April 13, 1871 | 
NATURE 
477 


electrical discharges.—Dr. A. M. Mayer contributes an article | on Granite Rocks,” by T. Sterry Hurst, LL.D., F.R.S. This 
On the physical condition of a closed circuit contiguous to a | 
permanent and constant Voltaic current; or, on the electro- 
tonic state.” The author commences by giving extracts from 
Faraday’s investigations, in which he uses the term electro-tonic | 
| a note by Professor G. B. Andrews, “On Lower Carboniferous 
state to indicate the condition of a wire in which an electric wave 
has been induced by the proximity of a conductor through which 
a constant current was passing. He has endeavoured to obtain 
some clue of the condition of such a closed circuit by passing 
through it another electric wave of a constant intensity, and 
which he ingeniously generated by slipping a flat spiral from | 
the end of a permanent magnet, as described in the num- | 
_ ber of this journal for November last. Currents thus 
obtained are found, by means of a delicate reflecting galvano- 
meter, to be practically of the same intensity ; for on repeating | 
the experiment several times this produced deflections differing 
from one another to an extent not greater than 20". In this 
manner it was determined that a definite electric current, travers- 
inga metallic circuit in proximity to another traversed by a 
powerful voltaic current, has the same intensity, whether passed 
in the same direction as the latter or in a direction opposed to it. 
The author thinks, however, that a diminution in the velocity of 
the current ensues, and he intends to continue his experiments in 
order to settle this question.—This »aper is followed by an ab- 
stract of the “ Programme for the Observation of Stars of the 
Ninth Magnitude, undertaken by the German Astronomical 
Society; an analysis of gahnite from Mine Hill, Franklin Fur- 
nace, New Jersey, by G. J. Brush ; and an account of the Ob- 
servations of the Meteors of November 13 and 14, 1870.”—The 
next article is by Prof. J. Le Conte, “On some Phenomena of 
Binocular Vision,” in continuation of some previous papers. For 
examining the effects produced on observing objects with both 
eyes, the author employs a white plane about twenty inches long 
and of any convenient width. A notch is cut at one end of the 
board to enable the operator to place the plane just below the 
level of the eyes, the notch fitting on the bridge of the nose. 
By sticking pins on different parts of the board and drawing lines 
between the pins and the eyes, the phenomena of vision can be 
investigated. The author points out that when things are looked 
at with both eyes, the eyes themselves seem to double, two of 
them combining to form a binocular eye in the middle which 
looks out between two noses, while the other two are on either 
side beyond the noses. ‘This article is well worth perusal.—The 
next paper is by Sidney I. Smith, “Ona Fossil Insect from the 
Carboniferous Formation of Indiana,” and is illustrated by a 
woodcut representing a wing 2°54 inches long and 0°85 broad, 
found in the grit quarry near Paoli, Orange County, Indiana, in 
cutting the stone for making whetstones.—Observations on the 
Earthquake of October 20th in North-eastern America have been 
collected by Mr. A. C. Twining. The area of disturbance ex- 
tended from New Brunswick in the East {to the State of Iowa 
in the West, and from the lakes of the River St. Lawrence 
in the North to Cincinnati and Richmond, Va., in the oppo- 
site direction. The shock travelled from about E. 6° N. to 
about W. 6°S. at the rate of 160 miles in a minute.— 
The concluding article is by Professor A. E. Verrill, ‘‘ On some 
imperfectly known and new Asceidians from New England.” 
Silliman’s Fournal, February, 1871. This number opens with 
a paper by Dr. A. M. Mayer, “On Observations on the Variation 
of the Magnetic Declination in connection with the Aurora of 
October 14, 1870, with Remarks on the physical connection 
between changes in area of disturbed solar surlace and mag- 
netic perturbations.” The aurora was first noticed at 6.30 P.M. 
on October 14, and the magnetic observations commenced at 
6.35 P.M. and were continued till 10 P.M. The mean declination 
being represented by 0°, at 6.35 P.M. the declination was 5'*7o W. 
and at 6.56 P.M. 18°37 W. The magnet then rapidly moved 
towards the E., and at 7.46 the declination was 21''94 E. The 
motion now became westerly, and at 7.574 P.M. the reading was 
32'"19 W. There was next a rapid easterly movement till 8.5% 
P.M., when the reading was 10°42 E., deep rough streamers 
flashing up in the N.N.W. There was another deviation to 4/55 
W. at 8.10 p.M., after which the needle passed to the east of the 
neutral line, and, after several oscillations, reached the maximum 
easterly deviation of 22'*52 E. at 9.10 P.M. The author makes 
daily observations of the spots on the sun, and remarks on the 
connection existing between their appearance and magnetic dis- 
turbances. He points out the necessity of establishing several 
stations, where daily photographs of the sun may be taken.— 
The next communication is the first part of a series of ‘‘ Notes 

paper is continued in the numbers of the Journal for March, and 
its extraction may perhaps be more conveniently deferred until 
the whole of it has appeared.—Mr. E. D. Cope contributes a 
short note on “ Siredon Metamorphoses.” —This is followed by 
Limestones in Ohio,” and the conclusion of Professor Verrill’s 
“ Descriptions of Ascidians from New England.” —This number 
also contains a “‘ Memoir of Professor Graham, by Professor J. N. 
Cooke, and a “ Description of the Auroral belt of October 24-25, 
as observed at New Haven. 


SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
LONDON 
Royal Institution of Great Britain, April 3.—Mr. Warren 
De la Rue, F.R.S., vice-president, in the chair. Mr. William 
Cubitt, Mr. William Gould, Mr. Robert Hannah, Mr. John Henry 
Mackenzie, Rev. John Macnaught, M.A., Mr. Joseph Reynolds 
Masters, Mr. George Borwick Robertson, F.C.S., and Mr. 
George Wilson, were elected members of the Royal Institution. 
The special thanks of the members were returned for the follow- 
ing donation to ‘The Fund for the Promotion of Experimental 
Researches :”—Mr. T. Williams Helps (6th donation), r1o/. 
Entomological Society, April 3. Mr. A. R. Wallace, 
president, in the chair.—The Secretary exhibited drawings 
of Chinese Lepidoptera, beautifully executed by Mr. Holds- 
worth, of Shanghai.—Mr. F. Smith exhibited several examples 
of gynandromorphous Aculeata Hymenoptera, including Awtho- 
phora acervorum, Andrena nitida, Nomada baccata, and Apis 
mellifica, the latter combining the characters of male and workers. 
Mr. Lewis referred to the damage occasioned to books by Lepzsma 
saccharina, which fed upon the paste of the bindings, and caused 
them to fall to pieces. Mr. Lewis also read a paper on the arrange- 
ment of British Lepidoptera, as adopted by various authors and 
compilers of catalogues, and he deprecated very strongly the 
constant changes in arrangement and nomenclature that are being 
made, the writers in many cases failing to give any reasons for 
such changes. 
Anthropological Institute, April 3.—Sir John Lubbock, 
Bart., president, in the chair. Messrs. F. W. Rudler and 
Archibald Hamilton were elected members. Mr. Boyd 
Dawkins, ‘read a paper ‘‘ On the results cbtained by the Settle 
Cave Exploration Committee.” Victoria Cave, near Settle, in 
Yorkshire, is situated half-way up a cliff 200 feet hizh, and con- 
sists of a series of large chambers and passages, and has from time 
to time furnished to its explorer, Mr. Jackson, a remarkable 
collection of ornaments and implements of bronze, iron, and 
bone, along with pottery and broken remains of various animals, 
viz., red-deer, roebuck, pig, horse, sheep, goat, badger, fox, 
and dog. Fragments of Samian ware and coins of Trajan prove 
that the stratum in which they were discovered was accumulated 
subsequently to the Roman invasion. The numerous articles 
and bones were described in full detail. The author concluded 
that the cave was first inhabited by a barbarous Neolithic family, 
and, lastly, after a long interval, by Roman provincials, or possi- 
bly their descendants fleeing away from the arms of an invader. 
—A paper by Dr. Barnard Davis, F.R.S., was read, “On some 
recent Anatomical Writings bearing upon Anthropology, by 
Prof. Luigi Calori, of Bologna ;” principally on the magnificent 
memoir of that anatomist, ‘‘ Del Cervello, nei due tipi Brachice- 
falo e Dolicocefalo Italiani,” lately published. That work is 
divided into four parts :—1. On the figure of the Brain in the two 
types. 2. The cerebral convolutions ; their various aspect and 
their variety or anomalies. 3. On the weight of the brain in the 
two Italian types, brachycephalic and dolichocephalic. 4. On 
the extension of the cerebral superficies in the two Italian types. 
The second article goes into a thorough examination of the cere- 
bral convolutions and the varieties they present.—Mr. A. L. 
Lewis contributes a paper ‘On the builders of the Megalithic 
Monuments of Britain.” A special general meeting of the mem- 
bers of the Institute was held previously for the purpose of 
adopting the regulations proposed by the Council. Trustees of 
the Institute were elected, viz., Sir John Lubbock, Bart., presi- 
dent ; J. W. Flower, treasurer; and the Rey. Dunbar J. 
Heath, M.A. 
