380 


MAIDSTONE AND KENT 
Natural History and Philosophical Society, Feb. 20.— 
An aggregate meeting of the members of the Maidstone and 
Mid Kent Natural History Society was held at the Charles 
Museum, when Dr. Monckton, one of the vice-presidents, de- 
livered a lecture on ‘‘ The Metaphysics of Zoology.” 
EDINBURGH 
Royal Society, February 20.—Mr. W. F. Skene, V.P., 
in the chair. The following papers were communicated :—1. 
‘© On the Pentatonic character of Scottish Music,” by the Hon. 
Lord Neaves. 2. ‘‘On the Motion of Solids in a Liquid,” by Sir 
W. Thomson. 3. ‘‘ Laboratory Notes on Thermo-electricity, 
and on Phyllotaxis,” by Prof. Tait. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, January 27.—M. Janssen sent to the 
French Institute a letter to explain how his expedition failed, 
owing to the persistency of the clouds. He acknowledges fully 
the kind proposition of the Organising’Committee to take steps to 
procure a Jaissez-passer from M. Bismarck on his behalf. In 
five hours M. Janssen proceeded from Paris to the mouth of the 
Loire, where he landed on the 2nd December at 11 o’clock in the 
forenoon. The journey was magnificent. M. Janssen travelled 
at a height of 1,100 metres at the beginning, but after sunrise his 
balloon elevated itself through the warmth of the sun, and he 
reached 2,000 metres without throwing out any ballast. M. 
Janssen has invented an instrument for helping aéronauts in the 
determination of their way along the earth. This contrivance, 
which was highly praised by M. Dumas. will be fully described. — 
M. Bazin presented a projectile gun which explodes in the air, 
where it is sent by a larger gun remaining on the ground. This 
projectile gun, when exploding at a certain point of the ¢va- 
zectoire, sends an explosive bullet with a new impulse. It is im- 
possible to claim precision for such a projectile, which is called 
very properly a double effect, but the distance to which it reaches 
is increased, and the final bullet was sent to 7,919 metres, it ap- 
pears with some effect. The experiment was tried against the 
Prussians during the last days of the siege. 
February 21.—The sitting was very thinly attended by mem- 
bers. The public was more numerous. No scientific paper 
had yet resumed its publication. M. Faye presided over the 
sitting. M. Elie Beaumont and M. Dumas sat on the plat- 
form, reading over alternately the correspondence. An article 
on the ‘‘Duquesne” Expedition was sent by M. de Fon- 
vielle. M. Elie de Beaumont, who had predicted that the 
*« Duquesne” would go to Switzerland on account of its direct- 
ing power, opposed the reading.—M. Stanislaus Meunier read a 
paper on the nature of meteorites, which, he thought, are 
evidently of astral nature. He is opposed to the theory of 
Schiaparelli, who accounted for them by supposing they 
are in some respects allied to comets.—M Chevreuil read over 
a letter from M. Vaillant, who hopes to be soon enabled to re- 
sume his seat.—M. Delaunay read the translation of a letter re- 
ceived from Prof. Piazzi Smyth, the director of the Observatory 
at Edinburgh. He noticed the admirable working of the 
International French Telegraphy. That service was transferred 
to Tours and from Tours to Bordeaux, where it is now working 
under M. Marié Davy’s superintendence.-~M. Ch, Saint Claire 
Deville reported that Dr. Berigny of Versailles had not inter- 
rupted for a single day his admirable series of observations 
kept regularly for 24 years. M. Renan, who is living at Ven- 
déme, did not interrupt his observations, although he was 
several times arrested as a spy, but he was saved by his thermo- 
meter! The maximum of cold has reached — 16° at Montpel- 
lier, — 17° at Bordeaux, and ~ 3° at Perigueux. The winter was a 
sharp one. It was predicted by M. Renan, as belonging to a 
series of recurring sharp winters. This law of recurrence was 
published in Compres Rendus eighteen months before war broke 
out.—News was circulated of other learned men amongst the 
members. M, Martillet remains at St. Germain as curator of 
the Prehistoric Museum. One new hall was opened during the 
Prussian occupation, the Prussian Emperor, Princes, and gene- 
rals frequently visiting the galleries. M. de Verneuil has esta- 
blished himself at Duc de Broglie’s castle in Normandy. He is 
a relative of the present French ambassador, who is very much 
interested in scientific matters. M. Janssen is at Bordeaux, and 
expected daily by his family. 
NATURE 


[ AWarch 9, 1871 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, Marcu 9. 
Roya Socrety, at 8 30.—Magnetic Observations made at Stonyhurst Col- 
lege Observatory, from 1863 to 1870: Rev. S. J. Perry.—Preliminary 
Notice on the Production of the Olefines from Paraffin by Distillation 
under Pressure: T. E. Thorpe and J. Young.—On the Action of Hydro- 
bromic Acid on Codeia: Dr. C. R. A. Wright. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—On a probable allusion to the Chsritians 
in a passage of the Sixth Satire of Juvenal- Earl Stanhope, P.S.A. 
Lonpon MATHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—Remarks on the Mathematical 
Classification of Physical Quantities: Dr. Clerk Maxwell, F.R.S.—On 
Skew Cubics: Prof. H. J. S. Smith, F.R.S.—Note on the History of Cer- 
tain Formulz in Spherical Trigonometry: I Todhunter, F.R.S 
Roya InstitTuTion, at 3.—Davy’s Discoveries: Dr. Odling. 
Lonpvon InsTITUTION, at 7.30.—On the Colonial Question: Prof, J. E. 
Thorold Rogers, M.A. 
FRIDAY, Marcu 10. 
Roya AsTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
QvueketTT Microscopicat Cvus, at 8. 
Roya INSTITUTION, at 9.—The latest Scientific Researches in the Mediter- 
ranean and Straits of Gibraltar: Dr. W. B. Carpenter, F.R.S. 
Rovat COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, at 4.—On the Teeth of Mammalia: Prof. 
Flower. 
SATURDAY, Marcu 11. 
Roya Sat or Mines, at 8.—Geology: Dr. Cobbold, F.R.S. (Swiney 
Course. 
Roya InsTiTuTION, at 3.—Spirit of the Age: Mr. O'Neil. 
SUNDAY, Marcu 5. 
Sunpay Lecture Socterty, at 3.30.—On Ferns; Dr. Cobbold, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, Marcu 13. 
Roya GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
Lonpon InstiTuTION, at 4.--On Astronomy: R. A. Proctor, F.R A.S. 
(Educational Course ) 
Ls COLLEGE oF SURGEONS, at 4.—On the Teeth of Mammalia: Prof. 
lower. 
TUESDAY, Marcu 14. 
PuotoGrapuic Society, at8. 
Roya. InstiTuUTION, at 3.—Nutrition of Animals: Dr. Foster. 
WEDNESDAY, Marcu 15. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—On the Different Methods of Extracting Sugar 
from Beet-root and Cane: Ferdinand Kohn, 
METEOROLOGICAL SocigETY, at 7.—Evaporation, Rainfall, and Elastic Force 
of Vapour: J. R. Mann. 
Roya Society oF LITERATURE, at 8.30. 
be COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, at 4.—On the Teeth of Mammalia: Prof. 
lower, 
THURSDAY, Marcu 16. 
Rovat Society, at 8.30. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Royat InstitTuTION, at 3.—Davy’s Discoveries: Dr. Odling. 
LinnEAn Society, at 8. 
CHEMICAL Society, at 8, 


ee 
CONTENTS 
Tue Tempce Memoria AT Rucsy . . of es 2 ess: ee 
Tue ExreRIMENTAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES IN TRINITY COLLEGE, 
TDUSEIN ce Ne tee ee ae ee Be 
Str Joun Lussock on THE ORIGIN oF CivILIsATION. By SEBAs- 
TRAN EVANS ~oi' i) Sg he le pues @ Ne” ein ie fp rie” ete men 
OuR'BooOK SHELF So 5 sg) se pie = mle bia le ove eer 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Lunar Halo seen from two Stations. (With Jd/ustration.)—W. DE 
Pace 
RONVIELEE |p’. 401 cus Epoe ee ee » ¥10/iyp) jisaciey felts Santee 
Quinary Musicx—J.. MuLLEN 5 «ys 5 © p © 8.» © =) )5 = S07 
The Power of Numerical Discrimination. . . . . +» + + + + 367 
Eozoén Canadense.—T. M. READE .... + > SOY 
Ocean Currents.—K. JoHNSTON, Jun. . . . . » « ss + + 368 
Perpetual Motion.—Rev. H. HiGHT@N. . . . . + + + « 4 368 
The Spectrum of the Aurora.—H. R. ProcrkrR . - ..-. . 369 
Science Teaching forthe People . . . - +» + +++ ++ » 369 
A. RaxesMopic ys. we ch Ye Mote cs Sali casas) git leas ence 
Megsjirementiof Massy, os 8) a vee ose, pyle kt ea 
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE Eciipse. By A. Broruers. (With Jllustra- 
HOM5.). x oo as <a bd" © bee be & 94 ksukeA Ute kh teehee ee 
ExprepiTion OF THE “ Duquesne.” By W. bE Fonviette. (With 
Lys iatgag Di. 0 tel Sout pie ole sieay ee ee oe 
Moves. vocehye ied -dde Soviet 3 elisha lite ie eee aes Stat Reem 
Papers on [Ron anpd Steet. II. Tuer BesseEMER Process (con- 
TINUED). By W. Martigu Wivitams,F.C.S. . . . 2. « « + 374 
SOcrETres ‘ANDIACADEMIES 5. « . piipv ete Pele Ue le = nena 
DIARY itg:.5 Sha ce te) ge te ee eT ts ees” he bo 
