320 



NATURE 



{Feb. 1 8, 1875 



sloped like the tunnel, and like it was covered with dcby'ts. At 

 the lower side they were about 60 ft. below their landing-place, 

 and therefore about 240 ft. beneath the surface. The entire 

 roof and walls of this cavern were covered with splendid stalag- 

 mitic deposits. From the roof were hung fine stalactites, whilst 

 the sides were covered with almost every conceivable form of 

 deposited carbonate of lime. In some places it was smooth and 

 white as marble, in other places like frosted silver, whilst the 

 rougher portions of the rock were clothed with all sorts of fan- 

 tastic shapes glistening with moisture. From this cavern no 

 opening of any length or depth was found save the one by which 

 the party had entered it. There can be no doubt, the author 

 believes, that this chasm has been formed by the chemical action 

 of carbonic acid in water, and that it ha5 attacked this particular 

 spot either from the unusual softness of the rock originally situ- 

 ated here, or because there was here a joint or shrinkage in the 

 strata. There is nothing, however, in the position of Elden Hole to 

 lead one to suppose that any stream has ever flowed through it ; 

 no signs of such a state of things appear anywhere around. It 

 is not related to any valley or ravine, or to any running water, 

 and there is, as observed, an absence of any well-defined exit for 

 water at the bottom. No mechanical action of a flowing stream 

 can therefore have assisted the process of enlargement. The 

 author thinks it must be due to the gradual silent solvent pro- 

 perties of rain-water falling on the surface, and escaping through 

 jointings and insignificant channels in the hard rocks below. 

 Whether the excavation took place from above or below is un- 

 certain. — Certain lines observed in snow crystals, by Arthur W. 

 Waters, F.G.S. 



Glasgow 



Geological Society, Jan. 14. — Mr. John Young, F.G.S., 



vice-president, in the chair. — Mr. D. Bell read a paper on the 



geology of .Switzerland, embodying some observations made 



during a recent visit to that country. 



Philosophical Society, Dec. 2. — Physical Section. — The 

 following papers were read : — On the absence of air and water 

 from the moon, by Mr. Francis Napier. — Experiments on fluid 

 jets and induced currents, by Mr. Alex. Morton. 



Dec. 16. — On an apparatus for testing the lubricating powers 

 of various liquids, showing some hitherto unrecognised facts at 

 variance with the commonly received laws of friction, by Mr. 

 R. D. Napier. — On the effect of Loch Katrine water on various 

 metals, by Mr. Jas. R. Napier, F. R. S. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, Feb. S. — M. M. Fremy in the 

 chair. — The following papers were read: — A remark by M. 

 Puiseux on M. Genocchi's paper read at the last meeting with 

 regard to the existence of the integral in equations with partial 

 derivatives. — A letter from M. Janssen, dated Kompira-Yama 

 (Japan), Dec. 10, 1874, describing the general results of the 

 observations of the Transit of Venus. The first part of the 

 letter shows that the jiarty of observers suffered much from 

 bad weather during their installation at Kompira-Yama, near 

 Nagasaki. During a heavy gale one of the equatorials was 

 completely destroyed, the telescope and micrometer broken, but 

 their outfit was excellent, and before the day of the transit 

 arrived they were able to repair all the damage done. Both the 

 first outer and inner contacts, as well as the second inner one, 

 were successfully observed, and only the last outer one missed 

 through clouds. No black drop appeared at the sun's limb, 

 although M. Janssen remarks that a considerable time elapsed 

 between the moment when the first inner contact appeared 

 geometrically perfect and the re-appearance of a fine line of 

 sanlight beyond the disc of Venus ; this M. Janssen ascribes to 

 the planet's atmosphere. — On the general theorems of the dis- 

 placement of a plane figure on its plane, by M. Chasles. — A 

 note, accompanied by the presentation of an autograph mathe- 

 matical treatise, by M. Faye. — On the magnetisation of steel 

 rods provided with armatures, by M. J. Jamin. — A note by M. 

 Chevreul on M. Menier's paper, read at the last meeting, 

 on the pulverisation of manures and the best means to in- 

 crease the fertility of soils. — A memoir by M. Des Cloiseaux, 

 on the bi-refractive and characteristic optical properties of tlie 

 four principal triclinic felspars, and a process to distinguish them 

 immediately from each other ; four felspars the author treats of 

 are albite, oligoclase, labradorite, and anorthite. — On an easy 

 method to determine tlie latitude of a place without instruments 

 and with sufficient correctness, by M. d'Avout ; the method is 



based on the observations of the shadows of two points situated 

 in a vertical at known distances, projected upon a horizontal 

 plane, the observations being made both before and after the 

 sun's passage through the meridian. — On the fertilisation of 

 Basidiomycetes, by M. P. van Tieghem. — A note on M. Men- 

 deleef's new balance, by M. Salleron. — On rolling-curves ob- 

 tained by photography, by M. Huet ; an ingenious process to 

 note down permanently the curves described by ships rolling 

 in heavy seas. — On a new electro-magnet, formed by concentric 

 tubes separated by layers of conducting vrire, by M. J. Camacho. 

 — On the place to be given to Gymnosperms in natural classifi- 

 cation, by M. L. LeroUe. — Several communications on Phyl- 

 loxera, by MM. Lichtenstein, Boutin, Hemmerich, and others. 

 — A note by M. C. Guerin, on an electric pile similar to Bun- 

 sen's, but in which zinc would be replaced by iron. — A note by 

 M. G. Peyras, on the use of fumigations to combat murrains. — 

 A letter from M. Fua, with reference to his former communica- 

 tions on,the means to prevent explosions in coal-pits. — A note by 

 M. Houze de I'Aulnoit, on articular immobiUsation applied to 

 the dressings of the amputated. — MM. Henry and Baillaud 

 communicated their observations of planet (141), made at the 

 Paris Observatory. — On the existence of integrals of any system 

 of differential equations, by M. C. Meray. — A note on his 

 paper, read at the last meeting, on the molecular equilibrium of 

 a solution of chrome alum, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. — On 

 the action of hydrate of baryta upon certain mineral and organic 

 compounds contained in beet-products, by M. P. Lagrange. — • 

 On so-called rooty beetroot, by M. C. Violette. — On the peri- 

 pherical nervous system of marine Nematoidea, by M. A. Villot. 

 — An account of experiments made by M. Philipeau, showing 

 that the paps extirpated from young pigs will not regenerate. — • 

 General Morin presented to the Academy a new part of the 

 Riinie d'A?'lillc'rie, published by order of the War Minister, and 

 made some remarks on the contents. 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 



British.— Marsden's Numismata Orientalia : E. Thomas, F.R.S. (Trub- 

 ner). — Anleitung zu Wissenschaftlichen Beobachtungen auf Reisen: Dr. G. 

 Neumayer (Triibner).— Number ; a Link between Divine Intelligence and 

 Human : Charles Glrdlestone, M A. (Longmans). — Weinhold's Introduction 

 to Experimental Physics. Translated and edited by Benj. Loewy, F.R.S. 

 (Longmans).— Heredity and Hybridism: Edward \V. Cox, S.L. (Long- 

 mans).— 'I he Cone and its Sections treated Geometrically: S. A. Renshaw 

 {Hamilton, Adams, and Co ) — Statistical Society Almanack for 1875 (£. 

 Stanford). — Animal Phvsiology ; the Structure and Functions of the Human 

 Body: John Cleland, M.D., F.R.S (Wm. Collins).— Physical Geography: 

 John Young, M.D., L.R.C.S. (Edin.), F.G.S., F.R.S.E (Wm. Collins).— 

 Proceedings of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool. — Six 

 Months among the Palm Groves. Coral Reefs, and Volcanoes of the Sandwich 

 Islands: Isabella L. Bird (Murray).- Humboldt's Natur-und Reisebilder : 

 C. A, Euchheim, Ph.D., F.C.P. (F. Norgate).— An Introduction to Human 

 Anatomy, including the Anatomy of the Tissues : Wm. Turner, M. B. (A. and 

 C. Black).— Lessons in Elementary Mechanics: Philip Magnus, B.Sc, B A. 

 (Longmans).— Fungi : their Nature, Influence, and Uses : M. C. Cooke, 

 M.A., LL D. Edited by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. (Henry 

 S. King and Co.) 



CONTENTS Pagb 



The Loan Collection of Scientific Instruments . . . j . . 301 



Cave-Hunting (^IVtlh Illustration) 302 



Our Book iHSL?:— 



Darwin's " Descent of Man " 305 



Newton's *' Zoology " 305 



Marine Boulder Clay, and other Deposits.— Principal J. W. 



Dawson, F.RS 306 



The Transit of Venus.— E. W. Pkingle {IVith I Ihtstraiion) . . 306 ■ ■ 



Ants and Bees.— Alfred George Renshaw 3C6 ^Bj 



On the Value ot the so-called Chameleon Barometer as an Hygro- ^1 



meter. — A. Percy Smith 307 '^| 



Phosphoius and Carbon Disulphide.— Chas. T. Whithell. . . 307 ^B 



The Ivlicrographical Dictionary — Pollen Grains. — M. C. Cooke , 307 ^H 



Our Astronomical Column : — ^|| 



Variable Stars 308 ■ , 



Occultation of Antares 308 



Encke's Comet 308 



Winnecke's Comet 308 



Mr. Hamilton's String Organ. By Lord Rayleigh. F.R-S. . . 308 

 Ice Phenomena in the Lakh District. By J. Clifton Ward 



{IVit/t Illtistrations) qoo 



Science at Banbury 310 



The Edinburgh Botanical Society 311 



The Recent Storms in the Atlantic. By W. de Fonvielle . . 312 



Notes ... , . . . 312 



The Past and Future Work of Geology, II. By Prof, Prestwich, 



F.R.S 315 _ 



Scientific Serials 317 



Societies and Academies 318 



Books and Pamphlets Received 320 



