460 



NA TURE 



{Aprils, 1875 



rent barometrical pressures, by M. P. Bret.— On the ernbryogeny 

 of Lamellaria paspicua, a species of Gasteropoda, by M. A. 

 Giard.— On the influence of the nervous system upon the respira- 

 tion of insects, with special reference to Dythais margiitalis, hy 

 M. E. Faivre. — On a new electro-medical galvanoscope, by M. 

 J.Morin. — A rote by M. L Hugo, on the scientific basis of the 

 decimal and metric system,— A memoir by M. L. A. Raimbert, 

 on the treatment of carbuncles by sub-cutaneous injections of anti- 

 virulent liquids.— A memoir by M. Barot, on an apparatus with 

 continuous and graduated extension for the treatment of fractured 

 legs.— M. Churchill then made some communications relating to 

 cholera, and MM. Crussard and Molins some on Phylloxera.— 

 Through M. Jo,se da Silva Mendes-Leal, the Portuguese Minister, 

 the Academy received an original letter irom Senor Manoel 

 Godinho de Ileredia, indicating the discovery of Australia 

 by the Portuguese.— M. Boussingault then read a transla- 

 tion which he had made of this letter, and M. de Lesseps 

 made some highly interesting observations on the same sub- 

 ject.— A note by M. Langley, director of the Alleghany 

 Observatory, on the relative temperature in different solar 

 regions. This is the first communication on the subject, and 

 it treats principally of the temperature of the black nuclei of 

 sun-spots.— A note, by M. Maurice Levy, on the theory of con- 

 tinued straight beams.— On the equations of the fifth degree, by 

 M. Brioschi.— A memoir, by M. Max. Marie, on the classifica- 

 tion of cubical integrals of terminated volumes by algebraic sur- 

 faces ; geometrical definition of surfaces which are capable ot 

 algebraic cubature.— A note, by M. J . M. Gaugain, on the theory 

 of the processes of magnetisation. — On the molecular equilibrium 

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

 the boiling-point determinations of the chlorinated derivatives of 

 toluene, by M. G. Hinrichs.— M. Des Cloiseaux then presented 

 to the Academy an instrument constructed upon the indications 

 of M. Jannettaz, for the determination of the axes of ellipses in 

 crystals. 



March 29. — M. Frcmy in the chair. — The following papers 

 were read. — On the observations of temperature, made at the 

 Jardin des Plantes, during the meteorological year 1S74, 

 with the electiical thermometers, under naked and grass- 

 covered soils ; by MM. Becquerel and Edm. Becquerel. — 

 Researches on sugar beet-root, by MM. E. Fremy and P. P. 

 Deherain. — A note by M. Des Cloiseaux, on the pyroxenic 

 element in the rocks associated with platinum, in the Ural. — A 

 memoir by M. Boussingault, on the comparative analysis of 

 glutinous biscuits and some other feculent aliments. MM. 

 Thenard, Bouilland, and Chevreul then made some remarks on 

 this subject. — The Academy then nominated M. Joly as corre- 

 spondent to its section for Zoology and Anatomyin lieu of M. P. 

 Gervais, who was elected a member of the Academy ; and a num- 

 ber of commissions were nominated to supeiintend the compe- 

 titions for the different prizes of the Academy. — On the dissolu- 

 tion of hydrogen by metals and the decomposition of water by 

 iron, by M. L. Troost and P. Hautefeuille : researches treating 

 principally of iron, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. — On the 

 chemical equilibrium among gases : iodine and hydrogen, by 

 M. G. Lemoine. — A note by M. Fordos, on a quick way of 

 assaying solderings containing lead. — On the influence of the 

 roots ot living plants on putrefaction, by M. Jeannel. — On the 

 natural wells ol the^coarse limestone, by M. Stan. Meunier. — A 

 note by MM. Treve and Duiassier, on the relation existing 

 between the nature of steel and its coarcitive force. - A note by 

 M. Decharme, on a new means of producing sonorous vibrations 

 and phenomena of interference on mercury. — M. F. Garrigou 

 then made a communication of his new researches on the mineral 

 waters of the Pyrenees. — A memoir by M. Peaucellier, on the 

 application ot articulate systems ("a liaison complete") to the 

 arts and the sciences of observation. — M. J. J. Cazenave then 

 read an abridged history of the probes and uretro-vesicular 

 sounding instruments used up to the present day. — M.de Molon, 

 (5 propos of a recent communication of M. Menier, reminds the 

 Academy of his observations which prove the necessity of crush- 

 ing the nodules of phosphate of lime to render their use efficacious 

 in agriculture. -A note by M. J. Tardres, on the reflexion of 

 light— A note by M. Maillard, on the treatment of cholera. — 

 MM. B. Dugas, A. Momard, Barlhelemy, A. Bouteille, and 

 Dupoux, then made some communications on Phylloxera. — The 

 Minister for Foreign Affairs transmitted to the Academy a letter 

 from the French Consul at the Cape of Good Hope, announcing 

 the arri\al at Table Bay of the members of the Commission sent 

 by the Government of the United States to Kerguelen Island to 

 observe the Transit of Vim-s. The observations were generally 



successful, as well as those of the English party of observers at 

 the same island. — MM. Sivel, Croce'-Spinelli, G. and A. Tissan- 

 dier, and Jobeit, then announced the success of their balloon 

 ascent made on March 23 and 24, under the auspices of the 

 French Aeronautical Society. They remained twenty-two hours 

 and forty minutes in the atmosphere, and they hope shortly to 

 communicate to the Academ.y the scientific results of their obser- 

 vations and experiments — M. Dumas then produced before the 

 Academy the copy of a document existing in the archives of the 

 city of Paris, and discovered there by M. Read, relating to 

 Salomon de Caus, with a view to complete the information 

 regarding this sage, who died in Paris in 1626. — A note by 

 M. G. Fouret, on some consequences of a general theorem 

 relating to an implex and a system of surfaces. — A note by 

 M. Hugo Gylden, on a method to calculate the absolute 

 perturbations df comets. — On the residues of the seventh power, 

 by M. P. Pepin. — A note by M. Brioschi, on his paper 

 read at the last meeting on equations of the fifth degree. — • 

 On the relative temperature in the different regions of 

 the sun, by M. Langley. This is the second paper on this 

 interesting subject (the first was read at the last meeting), and 

 treats of the equatorial and polar regions. — A note by M. 

 Laguerre, on a theorem of geometry. M. Ossian Bonnet then 

 made some remarks on the subject. — On the error in Poncelet's 

 formula relating to the evaluation of areas, by M. Chevilliet. — On 

 the double interior reflection in doubly refractive uniaxial crystals, 

 by M. Abria. — Chemical researches on the uric group, by M. E. 

 Grimaux. — On the Amphipoda of the Gulf of RIarseilles, by M. 

 J. D. Ca^ta. — On the saline deposits in the lavas of the last 

 eruptions of Santorin, by M. F. Fouque. M. Ch. Sainte Claire 

 Deville then made some remarks on this paper. The same 

 gentleman presented to the Academy the meteorological observa- 

 tions made at Bareges, at the Plantade Station, and on the 

 summit of the Pic du Midi. M. H. Resal presented a new 

 publication of the Society of Civil Engineers of Great Britain, 

 and made some remarks upon it. — M. Chasles remarked on a 

 note of M. Genocchi a propos of a recent communication of M. 

 Roberts, on the expression of the arcs of Descartes' ovals in the 

 function of three elliptical arcs. 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 



British.— Report of the Thirteenth .A-nnual Meeting of the West Riding 

 Consolidated Naturalists' .Society, 1S74. — Annual Report of the Geologists' 

 Association, 1S74, together with List of Members and Catalogue of Library, 

 Laws of the Association, &c. (University College) — On the Establishment 

 in connection with the India Museum and Library, of an Indian Institute : 

 J. Forbes Watson, M.A., M.D. (William H. Allen and Co.) 



American — Remarks on the Family Nemophida: : F. W. Putoam (Boston 

 Society of Natural Histor>').— Remarks on the Mammoth Cave and some of 

 its Animals; Bulletin of the Ess " 



Foreign. — Les Fourmis de la Suisse, Neue Denkschriften : Auguste Forel 

 (Zurcher and Furrer. Ziirich) — Experiences sur la temperature du Corps 

 Humain dans I'acte de lascension sur les montagnes ; ist, 2nd, and 3rd 

 series : F. A. Forel (H. Georg, Geneve) — Unc Vari^ti; nouvelle ou peu 

 connuc de Gloire Etudi^e svtr ic lac Leman : Dr. F. A. Forel (Rouge and 

 Dubois, Lausanne).— Carte Hydrographique du lac Li-man : F. A. Forel.— 

 Note sur les tremblements de Terre en 1871 : Alexis Perrey (I'-^cademie 

 Royale de Belgique). — Uber das studium der Mineralogie auf den Deutschen 

 Hochshulen: Von P. Groth (Strasburg: Karl I Trubner).— Ergebnisse der 

 Beobachtungsstationen au den Deutschen Kusten iiber die physikalischen 

 Eigenschaften der Oztsee und Nordsee und di Fischerei, January 1874 

 (Berlin : Wiegandt, Humpel, and Parey). — Les Bois-Indigenes et Etrangers : 

 Adolphe E. Dupont and Bouquet de la Grye (Paris, J. Rothschild). 



CONTENTS Pace 



Smith's "Assyrian Discoveries" 441 



Bancroft's " Native Races of the Pacific States 442 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Quetelet's " Temperature of Brussels " 444 



Lewis and Cunningham on Cholera Agents 444 



Ocean Waves —Dr. J. W. Black (With Illustraiioli) .... 444 



Walker's System of Geometrical Conies.— C. Taylor 445 



Destruction of Flowers by Birds.— C. Rolekts 446 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Red Stars, &c 446 



The Comet of 1812 446 



Meteorology in England 446 



Dr. Beccari's Discoveries in Herpetologv 447 



Arctic Geology. By C. E. De Rance, F.G S. (IFiM ///;M/ra/iOT). 447 



The Progress of the Telegraph, 11. (fF;V/i ///wiCra/iowl ... 450 



Ellipse OF the Sun, April 6 452 



On THE Dissipation OF Energy. By Lord Rayleigh, F.R.S. . . 454 



Notes 455 



Societies and Academies 458 



Books and Paivtphlets Received 4^ 



