504 



NATURE 



{Sept. 23, iSSo 



New apparatus for the electric light. — Parallelogram of forces, 



by Prof. Lancetta. — Further contributions to the Aphides of 

 Sardinia ; description of three new species, by Prof. Macchiati. 

 Atti ddla R. Accademia dd Lincei, June. — On an apparatus 

 for determining the mechanical equivalent of heat, by Dr. 

 Eartoli. — On the laws of galvanic polarisation, by the same. — 

 On a human skeleton of the age of stone in the Roman province, 

 by Dr. Incoronato. — Liassic limestone of Gozzmo, and its fossils, 

 by Dr.Parona. — Works on the Tiber, and varied conditions of the 

 Roman land, by S. Ponzi. — Reply to S. Ferrari's observations 

 (relating to anomalous induction of a magnetic declinometer), 

 by Prof. Keller. — On the mechanism of movements of the iris, 

 by S. Morizzia. — On some derivatives of natural and synthetic 

 thymol, by Professors Paterno and Canzonesi. — Analysis of an 

 angite of Lazio, by Dr. Piccini.' — Chemical researches on tlie 

 lava of Montecompatri, &c., by Dr. Mauro.— On the ha:ma- 

 topoetic function, by SS. Tizzoni .and Fileti. — On the diffusion 

 of the metals of cerite, by S. Cossa. — On tungstate of didymium, 

 by the same. — On a proposition of Jacobi, by S. Siacci. — On a 

 class of differential equations integrable by elliptic functions, by 

 S. Brioschi. — Verification and use of a new formula for calculation 

 of planetary perturbations, by S. De Gasparis. 



Rcndiionto dclle Scssioiii dell' Accademia delle Scicnze dell' 

 Istiluto di Bologna, 1879-S0. — We note here the following: — 

 On the placenta of cartilaginous fishes and mammalia, and its 

 applications in zoological taxonomy and anthropogeny, by Prof. 

 Ercolani. — Variations of human temperature resulting from 

 bodily movements, by Prof. Villari. — Dimensions of the electric 

 spark of condensers, by the same. — On variation of length due 

 to magnetism, by Prof. Rigbi. — On some products of decom- 

 position of albumen at the temperature of the human body, and 

 at slightly lower temperatures, by Prof. .Selmi.' — On the ringuiar 

 verticillate configuration of lamina; of crystalline snow, &c., by 

 Prof. Bombicci. — On a case of permanent polarity in a magnet 

 opposite to that of the inducing helix, by Prof. Righi. — Laws 

 relative to the dimensions of electric sparks of condenser-, 

 by Prof. Villari. — Investigation of phosphorus in the urine in 

 cases of poisoning, and products which may occur, by Prof. 

 .Selmi. — A mercury pneumatic machine with double action, by 

 S. Liuzzi. — Verification of ptomaines in most cases of chemico- 

 legal investigation, and formation of some of them, of poisonous 

 natnre, in animal substances kept three years in spirits, by Prof. 

 Gianetti. — On the principal changes in the course of the Po, and 

 means of obviating disaster threatened by it, by Dr. Predieri. — 

 On the intimate structure of the eyes of Diptera, and on the 

 eyes of blind Talpa, by Prof. Ciaccio. (This Rendiconto con- 

 tains a considerable number of papers relating to anatomy and 

 local geology.) 



Reale Isiituto Lombardo di Scieiize e Lettere. Rendiconti. 

 Vol. xiii., fasc. xv., July 15. — Outlines of a Government 

 .sanitary organisation, by Dr. Zucchi. — On the theory of 

 hallucinations, by Prof. Tamburini. — Triassic fossils of the 

 African Alps, by S. De Stefani.— The learned friends of 

 Alexander Volta, by S. Z. Volta. 



SOCIETIES ANV ACADEMIES 

 London 

 Entomological Society, September i. — IL T. Stainton, 

 F.K.S., vice-president, in the chair.— Miss Emily A. Smith, 

 Assistant State Entomologist of Illinois, was elected a Foreign 

 Member. — Mr. J. Jenner Weir exhibited specimens of Odoneslis 

 fotatoi-ia and Smerinthus popnli, which possessed the pecu- 

 liarities of both sexes. — Sir Sidney Saunders exhibited six 

 winged examples of the Stylopideous genus Hylecthrus, and also 

 various other Ilymenoptera, and contributed remarks thereon. — 

 Miss E. A. Ormerod exhibited some galls found on Tanacettvn 

 vulgaris, N^hich she described at length.— Mr. T. R. Billups 

 exhibited a female specimen of Polyhlasius ui/ialbergi , an ichneu- 

 mon not previously recorded in Britain. — Mr. E. Boscher ex- 

 hibited living specimens of the two varieties of the larvre of 

 Smerinthus occllatus, aiul contributed a note thereon. — Mr. 

 Meldola exhibited some specimens of Canipiogratnma bilincata, a 

 large number of which had been found by Mr. English near 

 Epping, attached firmly to the leaves of the "tea tree" \Lycium 

 barharuin) by the abdomen, in which position they had died, 

 possibly from the effects of a fungoid disease. — Mr. A. H. 

 S'.vinton communicated a note on Lnciola italica, an Italian 

 fire-fly. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, September 13. — M. Edm. Eecquerel 

 in the chair. — The following papers were read : — Observations 

 of Faye's comet and of comet b 1S80 (Schiiberle) at Paris 

 Observatory -with the equatorial of the western tower, by M. 

 Bigourdan. — On the probable orbital motion of some binary 

 systems of the southern heavens, by M. Cruls. This is from the 

 Imperial Obsei-v.rtory at Rio ; and the author's data are com- 

 pared with those of Sir J. Ilerschel at the Cape, and Capt. 

 Jacob at Poonah. — Spectroscopic researches on some stars not 

 hitherto studied, by M. Cruls. This relates to stars in tlie Bee, 

 tlie Cross, and the Centaur. — Ou some solar phenomena observed 

 at Nice, by M. ThoUon. He gives several sketches of the 

 spectral phenomena of protuberances, &c. He does not hesitate 

 to say that every movement of the solar surface having, along 

 the line of observation, a component which is not nil, causes a 

 displacement of the spectral lines. It is also extremely probable, 

 but not certain, that every displacement of a line corresponds to 

 a movement. — On the law of electromagnetic machines (con- 

 tinued), by M. Joubert. With a given intensity of field, what- 

 ever the other conditions in which the machine works, from the 

 moment when it gives maximum ivork, the retardation is equal 

 to J of the entire period ; the intensity is constant and equal to the 

 quotient by 'J 2 of the absolute maximum of intensity ; the electro- 

 magnetic work is proportional to the velocity ; and the velocity is 

 in a constant ratio to the resistance. — On boroduodecitungstic 

 acid and its salts of potassium, by M. Klein. — On the subcutaneous 

 lymphatics of the python of Seba, by M. Jourdain. The 

 arrangement presents an evident similarity to that in Teleosteans 

 (a ventral trunk and two lateral ones, &c.). When the direction 

 of circulation of lymph has been ascertained, it will probably be 

 found the same in both. — Deep dredging in the Lake of Tiberias 

 (Syria), in May, iSSo, by M. Lortet. The surface of the lake 

 is 212 m. under that of the Mediterranean, but probably was 

 at one time level with it ; the greatest depth met with was 

 .about 250 m. at the northern extremity. It was thought that the 

 waters, formerly saline, had probably contained special animal 

 forms, traces of which might still be found at great depths. 

 Some twelve species of fishes were met with, and some new 

 forms. Chromis preponderated ; indeed, they swarm in the lake. 

 Twelve forms of mollusca were met with, some new species. 

 The Melanopsis and Melania were of marine character. At the 

 borders of the lake were some shrimps, crabs, and tortoises. 

 Diatoms, foraminifera, &c., were obtained in the fine slime of 

 the bottom, but no algae or coniferje were met with (the water 

 indeed was brackish, and had a temperature of + 24° ; that at 

 the bottom was not more brackish than that at the surface). — On 

 the -existence in Soudan of wild vines with herbaceous stem, 

 vigorous roots, and eatable fruit, by M. Lecard. — On a thunder- 

 storm observed at Laigle (Orne) on August 6, 1S80, by M. 

 Royer. During an hour and a half he counted 4,700 flashes, or 

 about S3 a minute. Sometimes there were 100 a minute. The 

 storm lasted two hours in all. The lightning struck twice, viz., 

 a house and a poplar-tree. 



CONTENTS Pace 



The Photophone. By Prof. Silvanus P. Tho.mi'son 4S1 



The Geology of London 4S1 



Prof. A. Gray's Kotanical Text- Book 482 



Our Book Shelf : — 



Sedgwick's ■■Light and Heat" 4S3 



Rimmer's "Land and Freshwater Shells of die British Isles " . . 483 

 Letters to the Editor: — 



Novel Celestial Object.— Prof. Edward C. Pickeeisc .... 483 



Experiments on the States of Matter.— J. B. Hannav 483 



Fascination. — Chatel 484 



Meteor. — J. Thwaites 4S4 



Evolution AND Female Education. By S. Tolver Preston . . 485 

 The Yang-Tse, the Yellow Riveb, and the Pei-Ho. By Surgeon 



H. B. GuPPY 4S6 



Physics without Apparatus, VI. QVHh lllmiratwns) 488 



General Pitt Rivers' (Lane Fox) Anthropological Coliecion 



(With lllustmtions) 429 



Notes '•93 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Colours of Southern Stars 495 



Telegraphic Determinations of Longitude 49° 



Four-Figure Logarithms and Anti-Logarithms 45° 



Action of 1»hosphorescent Light on Selenium. By Dr. Eugen 



Obach '•5'' 



Agricultural Chemistry, II. By J. H. Gilbert, Ph.D., F.R.S. . 497 

 Improved Heliograph or Sun Signal. By Tempest Anderson, 



t.l.T>.,'B..Sc. (mth Illustration) 499 



Selenium and the Photophone. By Prof. A. Graham Bell . . seo 



Scientific Serials 503 



Societies and Ac.vdemies 5^4 



