356 
the theory of Archigenesis. For if not through Archi- 
genesis, whnce shall we derive this protoplasmic covering 
of the deepest sea-bottom ? 
Either the Monera were once for all, at the beginning 
of organic life on the earth, produced by Archigenesis— 
and hence—since Monera exist still to-day—they must 
have reproduced in a direct line unchanged for many 
million years; or, in the course of the earth’s history, 
they have been produced by recurring acts of Archi- 
genesis, and in this case there is no reason why this 
process should not occur at the present time. The 
latter view presents the fewest difficulties and exceptions 
to Prof. Haeckel. In any case the Monera still living 
at the present day point out to us the way to a correct 
understanding of the Origin of Life, and clear away the 
greatest difficulties which the hypothesis of Archigenesis 
previously presented. E. RE: 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
THE report of the meeting of Swiss Naturalists (Schweizerische 
Naturforschende Gesellschaft) in Solothurn on the 23-25 August, 
1869, opens with an admirable presidential address on the pro- 
gress of scientific investigation in Switzerland, by Prof. Lang. 
The reports of the sections contain numerous short notices of 
memoirs read, but among these are some of greater length and 
importance, such as a report by Dr. Hengi on his experiments 
in the culture of Saturnia Yama-maya and S. mylitta, a notice 
by M. F. Hermann on the use of Saussure’s hair-hygrometer 
for scientific observations, a paper on creosote and other products 
by Prof. Volkel, a communication on fluorescence by Prof. 
Hagenbach, and a paper (printed in full) by Dr. von Fellenberg, 
containing analyses of some nephrites and jadeites, including a 
stone implement of the latter mineral from Méhringen-Steinberg, 
which he regarded as having been imported from the east. From 
his analyses of nephrites from different localities, it appears that 
they contain silica and magnesia in equal equivalents, but that 
the proportion of each of these to the lime varies as 7, 73, 8, 9 : 3. 
Hence he regards them as forming not a definite mineral species, 
but a group of silicates of magnesia and lime formed by the 
metamorphosis of rocks of similar composition, He does not 
consider the nephrites allied to the amphiboles and augites. The 
memoirs include a report by Prof. Pictet de la Rive on the 
present state of the question as to the limits of the Jurassic and 
Cretaceous periods, a notice of which has already appeared in 
NaTUuRE ; an account of the Miocene Flora of Spitzbergen, by 
Prof. Oswald Heer; and a report on the investigation and 
preservation of the erratic blocks in Switzerland, by MM. A. 
Favre and L. Soret. An amusing account of the festal doings 
of the Society concludes the volume. 
From the Natural History Society of Stralsund (Neu-Vorpom- 
mern) and Riigen, we have received the second annual part of 
their AZitthetlungen containing the proceedings of the society 
for the year 1869. It contains a life and list of the works of 
Prof. A. E. Legnitz, by Prof. von Feilitsch; a description of 
the Island of Gottland, with a notice of the birds inhabiting 
it, by M. L. Holtz, unfortunately disfigured by some very 
absurd misprints ; a notice on the proper heat of plants, by Dr, 
J. Romer, containing details of experiments made with P/:lo- 
dendron pinnatifidum Schott, from which it appears that the 
proper heat of this plant is much higher than stated by C. H. 
Schulz; and a paper (illustrated) on the itch-mites of fowls by 
Prof. Finsterberg. In the last-mentioned paper the author 
describes a species of mite inhabiting the feet of fowls, for 
which he proposes the formation of a new genus, A7emidokoples 
(recte Cremidocoptes). He names the species A. vviparis, as it 
produces living young. 
THE last part of the Archives Né&rlandaises des Sciences Exactes 
et Naturelles d Harlem for 1870 contains the following papers :— 
J. A. Groshaus on the Specific Heats of Solids and Liquids, 
which is a continuation of his former papers published in the same 
journal, in which he confirms Kopp’s results in obtaining a con- 
stant when the specific heat of every substance is multiplied with 
its atomic weight, the constant being 6°3 to 6°5.—C. K. Hoff- 
mann and H. Weijenbergh, jr., on the position of Chiromys 
(The Aye-Aye of Madagascar) in the natural classification, This 
is an elaborate memoir which was crowned by the society in 
1869, and treats of all the characters in detail, their final decision 
NATURE 


[March 2, 1871 
being to make the following classification : Mammalia, Order ii. 
Quadrumana, Sub-order ii. Prosimiz, Families : 1, Lemurini ; 2, 
Nyeticebini ; 3, Macrotarsi ; 4, Microtarsi. The fourth family 
is distinguished by the tarsal bones more or less elongated 
(aHlongés), and by difference in the dentary systems, especially in 
the character of the incisor teeth. In common with Macrotarsi 
they have the tail, long large eyes directed in front, and large 
ears, and they feed chiefly on insects. Of this family two genera 
are given ; Microcebus Geoff. and Chiromys Cuv., two species 
of the first one found in Madagascar, and one of the second, the 
common Aye-Aye.—M. G. F. W. Baehr gives a uote on the 
Results of the Mathematical Study of the Movements of the 
Eye.—M. H. H. von Zouteveen on the Petrified Forest of 
Cairo, and by the same author on the Synthesis of Sulpho- 
cyanate of Ammonium.—M. Van der Willigen on Holtz’s 
Electrical Machine. —M. A. C. Oudemans, jr., on the 
Volumetric Estimation of Iron by Hyposulphite of Sodium.— 
M. H. Weijenbergh, jr., on Parthenogenesis among the Lepi- 
doptera.—M. C. Ritsema on the Origin and Development 
of Periphyllus testudo v.d.H.; and lastly a report on the 
Purification of the Air of Hospitals by the Combustion of the 
Organic Germs, by MM. J. van Gennsand L. H. von Baumhauer. 
This is the report of an investigation undertaken at the instance 
of the Dutch Government to determine if the apparatus devised 
by M. Woestyn, of Paris, completely destroy all vital properties 
in the germs. They report that the apparatus contains nothing 
new, and that it does not effect its purpose any better than the 
ordinary methods in use. 


SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON 
Royal Society, January 19.—‘‘Modification of Wheatstone’s 
Bridge to find the Resistance of a Galvanometer Coil from a 
single deflection of its own needle,” by Prof. Sir William Thom- 
son, F.R.S. In any useful arrangement in which a galvanometer 
or electrometer and a galvanic element or battery are connected, 
through whatever trains or network of conductors, let the galva- 
nometer and battery be interchanged. Another arrangement is 
obtained which will probably be useful for a very different, 
although reciprocally related object. Hence, as soon as I learned 
from Mr. Mance his admirable method of measuring the internal 
resistance of a galvanic element (that described in the first of his 
two preceding papers), it occurred to me that the reciprocal 
arrangement would afford a means of finding the resistance of a 
galvanometer-coil, from a single deflection of its own needle, by 
a galvanic element of unknown resistance. The resulting method 
proves to be of such extreme simplicity that it would be incredible 
that it had not occurred to any one before, were it not that I fail 
to find any trace of it published in books or papers ; and that 
personal inquiries of the best informed electricians of this country 
have shown that, in this country at least, itis a novelty. It 
consists simply in making the galvanometer-coil one of the four 
conductors of a Wheatstone’s bridge, and adjusting, as usual, to 
get the zero of current when the bridge contact is made, with 
only this difference, that the test of the zero is not by a gal- 
vanometer in the bridge showing no deflection, but by the gal- 
vanometer itself, the resistance of whose coil is to be measured, 
showing an unchanged deflection, Neither diagram nor further 
explanation is necessary to make this understood to any one who 
knows Wheatstone’s bridge. 
Zoological Society, February 21.—Mr. Osbert Salvin, 
F.Z.S., in the chair. The Secretary announced the birth of a 
young Hippopotamus in the Society's Gardens, which had taken 
place that day, being the first occurrence of this event in England, 
although this animal had previously bred in some of the Con- 
tinental Gardens.—Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks upon 
the tusk of an Indian elephant, which appeared to have been 
attacked by parasites.—The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of 
Mr. E. Ward, F.Z.S., a remarkably fine series of heads and 
horns of sheep and other wild animals, which had been collected 
in Ladahk by Mr. George Landseer.—A communication was 
read from Dr, W. Peters, F.M.Z.S., containing a note on the 
Tenia from the Rhinoceros, in reference to a previous com- 
munication from Dr. Murie, to the society, upon the same sub- 
ject.—A communication was read from Mr. J. H. Gurney, 
F.Z.S., containing remarks on certain species of Abyssinian 
birds.—A communication was read from Dr. J. Anderson, 
_C.M.Z,.S., containing notes on certain Indian reptiles belonging 
