Fan. 27, 1870] 
NATURE 347 
and himself—to the Carboniferous series, on the ground of their 
containing Goriatites, Nautili, and Productus Caccrint. M. de 
Verneuil was not inclined to accept this change, as it is possible 
that a mixture of Carboniferous and Permian types may occur in 
the same deposit, as has been found to be the case at Nebraska. 
A memoir was presented by M. B. Renault on some silicified 
plants of the environs of Autun. He noticed the structure of the 
stem in Zygopteris and Anachoropteris, studied by him in two 
new species, which he named Zyvofteris Brongniartit and Ana- 
choroplerts Decaisnit; also that of the stems of some Lycopodiace.— 
M. Delaunay presented a report on a memoir by M. Puiseux, on 
the secular acceleration of the movement of the moon.—M. 
Ricour presented a second note on the dispersion of light, and 
M. Delaurier a memoir containing an account of experiments on 
electricity, with objections to the electro-chemical theory.—M. 
Faye presented a note by M. A. Wiillner on the spectra of the 
simple gases, in which he disputes the results announced by M. 
Dubrunfant at a former meeting of the Academy (Dec. 13, 1869). 
A memoir was read by M. Dumeéry on the results obtained and 
obtainable on railways by traction on a single rail, in which the 
author maintained that railways on this principle can be con- 
structed nearly 50 per cent. cheaper than ordinary railways, and 
can also be worked very advantageously. —M. Baudrimont stated 
that he had prepared artificial garnets with bases of magnesia, lime, 
strontian, baryta, and oxide of lead, and had them cut ten years 
ago. He forwarded specimens for the inspection of the Academy. 
—M. Maumené read a memoir on a general theory of chemical 
action, and the necessity of its employment in order to avoid 
error. No abstract of this memoir is given. —M. Becquerel and 
M. Dumas remarked upon the electro-chemical deposition of 
nickel ; and M. Wurtz communicated a paper by M. A. Rossi on 
the synthesis of normal prophylic alcohol by means of zethylic 
alcohol. he author’s process consisted in converting zthylic 
alcohol, first into cyanide of zthyle, and then into propionic 
acid; from the latter he prepared propionic aldehyde, and 
obtained propylic acid by the action of nascent hydrogen upon 
the aldehyde.—M. P. Levert forwarded for the Bréant prize 
anote on the action of bitters, especially sulphate of quinine, 
upon the economy, in the cure of fevers of all kinds; M. A. 
Marinier exhibited a collyrium for the treatment of affections 
of the eyelids, and a filtering injector ; and M. Guyot presented 
a notice on the toxical effects of some products of the phenic 
group, including phenic acid, rosolic acid, and coralline.—A 
memoir on the ‘‘ mulberry-tree and the silkworm, considered in 
themselves and in their relations,” by M. Tigri, was read. The 
author treated of the production of disease with presence of 
Bacteria in the silkworm (Maladie des morts-flats), which he 
ascribed to alterations in the condition of the mulberry-leaves.— 
M. Robin presented a communication from M. S. Feltz, in which 
the author denied that the leurocyta, or white corpuscles of the 
blood, traverse the walls of the capillary vessels, as stated by 
many writers.—In a note on the movements of the grains of 
chlorophyll in vegetable cells under the influence of light, M. 
E. Roze referred to the observations of M. Prillieux, communi- 
cated to the Academy on the 3rd January, and stated that by 
examining the leaves of Zernaria hygrentetrica under a tolerably 
high power, he observed that the chlorophyll grains were united 
by filaments of a viscous, transparent plasma, which undergo a 
slow displacement, and carry with them the chlorophyll grains. — 
M. Anez communicated a note on the development and habits 
of Phylloxera vastatrix, and M. Rouby a description of an 
artificial mineral spring, of which the titles only are given. 
MILAN 
Royal Lombardian Institute, November 25, 1869.— 
Professors Garovaglio and Gibelli presented a memoir on the 
Eudocarpez of Central Europe and Italy, containing a mono- 
graphic revision of the species of that group of lichens.— 
Dr. Andrea Verga presented a communication on chloral. He 
stated that the hydrate of chloral prepared in the Laboratory of 
the Society of Encouragement at Milan was in brilliant prismatic 
crystals, whilst that obtained from Paris formed a white, opaque 
mass. — A further note on the production of Infusoria in 
glass vessels sealed hermetically and heated above 212° F. was 
communicated by Professor G. Cautoni. The author referred 
to previous experiments of his, in which vibrios were produced 
in great numbers in rich solutions of organic materials heated to 
212°, 221°, 230°, and even 242°6° F. in vessels hermetically 
sealed and enclosed in a Papin’s digester. He now gave the 
results of fresh experiments made with an aqueous solution of the 
so-called Liebig’s extract of meat, containing about one part of 
the latter to about 35 parts of water, heated to various tempera- 
tures from 212°—244°4° F. maintained for about ten minutes in 
the digester. The vessels, heated to 230° and more, showed no 
traces of vibrios ina fortnight, nor were any produced in them for 
twelve or fifteen days after their interior had been brought into 
communication with the air by breaking the sealed extremity of 
their necks. The solutions which had been heated to 212° and 
221°, on the contrary, produced, in two days, an abundance of 
vibrios and Leféothrix whilst still in sealed vessels. The author 
remarked that the above-mentioned liquid contained considerably 
less of protein matters than solution of natural flesh or yolk of 
egg, which might tend to lower the limit of temperature for the 
production of Infusoria. Hereferred to some other experiments, and 
argued from them in favour of heterogenism.—Dr. G. Bizzozero 
presented a report upon the investigations of Dr. G. Milani 
on some pathological alterations of the lymphatic glands. 
COPENHAGEN 
WE have received the ‘‘ Oversigt over det Konglige Danske 
Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlingar ” for the first half of the 
year 1869, which contains only one strictly scientific paper of 
importance, namely, a Crystallographico-chemical investigation 
of the double haloid salts of platinum, by M. Haldor Topsée. 
The remaining papers are chiefly of antiquarian interest, and 
consist of a discussion of the plant known to the ancients under 
the name of Swphion or Silphiunt, by Prof. A. S. Oersted, with 
an appendix on the Vase of Arcesilas, by M. J. L. Ussing, and 
a dissertation by the latter on the Apollo Belvedere. The si/phinem 
is regarded by M. Oersted as a species of Marthex, allied to the 
Asafetida, and is named by him Warthex silphium. OF the last 
two papers, abstracts in French are given. 
PHILADELPHIA 
American Philosophical Society, January 7. —A 
memoir on Fossils from the Marshall Group of Michigan and 
adjoining States, by Prof. Alexander Winchell, Director of 
the Geological Survey of Michigan, was read by Prof J. P. 
Lesley. Prof. Cope read a paper on New Etheostomine Perch 
from Tennessee and North Carolina. Professor Cope gave the 
results of investigations on the structure of the extinct Saurian, 
the Megadactylus Probyzelus of Hitchcock, from the red sand- 
stones of the Connecticut valley in Massachusetts. He mentioned 
that in 1867 he had stated it as his belief that the so-called bird- 
tracks of the above formation were those of Dinosauria, and that 
in the following year that view had been confirmed by Prof. 
Huxley. He stated that at the same time he proposed a 
system of the Dinosauria which was very similar to one 
very recently proposed by the same excellent authority. 
The Afegadactylus was the only species whose remains 
had been found in the beds and locality in question, 
in sufficient preservation for determination, and it was 
clearly one of those which had made the tracks. The 
fore limbs were four-toed, the hind limbs three-toed, and with 
a long metastarsus. The animal was a Dinosaur, and a true 
representative of the sub-order Symphypoda, which was typified 
by the Compsognathus of the Solenhofen beds. As in the 
latter the astragalus and calcaneum were codssified with the 
tibia and fibula, and the carpal bones were much reduced. 
The bones were pneumatic, and possessed of excessively 
thin walls. The ischiatic bones were projected far back- 
wards, were in contact for much of their length, forming 
a solid style which supported the animal when in a sitting 
position. Length about four feet. He also stated that 
the red sandstone beds in Pennsylvania and North Carolina 
contained remains of Dinosauria. The Cadontia (Belodon) 
and Labyrinthodonts, nearly allied to those of the Keuper of 
Germany. They occurred in the lower part of the series, 
which he had already parallelised with the Keuper. On the 
other hand, the occurrence in the upper part of the series of 
Symphypoda in Massachusetts and Pterosauria in Pennsylvania 
KRhabdopelix longis pinis Cope) rendered it highly probable 
that an approach to the lias was to be found in those strata, 
while the intermediate portion of the whole might be found 
to represent the time intervening between the Triassic and 
Oolitic (Purassic) periods. —Prof. Lesley remarked that these 
investigations threw the first rays of light on a very dark 
part of American geology. Prof. Marsh gave an account of 
the impressions of the ischiatic bones behind the tracks on 
specimens in the museum, Yale College, which he had always 
referred to as such, though some believed they were made by 
the tail. 
