226 
BRUSSELS 
Royal Academy of Sciences, November 6. — Various 
meteorological reports were presented to the Academy, namely : 
On the Aurora Borealis of the 6th of October, 1869, by MM. 
A. Quételet and F. Terby ; and on storms observed in various 
parts of Belgium, by MM. A. Queételet, Brauch, Malaise, 
Dewalque, and Leclercq, the last giving an account of the storm 
phenomena of the neighbourhood of Liege for the year 1869. 
—M. C. Montigny communicated a note on the phenomena of 
coloration of the edges of the sun’s disc when near the horizon, 
in which he referred especially to the appearance of rose-coloured 
undulations upon the blue arch of the upper margin of the sun, 
remarked upon certain facts which seem to indicate that these 
are not produced by atmospheric dispersion or interference, and 
suggested that they may be due to the protuberances of the chro- 
mosphere.—M. E. Morren presented a paper on the contagion 
of the variegation of plants by means of grafting, both from 
the stock to the graft, and from the graft to the stock. Iis 
observations relate to Adutilon Thompson’, and other species of 
the same genus.—A note on the wax of straw, by Dr. B. 
Radziszewski, was communicated by M. L. Henry. This sub- 
stance, which is analogous to the wax obtained from the sugar- 
cane, was first observed in a paper-factory at Willebroeck ; it 
is solid, white, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol and ether, 
and crystallises from its alcoholic solution in small nacreous 
scales. —An important memoir, by M. E. Van Beneden, on a new 
and very large species of Gregavina was read; to this we shall 
revert elsewhere. 
BERLIN 
German Chemical Society, December 11.—On this date 
there was a general meeting for the purpose of electing its 
officers for the year 1870. The following gentlemen were 
elected :—President: Professor Rammelaberg, with 34 votes 
against 25 given to Professor Baeyer. Wice-presidents: Pro- 
fessors Baeyer, Hoffmann, Magnus, and Rose. Secretaries and 
Vice-Secretaries: Dr. Kichermann, Dr. Martius, Dr. Oppenheim, 
and Dr. Wichelhaus. ‘Treasurer: Mr. Scherinn. Librarian: 
Dr. Scheibler. Resident Committee: Professor Finkener, Dr. 
Jacobser, Dr. Kunheim, Dr. Schultzen, and Dr. Vogel. Non- 
resident Committee: Professors Illasiwetz of Vienna, Hoppe- 
Scyler of Tuebingen, Keékulé of Bonn, Wislicenus in Zurich, 
and Wagner in Wurtzburg. Obituary notices of the Jate hono- 
rary member, Professor Graham, and the late member Mr. Bey- 
rick in Berlin, were then read by the President. 
December 13.—The following papers were read :—Riebermann 
and Grabe on Anturacene-monocarbonic Acid. Baeyer and 
Emmerling: Synthesis of Indole. Ascher: The Transformation 
of Angelic into Valerianic Acid. Hofmann and Gentz on Bro- 
minated Derivatives of Xylidine and on Dixylyle-guanidine or 
Meloxylidine. Hofmann on an Jsomeric diphenylated Guani- 
dine ; and on Sulphocyanate of Xylyle. Hobreller on the Action 
of Sulphuret of Carbon on Sulphuretted Urea. Naumann: The 
Law of Avogadro considered as a consequence of the laws by 
which the movement of gases are regulated. Bel-Trederi on a 
Third Monochlorinated Phenelo-sulphurous Acid. Cossa on the 
Constitution of Native Carbonates. Thomsen on the Inaccu- 
racy caused by the use of Favre and Silbermann’s Mercury- 
calorimeter. Rathke on Molecular Combinations. Ladenburg 
on the Molecular Weight of certain Protoxides and Protochlo- 
rides. Fleury on the Action of Pentachloride of Phosphorus on 
Phenolic Ethers. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, December 2.—Professor 
Zepharovich presented a fourth instalment of his mineralogical 
communications, in which he referred to crystals of ullmanite and 
pyrite, and to the fine twin-crystals of sphene which were found 
in 1863 on the Rothenkopf. A telegram was communicated from 
M. Tempel announcing the discoyery of a comet at Marseilles on 
the 27th November. ‘This comet was, in consequence, observed 
at Vienna by Professor Weiss on the 29th November, and sub- 
sequently by Dr. Theodor Oppolzer, who communicated the 
elements of its orbit and its ephemeris up to the 6th January, 
1870, deduced from the observations at Marseilles, Vienna, 
Leipzig, and Carlsruhe. A memoir entitled “ Development of 
the tetratosymmetrical division of the hexagonal crystal-system, 
with remarks upon the occurrence of circular polarisation,” 
by M. Aristides Brezina, was communicated by Professor Lang. 
—Professor von Hochstetter communicated a third paper on 
the earthquake-wave in the Pacific Ocean, in August 1868, con- 
NATORE 
[ Dec. 23, 1869 
taining observations made in Australia. —M. Schrauf presented 
the first part of his investigations of Labradorite, containing a 
description of the mineral and a microscopical examination of its 
enclosures, and an account of the phenomenon of avanturinisa- 
tion as presented by it. 
Dubin 
Royal Dublin Society, December 20.—G. J. Stoney, A.M., 
F.R.S., in the chair. Mr. John Adair read a paper on the 
Acclimatisation of Plants as a help to the advance of civilisation. 
The author treated this interesting subject from a practical point 
of view, leaning rather to the possibility of plants being acclima- 
tised—at least sufficiently so to bear the ordinary winter climate 
of this country. Dr. Moore, Professor E. Perceval Wright, and 
others, took part in the discussion of the paper. Mr, A. G. 
More exhibited from the museum of the society three fine speci- 
mens, probably the only three known, of the Blue Mountain 
Duck of Jamaica (Pterodroma Caribbea Carte) also a large speci- 
men of the Grey Seal (Halicherus griseus Nils), which he had 
shot during the last summer on the coast of Galway. Dr. 
Emerson Reynolds exhibited a collection of flint arrowheads 
found in Ireland, and a photograph of a portion of the Giant’s 
Causeway. He mentioned having obtained for the museum a 
series of the Causeway basaltic columns, consisting of a central 
column and six encircling ones. 
[This abstract reached us too late to be inserted in its proper 
place.—Eb. ] 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, DecemBER 23. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—Confessionals in the Middle Ages: 
Abbé Cochet. 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30. 
Royat Institution, at 3—Light: Prof. Tyndall, F.R.S. 
Lectures.) 
(Juvenile 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
ENG.LisH.—Catechism of the Decimal, Albert, and Metric Systems: A.W. 
Ronn (published by the author).—Madam How and Lady Why: Rev. C. 
Kingsley (Bell and Daldy).—Reptiles and Birds: L. Figuier, edited and 
adapted by Parker Gillmore (Chapman and Hall).—The Sun: Amedée 
Guillemin, translated from the French by Dr. Phipson (Beatley).—The 
Snakes of Australia : Gerard Krefit (Sydney : T. Richards).—Meteorological 
and Magnetical Observations made at Flagstaff Observatory, Melbourne: 
Geo. Neumayer. (Through Triibner & Co.) ‘ 
AmeERICAN.—The Trapper's Guide: S. Newhouse.—~The New West: 
Charles Loring Brace.—Agricultural, Qualitative, and Quantitative Analysis : 
G. C. Caldwell.—Sorghum and its Products: F. L. Stewart-—Elements of 
Astronomy : C. J. White —Annual of Scientific Discovery ; Dr. J. Knuland. 
—The Mines of the West: Rossiter W. Raymond.—Report on the Machinery 
and Processes of the Industrial Arts, &c., at the Paris Exposition of 1867: 
F. A. B. Barnard.—The Myths of the New World: Dr. Daniel G. Brinton. 
(Through Triibner and Co.}—An Abstract of Measurements and Examina- 
tions of the Solar Eclipse of August 7, 1869. Lecture Notes on Physics. 
The Total Eclipse of August 7, 1869: all by Prof. Alfred M. Mayer, Ph.D. 
(From the author.) 
ForeIGn.—De la Fécondation Artificielle : Jules Gautar (published by the 
author).—De l’Abus des Boissons Alcooliques: L. F. E. Bergent.—Die Spec- 
tralanalyse : Dr.H.Schellen,—Rapport sur le Progrés de Ja Chimie Organique 
pure: L. Micé.—Dictionnaire Botanique: E, G. de St. Pierre.—Die Physio- 
logie: Dr. J. W. Czermak.—Stellung des Menschen: Ludwig Biichner. 
(Through Williams and Norgate.) 
CONTENTS 
Town Sewace. By Dr. Benjamin H. Paur, F.C.S. . . .. . 
ScrENCE FOR CHILDREN. By Cuarirs W. Quin, F.C.S.. . . . 
Tue Gotp Fievps oF Victoria. I, By A. Gerkis, F.R.S.  . . 
Our Book SHELF . Se eee Ere OE UM Mon OO 5 
SENSATION AND Perception. I. By Prof. H. C. Bastian, F.R.S. . 
MISTLETOE MCs hace Vitreous! o 5 5 
Tue Mipnicut Sky. (With Illustrations.) . . .. . 
a1 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 5 
Variétyjand species—Fs oe) en oe Seer 218 
Cuckow’s Eggs.—H. E. DresseR. . . . 1. ss « . 218 
Physical Meteorology.—Dr. Hupson. . . +... «ss 218 
A Cyclonejin'England—F.RVAIS) J 3 4 © 2 fe ae 219 
Lectures to Ladies:—M.T.G. .... O <) 5) Tenax) 
Nores . Sp re entet are eet Oo Ett) 
Screntiric SERIALS ; 221 
ASTRONOMY . sary pee. . oF fc 221 
SociETIES AND ACADEMIES =e 221 
et 6 
DIARY. UBOOKS) RECEIVED)... seus) Gen rat 
