64 
NATURE 
| Mov. 11, 1869 
dard rules of beryl. He remarks that beryl, when heated, dilates 
in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and contracts in the 
direction of the axis; there will consequently be an intermediate 
direction in which no dilatation takes place, and in this he pro- 
poses to cut his standard rules. Some observations on the con- 
stitution and movement of glaciers, by MM. C. Grad and A. 
Dupré, were presented by M. Leverrier. The authors investi- 
gated the structure of the ice of the great Aletsch and other 
glaciers at different points of their course, and found that in all 
cases the size of the grains or constituent elements of the ice 
gradually increased from above downwards. They also noted 
the movements of the Aletsch glacier at those points of its 
course, and the amount of surface loss which it underwent 
by the action of the sun in the latter part of August, when 
their observations were made. A note by M. J. B. Baille on 
the heat reflected by the moon, was presented; the author 
confirms the results obtained by MM. Piazzi Smyth, Marié Dacy, 
and Lord Rosse. A notice of a new synthesis of guanidine, 
by M. G. Bouchardat, was presented. ‘The author, in repeating 
M. Natauson’s experiment for the production of urea by the 
action of gaseous ammonia upon oxychloro-carbonic gas, found 
that other amides of carbonic acid were produced, especially 
guanidine, the sulphate of which he obtained crystallised. Melan- 
uric and cyanuric acids are also produced. M. C. Dareste 
communicated a note on arrest of development regarded as the 
proximate cause of most simple monstrosities ; M. bonchut read 
a note on hydrate of chloral, with especial reference to its 
physiological action, which led to some remarks by MM. Bussy 
and Dumas. An extract from a report by M. Gauldrée Boilleau 
on the recent earthquakes, and a fresh outbreak of yellow 
fever at Peru, was read, a note on the etiology of goitre, by 
M. D. Brunet; a note on the phosphorescence of the sea, by 
M. Duchemin; and a note on the causes of the mortality of 
new-born infants and on the means of restraining it. 
PRAGUE 
Royal Society of Bohemia—Natural Science Section, 
October 6.—M. E. Weyr read a memoir on the conie sections 
inscribed or circumscribed upon a triangle, having a double 
contact with a fixed conic section. 
October 27.—Dr. E. Schobe read a paper on the discovery of 
the terminations of the nerves in the wings of the Chiroptera, 
The well-known power possessed by bats of finding their way 
thro: gh numerous small obstacles, even when blinded and deat- 
enec, has led several anatomists to seek for the nervous apparatus 
by which this great sensibility is attained. Cuvier described a 
complete nervous network in the wings ; but what he took for 
nerves, turn out to be elastic trabicule. Leydig and Krause have 
also published upon this subject. The author describes the wings 
in several genera of bats as composed of a duplication of the 
general integument, in which the two layers of cutis become amal- 
gamated. The epidermis consists of a single layer of lineagonal 
cells, and the vee MZalpighianum of two layers of cells, the upper 
ones large, polymorphic, and filled with colouring matter. The 
cutis contains very complete systems of elastic trabiculae and 
striated muscles, and a vascular system, which were described in 
detail by the author, as also the hair-follicles, each surrounded by 
7 or 8 Sebaceous glands, and a hydrotic gland. Each wing has 
from 8,000 to 10,000 hairs, with their glandular systems. The 
nervous system is very highly developed and delicate. The 
pee branches follow the direction of the great vessels ; the 
ast ramifications, composed of from 8 to 12 fibrillee, issue from 
the neurilemma, and form bundles, each consisting of 4 fibrillce. 
Each bundle runs to a hair-follicle ; two of its fibrillae surround 
this in a loop, and terminate in a stratiform, terminal papilla, 
formed by the twisting of the fibrillee into a ball; the other two 
interlace with the free fibrillze of adjacent follicles, and form an 
extremely delicate terminal nervous network. The terminal 
pepe are compared by the author to those in the human skin ; 
e has sought and found papillz also in the mouse, shrew, and 
mole. Dr. A. Fritsch announced the discovery of a new reptile, 
or batrachian, in the coal of Nyran, in the south-west of the 
carboniferous basin of Pilsen. The head is triangular, less elon- 
gated than that of Archegosaurus; the orbits are large; the 
lower jaw furnished with denticles ; the vertebrae numerous, very 
close and equal, and the anterior limbs slender, and but little 
developed. The animal was probably about a foot in length. It 
is compared by the author with the well-known Proteus anguinus 
(= Hypochthon Laurentit). 
SCHAFARIK 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, November 11. 
Lonpon InstiTuTION, at 7.30.—On Architecture, or the Fine Art of 
Building: Prof. Robert Kerr. ; 
Zoovocicar Soctety, at 8.—On the Anatomy of the Aard-Wolt (Proteles 
cristatus: Prof. Flower, F.R S. 
Lonpon MATHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—General Meeting at Burlington 
House. 
FRIDAY, NoveMBER 12. 
ASTRONOMICAL Society, at 8. 
MONDAY, November 15. 
Lonpon InstiruTIon, at 4.—Elementary Physics; Prof. Guthrie. 
TUESDAY, Novemser 16. 
SraristicAL Society, at 8.—Inaugural Address by the President: W. 
Newmarsh, F.R.S. Report on the International Statistical Congress of 
1869: Mr. Samuel Brown, 
InstiTtuTION oF Civit. ENGINEERS, at 8.—Discussion on Mr, Gandard'’s 
Paper on the Strength and Resistance of Materials; and, time per- 
mitting, Public Works in the Province of Canterbury, New Zealand: Mr. 
Edward Dobson, Assoc. Inst. C,E. 
WEDNESDAY, NovEMBER 17. 
MereoroLouicaL Society, at 7.—Lunar Influence upon Rainfall: Mr. J. 
C, Bloxam, M.R.C.S. On the Summer of 1868; Dr. G. H. Fielding. , 
THURSDAY, Novemser 18. 
Royat Society, at 8.30. 
LINNEAN Society, at 8.—Review of the genus Hydrolea, with descriptions 
of three new species: Mr. A. W. Bennett, F.L.S. 
CHEMICAL SOCcIETY, at 8. 
Lonvon InsTiTuTIoN, at 7.30.—Architecture: Prof. R. Kerr, 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGuisu.—Cassell’s Technical Manuals: Projection, Linear Drawing, 
Building, Construction (Cassell)—Our Houses (Cassell),—First Book of 
Indian Botany: Prof. Oliver (Macmillan).—Via Medica: B. Langley (Hard- 
wicke).-—Wonders of Italian Art: Louis Viardot (Sampson Low).—What 
is Matter? Inner Templar (Wyman and Sons).—Essays on Physiological 
Subjects: G. W. Child (Longmans).—Phenomena and Laws of Heat: A. 
Cazin, translated by E. Rich (Low).—TVhunder and Lightning: W. De 
Fouvielle, translated by ‘I. L. Phipson (Low).—Wonders of Optics: F. 
Marion, translated by C. W. Quin,—Tommy Try and what he did in 
Science (Chapman and Hall). 
American.—Origin of Genera: E. A. Cope (Triibner).—Annual Report 
of the Trustees of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 
ForeIGn. — Vierteljahrsschrift der Astronomischen Gesellschaft. — Les 
Pierres, Esquisses Minéralogique: L. Simonin (Hachette).—Bibliothéque 
des Merveilles: 4 vols. (Hachette).—Dictionnaire Général des Sciences: 
Privat-Deschanel et Ad. Focillon.—Untersuchungen iiber einige merkwirdige 
Thiergruppen des Arthropoden-und Wurm-Typus: Dr. R. Greeff. —Hand- 
buch der Edelsteinkunde: Dr. A. Schrauf (Through Williams and Norgate), 
CONTENTS 
PAGE 
IDUENESS/OF SCIENCE. ‘By FR!S., 6 5p ca) el si coh em ens ieg nas 
THE ATOMIC(CONTROVERSY, > >) =: 9s) 3) pag) (ele) = cf aa: 
Lectures TO LADIES ee Ru ee vi is 6 
GroLocy AND AGRICULTURE. By H. Woopwarp. (With Map). . 46 
VEGETABLE PALa&onToLocy. By J.D. Hooker, ....... 
Harcourt anp Mapan’s Practicat Cuemistry. By H. E, Roscog 50 
Baition’s HisTory oF PLants. By D. Otiver, (With [ilustrations.) 52 
Fick ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF Force. By M. Foster . . . 53 
OURUBOOK SHEET, Wr sl) eeeecien Ole lel) of) eer kee 
EARTHQUAKR-WAVES IN THE Paciric, By R.A, Procror. (With 
Illustration .) - acre crs 54 
A New Form For ScHOOUS = ff p94) a) ee 2 SPW ee a ap AO: 
Tue November SHootinc-Stars, By R, A. Procror . ... . 56 
Penny ScigNCE CLASSES . . ss 5 » » + 6 ge! liga Reon al toy 
Levrers WO THEMEDITOR Se, > cb sl sl bP ci leug ster Su enety 
INODES) 6) eo eet ten 'o: fo ap ce! Xeiewe) G1) Soe) SO bt relat Mls ure eS 
‘AS TRONOMV?.j03s) Selanii> is) =Baipl si) 0). Geigy p rele oer TS | 
CHEMISTRY, se chc-ed se EN te es Pc Sek eee i 
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PHYSIOLOGY sites sits Woseee |) ob) 5) He eg, eh ert ien Ghee 
SoGIETIESTAND ACADEMIES) | 5) 7) (1p ei Ste RAR de et ng TR ae 
BUNS 5G Si Fats.’ >) cpks@cseeted: Sie) SSS GET Sas el ee OR 
BOoeS "RECEIVED, 5 hits. felr acueeh Sine) PoP OL eee WES oir aE On. 
