140 
NATURE 

_ [Dee. 15, 1870 

on the other hand, had no perceptible effect upon it, nor yet an 
alkaline solution of esculine. Mr. Perkin illustrated his interest- 
ing communication by a series of most beautiful experiments. 
VIENNA 
Imperial Academy of Sciences, October 20.—Dr. L. 
Manol communicated a memoir on chest and head voice, in 
which he described the condition of the glottis during the pro- 
duction of these two kinds.of sounds. 
November 3.—Prof. E. Stahlberger transmitted a memoir on 
the ebb and flow at Fiume.—Dr, Reuss presented a memoir on 
the Foraminifera of the Septaria clay of Pietzpuhl, containing 
the determination of the species figured by M. von Schlicht. 
Pietzpuhl possesses the richestiF oraminiferous fauna of any known 
locality for the Septaria clay ; the author has distinguished 164 
species and twenty varieties, the total number found in the 
formation being 244 species.—Dr. C. Jelinek exhibited and 
explained a new anemometer, constructed for the station at 
Lesina, by Hipp, of Neuchatel.—Dr. T. R. von Oppolzer 
communicated a memoir on Winnecke’s periodic comet, in which 
he endeavoured to show that this comet presents no extraordinary 
anomalies in its movement. This memoir also contained an 
account of the author’s method of calculating disturbances. 
November 10.—Prof. J. Gottlieb transmitted a chemical 
analysis of the Konigsbrunnen at Kostreinitz, in Lower Styria, 
and a memoir by M. A. F. Reibenschuh, containing the analysis 
of the Johannesquelle, near Stainz, in Merau.—Prof. 
Loschmidt communicated a continuation of the results obtained 
by M. A. Wretschko in his researches on the diffusion of gaseous 
mixtures, 
I. R. Geological Institute, Oct. 30,—Baron v. Richtho- 
fen, in a letter dated Pekin, July 20, gives a notice of his 
recent geological explorations in China. On the first of January 
he started from, Canton and travelled through the provinces of 
Kwangtung and Hunan to Hankan, and then, through Hupe, 
Honan, and Shansi, to Peking. The most important result of 
this journey is the discovery of the enormous extension of coal- 
fields and iron-ores in the province of Shansi. The southern 
half of this province, about 3,500 German square miles, and 
probably also the northern half, is an almost continuous coalfield, 
containing anthracite of the best quality, in layers of from twelve 
to thirty feet in thickness. The anthracite district is much more 
extensive than that of Pennsylvania, and offers incomparably 
more favourable conditions for working. Together with the 
coal, iron ores of very good quality are found in abundance. 
—M. Th. Fuchs gives a sketch of different discoveries in the 
tertiary basin of Vienna which he made last summer, in 
company with M. F. Karrer. The building of the new aque- 
duct for Vienna has caused denudations near Baden, which 
prove clearly that the marine clay (Tegel) of Baden overlies 
the Leytha limestone. Between the Cerithium (Sarmatic) beds 
and the overlying Congeria beds, they discovered in many loca- 
lities a thin stratum, which contains the fauna of both these 
formations mixed, without any sensible difference in the form or 
size of the various species. M. E. Tietze has explored the Jurassic 
and Liassic strata in the southern Banat, in the environs of Bers- 
gasyka. He found that large masses of white and red limestones, 
which belong to the tithonic age, immediately cover the famous 
Ammonite bed, near Swinitga, which haslong been knownas belong- 
ing to the middle Jurassic formation. Farther down are developed 
different members of the lias, which contain considerable layers 
of coal.—M. G. Stache, during the summer, was occupied with 
the exploration of the centrai crystalline masses in eastern Tyrol, 
chiefly in the enyirons of the Ziller Valley. He brings full 
evidence that metamorphic stratified rocks, partly even with traces 
of organic remains, play a considerable part in the composition of 
the large mountain masses of that country. 
GOTTINGEN 
Royal Academy of Sciences, October 19.—M. W. Krause 
read a paper on the termination of the nerves in the tongue of 
man; and M. P. Gordan a memoir on the partial differential 
equations, of which the resultant 2 satisfies a form of the zt 
degree and a form of the mt degree. 
November 12.—M. R. Lipschitz communicated contributions 
to the theory of the reversal of a function system.—A paper was 
also read by Dr. R. von Willemoes-Suhm on a Aadanoglessus 
from the North Sea, This paper contained the description of a 

third species of the genus discovered by the author in the Oere- 
sund near Helleback, in Iceland. He names the worm J&. 
kupferi, and dredged it up from a depth of 12 to 16 fathoms in 
a bottom of fine mud, 
November 16.—A paper on asymptotic lines, by M. A. 
Enneper, was read, 


BOOKS RECEIVED 
EnGLisH.—Use and Limit of the Imagina‘ion in Science: Prof. Tyndall 
(Longmans and Co.).—'he Intelligence and Perfectibility of Animals: G. G. 
Le Roy (Chapman and Hall).—The Wild Garden : W. Robinson (!. Murray). 
Lessons in Elementary Physics: Prof. B. Stewart (Macmillan and Co.). — 
Chemical Problems: T. E. Thorpe (Macmillan and Co.).—The Modern Men 
ot Letters: J. H. Friswell (Hodder and Stoughton).—One Thousand Gems : 
H. W. Beecher (Hodder and Stoughton). 


DIARY 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1t5. 
Royat Society, at 8.30 —Report on Deep-Sea Researches carried on during 
the months July-September, 1870, in H.M. Surveying Ship Porcusine 
(conclusion) : Dr. Carpenter, F R.S., and J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S.—On 
the Censtitution of the Solid Crust of the Earth: Archdeacon Pratt, F.R.S. 
—Actinometric Observations made at Dehra and Mussoorie, in India: 
Lieut. Hernessey. 
Society or ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On the Pre-Christian Cross: Mr. H.M- 
Westropp. r 
LINNEAN Socrety, at 8.—On Sabadilla from Caracas (Asagrea officinalis 
Link.) : A. Ernst.—A letter on the Californian Pitcher-plant (Darding- 
tonia) ; W. Robinson, F.L.S. . 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.—On some New Derivatives of Coumarin : 
Mr. W. H. Perkin. : 
Lonpon InsTiTuTION. at 7.30.—On Count Rumford and his Philosophical 
Work: Mr. W. Mattieu Williams. 
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19. 
Lonpon InstITUTION, at 4.—On Chemical Action: Professor Odling, F.R.S. 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—Archaic Structures of Cornwall and 
Devon: Mr. A. L. Lewis.—Objections to the Theory of Natural Selection : 
Dr. Muirhead.—The Manx of the Is'e of Man: Dr. Richard King.—1 he 
Anthropology of Lancashire: Dr. Beddoe. 
STATISTICAL SOCIETY, at 7.45——On Wool Supply: Mr. A. Hamilton. 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2. : 
Geotocicat Society, at 8.—On the older Metamorphic Rocks and Granite 
of Banffshire: Mr. T. F, Jamieson.—On Lower Tertiary Depo-its recently 
exp sed at Portsmouth: Mr. C. J. A, Meyer.—On the Chalk of the Cliffs 
from Seaford to Kastbourne, Sussex: Mr. W. Whit .ker—On the Chalk of 
the Southern Part of Dorset and Devon: Mr. W. Whitaker. ¥ 
Society oF Arts, at 8.—On a Method of Lighting ‘owns, Factories. 
or Private Houses ‘by means of Vegetable or Mineral Oils: Mr. Albert 
Silber. 
Royav Society oF LITERATURE, at 8.30.—On a passage in Othello (by the 
late Rev. W. W. Berry): Dr. C. M. Ingleby, For. Sec. R-S.L.—On the 
Great Seals of William the Conqueror: Mr. Walter De Gray Birch. 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22. 
RoyAt, at 8.30. 


CONTENTS Pie 
PRACTICAL PHYSICS, (Dr. (CRS AKIN [ici 5s = at us o  tae 
Gattoway's QuatiraTive Anatysis. By T. E. THorPE 7 122 
WORKS:IN NATURAL HISTORY” . (ic S795! iso win ee 
QuR Book SHELF. (fps Wesson eats! sail in nieg ole eay pee ee 
Lerrers To THE EpITOR :— 
Contribution to the Dioptrics of Vision.—Dr R.E. DupGron . . 124 
Dr. Lankester and the Scarlet Fever Fpidemic.—Dr. E. LANKES- 
TER PORES. oe on, 26 po leityelipte SRMURe INNER yx | tl sj sek 
Professor Tait on Bain’s Logic.—A. Bain, F.R.S.. . . . . . 125 
The Spectrum of the Aurora.—Prof. D. Kirkwoop . . . . . 126 
Can Aurora be seen in Daylight?—Dr. G. F.BurpER . . . . 126 
The North London Naturalists’ Club—-J.SLavE . . . . . . 126 
Browning's Spectroscope.—J. BrowNInG, F.R.A.S. . . +e 326 
Evolution of Light —C. Ltt eR ES SS 
Fungi.—Rev. W. HouGHTON . . , . +» . + » » « « «© 220 
Hereditary Meformities.—J. J. Mrreuy, F.G.S.) . . 2. 1. 127 
‘Yhe Colour of Feathers and ot Butterflies’ Wiugs.—SeprTimus 
PIESSE, B.C:S 5 sa els eu nes (e150) sick pln nn a 
Man’s Bare Back.—_Dr. E. BonAvIA . . ° o, tag, 
Loss of Temperature in Climbing.—A. H.Garrop. . . . . . 127 
Hailstones.—H. R. Procter. (W2thlilustratiwon.) . . . . . 
En: 0UrAGEMENT TO NATURAL SCIENCEAT TRINITY! OLLEGE,DUBLIN 128 
Tuer ConstRucTION OF HeAvy AxTILLERY. If. CHoICEOF MATERTAL 
(With Illustrations.) « ee ether eh  yok. ete 
NOTES. eso ve a in reed Fa) eu le tin! yn) uote a Nae ai kGia te Mean REELS 
BaLtoon Ascents For MiLitTArY Purposes. II. By W. pg Fon- 
Uh) in ee ec ne Sy as 
Prog. Wriiiiamson’s INatGurat LecTuRE TO THE FACULTY oF 
SciENCE AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON . . . 6. . « « 135 
Zoo.oGy.—Researches on the Amcebe® . 2. . . - . - . « « 136 
CuemisTay.—Constitution of Arbutin . + 4 A Re z 137 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS); « clo) GeKeeAIn Gn fs) o - 137 
SocigTiEs AND ACADEMIES. . ofS SEP oan oe fay untae 
BOOKS RECEIVED . <¢ toa. Maule ane! pe tlet« AS fe 
DIARY Sms oat se fey esl cs te ae Bagi ‘el Hohe fe 140 


ee 
* S.p Seegeee 
