120 
NATURE 
[Dec. 8, 1870 


by W. L. Buller, F.L.S.—‘‘On the Ornamental Cultivation of | 
Native Shrubs,” by T. H. Potts and William Gray, Canterbury. 
—‘*Notes on New Zealand Birds,” continued, by T. H. Potts. — 
“©On the Nomenclature of New Zealand Rocks” and ‘‘ Notice of 
s me New Mineral Forms in the Museum,” by E. H. Davis, F.L.S. 
—¥‘* On the Absorption of Sulphur by Gold,” byW.Skey, Govern- 
ment analyst. The author of this paper, while recently investi- 
gating the causes of the reported loss of gold at the Thames 
gold fields during its extraction from the ore, fotind the gold is 
acted on by sulphuretted hydrogen, and thus a sulphide is formed 
which tarnishes the surface. Also that gold combines with free 
sulphur at a temperature of 212° Fahr. 
on the surface will not amalgamate with mercury. The loss of 
Gold thus sulphurised | 
| 

gold is not altogether due to the condition of the mercury, as has | 
hitherto been supposed, as he has found this sulphide on the 
surface of native gold of every degree of purity. 
VIENNA 
I. R. Geological Institution, Sept. 30.—During the sum- 
mer season the geologists of the Institution were partly occu- 
pied with the survey of Northern Tyrol from the environs of 
Kufstein, along the valley of the Inn westwards as far as Inns- 
bruck, and partly on the military frontier between Barziasch on | 
the Danube, and Brod in Slavonia. Messrs. 
Fr. vy. Hauer, invited for this purpose by the Roumanian 
Foetterle and | 
Government, investigated also parts of the Wallachian territory, | 
and studied more particularly some sections between Bucharest | 
and Kronstadt in Transylvania. Very interesting results were 
obtained here. The large portion of Southern Wallachia seems 
mostly covered with loess; but a boring at Bucharest, for an 
artesian well, perforated up to the depth of 250 metres beyond 
the loess nothing but strata of clay and sand, belonging to the 
Congeria-beds, a freshwater deposit which, in the Vienna 
basin, forms the highest member of the Miocene formation. 
Farther up towards the north the same strata constitute a 
broad zone of mountains of lower elevation, which board the | 
plain, and form a passage to the high mountain which separates 
Wallachia from Transylvania. Large masses of petroleum are 
here imbedded in the lower parts of the congeria deposits. 
Whilst, therefore, the Galician petroleum belongs to the Eo. ene 
Carpathian sandstones, the Wallachian petroleum is of the 
upper Miocene age, and the strata which contain it abound in 
characteristic fossils of our congeria beds. Immediately below 
these beds follows the salt formation, consisting of salt clay, 
with large masses of rock salt, which is worked in the mines of 
Telega, Sylatina, Okna, &c. The higher mountains are formed 
chiefly of Eocene strata, partly sandstones, partly coarse con- 
glomerates, with enormous boulders of jurassic limestone, These 
Eocene strata underlie immediately the salt formation in the 
Bucsecs mountain; they are upheaved to the héight of more 
than 8.000 feet above the level of the sea. The crystalline rocks 
which fo-m the nucleus of the Fogarasch mountains in Transyl- 
vania finish eastward in the neighbourhood of Ruckur, in the 
Dibmovizza-valley. On the passage between Kronstadt and 
Sinaja they are no longer to be observed.—Dr. T, Schmidt, 
director of the Observatory at Athens, gave notice of the violent 
earthquakes of July 31, August 1 and 5, in Greece, and men- 
tioned that the volcanic eruptions in Santorin, which began five © 
ears ago, continue up to the present day with undiminished 
orce.—-M. Herbech discovered in Eastern Transylvania, on the 
Nagy-Hagymas mountain, some red limestone, with the charac- 
teristic fossils of the famous upper triassic Hallstatt marble, 
among them the magnificent Ammonites Metternichiii—Count 
H. Wilcjek and Count G, Wurmbrand discovered last summer 
an old pile building (Pfahlbau) in the Atter Lake in Upper 
Austria, near Kammer. Stone implements, fragments of rough 
pottery, &c., were found in abundance at the bottom of the lake. 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, October6.—Professor Barth 
transmitted some communications from the Chemical Laboratory | 
of the University of Innsbruck. These notices included the re- 
sults of an investigation made by Prof. Barth on the reaction of 
fusing potash upon phenole, of an investigation of the bromo- 
phenolic acids, by M. Carl Tenhofer, and on some derivatives 
of gallic acid, by Professor Reynold.—Dr. S. von Basch pre- 
sented a memoir on the first chyle-ducts and the absorption of fat. 
The results of the observations made at the Central Observatory 
for meteorology and terrestrial magnetism during the months of 
July and August were laid before the meeting. 
October 13.—M. Julius Peterin communicated a memoir on 
the formation of electrical annular figures by the current of the 

influence machine.—Dr. L. J. Fitzinger presented the fifth sec- 
| tion of his critical revision of the hat family, relating to the 
genera Nycticejus, Lasiurus, Amblyotus, Muvina, Harpyiocepha- 
lus, Nyctiplenus, Eorestes, and Natalus.—Dr. yon Zepharovich, 
of Prague, communicated a notice of the crystals of cerussite 
lately found in the Galena mines at Kilibaba. His paper con- 
tained accurate measurements of the crystals.—Dr. E. Briicke 
communicated a paper by M. A. Schapringer on the contraction 
of the sensor tympant.—A memoir was read by Professor Lo- 
schmidt, containing an account of experimental investigations on 
the diffusion of gaseous mixtures, by M. A. Wretschke.—And Dr. 
J. Peyritsch communicated some further observations on pelorism 
in the Labiatz. 

THURSDAY, Decemper 8, 
Rovat Society, at 8.30 —Report on Deep-Sea Researches carried on during 
the months July-September, 1870, in H.M. Surveying Ship Porcupine: 
Dr. Carpenter, F R.S., and J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S. 
Society OF ANTIQUARTEs, at 8.30 —Autographs of Eminent Italian Princes : 
Dr. O'Callaghan, F.S.A.—On a Déed appointing Sir John Fastolf Gover- 
nor of the Bastille, 3 Hen. V.: Mr, J. G. Nichols, F.S,.A. 
Lonpon MATHEMATICAL Society, at &—Further Remarks on Quartic 
Surfaces: Prof Cayley.—On the Polar Correlation of two Planes, and its 
Connection with their Quadric Correspondence: Dr. Hirst, F.R S — On 
Systems of Tangents to Plane Cubicand Quartic Curves: Mr. J. J Walker. 
—On the Order and Singularities of the Parallel of an Algebra cal Curve : 
Mr. S. Roberts 
Lonxpon InstTiTUTION, at 7.30.—On Count Rumford and his Philo. oghical 
Work: Mr. W. Mattieu Williams. 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9. 
Liverroot Natura.ists’ Fizip Cius.—Lecture by Prof. W. C. William- 
son, F.R.S. 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11. 
Sunpay Lecture Society, at 3.30.—Onthe Telescope and its Discoveries : 
Mr. R. A. Proctor. 
MONDAY, DeEcEMBER 12. 
Lonpon InsTITUTION, at 4.—On Chemical Action (Educational Course): 
Professor Odling, F.R.S. 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13. 
Roya GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8,30. 
ETHNOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—On Stone Implements from Africa: Sir 
John Lubbock, Bart., M.P.—On Stone Implements from the Cape of Good 
Hope: Mr. Edgar Layard—Second Report on the Prehisterie Monu- 
ments of Dartmoor: Mr. C. Spence Bate. 
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, at 8. 
MANCHESTER LITERARY AND PurosoruicaL Society, at 7. 
WEDNESDAY, D¥CEMBER 14. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—On a new Method of producing Durable Mura 
Paintings by Fictile Vitrification: Mr. Alan S. Cole. 
Royat MicroscopicaL Society, at 8.—On the Anatomy of Ascarus lusm- 
bricoides: Mr. B T. Lowne, M.R.C.S —Observations on the Aéroscope, 
of Air-dust Collector: Dr. Maddox. 
THURSDAY, December 15. 
RoyaAt, at 8.30. 
CHemicAL Socrety, at 8.—On some New Derivatives o! Coumarin 
Mr. W. H. Perkin. 
LinnEAN Society, at 8. 
Lonpon InsTiTUTION, at 7 30.—On Count Rumford and his Phi'osophical 
Work: Mr. W. Martieu Williams. 
CONTENTS 


Park 
"THE EcLipsE EXPEDITION. “= a0 soos) = f- ul s ae Ste -  £O% 
Haecker’s Natura History oF CREATION. . . «. «. + «© « « 102 
DEFECTS IN.'GENERAL EDUCATION. 4 ss) ©jje) « (© 0) seks ee 
Our Boox SHELF. 4. easy feces ein cm 
LETTERS TO THE EpiTor :— 
The Aurora Borealis by Daylight—J. Cusitr. (W2th /dlustra- 
iD ee oS ete) Chea cy 
The Spectrum of the Aurora.—Epwarp C. Pickerinc ; JAMES ‘ 
HIVATT ow ss oo ee wens ge tes fol cal Sa re 
Early Mentions of the Aurora Borealis —R. G ; G. H. KinaAHAN. 105 
Prismatic Structure in Ice.—T. G. Bonney . . i 105 
The Difficulties of Natural Selection —A. R. WaLLacre . 
Cave paintings by Bushmen. —Prof. T. Rurert Jones 
A Rare Fish—W:S: Mo DIURBAN. (2 2". 5 eee 
The Ceratodus Forsteri —GerarD Krerrr sy 5 
Rs 0 biemeds 
» 
° 
] 

‘The British Museum Collections. Steer es oe. Z 108 
Glass Floats off the Isle of !ewis—Ronert H. Scorr . . « 108 
The Milky Way.—Henry Rzexs, F.L.S........ 108 
The Cockroach.—AkTHUR Nicots; C, J. R.. +e) og eo 
KAIETEUR WATERFALL, DEMERARA . ..... « © =f 108 
QUERIES RESPECTING AETHER by C. Brooke, F.R.S. . . «is OS! 
Spectroscopic Notes By Prof. C. A. Younc [With /ilustrations.) 110 
INOTES) ooo eof cee eee) peu e) ot ie) neuen gt Re 
BALLOON ASCENTS FOR MILITARY Purroses. By W. DE FoNVIELLE. 115 
SGIENTIFIC, SERIALS: «a, 1<) spl) ee a eer ee . = eee 
SOCIETIES AND (ACADEMIES .) (2) fess) ee EE) hate 8 sete 117 
DLA Yon! Vee io Aclovtiel. <a ple! 50 ani) 120 



ErraAtTA.—Page 76, first column, line 29 from bottom, for ‘‘high” read 
“low; second column, line 8, insert after ** winter,” ‘‘—there atmospheric 
pressure is low ;” page gz, second column, sixth note, for ‘‘ Mr. Matthew 
i arr ee ““Mr. William Mathews,” and for ‘‘Mr. Willams’ read 
“Mr. Mathews.” 
