300 
NATURE 
[ Fed. 9, 1871 


Chorley, the eminent musical critic, were ina minor key. “Joyous- 
ness,” contined the author, “isa plant that does not flourish in the 
bleak north. It flowersand blossoms perennially in the south, be- 
cause there the air is balmy and soft. There the skies are always 
bright, and beneath man’s feet the earth is fruitful though untilled. 
There Nature uses her children kindly, and even “‘ prepares for 
them a table in the wilderness.’” The author remarked inciden- 
atlly that not music only, but the other arts of expression— 
architecture, sculpture, and the mythologies of the north of 
Europe—were imbued by the same melancholy spirit. He con- 
cluded by a few observations on the character of ancient Roman, 
modern Anglican, and dissenting Church music. The following 
gentlemen took part in the discussion: Mr. Mackenzie, Dr. 
Hyde Clarke, Mr. Bendir, Dr. Blake, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Wake, 
Captain Brine, Mr. W. R. Cooper, Mr. Quaritch, and the Chair- 
man. The President announced that this was the last ordinary 
meeting of the Anthropological Society, an amalgamation with 
the Ethnological Society having been carried out by the delegates 
appointed for that purpose at the general meeting of this Society 
on January 17th. The new society was to be styled ‘*The 
Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.” 
Linnean Society, February 2.—Mr. G. Bentham, President, 
in the chair. The President announced the death of one of the 
corresponding members of the Society, Prof. Miquel, of Leyden; 
and also that the Council had agreed to recommend the election 
of Prof. O. Heer, of Zurich, to fill the vacancy in the list of 
foreign members caused by the death of Prof. Unger, of Vienna. 
—‘* Natural History of Deep-sea Soundings between Galle and 
Java,” by Captain Chimmo. The ooze dredged up from a depth of 
2,300 fathoms, where the temperature was found to be 35° F., 
consisted to the extent of 90 per cent. of organic matter, Fora- 
minifera, chiefly Globigerinz, together with Polycistinz, with a 
few broken sponge-spicules. In the shallow water near Suma- 
tra, the animal life had decreased to only about five per cent. of 
the ooze, the Globigerine having entirely disappeared. The 
water brought up from great depths was found to contain a large 
proportion of salts in solution, which crystallised out immediately 
on exposure to the air. Mr. Busk remarked on the great interest 
and importance of the observation of the low temperature of the 
deep water in a latitude within a few degrees of the equator, 
strongly confirming the conclusions as to a general circulation of 
the water between the equator and the poles drawn from similar 
observations in the Atlantic. 
Victoria Philosophical Institute, January 30.—The Rey. 
J. H. Titcomb read a paper on ‘‘ Archeology, with some 
of its Parallels and Contrasts ;” it was a general review of the 
whole subject, and also showed how the resources of nature 
had been made use of by improving the arts. The discus- 
sion was carried on by the Chairman, Captain F. Petrie, 
Mr. V. Newton, the Rev. Mr. Heard, Mr. Shiffard, and 
Mr. Row. 
EDINBURGH 
Botanical Society, November 10, 1870.—Sir Walter Elliot, 
president, in the chair. The president delivered an opening 
address, in which he congratulated the Society on its continued 
prosperity, having now entered on its thirty-fifth year of existence, 
He reviewed the rise and progress of naturalists’ field clubs in 
Britain, and concluded by giving short biographical notices of 
the members whom the Socicty had lost by death during the 
past year.—‘‘ Experiments on the Transpiration of Leaves,” by 
Dr. W. R. M‘Nab.—‘‘On the Laws of Growth in Plants,” by 
Col. T. B. Collinson. 
December 8.—Mr. Alexander Buchan in the chair. The fol- 
lowing communications were read :—‘‘ Botanical Excursions in 
July and August 1870, with pupils,” by Prof. Balfour. —“ Notice 
of some new and rare mosses collected on Ben Lawers,” by Dr. 
Stirton. This was a continuation of a paper read by Dr. Stirton 
last session, recording the recent discovery of several new species 
of mosses on Ben Lawers, with notes as to place of growth, &c., 
of the rarer species found on that mountain.—‘‘ On the varieties 
of Hieracium stolonifiorum of Waldst. and Kit. at different 
seasons,” by Prof. Balfour—Prof. Dickson exhibited a plant of 
the Chinese primrose, having stamens and style of the same 
length (short), although in this species, as in the other dimorphic 
primroses, they are usually of different lengths. This form is 
interesting, inasmuch as in an abnormal cowslip, described some 
years ago by Mr. John Scott, the stamens and style, although of 
the same length, were both long. 

BOOKS RECEIVED 
Encuisu.—The Text-book of Science ; Algebra, and Trigonometry: W. 
N. Griffin (Longmans and Co.) —Strange Dwellings: Rev. J. G. Wood 
Longmans and Co.).—The Sun: Ruler Fire, Light, and Life of the 
lanetary System: R.A. Proctor (Longmans and Co ).—The Schools for the 
People: G. Bartley (Bell and Daldy). 



DIARY 
THURSDAY, Fesrvary 9. 
Roya Society, at 8.30.—The Effect of Exercise on the Bodily Tempera- 
ture: Dr. Allbutt —Observations of the Eclipse at Oxford, Dec. 22, 1870: 
Prof. J. Phillips, F.R.S.—On the Problem ot the In- and Circum- scribed 
Triangle: Prof. Cayley, F.R.S.—On the Unequal Distrfbution of Weight 
and Support in Ships, and its Effects in Still Water, in Waves, and in ex- 
peptianal Poscione on Shore: E. J. Reed, C.B. : es 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On Documents illustrating the Position 
of the Prior and Convent of Canterbury sede vacante: J. B. Sheppard. 
—On the hitherto undescribed Expedition of the Emperor Augustus into 
Britain: W. H. Black, F.S.A. - 
Lonpon MaTHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—On a Problem in the Calculus of 
Variations: Prof. Cayley, V.P.—On Surfaces of Negative Deficiency + 
Prof. Cayley, V.P. £ 
Lonpon INsTITUTION, at 7.30.—On the Action, Nature, and Detection of 
Poisons: F. S. Barff, M.A., F.C.S. 
Royat InsTITUTION, at 3.—Davy’s Discoveries: Dr, Odling. 
FRIDAY, Fesruary to, 
Roya AsTRONOMICAL Society, at 3.—Anniversary Meeting. _ p 
Roya InstituTIon, at 9.—On Some Fallacies connected with Ships and 
Guns: E. J. Reed, C.b. 
QveketrT Microscopicat Cuup, at 8, 
SATURDAY, Fesruary 11. 
Roya InsTITUTION, at 3.—Laws of Life revealed in History: Rev. W. H. 
Channing. 
SUNDAY, FEsRuARY 12. 
Sunpay Lecture Sociery, at 3.30.—The Entozoa of Man and Animals in 
relation to Public Health and the Sewage Question: Dr. Cobbold, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, Fepruary 13. 
Roya GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
Lonpon InstiTuTION, at 4.—On the First Principles of Biology: Prof. 
Huxley, (Educational Course.) 
TUESDAY, Fesrvary 14. 
Royat Institution, at 3.—Nutrition of Animals: Dr. Foster. 
PuoroGrapuic Society, at 8.—Anniversary Meeting. 
WEDNESDAY, FEBRuARY 15. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—On the Commerce of India: Dadabhai Navyroji. 
METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 7. 
Roya Society oF LITERATURE, at 8.30. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 7.30.—General Meeting.—Ordinary 
Meeting at 8. 
Lonpon INSTITUTION, at 7.—On Alizarine and other Colouring Matters : 
W.H. Perkin, F.R.S. (Goavesanene) 
4 THURSDAY, Fesruary 16. 
Royat Society, at 8.30. 
Society OF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Linnean Society, at 8.—On Tremellineous Fungi and their Analo; 
R. and C. Tulasne.—Bryological Remarks: S. O. Lindberg, M. 
CHEMICAL Society, at 8, 
Roya InstiTuTIoN, at 9.—On the Wolf-Rock Lighthouse: James N. 
Douglass. 
es: L. 


CONTENTS PasE 
THe Power OF NUMERICAL DISCRIMINATION. By Prof. W. STANLEY 
EVONS: 5 5) 0 5.0.0) fo, 0) (ogee a. ie: famine Jo ie 
BurMeIsTer’s FAUNA ARGENTINA. By Prof. W. H. Flower, F.RS. 282 
RECENT PETROGRAPHICAL LITERATURE, By ArcH. GEIKiE, F.R.S. 283 
Our Boox SHELF. |. is fe ess Se ha ele 
Lerrers To THE EpITor :— 
The Cretaceous Period.—L. L., G.H. KinAHAN . . 2. . « « 286 
Eozoén Canadense.—Principal J. W. Dawson, F.R.S. . . . . 287 
Natural Science at Cambridge . . . . 2. 1 1 se > ag 
Prismatic Structure in Ice.—Rev. T. G. Bonney, F.G.S. . . . 288 
Coming Home from Sicily—W. A. Harris .... +s. 288 
St. Michael’s Mount.—H. M. WuitLey . ....... 289 
The Zodiacal Light.- Prof. C. Prazzi SMytu, F.R.S.. . . . . 289 
The Reign of Law fe Tei" pee \vebige Mla!” cette bitsy Cal) ele tne 
Misadventures in Conchology . «tei -m, wt sp ipa Sel 
On THE Natura Laws or Muscucar Exertion. II. By the Rev. 
Prof. S. HauGHTON, F.R.S. (With Diagrams.) . . ... . « 289 
NOTES . «5! oe aie Ue. wy ta! wm Nu Sa re ce 
a OF THE Eartnu’s INTERIOR. By_Davip Forses, 
RLS. nase: | ete 9) ce gy 0) 0) coi ek lpr ge nan 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 2S ie,-51 <<. sie cau eee a 
SocigTies AND ACADEMIES @ fe “a, Ys calla heh he totais te. 6 MemnCnee 
Booxs RECEIVED «|. °.¥% 4) he von ok ol Va = 6 + 6 @ 300 
DIARY 4% “ic, fe) 2 -6-Jia iS) opin. seide) is 'in ite cs Mine Sines) ten Are eee em 



ErrAtum.—Page 275, second column, line 22 from bottom, for ‘‘ ardent ” 
read ‘‘ ordeal.” 
