personne on the conversion of chloral into 
aldehyde, also presented by M. Bussy.—M. Combes presented a 
note by M. Flajolot on some crystallised compounds of the 
oxides of lead and antimony, and of oxide of lead with antimonic 
acid from tlhe province of Constantine, in Algeria.—A report 
was read from M. Pasteur on the results of the rearing of silk- 
worms from eggs prepared by processes of selection at Villa 
centina.—M. C. Robin communicated a note by M. A. Sanson 
on .be intvence of the rapid development of the bones upon their 
densi. ; and M. P. Balestra presented an account of his researches 
and experiments upon the nature and origin of marsh miasmata, 
from which he is inclined to believe that the miasmata of marshy 
places are jue to the spores of algze floating in the air, 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, June 17.—Dr. Kk. Exner 
communicated a memoir on the sensation of light.—M. J. Schu- 
bert communicated drawings and descriptions of a lamp and of, 
an electrical apparatus for producing sound.—M. Tschermak 
presented a report on the recent fall of a meteorite near Murzuk, 
in Fezzan.—M. K. Puschl presented a memoir on the amount of 
heat and the temperature of bodies. —A memoir on reflex action 
of the nasal mucous membrane upon respiration and the circula- 
tion of the blood, by Dr. Kratschmer, was communicated by 
Prof. E. Hering.—Prof. A. Winckler presented a memoir on 
the relations between the perfect Abelian integrals of different 
kinds.—M. von Littrow remarked upon the elements of Win- 
necke’s comet, as calculated by Dr. von Oppolzer. — Prof. 
Hlasiwetz communicated the results of a long series of experi- 
ments made by Dr. Weselsky on the formation of the chinones ; 
and Prof. A. Bauer noticed a compound of platinum and lead 
having the formula Pt + Pb. 
June 23.—The following memoirs were communicated by the 
i 
Secretary :—On the path of Hind’s comet (1847, I.), by Dr. K. 
Hornstein ; on similar conic sections, by M. E. Weyr; and 
two theories of the movement of free resting masses, by Dr. 
Recht.—Dr. L. J. Fitzinger communicated the third part of his 
critical revision of the family of the bats, including the genera 
Nyctinomus, Thyroptera, Lxahurus,  Cnephaiophilus, and 
Vesperus.—A memoir by Prof. G. Hinrichs (of Iowa), on the 
statistics of crystalline symmetry, was read, as also a note on the 
annual course of the temperature at Klagenfurt, Trieste, and 
Aryavaralja, by Dr. K, Jelinek. 
BERLIN 
Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, May 5.— 
Professor Ehrenberg read a communication on the increasing 
knowledge of invisible life in the rock-forming Bacillarie of 
California, 
May 12.— Professor Poggendorff read a memoir upon some 
new and remarkable properties of the diametrical conducters of 
the electrical machineand on a double machine founded upon 
these. This paper, which is of considerable length, is illustrated 
with a figure of the new double machine.—Professor W. Peters 
read a description, illustrated with figures, of P/atemys tuberosa, 
a new species of tortoise from British Guiana. 
May 19.—Professor Rammelsbeng read a paper on the compo- 
sition of the meteorites of Shalka and Hainholz, 
May 23.—Professor Ewald read a paper on some questions re- 
lating to the geology of the Andes. 
GOTTINGEN 
Royal Society of Science, April 6—A paper by M. W. 
Krauss on the anterior epithelium of the cornea was read. 
April 27.—M. A. Clebsch communicated a paper by Prof. C. 
Schweigger on the size of the ophthalmoscopic picture, and M. 
L. Meyer read a note on the occurrence of granular cells in the 
nervous centres. 
May 7.—Prof. Sartorius von Waltershausen read a memoir on 
the isomorphism of the sulphates of lead, baryta, strontian, lime, 
potash, soda, and ammonia.—Dr. M. A. Stern presented a 
simple proof of the law of quadratic reciprocity, and some pro- 
positions connected therewith.—M. A. Clebsch read a paper on 
certain problems of the theory of algebraic surfaces.—M. W. 
Klinkerfues presented a note of some investigations on the move- 
ment of the earth and sun in the ether.—Prof. Enneper read a 
paper on a problem of mathematical geometry, and Prof. 
Kohlrausch a notice of the influence of temperature on the 
coéfiicients of elasticity of certain metals. 
Boston 
Natural History Society, Sictfox of Entomology, March 
23.—Mr. S. H. Scudder in the chair. ‘‘Synopsis Fseudoscor- 
pionidum synonymica,” by Dr. H. Hagen.—Dr. Hagen stated 
that Dr, A. S. Packard, jun., had recently discovered in 
Brunswick, Maine, and in Salem, a species of Amphientomum, 
a genus of Neuroptera, whose body is covered with scales, and 
heretofore known only from Ceylon.—The following paper was 
read :—‘‘On the Synonymy of Zhecla Calanus,” by Samuel H. 
Scudder. 
CONTENTS PAGE 
NATURAL HisTORY IN'SCHOOLS ~~ =. % = 5 = «os seu eag 
Tne RELATIVE VALUE OF CLASSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC TraininG. By 
Prof. G. Rotieston, F.R.S. a ofa tle ten 8 a) | eR 
PAMPHLETS ON METEOROLOGY AND MaGnetism. By Dr. BALrour 
Srewanrt, F.R.S. CME See. AH eee eee S85 - 252 
Doxxkin’s Acousties. By Prof. C. Foster, F.R.S. 253 
Our Book SHELF. x Steere ts Pal . 253 
LETTERS TO THE EpiTor :— 
Spontaneous Generation.— Prof. L. 5. BEALE, F.R.S.. 254 
The Source of Solar Energy.—R. P. Gree . ate SA, re tae 
Choice of a Microscope.—Dr. M. Foster . . < ee iy 
Colour Blindness.—W. H.S. Monck .. . od io Sea 
Tue GuaTTARI ATMOSPHERIC TELEGRAPH . « . . « = + « « « 257 
On Deer-sea Crimates. By Prof. Wyvite Tuomson, F.R.S. (With 
Illustrations.) . oa DNs 2 Jol Roldea Mol Pat epi le, Suet aE 
NOTESHEM SMe fee Me Se aisles, relents. Fol in \ertea ene: lemma 
Hopkins versus DeELAUNAY. By Archdeacon J. H. Pratt, F.R.S. . 264 
SCKBNTIFIC SERIALS) 6) 6) sla: feel my el fiel te ie) ee 
SOclETIES AND ACADEMIES . . 2 «6 + + 6 « ss ee es s 265 
Erratum.—Page 235, second column, line 24, for ‘‘Caprera” read 
‘© Capri.” 
