642 
squares of the respective absolute temperatures. —13. Project for 
preliminary operations in connection with the transit of Venus in 
1874, by Dr. G. Neumayer, in which the author discussed at 
considerable length the measures to be taken in the observation 
of that important’ phenomenon.—14. Prof. E. Ludwig noticed 
an investigation made by himself and}Dr. C. Graebe upon some 
derivatives of napthaline allied to the chinones.—In presenting 
the fourth part of Dr. Manzoni’s ‘‘ Bryozoi fossili Italiani,” 
Prof. Reuss noticed its contents, which include the descriptions 
of twenty-four species of fossil Chilostomatous Bryozoa, partly 
from the {pliocene of Calabria and Castellarquato and partly 
from the miocene of Turin, &c. Nine species are described as 
new. ‘This part also contains a critical examination of all the 
Italian fossils of this class. The report of the observations made 
during February at the Central Institution for Meteorology and 
Terrestrial Magnetism was communicated. 
Imperial’Geological Institution, March 16,—M. C. Gries- 
bach, in a letter dated Port Natal, January 3, 1870, relates that 
he found fossils in the sandstone of the Table mountain. On a 
journey into the Griqua-land, he discoyered also a large series 
of very well-preserved fossils, which he thinks belong to the 
Tithonic series.—Baron QO. Petrino, On the origin of the Loss, 
Researches in the territories of the Dniester, the Pruth, and the 
Sereth rivers have led the author to the following conclusions :— 
(1) The Léss is the product of slowly running rivers, deposited 
from the upper part of the mass of water which during inundations 
overflows the surrounding country ; (2) the time of its formation 
begins with the end of the glacial period, and has continued up 
to the present day; (3) within the loss-deposits layers of different 
periods are, locally, easily to be distinguished. The old river 
terraces and banks of pebblestone and sand are the product of 
quicker running rivers, which excavate their bed more rapidly. 
They are contemporaneous with the léss-deposits.—Dr, Bunzel 
exhibited a series of fossil bones from the upper chalk formation 
of Griinbach, near Neunkirchen in Austria. They form one of the 
most interesting paleontological discoveries which we have met 
with in the last few years. Dr. Bunzel recognised among them 
remains from animals of the families of the Crocodilians, Lacer- 
tilians, Dinosaurians, and Chelonians. The Lacertilians are 
especially represented by a new genus very nearly allied to the 
gigantic AZosasaurus from Miastricht, which genus has received 
the name Dazwudbiosaurus. ‘To the Dinosaurians belongs a new 
species of Zewanodon, I. Suessi Bunz. A very peculiar type is 
indicated by a skull of a saurian, in many respects resembling 
that of a bird, which he has called Strwthiosaurus.—Charles yon 
Hauer, On the deposit of Potassium-salts at Kalusz (Galicia). 
They forma layer seventy feet thick, The whole mass contains on 
an average 15°5 per cent. potassium, and consists of a mixture of 
the mineral species, kainit, sylvin, and salt. The presence of 
sulphuric acid renders it more suitable for all industrial purposes 
than the well-known layer of Stassfurth, Prussia,—D, Stur has 
shown by an accurate examination of a large series of fossil plants, 
that the red sandstones of the Banat belong to the Permian 
(Dyas) formation, and that the coal-measures below it belong to 
the fifth or fern-zone (Geinitz) of the carboniferous formation, 
Anthropological Society, March 22,—Prof. Bokitansky in 
the chair. Prof. Miiller on the origin of the writing of the 
Malayan peoples. The author argued against the views 
defended especially by the English ethnologist, Crawfurd, the 
famous Malayan scholar, that the Malayan alphabets (the 
writing of the Battak, the Redschang, Lampong, Bugi, Ma- 
kassar, and Tagulo peoples) are an independent invention. 
By the form of the single letters, as wellas by the manner used 
to indicate the vowels, he proved that these alphabets originate 
from the old Indian writing which is to be found in the Buddhistic 
inscriptions. In connection with this question he spoke also 
of the origin of the Indian writing generally, and by a com- 
parison of the old Indian with the Malayan alphabets, he comes 
to the conclusion that the Indian writing originated from an old 
Semitic alphabet. He remarked especially on the close relation 
between the language and the writing, and pointed out the pro- 
ess which the people made by developing the writing with 
syllables (Silbenschrift) to a pure sound-writing (Lautschrift). 
—Franz v. Hauer offered to the society a large series of pre-his- 
toric archzeological objects found in different parts of the Austro- 
Hungarian monarchy. Of very high interest among them are 
stone (Obsidian) implements, recently discovered by H. Wolf in 
the environs of Tokaj (Hungary). They have been found in 
many different spots, partly actually on the surface, partly in 
NATURE 
| April 21, 1870 
a particular stratum, covered with a bed eight feet thick of 
quicksand, The implements are not polished, they are 
accompanied by fragments of yery rude vessels, by bones, and 
rarely by metal objects. The analysis of one of the latter, made 
by A. Patera, gave in 100 parts 63°75 silver, 32°5 copper, 20 
tin, 0°125, gold, and traces of iron. The collection contains 
further perfectly well preserved rude vessels from Morovan near 
Pistyan in Hungary, fragments of similar vessels from Waitzen on 
the Danube, many objects from Olmiitz, &c., Von Hauer remarked 
besides that all the remainder belong to the alluvial period, and 
that we have hitherto possessed very few indications of the 
existence of man in the diluvial (postpliocene) period in Austria. 
Count T. Wilczek dedicated to the society a sum of 2,000 flor. 
(200 1. sterl.) for excavations in the celebrated sepulchral field 
of Hallstatt, and for an exploration of the lakes of Upper 
Austria for pile-buildings. 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Arriu 21. 
Linnean Socrery, at 8.—On the Vertebrate Skeleton: Mr. St. George J. 
Mivart. 
CHEMICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
Numismatic Society, at 7. 
FRIDAY, Apri 22. 
Quekerr MicroscorPicaL Society, at 8. 
MONDAY, Apri 25. 
RoyAt GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
Lonpon INSTITUTION, at 4. 
TUESDAY, Aprit 26. 
Roya InstiturTion, at 3.—On Moral Philosophy: Prof. Blackie. 
ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.—On the Philosophy of Religion among the 
Lower Races of Mankind: Mr, E, B, Tylor.—On the Brain in the Study 
of Ethnology: Dr. Donavon, 
Society or ANTIQUARIES, at 2—Anniversary Meeting. 
WEDNESDAY, Apri 27. 
Society or Arts, at 8. 
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
THURSDAY, Aprit 28. 
Roya. InstrTuTION, at 3.—Electricity ; Prof, Tyndall. 
Roya Society, at 8.30. 
ZoOLOGICAL Society, at 8.30. 
CONTENTS 
PaGE 
On OricinaL ExPERIMENTAL RESEARCH IN RELATION To EmpLoy- 
MENT FOR WorRKMEN. By Georce Gorz, F.R.S. . . . « . 623 
+ 624 
. 625 
Qur"Domwsstic FIREPLACES", 1. grees) o) oa) aia as alin Be 
Our}BoOoxkiSHELR \<: <\ =) jeiMe-4em eo fo Yeh sic) (une) (of Mal (eflieleta 
LETTERS TO THE EpDITOR:— 
Evidence concerning Heterogeny.—GILBERT W, Cuitp . . . . 626 
Prismatic _Ice—Sandstone Boulder in Granite—Wm. PENGELLY, 
1 BIAS Rael tom oa cir Conti iets. od a A ono 2Y/ 
‘The Transits of Venus in 1874 and 1882.—RicHArD A. Proctor, 
beh ys er OM OMe eo mGh ca Cecio oot, 0 Sh: 
Euclid as a Text-book.—R. TucKER . . . . +... - 627 
Science and the University of Cambridge.—Rey. T. G. Bonney . 628 
ExPLoRATION oF Caves AT SETTLE, YorKSHIRE. By W. Boyp 
ID AWICINS Oh (G19. ash 8. A oot oe Lie een ae ee 628 
Tue ABRADING AND TRANSPORTING PoweR OF WATER. 1.— 
MecHANICAL PRopERTIES OF WATER. ByT. Locin. + 629 
Tue CLIMATE OF IRELAND. ooo 7 fe ean geo A ee ere 
Tue Stone AceIN Ecyrpr. By J. Evans,F.R.S .... « » 63 
Tue ProyecTED CHANNEL Rattways, III. (With an Jilustration.) 631 
IN (or) Pees PE RCC i Oo OmcCeeect Ao) Oo) Alina, 6 0 SE} 
BOTANY 4 cucleta lela ee ta nny cs! akc SER re . 637 
Prysicsi, gp) oso Ue VS cakes ah ecg el oats a ta (oe hale en 
SCIENTIBIC \GERIALS) (S42 so bl la We dues ca coma cas Ren ae hn OOS 
SOCIETIES AND) ACADEMIES): 92) (5, 1%) ps) (el) oi Js hela) enone ar O3e 
TDTARY” 4. sb oe gk ec as os Leta7el ie Udle, Ore Mares, Aovtet hs ical MOMs Mite Bianco) O42 
