May 25, 1S82] 



NA TORE 



aureole round the shade of the balloon, which remained visible 

 curing the whole of the excursion on the upper face of the 

 clouds. I explain this circumstance by the fact that the cloud 

 was formed by solid water and that the aureole was less easily 

 detected than when it is forme ! of yap u: , being less brilliant, 

 the same relation between these two phenomena existing for 

 uniaosity as between halos and rainbows. The aeronauts 

 laving remained at an altitude of two to three hundred metres 

 from the clouds, were unable to perceive the coloured rings 

 which were visible to me and M. Briss net, navigating only at a 

 few metres above similar legions of icy particles. It may have 

 also occurred that our friends were blinded by the light from the 

 sun, which at four o'clock was very powerful, and so detrimen- 

 tal to their eyes, that before entering the clouds they were 

 unable to look fixedly at the earth to ascertain their path. It is 

 the first time that 1 have heard of aeronauts having experienced 

 the want of col mred spectacles to inspect our planet. 



The new Eddystone Lighthouse, which replaces Smea ton's 

 famous work, built 120 years ago. was opened by the Duke of 

 Edinburgh last Thursday. 



Under date of Constantinople, May 17, an earthquake is 

 reported to have occurred in the island of Karp alios. 



The first number of a small | ring the title of 



Studies in Microscopical Science, and edited by the well known 

 preparer of microscopic object-, Mr. Arthur C. Cole, F. K.M.S., 

 "assisted by several eminent specialists," has just been pub- 

 lished. It consists of a description and lithographed figure of a 

 microscopical slide, which is issued, along with the description, 

 I ) subscribers. The subject of this first nuinl er is yellow fibro- 

 cartilage, and the preparation on the slide is a longitudinal 

 vertical section of the pinna of the cow's ear. It is double 

 >taincd in logwood and eosiu, and is a well-mounted and highly- 

 finished object. 'Ihe plate is fairly good, though perhaps a 

 little wanting in softness; it represents the secticn under a 

 magnifying power of 333 diameter-. The eight page- of de- 

 scriptive letterpress contain — I. The name of the object and its 

 etymology. 2. A very good description of the preparation 

 under different powers, and of yellow fihro-cartilage in general, 

 after the action of various reagents ; also a few remarks upon 

 its physiology. 3. An account of the different methods of pre- 

 paration which may be employed, with their respective advan- 

 tages and drawbacks ; and lastly what seems a very complete 

 bibliography of the subject. Altogether this first number has 

 been well carried out, and promises well for the rest of the 

 series. There is no doubt that if the subjects arc judiciously 

 chosen, this periodical will be a success, as it ought to be of 

 great use to students and amateur workers in ,-cience. It is a 

 pity that no list of the proposed ubjects is given. It would be 

 a decided advantage to know what the series for the present 

 year will probably be, but beyond the fac' that twenty-six histo- 

 logical will alternate with eighteen botanical, and eight | elro- 

 logical preparations, one issued each week, the prospectus tells 

 us nothing. 



A curious fact regarding a dragon-fly {.-Esc/ina cyanea. 

 Mull.), often met with near Florence, has been observed by 

 SignoT Stefanelli. There were several nymph- of the animal 

 in a cistern of water. Some which were near being transformed 

 cauie out of the water a little way during the night, and, attack- 

 ing several of the new-born perfect insects which had not yet 

 begun to fly, voraciously devoured them. This singular practice 

 (it is suggested) may explain why one finds such a small number 

 of ASschna cyanea, in comparison with the number of nymphs. 

 In rai-ing the larvae and nymphs of the dragon-Hie-, the best 

 food, according to Signor Stefanelii, is meat, and especially 

 fisb. 



The Queenwood College Mutual Improvement Society seems 

 to be an unusually active one. We have received a very favour- 

 able Report for the past term ; the work done is very varied, 

 and several of the lectures and papers have been published 

 separately in a neat form. 



From the Report of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society for the 

 pa-t year we learn that it is in a highly satisfactory condition. 



A new work, entitled " The Hall Marking of Jewellery Prac- 

 tically Considered," by George E. .Gee, author of " The Gold- 

 smith's Handbook," "The Silversmith's Handbook," &c, is 

 announced for immediate publication by Messrs, Crosby Lock- 

 wood and Co., Loudon. The work will include an account of 

 the Assay Towns of the United Kingdom, the Stamps at present 

 employed, and will deal fully with the Laws relating to the 

 Standards and the Marks at all the existing As-ay Offices, &c. 

 Ihe same publishers also announce a new and enlarged edition 

 of " The Manual of Colours and Dye Wares : their Properties, 

 Applications, Valuation, Impurities, and Sophistications," re- 

 vised and enlarged by the author, Mr. J. W. Slater. 



A revised edition of the rules for the International Fisheiies 

 Exhibition to be held at South Kensington next year, has been 

 issued. Among the prize essays are the following: — (1) 100/. 

 The Natural History of Commercial Sea Fishes of Great Britain 

 and Ireland, with special reference to such parts of their natural 

 history as bear upon their production and commercial use. Tuis 

 would include natural history, habits and localities, fi-h frequent 

 at different seasons, and artificial propagation. (This will not 

 Delude the Salmonidas.) (2) 100/. The effect of the existing 

 National ami International Laws for the Regulation and Protec- 

 tion of Deep Sea Fisheries, with suggestions for improvements 

 in said laws. (3) 100/. On improved facilities for the capture, 

 economic transmission and distribution of sea-fishes. Second. 

 Class Prizes (amount not determined) : — (1) On the introduction 

 and acclimatisation of foreign fish. (2) On the propagation of 

 freshwater fish, including Salmonidre. (3) On oyster culture. 

 (4) On the best means of increasing the supply of mussels and 

 other molluscs (oysters excepted) used either for bait or food. 



In a recent paper called " Le Grain du Glacier " {Arch, des 

 Sciences, April 15), Prof. Forel ably investigates the phenomena 

 of glacier-, developing a theory similar to Hugi's and Grad's, 

 and which he would rather designate by increase 0/ the crystalline 

 grain, than by dilatation. The crystalline grain is found to 

 increase as the glacier descends : from the size of a small nut at 

 the limit of the neve 1 , it becomes as big as a hen's egg at the 

 terminal part ; Prof. Foiel has seen grains at the lower end of 

 the Aletsch and other glaciers, 7 or 8 ctm. (over 3 in.) in the 

 longer diameter. He estimates the volume-increase at about 

 4i per cent, annually. Molecular affinity is the force which 

 augments the crystal at the expense of the water which has 

 penetrated the ma-s, circulating in capillary fissures. For details 

 of the theory, and meeting of objections, we must refer to the 

 original. Jutcr alia, Prof. Forel finds evidence 3gainst the view 

 (which is adverse to the dilatation theory), that the central tem- 

 perature of a glacier remains at zero, invariably and constantly, 

 lie considers the mean temperature of a glacier at the end of 

 winter to be somewhat less than seven degrees below zero C. 



The additions to the Zoolog'cal Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Macaque Monkey [Macacus cywmolgus) 

 from India, presented by Mr. F. Foreman ; a Collared Peccary 

 (Dicotylcs tajacu) from South America, presented by Mr. G. H. 

 Hawtayne, C.M.Z.S., a Mediterranean Seal {Monachus alii- 

 vcnter)hom the Mediterranean, presented by Mr. M. Yeats Brown; 

 an Oak Dormouse (Myoxtu dryas) from Russia, pre-ented 

 by Prof. Wrzesniowsky ; two Argus Pheasants [Argus giganteus 

 A i ) from Malacca, presented by Major McNair, C.M.G., and 

 Mr. J. M. Vermont ; two Common Buzzards [Buteo vulgaris} 



