546 
NATURE 
[March 24, 1870 
the means of destroying the contagious miasmata of hospitals, 
upon which MM. Dumas and Bouillaud made some remarks, — 
M. Wurtzpresenteda note by M. Verneuil on the cure of tracumatic 
tetanus by chloral.—Several other communications were made 
of which the titles only are given. 
BERLIN 
German Chemical Society, March 14.—M. Schultz-Sellak 
has obtained a liquid modification of sulphuric anhydride, which, 
under ordinary circumstances, speedily passes into the solid 
form.—M. Tiemann has converted trinitrotoluol into toluylen- 
diamide. The same, conjointly with Mr. Judson, has studied 
several isomeric dinitrobenzoic acids.—Mr. Genz reported on 
some derivatives of xylidine.—Dr. Riidorff showed large crystals 
of carbonate of ammonium deposited from coal gas.—M. 
Bornemann exhibited glass tubes which had for some months been 
exposed to the action of steam under a pressure of eleven atmo- 
spheres. The glass showed deep notches and furrows where 
acted upon by the steam, but was not attacked in those parts 
which had remained immersed in the water of the boiler.—A 
curious transformation of forged iron into large crystals has been 
observed by M. Egelts. A cylinder used in a cotton-mill proved 
to consist of crystals apparently affecting the form of pentagonic 
dodecahedra of two or three millimetres in diameter.—Prof. 
Hoppe Seyler reported on the colouring matter of blood. He 
has found that hzmato-globulin does not pass directly into 
heematine, as has been supposed until now, but that the latter 
product derives by oxidation from heematochromogen discovered 
by the anthor.—Prof. Kekulé and Hideck have converted diazo- 
amidobenzol into azobenzol.—Dr. Kohler attacked the views 
lately published by Wanklyn, on the atomicity of sodium.—Dr. 
Schaer reported on the presence of ozone in the fluor spar of 
Wolberndorf, Saxony. 
PHILADELPHIA 
Academy Natural Sciences, January 11.—Professor O. C. 
Marsh, of Yale College, exhibited a series of specimens of the 
remains of birds from the Cretaceous and Tertiary of the United 
States, which showed that this class was well represented during 
these periods, although no species have yet been described from 
these formations in this country, and none indeed from older 
rocks, since it now appears to be well established that the bird- 
like footprints in the Connecticut Valley were made by Dino- 
saurian reptiles. Among the specimens shown were the remains 
of at least five species of Cretaceous birds, although but one or 
two species have hitherto been described from strata of this age 
in Europe. The present Cretaceous specimens were all found 
in the greensand of New Jersey, and with one exception in the 
middle marl-bed. They are all mineralised, and in the same 
state of preservation as the bones of extinct reptiles found with 
them in these deposits, and hence are readily distinguished from 
the remains of recent birds which have occasionally been found 
near the surface in the marl excavations of New Jersey. The 
most interesting of the specimens exhibited was the distal portion 
of a large and robust tibia, apparently of a swimming bird, about 
the sizeof a goose. It was found in the greensand at Birming- 
ham, New Jersey, in the pits of the Pemberton Marl Company. 
For this new genus and species Professor Marsh proposed the 
name Laornis Edvardsianus. "Two species of small wading 
birds, which appear to have been allied to the Curlews, were 
also represented each by the distal end of a tibia, and probably 
by some other less characteristic portions. The larger of these 
species, which was found in the greensand of the middle marl- 
bed at Hornerstown, New Jersey, was named /a/estringa 
“ittoralis. The smaller species, which was called Palestringa 
vetus, was founded on the specimen mentioned by Dr. Morton in 
his “Synopsis of Cretaceous Fossils,’ p. 32, which has since, 
however, been generally regarded as a recent species. The 
specimen was found in the lowest marl-bed at Arneytown, New 
Jersey, and is now in the collection of the Academy. Portions 
of the humeri of two small and closely-related species, ap- 
parently of the Heron family, were part of the series shown. 
They were found deep in the greensand of the middle marl-bed 
near Hornerstown, New Jersey, in the pits of the Cream Ridge 
Marl Company. For the species thus represented the names 
Vetardea elegans and Vetardea affinis were proposed. The 
remains of several species of Tertiary birds were also exhibited 
by Professor Marsh, Among these was the lower extremity of 
tibia, closely resembling that of some of the Cranes. It was 
found in the Miocene o the Niobrara River, by Dr. F. V. 
Hayden, and is interesting as the only representative of a fossil 
bird yet detected in the Tertiary deposits west of the Mississippi. 
This specimen, which belongs to the Academy, indicated a new 
species, which was named Gyrus Haydeni. Another species of 
extinct birds was represented by portions of a humerus and 
radius, also in the collection of the Academy ; they were found 
many years since in the Miocene of Maryland by Mr. T. A. 
Conrad. This species, which appears to be closely related to the 
Gulls, was named Larus Conradit. Several other interesting 
specimens of bird remains were shown, but most of them were 
not sufficiently characteristic to admit of determination. With the 
exceptions already mentioned, the fossils exhibited belonged to 
the museum of Yale College. 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Marcu 24. 
Royvat Society, at 8.30.—On the Madreporia dredged up by the expedition 
in H.M.S. Porcupine: Prof. Duncan. 
OYAL INSTITUTION, at 3.—Chemistry of Vegetable Products: Prof. Odling. 
ZooLoGicaL Society, at 8.30,—On the Birds of Veragua: Osbert Salvin. 
—Exhibition of a metamorphosed Axolotl : W. B. Tegetmeier.—On two 
rare species of Pheasants recently added to the Society’s Collection ; 
Mr. Sclater. 
Lonpon INsTiITUTION, at 7.30.—Geology : Dr. Cobbold. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On the Greek Inscriptions found at 
Autun: Rev. W. B. Marriott. 
FRIDAY, Marcu 25. 
Roya INnstTiTuTION, at 8.—Anglo-Saxon Conquest ; 
QueEKeETT Microscopical SOcIETY, at 8.30. 
SATURDAY, Marcu 26. 
Roya INSTITUTION, at 3.—The Sun: J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, Marcu 28. 
Royat GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
Roya INsTITUTE OF BriTISH ARCHITECTS, at 8. 
INSTITUTE OF ACTUARIES, at 7. 
Lonpon INnsTiTuTION, at 4.—Chemistry: Prof. Bloxam. 
TUESDAY, Marcu 29. 
Roya. InsTITUTION, at 3.—Nervous System ; Prof. Rolleston, M.D.,F.R.S. 
INSTITUTION OF CivIL ENGINEERS, at 8.— Description of the St. Pancras 
Station, Midland Railway : W. H. Barlow, M.1.C.E., F.R.S. 
WEDNESDAY, Marcu 39. 
Society oF ARTS, at 8. 
CuemMicaL Society, at 8.—Anniversary Meeting. 
THURSDAY, Marcu 31. 
Roya Society, at 8.30. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Prof. Rolleston. 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnG.isH.—The State, the Poor, and the Country: R. H. Patterson 
(Blackwood and Sons).—Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society (Long- 
mans).—Photographic Art Journal, No, 1; illustrated (S. Low, Son, and 
Marston).—Choice and Chance: Rev. W. A. Whitworth (Bell and Daldy). 
—The Arts in the Middle Ages; illustrated: Paul Lacroix (Chapman and 
Hall).—United States Geological Survey of Colorado and New Mexico: F. 
D. Hayden (Washington).—Introductory Text-book to Physical Geography : 
D. Page (Blackwood and Sons).—Mrs. Loudon’s First-book of Botany. 
Edited by D. Woosten (Bell and Daldy).—Principles of the Science of 
Colour: W. Benson (Chapman and Hall). 
ForeiGn.—Handbuch der Lehre von den Geweben: S. Stricker.—Fiir 
Baum und Wald: M. F. Schleider.—Die Eiszeit der Erde: A. Braun. 
CONTENTS 
THE TRANSITS OF VENUS IN 1874 AND 1882 . . 
PuiLotecy anp Darwinism. By Rev. F. W. FARRAR, E.R. Say 
Honorary Chaplain to the Queen 
TuHeE Private LiFe oF GALILEO, 
PaGE 
+ 527 
: 527 
By G. FARRER RopweEt, F.CS. 
(With usivatrans\i-a temic) <0 it =) [-te ence ete te 2) 
iriver OUgen Go Hoe co oO oo 0 Do Oo OSE 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Rotation of a Rigid Body. —Prof. J. J. Svtvesrer, F.R.S. . . . 532 
“Dutch,” or “‘ Deutsch.”"—EpwWarRp A. FREEMAN . . . « « + 532 
The American Eclipse.—Prof. C. A. YouUNG .... .. . «. 532 
Prof. Huxley’s Address.—SraRLES V. Woop, Jun. . 533 
Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. —Dr. BALFour, 
HIRES SSec Reo dines ens Sees oe ee 
Euclid as a Text Book.—R. TUCKER . a 0 534 
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ICE, AND THEIR RELATION TO GLA- 
cier Motion. By Wittiam Maruews, Jun., President of the 
Alpine Club . Aomo eo anetote lo Os 8 SKE 
Tue Inpian Totar Ecuirse. bes Westy se os.) Peano 4 ob 
Fact oF A METEORITE. . . o nO oe) ede eae: 
Nores + 538 
On THE TEMPERATURE AND ANIMAL LIFE OF THE DEEP SEA. Wn. 
By Dr. W. B. pee F.R. Ss oO a8 'o geo) weve) 
ScienTIFIC SERIALS . . CA ed 10 0 3 ey 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES . See ome oe oo oo oF 
DIARY (27%, eo eflses pce, voy soe ay, 0) (ad CORE Te ORES E540 
