360 4 
NATURE 
[March 2, 1871 


tually done was proved by the escape of sulphurous vapour from 
the bolt-holes. When the burrow was afterwards opened, how- 
ever, no trace of the fumes was left, nor were the animals de- 
stroyed. The experiment was recorded asa ‘‘ guide or warning 
to others who may be induced to try further experiments with 
the fumes of sulphur, or with any other vapour.” (Carbonic acid 
gas would not become condensed, and it would be fatal to animal 
life, but its use would probably be much too expensive). Mr. 
Abbott read a paper ‘‘On the Sun and its Office in the Uni- 
verse.” Some discussion of a conversational character having 
taken place, Mr. M. Allport begged to call the attention of the 
meeting to the fish presented by Mr. Wise (presentation No. 8), 
on account of its high scientific importance, as furnishing a com- 
plete answer to the theory raised by Dr. Giinther in reference to 
the salmon first sent to England. The Doctor then assumed that 
the fish sent was hatched from one of the eggs imported to Eng- 
land in 1866, This assumption was met by the statement that 
the fry unnaturally detained in fresh water had reached a higher 
state of development than the smolt sent to England, and as the 
fish now presented was but just assuming the smolt stage, all the 
arguments used in reference to the smolts first caught apply 
with tenfold force to this specimen. It was, moreover, fortu- 
nate that they had in the Museum one of the fry hatched from 
the English eggs received per Lincolnshire in 1866, and which 
died in the spring of 1867. Upon comparing this with the fish 
now caught, it would be found that they accorded with one 
another so closely, as to leave little doubt of their identity in 
species. No report had yet been received from England as to 
the smolt last sent, though they had heard of its safe arrival. 
Mr. Allport further observed that Mr. Youl, in writing to Sir 
Robert Officer, had expressed a wish that the Salmon Commis- 
tioners should make it publicly known that after careful examina- 
sion he entirely concurred with Dr. Giinther in the opinion that 
the specimen first sent to England was a Salmon trout (Se/mo 
trutta.) 
BERLIN 
Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, June 2, 1870.—Prof. 
G. Rose communicated a long and elaborate memoir on the 
connection between the hemihedric crystalline form and thermo- 
electrical properties in iron-pyrites and cobalt-glance, with some 
remarks on the theory of hemihedric forms in general ; and Prof. 
Dove read a paper on the reference of the annual curve of teni- 
perature to the conditions upon which it depends. 
June 16.—M. Kummer read a paper on the simplest representa- 
tion of the complex numbers formed from unitary roots, which 
can be effected by multiplication with unities. Prof. W. Peters 
read a description of Propithecus Deckenii, a new species of Le- 
muroidea from Madagascar ; it is the species which had previously 
been identified by him with P. diadema Bennett. 
June 23.—A paper was read on the Morphology of Chovi- 
driopsis caerulescens, Crouan, and the optical phenomena pre- 
sented by that Alga, by Dr. Leopold Kny. The author de- 
scribed in some detail the peculiar cell development and mode of 
rimification of the plant, and noticed more briefly the structure 
of the reproductive organs. The peculiar colour presented by 
the plant is produced by the contents of the outermost cortical 
layer of cells, and is,due to the presence in them of certain 
corpuscles which have the faculty of reflecting blue light. Prof. 
du Bois Reymond read a supplement to his memoir on the 
aperiodic movement of muffled magnets. 
June 27.—Prof. C. Rammelsberg read some contributions to 
the knowledge of meteorites. He first communicated some re- 
marks on the analysis of meteorites, relating to a more recent 
process for the separation of nickel from iron, to the separation 
and determination of meteoric iron in stony meteorites, and to the 
analysis of the silicates, and then furnished analyses of meteoric 
irons, of the pallasite of Brahin, and of the chondrites of 
Pultusk, Richmond, and Iowa. His analyses of these chondrites 
and of that of Klein Wenden, lead him to the conclusion that 
they all contain only two silicates, olivine and broncite, a result 
which he finds to be confirmed by other analyses, and he affirms, 
that mesosiderite and chondrite do not differ petrographically 
but only in structure. 

BOOKS RECEIVED 
Enci.isH.—The Descent of Man, 2 vols.: C. Darwin (Murray).—The 
General Structure of the Animal Kingdom, 4th edition (Van Voorst).—A 
‘Treatise on Smoky Chimneys: F. Edwards (Longmans) —Mathematical 
Papers of the late George Green: N. M. Ferrers (Macmillan).—A Synopsis 
of the Family Unionida ; Isaac Lee (H. C. Lea, Philadelphia) —Thesaurus 
Syriacus, fase. it, 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Marcu 2. 
Roya Society, at 8.30.—Further Experiments on the Effect of Diet and 
Exercise on the Elimination of Nitrogen: Dr. Parkes, F.R.S.—Magnetic 
Observations made during a Voyage from St. Petersburg to the Coasts of 
the Arctic Sea, in the Summer of 1870: Capt. Belavenetz, I.R.N. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On Roman Antiquities at Lydney Park : 
Rey. W. H. Bathurst. 
CueEMIcAL Society, at 8. 
Linnean Society, at 8.—On the Tamil nanes of Plants: Rev. S. Mateer. 
—Contributions towards a knowledge of the Curculionidae : H. P. Pascoe, 
Royat InstITuTION, at 3 —Davy’s Discoveries: Dr. Odling. 
Lonpon INSTITUTION, 7.30.—On the Colonial Question; Prof. J. E. 
Thorold Rogers. 
FRIDAY, Marcu 3. 
Rovat InsTITUTION, at 9.—Pressure of Fired Gunpowder: Capt. Noble. 
Gerotocists’ AssoctaTION, at 8.—On the Range in Time of the Foramini- 
fera: Prof T. Rupert Jones, F.G.S.—On the English Crags, considered 
in reference to the Stratigraphical Divisions indicated by their Invertebrate 
Fauna: Alfred Bell. 
aSYAL COLLEGE oF SURGEONS, at 4.—On the Teeth of Mammalia: Prof. 
Flower. 
SATURDAY, Marcu 4. 
Royat InstiTuTION, at 3.—Socrates: Prof. Jowett. 
SUNDAY, Marcu s. 
Sunpay Lecture Soctety, at 3.30.—Iceland: its Physical Features, Vol- 
canoes, Hot Springs, &c.: Jon A. Hjaltalin. 
MONDAY, Marcu 6. 
Royat InstituTiIon, at 2.—General Monthly Meeting. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
ee CoLLEGE oF SURGEONS, at 4.—On the Teeth of Mammalia: Prof. 
Slower. 
Lonpon InstituTION, at 4.--On Astronomy: R. A. Proctor, F.R A.S. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL INsTITUTE, at 8.—On the Rac’al Aspects of the Franco- 
Prussian War: J. W. Jackson. 
TUESDAY, Marcu 7. 
Royat InstiTuTION, at 3.—Nutrition of Animals: Dr. Foster. 
ZooLoGicaL Sociery, at 9.—Notes on rare or little-known Animals now or 
lately living in the Society’s Gardens: P. L. Sclater.—List of the Lizards 
belonging to the family Sefida, with Notes on some of the species: Dr, 
A. Giinther.—On new Insects collected by Dr. John Anderson during the 
Expedition to Yunan: F. Moore.—Observations on the Record of 
Accessions to the Gardens of the Zoological Society: Dr. J. E. Gray. 
WEDNESDAY, Marcu 8. 
Society or ARTS, at 8.—The Cultivation and Uses of Sugar-beet in Eng- 
land: Dr. A. Voelcker, 
GEOLOGICAL SociEty, at 8. 
pie CoLLEGE OF SURGEONS, at 4—On the Teeth of Mammalia: Prof. 
ower. 
Roya Microscoricau Society, at 8. 
Press Lirerary Funp, at 3.—Anniversary Meeting. 
THURSDAY, Marcu 9. 
Royat Society, at 8.30. 
SocieETy oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Roya InsTITUTION, at 3.—Davy's Discoveries: Dr. Odling. 
Lonpon MATHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—Remarks on the Mathematical 
Classification of Physical Quantities: Dr. Clark Maxwell, F.R.S.—On 
Skew Cubics: Prof. H. J. S. Smith, F.R.S. 
Lonpon InsTITUTION, at 7.30.—On the Colonial Question; Prof. J. E. 
Thorold Rogers, M.A. 
CONTENTS 


PaGE 
Tue SMALL-Pox Epipemic._ By Dr. E. Lanxester, F.R.S. . . « 341 
GinTRER’s CATALOGUE OF FISHES. « . ‘ o))a linet s Sane enna 342 
OUR Book SHELF... 2.5 se 0 2 = 6 « (6 = ie 9) on ouenennn 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Measurement of Mass and Force.—Prof. J.D, Everett. . . . 345 
Spectrum of the Aurora.—H. R. Procrer. (Witt /ilustration.) 346 
Resemblances of Plants infer se. 2 - . + 2 2 @ © s «© © © 347 
Genesis of Species 5 5s 0 ts os tt a is ts) ne 
Fertilisation of the Hazel.—A. W. Bennett, F.L.S. . . . . . 347 
Sanitary Tests:\—S. BARBER. » 2 2 2 6 » © © oe 8 s «See 
Morell's'Geometry: ©. «= sicscia Sle cs a) Sa)» Yel fel ones 
Algaroba.—J. R. Jackson, ALS. . 2. 2. 6 1 1 ee ee e347 
Thelixeter Museum, tine cel te mcs ee) sw i 348 
Aurora Australis.—Capt. H. P. WRIGHT. . . . ..... 348 
Aurora by Daylight.—W. G. THompson hates - 348 
Tigers at Baye ss 50) st et iso ee el se eee 
Dr. Donkin’s Natural History of the Diatomacee . . + eeogas 
ProposED OBSERVATIONS OF VENUS . . . « » + «© « «© «© « « 448 
Pror. De Notaris AnD His New Work on Mosses. Ly Rey. J. 
GAGLYARDI! Ss, e.0) soe ww se) iw) el ee, 6 ta ven 
A ConsTAnT Form oF Dantetv’s Batrery Dy Prof. Sir W. Tnom- 
son, F.R.S. (Wsth Idlustrations.). . . . «© « « «© » 6 « = 350 
NOTES « «0 0 «0 9 0)\* 8 (els § o 90s 6 - enis ial See 
Tue Lonpon Conjoint Examininc Boarps ... . . + + . 354 
Ernst HAECKEL ON THE MECHANICAL THEORY OF LIFE AND ON 
SponTANEOUS GENERATION . » . + « « « ¢ drier st ta ee Ge 
ScrENnTIFIC SERIALS . . « « « ay 1:8) hel ea sie tye! te 356 
Societies AND ACADEMIES eines 2. aise fen sake is Sa canes 
BooksS:RECEIVED S05) 0s a 2) sone seein) ee . os "S60 
DIARY 6: «. So wel dodge ue) fellishas: unl ORs «=e « 0a 



ErrATuM.—Page 322, second column, line 20, for ‘‘ western or right hand” 
read “ eastern or left hand.” 
