I20 



NA TURE 



\_Dec. 



such as pieces of ivory embellished wilh carvings of tlie aurochs 

 and other animals, seem to have been executed at an earlier 

 period, while the cave-dwellers were still struggling for exist- 

 ence with the mammoth, with KInuocetos t'uhorhiims, the cave- 

 bear, cave-lion, and large hyiena. — On glycose, glycogene, and 

 glycogeny, in their relation to the production of heat and of 

 mechanical labour in the animal system, by M. A. Chauveau. 

 In this first physiological study of these elements, the author deals 

 more especially with the generation of heat in the organism 

 while in a slate of repose. The reasons are set forth which 

 lead to his broad generalisation regarding the preponderating 

 part played by the glycose of the blood in organic combustions, 

 source of animal heat and of muscular energy. It is now fully 

 established that the absorption of glycose in the capillaries during 

 the transformation of arterial into veinous blood is connected 

 with the respective activity of the attendant combustions in the 

 several organs. — Some remarks on the determination of mean 

 values, by Leopold Kronecker. It is shown that in a con- 

 verging series of real terms </>; -1- i/j.j -f (fij -I- . . . with positive real 

 quantities i|/„ ifo, ifa ■ ■ • increasing with « beyond all limit, the 

 limit of the expression — 



— (</)i 4-1 •^ (f^ll'.j -f .fa^fa -t- . . . -)- (^n-^n) 



for increasing values of « is equal to zero. — On the movement 

 of an indefinite and perfectly elastic fluid, by M. N. Marin. 

 The object of this study is to complete the law of Mariotte by 

 another described as the law of elasticity for perfectly elastic 

 and completely free fluids. In a fluid so constituted, it is laid 

 down that all contraction determined by any cause whatsoever 

 acting in a single direction, is instantaneously propagated in all 

 other directions. — On the movement of a cord in a fixed plane, 

 by M. Appell.' — On the algebraic integrals of Rummer's equa- 

 tion, by M. E. Goursat. — Analytical demonstration of a theorem 

 relating to orthogonal surfaces, by M. Paul Adam. The theorem 

 here dealt with is that of M. Maurice Levy regarding a gioup of 

 surfaces in an orthogonal ."iystem, and by him demonstrated on 

 purely geometrical considerations. — On the unequal movement 

 of a compressed gas in a reservoir freely discharging into the 

 atmosphere, by M. Ilugoniot. — On an apparatus by which the 

 time may be communicated to the performers out of the con- 

 ductor's sight, by M. J. Carpentier. The apparatus here de- 

 scribed has been constructed at the request of the directors of 

 the Paris Opera. It is based on the principle of visible signs, 

 depending on a purely optical illusion, and producing the im- 

 pression of an ordinary conductor's hand beating time. It is 

 thus free from the defects inherent to the various electric appli- 

 ances hitherto devised for the same purpose. — On a means of 

 increasing the power of fluid and electric agencies, by M. 

 Charles Cros. In this process a return is made to the old 

 idea mvolved in the expression " electric fluid," and the wires 

 are regarded as analogous to elongated tubes through which 

 pressure is transmitted. The experiment was suggested by 

 the author's researches on transmissions through more or less 

 elastic tubes containing air or water. — On the tension of saturated 

 vapour, by M. P. Duhem. — On the physical properties of 

 mercuiy, by M. Marcellin Langlois. On the assumption of a 

 mono-atomic molecule of mercury, the author determines its 

 heat of evaporation, its specific heat, compressibility, and heat 

 of fusion. — Actinometric studies, by M. E. Duclaux. — A new 

 process of volumetric analysis for powdery zinc {gris ifardoisc of 

 la Vieille Montagne), by M. Frederic Weil. By the process here 

 described, loogr. of this substance yield 65"3 gr. of pure zinc. — 

 Action of the alcohols on the protochloride of gold and phos- 

 phorus, by M. L. Lindet. Here are described the preparation 

 and properties of two chlauroso -phosphorous ethers — ethylic and 

 methylic ether. — On the Russian petroleums, by M. J. A. Le Bel. 

 The chief element of the petroleum of Baku, at the eastern ex- 

 tremity of theCaucasus, arenaphthenes, C^Hj^, andnaphthylenes, 

 C„H„„_„ ; and their salient characteristic is that they do not fix 

 bromine. — On the heats of neutralisation of malic and citric 

 acids and of their pyrogened derivatives : remarks on the numbers 

 obtained, by MM. H. Gal and E. Werner. — On certain correla- 

 tions between the modifications experienced by species of ditterent 

 genera subjected to the same influences, by M. Fontannes. 

 Several analogous modifications are noted pervading many 

 species of diflerent genera throughout the geological record ; but 

 no theory is advanced to explain the coincidences. — On a new 

 genus of parasitic Copepod, by M. Eugene Canu. This new genus 

 is a parasite of the Synascidians, and abounds on the Morchdliuiit 

 argus (Milne-Edwards) frequenting the Wimereux district. — 



On the anomalous formations of the Menis]:)ermece, by M. 

 Gerard. — Observations on the plaster added to new wines in 

 the South of France and other parts of Europe, by M. A. 

 Audoynaud. — Note on the coarse marine, limestone formation of 

 the Provins district (Seine-et-Marne), by M. Stanislas Meunier. 

 — On the Devonian system of the Eastern Pyrenees range, by 

 M. Ch. Deperet. — On the pleromorphoses of the quartz of 

 Saint-Clement (Puy-de-D6me), by M. Ferdinand Gonnard. — 

 Description of a variety of Carphosiderite, by M. A. Lacroix. 

 The optical properties of this mineral, which was found in 

 the neighbourhood of Macon (Saone-et-Loire), are described. — 

 On the conditions of form and density of the terrestrial crust, 

 by M. A. de Lapparent. It is argued that the generally- 

 accepted views regarding the symmetrical flattening of the 

 globe at the poles is far Irom proved, and it is suggested that 

 ill the southern hemisphere there exists an inaccessible ant- 

 arctic continent presenting a different conformation in this 

 respect from that of the northern hemisphere. — On the mode of 

 formation of the Newfoundland banks, by M. J. Thoulet. — 

 On the progressive desiccation of lacustrine basins in dry 

 climates, by M. Venukoff 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 



Die Schiffsmachine ; Atlas: Bustiey (Lipslus and Tischer.Kiel). — 

 Second Armagh Catalogue of 3300 Stars ; Robinson and Dreyer (Thom, 

 iJublin).— An Arctic Province; Alaska and the Se.al Islands: H. \V. 

 Elliot (Low).— Wild Animals Pliotographed and Described: J. F. Nott 

 (Low). — Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. xlii. part 4, No. 

 i63 (Longmans). — Studies from the Biological I^aboratory, Johns Hopkins 

 University, vol. iii. No. 8.— Calendar of University College of South Wales, 

 1886-37 (.Iwen, Caidiff).— Geologic de Jersey: Le P. C. Noury (Sary. 

 Paris). — Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India— Pala;ontologia Indica, 

 ser. X. ; Indian Tertiary and Post-Tertiary Vertebrata, vol, iv. part 2, 'J he 

 Fauna of the Karnul Caves : R. Lydekker (Triibner). — Descriptive Cata. 

 I jgue of a Collection of the Economic Minerals of Canada : A. R. C. Selwyn 

 (Alal.aster).— L'ligalite' des Sexes en Angleterre : F. Remo (Nouvelle 

 Revue, Paris) — Theory of Magnetic Measurements ; F. E. Nipher (Van 

 Nostrand, New York).— Outlines of the Geology of Northumberland and 

 Durham : G. A. Lebour (Lambert, Newcastle-on-Tyne).— Lehrbuch der 

 Histologic : Dr. P. Stohr (Fischer, Jena).— Lehrbuch der Entwicklungs- 

 geschichte, Erste Abth. : Dr. O. Hertwig (Fischer, Jena).— Lunar Science, 

 Ancient .-ind Modern: Rev. T. Harley (Sonnenschein).— Hourly Readings 

 1884. part I, Januarj' to March.— The Auk, October, vol. iii., No. 4 (New 

 York).— Journal of Physiology, vol. vii., Nos. 5 and 6 (Cambridge).— Notes 

 from the Leyden Museum, Nos. i to 4, 1886 (Brill, Leyden) —Observations 

 Nouvelles sur le Tufeau de Cipley : A. Rutot and E. van den Broeck 

 (Liege).— Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 

 April to September 1886 (Philadelphia).-The Washoe Rocks ; G. F. 

 Becker.— On the Origin of Agriculture : H. Ling Roth (Harrison). 



CONTENTS PAGE 



Industrial Education in America. By W. Odell . 97 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



" .\merican Journal of Mathematics " 99 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Longitudes in Brazil. — ^Admiral E. Mouchez, 



Director of the Paris Observatory 100 



Cooke's "Chemical Physics." — Prof. Josiah Par- 

 sons Cooke 100 



Note on Mr. Budden's Proof that only One Parallel 

 can be drawn from a Given Point to a Given 

 Straight Line.— Prof. O. Henrici, F.R.S. ... 100 



Lunar Glaciation. — S. E. Peal 100 



The Astronomical Theory of the Great Ice .^ge. — 



Rev. E. Hill loi 



Meteor. — W. F. Denning loi 



Freshwater Diatoms in the Bagshot Beds. — Rev. A. 



Irving lOi 



The Mathematical Tripos, I. By Prof. J. W. L. 



Glaisher, F.R.S loi 



The Colours of Metals and Alloys. By Prof. W. 

 Chandler Roberts- Austen, F.R.S. (Illustrated) . 106 



Notes Ill 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Argentine General Catalogue of Stars 113 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1886 



December5-ii 113 



The Royal Society. Anniversary Address by Prof. G. 



G. Stokes, President 113 



Ten Years' Progress in Astronomy, III. By Prof. 



C. A. Young 117 



University and Educational Intelligence 119 



Societies and Academies .... 119 



Books and Pamphlets Received 120 



