579 
noticed the extraordinary fact that in the males of the 
North-American species of the genus Visoniades, these organs 
were asymmetrical. The asymmetry is confined to the lower 
lateral plates, which are unusually developed in this genus, 
and shows itself in the diverse length of the lower process 
and in the size, and the entireness or the excision of the lateral 
flap. The only species in the genus, as generally accepted, 
which does not come under this rule, is 4. Catui/us, but the 
structural features of all the appendages of the body of this 
species show that it is wrongly placed in this relation. Mr. 
Scudder also stated that the butterfly described by Dr. Harris 
in his State Report as Eudamus Bathyllus,—a name invariably 
accepted by subsequent writers—was not the species originally 
described and figured by Abbot and Smith under the same 
specific name; he therefore proposed to call Hartis’s species 
Ludamus Pylades. Mr. Sprague referred to an instance related 
by a friend not versed in entomology, where ‘‘ flies” were seen, 
through a hole in the ice in midwinter, to ascend in large num- 
bers from the bottom of a stream to the surface and take flight. 
Mr. B. P. Mann stated that he had taken a specimen of Caradbus 
Chamissonis Fisch., in Labrador. Mr. F. G. Samborn remarked 
that he had taken ten or twelve specimens of the same species in 
August, on the sides of Mount Washington, N.H., at a height 
of from four to five thousand feet above the sea. He also re- 
ported the capture in Andover, Mass., on Christmas Day, 1869, 
of Capnia and Teniopteryx, moving actively upon the ice; of 
several Staphylinide of the genera Lathotium, Stenus, Philonthus 
and Lithocharis, together with Photinus corruscus and larve of 
Telephorus, and some undetermined Coleopterous and Geometri- 
deous larvae, also a species of Sa/da (Hemipterous), and of 
Diptera, Hydrophorus pirata Loew, and Sepsis sp., which were 
struggling in water of about one-eighth inch in depth, covering 
the surface of the ice in meadows. A greatnumber of Arachnide, 
mostly of small size, were noticed under the same circumstances, 
and appeared to represent many species. He was in pursuit of 
the aberrant forms, Boreus and Chionea, but several hours of 
careful search failed to reveal any specimens of either. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, March 21.—The following papers 
relating to various departments of physics were read: A note 
on the variations of the calorific capacity of water towards the 
maximum of density, by M. Him; on the angle of adjustment 
of a liquid with a solid wall, by M. Moutier; a description of a 
vertical galvanometer with a balance, suitable for use before 
large audiences, by M. Bourbouze.—The chemical papers were 
rather numerous, and included a note on the analysis and uses of 
the rock known in the Ardennes under the name of guzze, or 
pierre-morte, by MM. H. Sainte-Claire Deville and J. Desnoyers, 
upon which M. Elie de Beaumont made some remarks.—A note 
by M. Descloiseaux upon some crystallised derivatives of the 
coal hydrocarbons ; a memoir on the action of sulphuret of 
carbon and carburetted gases upon wood charcoal, by M. Sidot; 
a note on cobalt and manganese and their alloys with copper, by 
M. A. Valenciennes; a note on a new method of preparing 
hydrobromic acid, by MM. Champion and Pellet; a note on 
the properties of iodic acid, by M. A. Ditte; one on the 
hydrogenated derivatives of sulphuret of carbon, by M, A. Girard ; 
a note on the vitality of beer-yeast, by M. Melsens; an 
important note by M. J. Raulin on the chemical con- 
ditions of the life of the lower organisms; a paper on 
tribromhydrin, by M. L. Henry; and a note on the 
isomeric-xylenes and cumenes in the coal-oils, by M. Rommier. 
—M. Rosenstiehl also presented a paper on the nature of the 
motor foree which produces the phenomena of endosmose ; 
and M. E. Martin an electro-chemical investigation of ozone. 
M. Blanqui forwarded a letter describing an instrument for 
solving spherical triangles without the aid of tables of logarithms; 
and M. Bowen a continuation of his communication relating to 
the distance of the sun, of which the titles only are given.—M. 
Chasles made known a theorem relating to the theory of surfaces 
which had been communicated to him by Mr. Spottiswoode.— 
M. Coumbary’s notice of the fall of an aerolite in Barbary 
(given in our last number) was communicated by M. Le Verrier, 
who also presented some observations on storms in Norway 
during the year 1869, by M. Mohn of Christiania.—With the 
exception of a few medical miscellaneous notes, three botanical 
papers complete the list of communications at this meeting: these 
were the continuations of M. Trecul’s and M. Chatin’s valuable 
researches upon the trachea of ferns, and the causes of the 
NATURE 
“Rovac INstritution, at 3.—Nervous System : Prof. Rolleston, EIS R.S. 
‘a 
dehiscence of anthers (the latter completed), and a notice of 4 
remarkable case of subdivision of the top of a palm-tree, by 
M. Ramon de la Sagra. 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Marcu 31. 
Royat Society, at §.30.—On the relation between the Sun’s Altitude and 
the chemical intensity of total daylight in a cloudless sky: Prof. Roscoe 
and Dr. Thorpe.—On the acids contained in Crab-oil: Mr. W. J. 
Wonfor. x 
Society OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On the Crypt of the Chapter-house at 
Westminster : H. Harrod, F.S.A. 3 : 
Roya InstTiTuTION, at 3.—Chemistry of Vegetable Products : Prof. Odling. 
Lonpon INsTiTUTION, at 7.30.—Geology: Dr. Cobbold. 
FRIDAY, Apriu x. 
Roya InstiruTion, at 8.—Artificial Alizarine ; Prof. Roscoe. 
ARCHAOLOGICAL INSTITUTION, at 4. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 2. 
Royat InstiTuTion, at 3.—The Sun: J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, Apri 4. 
Lonpon_InstTiTuTION, at 4—Chemistry: Prof. Bloxam. 
Roya Insti TuTION, at 2:—General Monthly Meeting. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 7. 
Mepicat Society, at 8. 
Royat Astatic Society, at 4. 2 
Victoria InstiruTs, at 8.—On Comparative Psychology: E. J. Morshead. 
TUESDAY, Aprit 5. MY = 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—Phallic Worship: H: M. Westropp: 
—The Influence of the Phallic Idea in the Religion of Antiquity: -C. 
Staniland Wake. 
ao 
INSTITUTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Discussion on St. ncras 
Station.—On the Dressing of Lead Ore: Thomas Sopwith, jum, 
Memb. Inst. C.E. 
WEDNESDAY, Aprit 6. 
SociETY oF ARTS, at 8. 
THURSDAY, APRit 7. 
Royav INSTITUTION, at 3—Chemistry: Prof. Odling. { 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.—On the Analysis of Deep-sea Water: Dr. 
John Hunter.—On the refraction equivalents of the aromatic Hydro- 
carbons and their derivatives: Dr. J. H. Gladstone.—On an acid 
Feed-water from the Coal-fields of Shellarton, N.S., and the results of 
its use: Prof. How. 
Linnean Society, at_8.—OQn new species of Annelids, &c.: Dr. Baird.— 
On Alge from the North-Atlantic Ocean: Dr. Dickie. - 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGiisH.—A Poor Man’s Photography at the Great Pyramid: Prof. 
Piazzi Smyth (H. Greenwood).—The Week of Creation: G. Warington 
(Macmillans).—The Philosophy of the Bath: D. Dunlop (Dublin, Moffat). 
—The Fuel of the Sun: W. Mattieu Williams (Simpkin, Marshall, and Co). 
Foreicn.—Grundziige der Modernen Chemie: Dr. Eugen Zell, Organische 
Chemie (Berlin, Herschwald).—Grundgiss der Physik und Meteorologie: Dr. 
J. Miiller (Brunswick, Vieweg).—L’Année Géographique ; révue annuelle: 
M. Vivien de Saint-Martin (Paris, Hachette).—Reden und Abhandlungen 
tiber Gegenstande der Himmelskunde: Dr. J. H. von Madler (Berlin, Oppen- 
heim).—Jahresbericht tiber die Fortschritte der Chemie: Adolph Strecker, 
far 1868, rt©S Heft (Giessen, Ricker).—Charles Darwin und Alfred Russel 
Wallace: Dr. A. B. Meyer (Erlangen, Befold).—Die Stellung des Menschen 
in der Natur; 2t Lieferung Wer sind wir: Dr. L. Bichner (Leipzig, 
‘Thomas).—Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft ftir Erdkundezu Berlin, 4t'- Band: 
Prof. W. Koner (Berlin, Reimer).—Studien fiber die Wanderblocke und die 
Diluvialgebilde Russlands: C. yon Helmersen, ro ‘Tafeln (St. Petersburgh, 
Eggers). Through Williams and Norgate.——Cryptogamie Illustrée, ou His- 
toire des Familles naturelles des Plantes Acotyledonées d’Europe : Casimir 
Bourneguére (Paris, Bailliére) —Gedachtnissrede von Alexander von Hum- 
boldt: C. G, Ehrenberg (Berlin, Oppenheim). 
pes, ae 
a?) a ae 
aan 
CONTENTS 
Tue Size or Atoms By Prof. Sir W. Tuomson, F.R.S. . . 6 
ERYSENIUS'S ANALYSIS T 200-0 yo ye-ate ee) sega ee ene 
Ook Book SHELF. 6s) 5 Se hee ne Teen emer 
LETTERS TO THE EpDITOR:— 
Formation of Ground Ice.—W. G. THomPpson. 1 5 . 1. s 3 «© 555 
Prismatic Ice (With Iélustration)—Sandstone Boulder in Granite. » a 
‘Pace 
+ 55t iy 
+ 553 
+ 555 
=€. Shevce BATE Of 0 tee SOs eee . 556 Z 
Apparent Size of the Moon.—Dr. C. M. INctesy . . . - 556 
Concomitant Sounds and Colours. -W. S. OKELY. « . 1 «© « « 557 
Analogy of Colour and Music.—W. F. Barrett. . . . . «» . 558 
THe METROPOLITAN Main Drainace. (With Iilustrations.). . . 558 
Wores & oC 2 = in FF = GE er A ie ee ene 
On THE TEMPERATURE AND ANIMAL LIFE OF THE Deer SEA. III. 
By. Dr. Wi (BACARPENTER, FiRS. 9) Wes ev a Gs 
PHTYSICS) 9) 7a Co Oa iO tome cs 
Societies AND ACADEMIES. . ss + 5 ss se ws ee 6 0 567 
1D) eae nein es ised eat Gon sy Ga oye 
> 
