178 
NATURE 
| Dec. 9, 1869 
at the time of the commencement of the existing period of geological 
history. The Professor's illustrations were chiefly derived from 
his investigations of the distribution of sea-fish and land-snails. | 
Professor F. Zirkel, of Kiel, made some communications on the 
mineralogical constitution of the basalt-lavas of Laacher See and 
the Eifel. Professor von Rath described a new mineral from 
Laacher See, which he proposes to call Amblystegite, in allusion | 
to the extreme obtuseness of some of its angles. It is of a 
reddish brown colour ; hardness almost equal to that of quartz ; 
specific gravity 3°454; melts with great difficulty, forming a 
black glass insoluble in hydrochloric ecid. In composition it is 
allied to hypersthene, but is distinguished from that mineral by 
the absence of the characteristic cleavage. Extracts from a 
paper by Professor Fuhlrott on the caves of Grevenbriick and 
the Honnethal were then read; and Professor Schaffhausen 
availed himself of the opportunity of insisting upon the desira- 
bleness of a systematic exploration of the bone-yielding caves in 
which Westphalia is so rich, We are glad to hear that steps 
are being taken to raise funds for this purpose among the mem- 
bers of the society. The most important finds in the Greven- 
briick cave are coprolites of hyena, and two human lower jaws 
of primitive form. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, November 18.—Professor 
Unger communicated a memoir on the anthracite deposits in 
Carinthia. He stated that nineteen species of plants, chiefly 
ferns, have been detected in the shales accompanying this 
deposit. ‘They agree with those of the coal-measures, and eight 
of them occur also in the anthracite deposits of Styria, Switzer- 
land, and the French Alps. Two undescribed Fern-stems were 
particularly noticed by the author, who took the opportunity of 
opposing the ordinary notion that the St#gmarie are the roots of 
Sigillaric. Of the latter he regarded those species which have 
not furrowed stems, as ferns.—Dr. C. Jelinek presented a pre- 
liminary communication upon the hurricane-like storm which 
visited Vienna on the 14th November. The greatest velocity of 
the wind was 46°6 Paris feet per second, about noon ; the dimi- 
nution of barometric pressure continued until 6 P.M., when the 
mercury had fallen 7°17 lines, the velocity of the wind being 36°5 
feet per second. —Director Tschermak communicated a memoir 
on anew salt from Hallstadt. This mineral, to which the author 
gives the name of Astrakanite, occurs mixed with common salt, 
anhydrite, and a mixture consisting chiefly of sodium sulphate in 
the Christina gallery at Hallstadt. It forms a bluish layer, the 
colour being due to enclosures containing iron, and the crystals, 
which are very small and occur in druses, being frequently 
colourless. Its composition is expressed by the formula, MgSO,, 
Na,SO,, 4aq, so that it is the third natural magnesium-sodium 
sulphate with which we are acquainted. M. Tschermak also 
presented a paper by M. P. Hausenschild, giving an account of 
his microscopic examination of the minerals called Predazzite 
and Pencatite. By the examination of thin slices of the most 
homogeneous looking specimens, the author found that two 
minerals may be distinguished in them with certainty, namely, 
calcite and brucite. —Dr. Samuel Stern presented a memoir 
entitled ‘‘ Contributions to the theory of ordinary (not musical) 
sounds, as an objective character, with reference to the special 
requirements of medical diagnosis.” —Prof. E. Ludwig presented 
a paper by himself and Dr. J. Hein upon the synthesis of 
hydroxylamine, which, they said, may be effected by the direct 
addition of nascent hydrogen to pure nitrous oxide as follows : 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9. 
Royat Society, at 8.30.—Spectroscopic Observations of the Sun, No. V.: 
Mr J. Norman Lockyer, F.K.S.—Researches on Gaseous Spectra in 
relation to the Physical Constitution of the Sun, Note III.: Dr. Frank- 
land, F.R.S., and Mr. J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S.—On the Successive 
Action of Sodium and Iodide of Ethyl on Acetic Ether: Mr. J. A. 
Wanklyn. 
Society OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On a Faliscan Inscription: 
Garrucci, Hon. F.S.A. . 
Zoo.ocicaL Society, at 8.30-—On the Fin Whale recently stranded in 
Langston Harbour: Prof. Flower, F.R.S.—On the Fresh Water Fishes 
of Burmah: Surgeon Francis Day. 
MATHEMATICAL SoclETY, at 8.—Gauss’ Theorems and Napier’s Analogies : 
Mr. Crofton.—On the Order of the Discriminants of a Ternary Form: 
Mr. S. Roberts. 
Lonpon InstTITuTION, at 7.30.—Architecture : Prof. R. Kerr. 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10. 
Royat ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
CuiinicaL Society, at 8.30. 
QvueketrT Microscoricat Crus, at 8. 
Society oF ARTS, at 8.—Indian Conference. Ona Gold Currency for India‘ 
Mr. A. Cassels. 
Padre 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11. 
Roya BoTanic SOCIETY, at 3.45. 
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13. 
Soctzty or ENGINEERS, at 7.30.—Annual Meeting. 
Royat GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
MEDICAL Society, at 8. 
Royac InstiTuTE oF BritisH ARCHITECTS, at 8. 
Royav InstTiTuTION, at 2-—Monthly Meeting 
Lonpon InstiTuTION, at 4.—Elementary Physics: Prof. Guthrie. 
Society oF Arts, at 8—The Spectroscope and its Applications: Mr. J. 
Norman Lockyer, F.R.S. 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14. 
INSTITUTION OF CrviL ENGINEERS, at 8. 
Royat MEpDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, at 8, 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL SocIETY, at 8. —Race Affinities of the People of Mada- 
gascar: Mr. C. Staniland Wake, F.A.S.L. 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15- 
Society oF Arts, at 8.—On India-rubber—its History, Commerce, and 
Supply: Mr. J. Collins. 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 
ROYAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
SocieTY OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
LINNEAN Society, at 8. 
CHEMICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 4. 
NuMISMATIC SOCIETY, at 7. 
PHILOSOPHICAL CLUB, at 6, 
Lonpon INSTITUTION, at 7.39. 
EpinuurcH GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnoGuisu.—The Monthly Microscopical Journal, December 1869 (Robert 
Hardwicke).—Chemistry for Schools: C, Haughton Gill (James Walton).— 
Burton-on-Trent—its History, its Waters, and its Breweries: W. Molyneaux, 
F.C'S. (Triibner).—Outlines of Chemistry; or, Bnef Notes of Chemical 
Facts: Dr. Odling (Longmans).—Earth and Sea: Louis Figuier (Nelson — 
and Sons).—The Second Table of the Commandments: Dr. Rowland (Long- 
mans) — Heads and Tails: Adam White (Nisbet).— Romance of Natural 
History, 2 vols.: P. H. Gosse (Nisbet).—Facts and Dates: Rey. A. Mackay 
(Blackwood).—Physical Ethics: A. Barratt (Williams and Norgate).— 
Womankind in Western Europe: J. Wright (Groombridge). 
ForetGn.—Les Pierres Précieuses : J. Rambosson.—Histoire des Météors : 
J. Rambosson —Lecons sur la Respiration: P. Bert.—Die Blausaure : W. 
Preyer.—Landwirthschaftliche Zoologie: Dr. Giebel. (Through Williams 
and Norgate.) 
NO + H? = NH®0. 
The process consists in passing nitrous oxide through a mixture 
of tin and hydrochloric acid, freeing the fluid from tin by sul- 
phuretted hydrogen, evaporating the filtrate from the sulphuret 
of tin to dryness, washing the residue in cold and dissolving it in 
hot alcohol, separating the ammonium chloride with platinum 
chloride, and precipitating the pure hydrochlorate of hydroxyla- 
mine by anhydrous ether. The analysis and measurement of the 
crystals thus obtained proved their identity with Lossen’s salt. — 
The following memoirs were presented, but only their titles are 
given: By Prof. Hyrtl, ‘‘On a pracorneal vascular net in the 
human eye,” and ‘On an insular intercalated bone in the 
parietal bone ;” and by Prof. B. Lapschin, of Odessa, ‘‘ On the 
specific gravity of the water of the Black Sea,” and ‘On the 
conductibility of cork for heat, and its application to the con- 
struction of a barometer.” Prof. Julius Wiesner also presented 
a memoir on the origin and increase of Bactria, the results of 
which had been communicated to the Academy on the 29th April 
last. 
CONTENTS ee 
By Prof. W. H. Corrietp . . 155 
I. THe German UNIVERSITY 
ScreNCE AND THE Pustic HEALTH. 
Science EpucaTion 1n GERMANY. 
System. By Prof. H. E. Roscog, F.R.S. . ee iat Sa OT 
A Point iN Muscutar Puysics 5 GAS RR aioe 
Tur ProyecTED CHANNEL RaILWAys MereomD Wh rho) c 160 
Drna’s Mineratocy. By Prof. N Story MasKELYNE . . -. . ~ 161 
Bevv’s New Tracks in Norru America. (With [ilustrations.) . 163 
Our Book SHELF . OE eR AL belies ne moar ibe le 
Tue Deep-Sea Drepcinc Exreprvion 1x _H.M.S. “ Porcupine.” 
Natura History (continued). By J. Can) Parnas F.R.S. 166 
SCHOLARSHIPS AND ExuipiTions FOR NATURAL SCIENCE IN CAM- 
BRIDGE SP ty te8 ames Mako eee et 168 
LETTERS TO THE EpITOR:— 
Mental Progress of Animals - 169, 
The Suez Canal.—Epw. RAE a 169 
The Poles of Mars Ge 
Tectures'to) Ladies (004 J 0, ee eens 
The American Eclipse. —W. Crooxzs, F.R.S. 
Norges . eye doll a ube elai~ a si a a otece 
ASTRONOMY . 
GEOLOGY 
SocieTigs AND AcApEMics, Diary, Books REckIvED . 
