440 
NATURE 
| Afarch 30, 1871 


specimen of Silenipedium caudatum, which had flowered in_the 
Glasnevin Gardens for the first time in Ireland.—Professor Dyer 
read a paper on the Germination of Seeds. While it was true 
that in most Dicotyledons the root end of the embryo is 
developed into a tap-root, and that in most Monocotyledons 
the radicle was not developed, but the roots were pushed 
out through the base of the cotyledon; there could be 
no doubt that there were exceptions to this rule, which 
were both sufficiently numerous and important to be borne in 
iaind, and which it was a great mistake not to find noticed in our 
Manuals of Botany. Many examples were given, such as palms 
with their exorrhizal roots, and Tropzeolum with its endorrhizal 
roots. Prof. Dyer, in the course of his interesting paper, 
alluded to and illustrated Prof. Dickson’s news onthe embryo of 
Zostera.—Mr. W. F. Kirby read some notes on three species of 
trap-doer spiders whose nests are in the Museum of the Society. — 
The Royal Dublin Society ordered a letter to be written to the 
Tirector of the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, informing him that 
Dr. Moore, Director of the Botanical Gardens, Glasnevin, had 
received instructions from the Council to assist as far as he 
possibly can in supplying the losses incurred by the recent 
bombardment.—A letter has been received by the Society from 
Prof. Milne-Edwards, stating that Prof. Decaisne will send over 
lists of their desiderata, and that in a few days the venerable 
Director of the establishment, M. Chevreul, will forward to the 
Society a letter of thanks for the warm sympathy and extreme 
kindness shown to the Jardin des Plantes by the vote of the 
Society. 
EDINBURGH 
Botanical Society, January 12. — Alexander Buchan, 
M.A., President, in the chair. ‘‘ Note on the Practical Appli- 
cation of Meteorology to the Improvement of Climate.” By 
Alexander Buchan, M.A. ‘‘ Notes on the Structure and Measure- 
ments of Cells in Hepatic.” By James Williamson Edmond, 
M.B. ‘‘Notes on the Distribution of Alge.” By George 
Dickie, M.D., Professor of Botany, Aberdeen. ‘‘On the Flora 
of the South of France.” By Mr. James F. Robinson. ‘*‘ Memo- 
randa on Fir Cones in the Museum at the Royal Botanic Garden.” 
By Alexander Dickson, M.D., Professor of Botany, Glasgow. 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, March 20.—M. Faye, president, in 
the chair. Baron Thénard, who had been arrested by the 
Prussians as a hostage, was present at the sitting. After the 
reading of the proces verbal, he made aspeech, in which he 
thanked the Academy for the protest entered by it against his 
arrest by Prussians when Paris was actually besieged by Prussian 
guns.—M. Chevreuil delivered a very long and very able speech 
on the changes of different kinds which silk undergoes from 
chemical agents when passing through different colouring pro- 
cesses. —M. Mathieu, the oldest member of the Institute, pre- 
sented the Annuaire des Bureaux des Longitudes, which should 
have appeared on the 1st January.—M. Delaunay said he had 
been to inspect the Villejuif pyramid, which was erected on one 
of the extremities of the basis measured by Picard two centuries 
ago. The pyramid was not destroyed, owing to the precautions 
taken for its protection. The meteor of the 17th March was 
seen from several stations, viz., at Paris by M. Prevot, surgeon to 
tie marines, at 10" 58™, the luminous track remained visible 
fo: more than a hour; M. Samberg, Professor of Physics, at 
Rochelle, gives for the time 10" 30". The track was visible for 
an hour; no explosion took place. The colour was green, and 
the duration of the apparition was twenty seconds. Many 
sparks were noticed.—A discussion took place between MM. 
Delaunay, Becquerel, and Saint-Claire Deville on the temperature 
of the past winter. It was proved that the temperature is always 
less severe at the Jardin des Plantes than at the Astronomical 
Observatory, and that at the Astronomical Observatory it is less 
severe than at Montsouris. It results from this discussion that 
it is useless to attempt to find the absolute temperature of any 
region independently of local circumstances, and it is only by 
the comparison of many different observations that the facts 
relating to temperature can be ascertained.—M. Quatrefages 
presented a description of some helminthoid worms which 
locate themselves in the throats of snakes. These helminthoids 
cause such an irritation that the throat is closed, and the animal 
perishes by suffocation, In the secret committee, which was 
opened at five o’clock, a sharp discussion was raised between 
members with respect to M. Deyille’s proposition. 

BOOKS RECEIVED 
Encuisu.—Essays on Darwinism : T. R. Stebbing (Longmans).--A Manual 
of Structural Botany: M. C. Cooke (Hardwicke).—Aunt Rachel’s Letters 
about Air and Water (Longmans).—Dynamics of Nerve and Muscle: Dr. 
Radcliffe (Macmillan).—Cassell’s Natural History, new ed. part I. (Cassell). 
ForeIGN.—(Through Williams and Norgate)—Handbuch der Chemie: D. 
K. Kraut —Vorlesuagen iiber nautische Astronomie 1°" Band, 1t© Abthie- 
lung: Dr. J. D. C. Weyer.—Handbuch der Anatomie des Menschen ; J. 
Henle.—Atti della r. universita di Genova, vol. I. Epilogio della Briologia 
Italiana: G. de Notaris.—Die Elemente der Krystallographie: J. M. Matz- 
dorff.—Ueber Entwickelung uud Bau des Gehérlabyrinthe : Dr. A. Boett- 
cher.—Archiv fiir Anthropologie, 4°" Band, 1870. 


DIARY 
THURSDAY, Marcu 30. 
Royat Society, at 8 30.—Experiments in Pangenesis, by breeding from 
rabbits, of a pure variety, into whose circulation blood, taken f-om other 
varieties, had previously been largely transfused: F. Galton, F.R.S.— 
Contributions to the History of Orcin. No, x. Nitro-substitution Com- 
pounds of the Orcins: Dr. Stenhouse, F R.S. 
Society or ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30.—Batlot for the Election of Fellows. 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.—Anniver-ary Meeting. 
Royat InsTITuUTION, at 3—Davy's Discoveries: Dr. Odling. 
Lonpon InstTITUTION, 7.30.—On Economic Botany: Prof. Bentley. 
FRIDAY, MARCH 3t. 
Royat InstiTuTION, at 9.—Solar Myths: Prof. Max Miiller. 
SATURDAY, Aprit t. 
Rovat InsTITUTION, at 3.—Spirit of the Age: Mr. O’Neil. 
Roya Scuoot oF M1nEs, at 8.—Geology : Dr. Cobbold. 
MONDAY, Aprit 3. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 8.—Report on Settle Cave Explorations : 
W. Boyd Dawkins, F.R S.—On the Anatomical Writings of Prof. Calori: 
D. Barnard Davis, F.R.S.—Builders of Megalithic Monuments in Britain : 
A. L. Lewis. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 7. 
Lonpon InstTiTuTIONn, at 4.--On Astronomy: R. A. Proctor. 
Royat INsTITUTION, at 2.—General Monthly Meeting. 
TUESDAY, Apri 4. 
ZOOLOGICAL Society, at 9.—On some new and little-known species of Mad- 
repores, or Stony Cora's, in the British Museum collection: W. Saville 
Kent, F.Z.S.—Notes on some Indian Siluroid Fishes: Francis Day. 
WEDNESDAY, Aprit 5. 
GEOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—On a new Chimezroid Fish from the Lias of 
Lyme Regis: Sir P. de Malpas Grey Egerton Bart., M.P., F.R.S —On 
the Tertiary Volcanic Rocks of the British I-lands: Archibald Geikie, 
F.R.S.— On the formation of ‘* Cirques,” and their bearing upon theories 
attributing the excavatipn of Alpine Valleys mainly to the action of 
Glaciers: Rev. T. G. Bonney, F.G S. 
Royat Microscopicat Society, at 8.—On the Mode of working out the 
Morphology of the Skull: W. K. Parker, F.R.S.—On Linear Projection 
considered in its application to the delineation of objects under Microscopic 
Observation: Charles Cubitt, C.E. 
THURSDAY, Aprit 6. 
Royat Socigty, at 8.30. 
SociztTy oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
LInnEAN Society, at 8.—On the stigmas of Proteacee : G. Bentham, Pres. 
L. S.—On the generic nomenclature of Lepidoptera: G. R. Crotch. 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.—On Burnt Iron and Burnt Steel: W. Mattieu 
Williams.—On the formation of Sulpho Acids: Henry E. Armstrong. 
Royat InsTITUTION, at 3.—Davy's Discoveries: Dr. Odling. 

CONTENTS Pace 
First Report OF THE Royat Commission ON SCIENTiFIC INSTRUC- 
TION AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF ScIENCE Cee er ee ere re 
Tue IRoN anp STEEL InstTiTUTE. By Davip Forses, F.R.S. . . 422 
THE ZooLocicaL RECORD ASSOCIATION « «© « + 2 « « «© «© © « 423 
Our Book SHELF 5 & ge,ceuye 8.0), 0s os a 
+ 424 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR :— 
Botanical Museums.—Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S. . . . « . 425 
Occurrence of Glutton near St. Asaph.—T. McK. HuGues. . . 425 
Splendid Meteors.—E. SmitH; J. F. Durum ... . ae, ee 
Books Wanted.—J..B. BAMEY < 2 a. a Ss: rs) =) es) lee 
Measurement of Mass and Force.—T. Muir . <i: 
The Earthquake.—T. Fawcett; Rev. C. H. MiwpieTox : Rev. 
ENG IKizy lS See ie See eee ss eee 
Reality of Species —Dr..D. SHARP ...0. 2 0s ss ls © = 20 
The Preponderance of West Winds.—J. J. Murrny, F.G.S. . . 427 
Morell’s Geometry —The REVIEWER .« 5 -3NE<s Pes cy, 
Meteorological Question . . . . . - . + « « : 427 
SuGGEsTED NEw Division OF THE EARTH INTO ZOOLOGICAL REGIONS. 
By Dr. Es‘BeyTR is) 2, 4 ats. atti Bee oho re ee 
Tue PLANET JuriTeR. By Rev. T. W. Wess, F.R.A.S. (With Zilus- 
PV AEOM) ets x ns tie anew Lis) iw! Gece mint atae i ° + 6 430 
NOTES 6 %e les: ef else tel ien ier ol em we ot ee) ce Minas ne 
ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TERRESTRIAL TEMPERATURE AND 
Sun-SpoT. PHENOMENA). 5) 2) <2. celle) © oll oi Jeet ao inemneN 
EXPERIMENTS ON CERTAIN VIBRATORY PHENOMENA. ByC.J. WATSON 434 
Tue AcTION OF FLUORSPAR ON DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF CasT IRON. 
By J. RENDERSON <-fa<: et) tis Sie) ORES eae 
427 
oe), ete) SB 
Mr. WALLACE’S ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. «. . « - 2% fey erage 
SOcIETIES AND ACADEMIES 5.9. 0: sua) @) b+ Ba ellie ie ete nae 
Books’ RECEIVED s/ 0%) hi (s.> fa; Se. ey etemate vated o's Gy ue CEE 
DIARY! 5 eerie wits ‘ok 0 fel te: te hallienve: tee Sete Rate Mal Ree 
