524 



NA rURE 



[March 31, i J 



probable explanation of the phenomena of the whole region is to 

 suppose the former existence of a great glacier mass resembling 

 the inland ice of Greenland, and that the Glacial period was 

 closed hy a general submergence, during which the drifts were 

 deposited and, at its close, the terraces cut. 



Photographic Society, March 8. — J. Glaisher, F.R.S., 

 president, in the chair. — Papers were read by Mr. Payne 

 JeniiMig- on art photography. It was asserted that unfavourable 

 criticisms, both from arti^ts and the press, had been the result 

 from the exhibition of works which deserved such severity, and 

 that to raise the status of art in photography moreattentinn must 

 be given to art-rules. — Also by Mr. Edwin Cocking, on notes on 

 photi'gi'aphy and art. An incisive comparison was drawn between 

 the an of the painter and that of the photographer, showing the 

 es>-<-ntial difference between the two in the production of a 

 pictorial «ork, both in the modus operandi of production and the 

 individuality capable of being infu.-ed into each result. Also 

 thai art in photogi'aphy required a totally different training to 

 that necessary for the painter, and that the time had arrived w hen 

 special instruction by a thoroughly organised school for art 

 photography had become absolutely neces-ary. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, March 22. — Mr. Aber- 

 nethy, F.K.S.E., president, in the chair. — The paper read was 

 on the comparative endurance of iron and mild steel when 

 exposed to corrosive influences, by Mr. D. Phillips, Mi Inst. C.E. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, March 21. — M. Wurtz in the chair. 

 — The following papers were read :— On determination of the 

 masses of mercury, Venus, the Earth, and of solar parallax, by 

 M. Ti-serand. — Observations of Faye's comet, at Paris Oljserva- 

 tory, by MM. Tisserand .and Bigourdan. — On the possibility of 

 mauing sheep refractory to anthrax through preventive inocula- 

 tinns, by M. Pasteur, with MM. Chamberland and Koux. M. 

 Pasieur controverts M. Toussaint's views on the subject, and says 

 his me' hod is veiy uncertain. — The vaccine matter of anthrax, 

 by the -ame. A wholly harmless bacterium can be got from the 

 mo^t virulent by cultivation in animals different from those apt to 

 take the disease. There are as many distinct germs as there are 

 different kinds of virulence. — Researches on formic ethers, by 

 M'\1 . Berthelot and Ogier. They are formed with absorption of 

 heat. — New navigation-maps, giving both the direction audfonre 

 of the wind in the Indian Ocenn, by M. Brault. Meteoro- 

 ]o!?ically the parts of that oce.an above and below the equator are 

 distinct (and the author indicates how). — On the operations of 

 the Syndical Association of the Beziers Arrondissement to oppose 

 phyll 'xera, by M. Janssan. — Report on the work of the Council 

 of Pu'>lic Hygiene and Salubrity, by M. Brezan^on. — On the 

 surface wih sixteen singular points and functions with two 

 variables, by M. Darboux. — On the functional determinant of any 

 nu uherof binary forms, byM. Le Paige. — On the decomposition 

 into primary factors of uniform functions having a line of essential 

 singular points, by M. Picard. — On certain simultaneous linear 

 differential equations with partial derivatives, by MM. Picard 

 and Appell.— On generator polygons of a relation between 

 several imaginary variables, by M. Lecomu. — Solution of a 

 general problem on series, by M. Andre. — On linear differential 

 equiiions with algebraic integrals, by M. Poincare. — On the 

 di tnbution of energy in the normal solar spectrum, by 

 Piof. Langley. The total heat coming from the sun to 

 the earth is much greater than has been believed (eveni 

 in e-timates accused of exaggeration). If the totality of the 

 solar radiations reached us we should have a sensation of blue 

 rather than white. (The author studied the absorption for each 

 ra\ ). — On a synthetic apparatus reproducing the phenomenon 

 of circular double refraction, by M. Gouy. This consists of a 

 numbt-r of thin and narrow rectangular lamella; of crystal placed 

 side l>y side like floor-boards, and cemented between two glass 

 plaics. In a given direction the optic axis of each band forms a 

 constant angle with the preceding one. A half-wave plate is 

 pla ed above. — On radiophony with selenium, by M. Mercadier. 

 The sounds here result chiefly from the luminous rays from the 

 limit of blue to extreme red, and even a little in infra-red, the 

 maximum being in the yellow. — Experiments at the Crensot 

 works in optical measurement of high temfieratures, by M. 

 Crova. The spectropyrometer is proved practically u'eful, — 

 O" the electromotive force of the voltaic arc, by M. Le Koux. 

 Wi'h a galvanometer of great resistance and a single contact 

 operated with the hand, one may prove the difference of 

 potential of the carbons even ^-^ of a second after cessation of 



the current. The phenomenon is j)robably thermo-electric. — 

 The hissing of the voltaic arc, by M. Maudet. The difference 

 of potential between the carbons is very great when the arc is 

 silent, very snnll when it hisses. — On magic mirrors of siUerad 

 gla-s, hy M. Laurent. The magic effect can be had through the 

 mode of mounting of the mirror. — On the flow of gases, by M. 

 Neyreneuf. The laws of this may be verified by a method like 

 that for determining electric resistances. — On new combinations 

 of hydrobromic and hydriodic acid with ammonia, by M. Troost. 

 — Action of hydrochloric acid on chloride of lead, by M. Ditte. 

 — Action of sulphuric acid newly heated to 320°, and oils, by 

 M. Maumene. — On a new means of analysis of oils, by the 

 same. This con-i-ts in treating a measured quantity of oil with 

 one of a titrated aqueous solution of cau-iic alkali. — Separation 

 of oxide of nickel and oxide of cobalt, by M. Delvaux. — On a 

 process of industrial manufacture of carbonate of potash, by 

 M. Engel. — On some complex compounds of sulphur and nitro- 

 gen, by M. Demar9ay. — On tar from cork, by M. Bordet. It 

 contains more hydrocarbons than tar from coal and less of oxy- 

 genated substance- than tar from hard woods. — Oji the ferment- 

 ation of urea, by M. kichet. The stomachil mucus of animals 

 in general cau-es ammoniacal fermentation of pure urea. — 

 Physiological and therapeutical properties of cedrine and valdi- 

 vine, by MM. Dujardin-Beaumetz and Kestrepo. — Physiological 

 action of Erythriiia corallodendron, by MM. Bo.hefontaine and 

 Rey. — On lesions of the hones in locomotor ataxy, hy Af. 

 Blanchard. — On the presence of trichina in adipose tissue, by 

 M. Chatin. — On the virulent state of the fcetus in sheep dead from 

 symptomatic anthrax, by MM. A. Arloing, Cornevin, ai d Thomas 

 — Illusion relative to the size and distance of objects from which 

 one withdraws, by M. Charpentier. The objects seem to enlarge 

 on approach. — On the organs of taste of osse< us fishes, by M. 

 Jourdan. — Toxical power of pancreatic microzymas in intra- 

 venous injections, -by MM. Bechamp and B ilten. — Human bones 

 found in the diluvium of Nice — the geological question, by M, 

 Desor. The deposit (at Carabacel) belongs to the category of 

 strata contemporary with the erosion of tertiary plateaux. — De- 

 scription of the bones, by M. Niepce. — Determination of the race, 

 by M. de Quatrefages. It seem to be the same as that of the 

 men of Cro-Magnon. — On a new genus of primary fish, by M^ 

 Gaudry. MM. Riche found it in the Permian of Igornay. It is 

 remarkable for the great size of its ribs, and is called Megapleuron 

 Rochfi. It had lozenge scales. — On the existence and characters 

 of the Cambrian formation in the Puy-de-D6me and Allier, by 

 M. Jullien. — General law of formation of mineral waters ; 

 application to Greoux (Basses-AIpes), by M. Dieulafait. — On 

 the discovery at Noir-Montiers (Vendee) ot ihe Eocene flora'with 

 Sabalitcs Andegavensis, Sch., by M. Crie. — observations on 

 variations of temperature of the human body during movement, 

 by M, Villari. The results agree with M. Bonnal's. 



CONTENTS 



Pagb 



Mind IN Ani.mals. By George J. Romanes. F.RS 501 



American Indian Languages. ByA. H. Keane 503 



Lktthi'S to the Kditok : — 



Hot Ice.— Dr. Oliver J. Lodge; J. B. Hannav: George B. 



Richmond {U^tlh Diagrams) 504 



The Oldest Fossil Insects — Rev. A. E. Eaton 506 



Oceanic Phenomenon.— Surgeon H. B. Gtopv ....... 507 



The Banks of tne Yang-tse at Hankow.— Surge n H B Goppy . 507 



An Experiment on Inherited Memory. — W. Mattieu Williams . 508 



Meteors. — }. Parnell 508 



Classification of the Indo-Chinese and Oceanic Races. — H. J. 



Murton 50S 



Fascination. — Carl Ochsenius .... 508. 



Flying-Fish. — Commander Allan D. Broun 509 



The Oxford Commissioners on Professors 509 



The International Geological Congress. By C E. dh Rance 510 

 The Falls of Niagara in Winter. By William Lan i Carpenter 



(Hitli lUustration) ... ... 511 



Zoological Results of the Visit of Prof. K. Mos iiius to 



Mauritius. By H. N. Moselkv, F.R.S 514 



Notes .... 515 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



A New Variable Star 517 



Minimaof Algol, &c , in 1880 S"? 



The Red Spot upon Jupiter's Disk S"7 



The Minor Planets S'7 



Physical Notes .517 



Geograthical Notes 5^8 



Prizes of THE Paris Academy OF Sciences 518 



Measuring the Index of Refraction of Ebonite by Professors 



Ayrton and Perky ()(-VM Diagram) ... 519 



Molecular Erbctromagnetic Induction. By Prof. D. E. 



Hughes, F.R.S 5"9 



Scientific Serials 522 



Societies and Academies s^i 



