164 
teristic fossil plants of the Kulm and Upper Devonian forma- 
tions, by M. B. Renault. 
BERLIN 
Physiological Society, May 14.—Dr. Kossel reported on 
Experiments instituted by Dr. Raske in the chemical division of 
the Physiological Institute, under his superintendence, on the 
chemical composition of the brain of the embryos of horned 
cattle. The occurrence of definite chemical substances, for 
example, elastine, keratine, cerebrine, in altogether special 
tissues, made it appear desirable to establish whether, during 
the process of development, the chemical composition or the 
morphological structure was the primary. Seeing that the brain 
of the embryo was very lymphatic, the composition and quantity 
of the lymph, which saturated all tissues of the embryo, were 
first ascertained and subtracted from the collective mass. ‘The 
values found in two brains were compared with the results of 
the chemical investigation of brains carried out a considerable 
time ago in the laboratory of Prof. Hoppe-Seyler, The in- 
vestigation referred to had shown that the gray substance 
of the brain of full-grown cattle differed essentially from 
the white substance. ‘The gray substance, in the first place, con- 
tained but very little cerebrine, probably none at all ; the white 
substance, on the other hand, contained more than 9 per cent. 
of the dry material. The gray substance was further distin- 
guished from the white by its less amount of cholesterine and 
its greater quantity of albumen and extractives. In the defect 
in cerebrine, in the small amount of cholesterine, and in the 
copious supply of albumen and extractives, the brains of the 
embryos of horned cattle held exactly the same position as did the 
gray substance of grown-up brains, — It was only in the quantity 
of lecithine and of salts that the embryonal brains demonstrated 
any difference from the gray substance. The embryonal brain 
was, therefore, very essentially distinguished from the white 
substance—a phenomenon in harmony with the fact that in the 
embryonal brain medullated nerve-fibres were not met with.— 
Prof. Christiani handed in his book published last year, ‘* Zur 
Physiologie des Gehirns,” and added some statements in corro- 
boration of the view there set forth regarding the power of 
seeing on the part of rabbits after complete extirpation of 
Munck’s sphere of vision. Prof. Gudden and Prof. Luciani had 
also, he said, found animals which after such operations had 
yet the power of sight. He sharply defined the difference 
between Prof. Munk and himself by saying that the former 
maintained an animal mst be totally blind after excision of 
the sphere of vision on both sides, whereas his own observa- 
tions allowed him to take up the position only that an 
animal after such an operation might get totally blind.—Dr. 
Virchow communicated the results of the investigations carried 
out by Herr Canfield, in the Anatomical Museum, into the 
accommodation apparatus of a bird's eye. In order to get at 
a knowledge of the physiological process of accommodation 
in the highly developed bird’s eye, the anatomical substra- 
tum required to be gained. The investigation brought to light, 
in point of fact, a very long series of differences in the arrange- 
ment and development of the different formations of the appara- 
tus situate between cornea, sclera, lens, and iris, among the 
different species of birds, great horned owl, owl, starling, dove, 
goose, and others. These differences the speaker illustrated by 
drawings, but no physiological explanation of them had yet 
been arrived at.—-Dr. Gossels had made experiments regar 
ing the secretion of nitrates through the urine in men and 
birds (duck and fowl), the nutriment administered having been 
in every case the same, nitrates being in some instances given, 
and also in some instances not given. By these experiments it 
was demonstrated that, in the case of animals secreting uric 
acid, a large part of the nitrates that had been partaken was again 
excreted, but that a still larger part disappeared in the body. 
As to what became of these latter nitrates, the speaker was not 
disposed to set up any hypothesis. —Prof. Zuntz, referring to the 
latter point, observed that several years ago it had been noticed 
in his laboratory that, after partaking of nitrate of ammonia, 
animals exhaled free nitrogen. A part at least of the nitrates, 
therefore, in accordance with this observation, was decomposed 
in the body and reduced to free nitrogen. 
STOCKHOLM 
Geological Society, March 4,—Hr. C. W. Crongvirt gave 
an account ofthe formation of iron ochre in some little lakes in 
the province of Helsingland. The lakes drew their water from 
NATURE 
| The Determination of the Index of Refraction of a 
a 
? 
(¥une 17, 1886 
the surrounding iron-containing streams. The yellow ochre 
seemed to collect on the clay, and the brown on the sand-bottom 
of the lakes. A factory has been started for its utilisation,— 
Prof. W. C. Brogger gave an account of the Olenell zone of 
North America, maintaining that this zone, with its peculiar — 
fossils, which in several instances seemed to be the original 
types for varieties subsequently appearing, did in America—as 
well as had been long known to be the case in Scandinavia— 
occupy a very low place in the geological strata below the true 
Paradoxide slate. —Hr. F. Tegraus gave an account of his studies 
of the glacial formations on the Island of Gothland, in the 
Baltic. He stated that blocks and drifts proved that the 
glaciers had first moved in a south-westerly and afterward 
in an easterly direction. He.had never found true ridges on the 
island, but certainly shore-terraces and terminal moraines.— Hr, 
IE, Svedmark exhibited a specimen of argyrodite sent by Prof. 
Norkenskjéld, which contains the newly-discovered element 
germanium. 
a | 
BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 
“Habit in Education,” by I. A. Caspari (Heath, Boston).—“ Obser- 
vaciones Magnéticas y Meteorolégicas del Real Colegio de Belen,” Julio= 
Setiembre, 1885 (Habana).—*! Transactions of the Royal Trish Academ Re 
vol. xxviii., ‘‘ Science,” part 22, “ Alphabetical Catalogue of Earthquakes 
Recorded as having occurred in Europe and Adjacent Countries,” by J. P. 
O'Reilly (Academy, Dublin).—“ Plane and Spherical ‘rigonometry,” by Hy 
B. Goodwin (Longmans).—‘ Studies from the Biological Laboratory,” vol. 
iii. No. 6 (Johns Hopkins University).—‘‘ First Lessons in Geometry,” by 
B. H. Rau (Addison, Madras).—** History of the Royal College of Surgeo: 
in Ireland,” by Sir C. A. Cameron, (Fannin, Dublin). —‘ Journal of the Royal 
Microscopical Society,"’ June (Williams and Norgate).—‘* Bees and Be 
keeping,” part ro, by I’. R. Cheshire (U. Gill). —'* British Cage-Birds,” p 
ro, by R. S$. Wallace (U. Gill), —‘ Fancy Pigeons,”’ part 10, by i: C. Lyell 
(U. Gill). —‘' A New Chapter in the Story of Nature,”’ by C. b. Raddliffe 
(Macmillan).—‘' An Introduction to General Pathology,” by J. B. Sutto’ 
(Churchill), —“ The Elementary Principles of Electric Lighting,’’ by A. 
C, Swinton (Lockwood).—" Journal of the Society of Telegraph-Engineers 
and Electricians,’ No. 61, vol. xv. (Spon).—‘' British Journal of Petro 
graphy,’’ June, by J. J. H. Veall (Watson, Birmingham).—“ The Ary; 
Maori,” by E. Tregear (Didsbury, Wellington, N.Z.).—‘‘ Catarrh of thi 
Upper Air-Tract,”” by Dr. S. Sexton (Vail, New York).—‘ The Terraces 
Rotomahans by “F. Cowan (Brett, Auckland).—‘ A Visit in Ve) 
to Halemaumau,” by F. Cowan (Honolulu).—‘ Australia, a Charcoal 
Sketch,” by F. Cowan (Greensburg, Pa.).—‘' Labour Differences and th rt 
Settlement,”’ by J. D. Weeks (New York).—‘‘ Torpedoes for National Di 
fence,”’ by W. H. Jaques (Putnam, New York).—‘‘ City of Coventry F 
Public Library, Report of Committee, 1885.’’"—‘* Ichthyol und Resorein,” 
by Dr. P. G. U nna (Voss, Hamburg). 
CONTENTS 
Earthquakes and other Earth-Movements, 
Major Allan Cunningham, R.E. ........ 
Frictional Electricity, 25 <2) 00) (cyte) jolie) oe 
Our Book Shelf :— 
“The Gallery of Marianne North’s Paintings of 
Plants and their Homes, Royal Gardens, Kew” . 
Letters to the Editor :— 
The Thomson Effect. —Prof. J. D. Everett, F.R.S. 
Black Rain. —Rev. S. J. Perry, F.R.S...... 
Meteor.—R, Strachan, . . oa! ae 
« Arithmetic for Schools.”—The Reviewer; Rev. 
John Bi Lock foo. ts 6) ro eR 
Pasteur's Researches: 0.) cj). 6). eet eee 
Lycopods., By Prof... O) Bower = a) 0) eee 
The United States Fisheries. .......+ 0.06 
Remarks on the Eggs of British Marine Fishes, By 
Prof. McIntosh aki kes. se vont iccnes cin sian 
The Hong Kong Meteorological Observatory. . . 
Cholera in its Relation to Water-Supply. By 
GeorgevHiggin <6 6 fo. 8 2 6. 2 ee 
INGtES Manic ere ees ke 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
The Melbourne Observatory . . 
Astronomical Phenomena for 
June 20-26. ... 
Geographical Notes . . . 
‘the Week 1886 
Fluid by Means of the Microscope. 
Amol ebe hy Go Ooo Doo Ga 2 a 6 
University and Educational Intelligence . .... 
Scientific Serials) < << cess je ol oie) le) ike) nen 
Societies and Academies. . .. ...+6..008 
Books anil Pamphlets Received ........-. 
By Gordon 
