36 



NATURE 



\Nov. 13, 1873 



Ramsay, in Queensland. — A communication was read from 

 Mr. J. B. Perrin, containing an account of the Myology 

 of the Hoatczin {Opisthocomus ctistatus). — A communica- 

 tion was read from Capt. R. Beavan, Bengal Staff Corps, 

 containing a list of fishes met with in the River Ner- 

 budda, in India. — A second communication from Capt. Beavan 

 contained some remarks on certain difficulties involved in the 

 acceptance of the Darwinian theory of evolution. — A communi- 

 cation was read from Mr. Montague R. Butler, containing de- 

 scriptions of several new species of Diurnal Lepidoptera. — A 

 communication was read from Mr. R. Swinhoe, H.B.M. Consul at 

 Chefoo, en the Song-Jay of Northern China, with further notes 

 onChinese ornithology. — Mr. P. L.Sclater, F.R.S., exhibited and 

 pointed out the characters of fourteen new species of birds col- 

 lected by Signor Luigi Maria D'Albertis during his recent 

 expedition into the interior of New Guinea. — A communica- 

 tion was read from Prof J. V. Barboza du Bocage, on the 

 Ground Hornbill of Southern Africa —Buccros carunculatus cafer 

 of Schlegel. — A second communication from Prof. Barboza du 

 Bocage contained a note on the habitat of Euprepes coctei, 

 Dum. et Bibr. — A communication was read from Surgeon- 

 Major Francis Day, containing descriptions of new or little 

 known Indian fishes. — Mr. R. B. Sharpe, read a paper de- 

 scribing the contents of a collection of birds recently received 

 from Mombas in Eastern Africa. — A second paper by Mr. R. 

 B. Sharpe contained a list of a collection of birds from the River 

 Congo. — Mr. G. B. Sowerby, jun., communicated the descrip- 

 tions of eleven new species of shells. — A communication was 

 read from Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., on the skulls and alveolar 

 surfaces of Land Tortoises, Testiidinata. 



Linnean Society, Nov. 6. — Mr. G. Bentham, president, in 

 the chair. — Before the commencement of proceedings, this being 

 the first occasion of the meeting of the society in its new rooms 

 in Burlington House, the president gave an address on the pre- 

 sent relation of Government towards the learned societies, which 

 will be found elsewhere. — A resolution was then proposed by 

 Dr. Hooker, seconded by Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys, and carried 

 unanimously, recognising the obligations of the Linnean Society 

 towards the Government for the handsome accommodation now 

 for the first time provided independently for it. — On Hydnora 

 anieyicaiia, by Dr. J. D. Hooker. In his monograph of the 

 RafllesiaceK in De Candolle's " Prodromus," Dr. Hooker had 

 thrown some doubt on the correctness of De Bary's de- 

 scription Hydnora, and on the close affinity which he 

 traced between it and Prosobaiiche. Further investigation has, 

 however, amply confirmed the accuracy of De Bary's description. 

 A very great difficulty is presented, from the point of view of 

 the theory of evolution, in the occurrence of two species of this 

 genus, one in South Africa and one in South America, so closely 

 resembling one another in every point of their structure, and 

 both root-parasites, that it is impossible to look upon them 

 otherwise than as very nearly related. The only possible con- 

 nection between them would appear to be through Cytinus, 

 another nearly allied genus of root- parasites, species of which are 

 natives both of South Africa and of South and North America. 



Chemical Society, Nov. 6. — Dr. Odling, F.R.S., presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — The president delivered a short address, 

 to which we refer elsewhere, congratulating the Fellows on 

 taking possession of their new rooms in Burlington House. 

 A paper was then read by Mr. David Howard on the 

 optical properties of some modifications of the cinchona 

 alkaloids, being an elaborate investigation of the variations 

 in the rotatory powers of this class of bodies when examined 

 by the polarimeter. The other communications were — a preli- 

 minary notice on the oils of wormwood and citronella, by Dr. 

 C. R. A. Wright ; on the estimation of nitrates in potable 

 waters, by Mr. W. F. Donkin ; and a note on the action of 

 iodine trichloride upon carbon disulphide, by Mr. J. B. Hannay. 

 Royal Microscopical Society, Nov. 5. — Chas. Brooke, 

 F.R.S., president, in the ch.air. A paper by the Rev. W. H. 

 Dallinger was read, describing some further researches made by 

 himself and Dr. Drysdalc on the development of certain monads, 

 in the course of which they had been able to trace the life-his- 

 tory of a species, although in their earliest stages these organisms 

 were so minute as to require an objective of j'5 in. for their ob- 

 servation. A number of beautifully executed drawings accom- 

 panied the paper. — Mr. Alfred Sanders read a paper on the art 

 of photographing microscopic objects, in which he described a 

 simple and successful process of manipulation, and showed 

 how the most satisfactory results might be obtained without the 



aid of expensive and complicated apparatus. — A paper was also 

 read by Mr. S. J. Mclntire, entitled " Some Notes on Acarel- 

 lus," in which he minutely described a species found parasitic 

 upon Obisium, and which he believed to be identical with 

 Hypopus, described by Dujardin. Specimens both mounted 

 and alive were exhibited under the Society's microscopes. — 

 Some photographs of Navicula lyra and Amphipleura pcllucida, 

 taken by Dr. J. J. Woodward, were also exhibited. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, November 3. — M. de Quatrefages, 

 president, in the chair. — The following papers were read : — ■ 

 An analysis and criticism of an " Essay on the Constitution and 

 Origin of the Solar System, by M. Roche," by M. Faye. — On 

 the mutual action of voltaic currents by M. Bertrand. On the 

 verification of Baume's hydrometer, by MM. Berthelot, Coulier, 

 and d' Almeida. — On certain calorimetric values and problems, 

 by M. Berthelot. — Observations of the solar protuberances dur- 

 ing the last six solar rotations (April 23 to October 2, 1873) with 

 some consequences aflecting the theory of the spots, by Father 

 Secchi. In this paper Secchi continued his observations, por- 

 tions of which appeared in the first half of the year. The author 

 again asserted that the spots are the product of eruptions, and ob- 

 served that some metals were more opaque than others, e.g., a 

 sodium eruption gave a very black spot. He admitted, however, 

 that some spots existed without eruptions. — Researches on the 

 thermic effects accompanying the compression of liquids, by 

 MM. Favre and Laurent.— MM. Morin and Phillips presented a 

 report on M. Graeff's paper on the 'ty/wrofrivers and the effects of 

 a multiple system of reser\'oirs. — Memoir on experimental terato- 

 logy, by M. C. Dareste. — On a map of the world on a gnomonic 

 projection, &c. , by M. B. de Chancourtois. — The following 

 papers were presented to the Academy ; — Observations on M. 

 Dubois' paper on the influence of refraction at the moment of 

 contact of Venus with the Sun's limb, by M. Oudemans. — On a 

 new volatile saccharine matter extracted from Madagascar 

 rubber, by M. Aime Girard. — On the cooling effects produced 

 by the joint actions of capillarity and evaporation : Evaporation 

 of carbonic disulphide on porous paper, by M. C. Decharme. — 

 Origin and formation of the dental follicule in the mammiferiie, 

 by i\IM. Magitot and Legros. — Oir capillary embolism and he» 

 morrhagic infaretus, by M. Bouchut. — Observations on M.Pellarin's 

 note on choleraic dejections as agents in the propagation of that 

 disease, by M. H. Bkanc— On the different practical problems 

 of aerial navigation, by M. W. de Fonvielle. — On the foimation 

 of swellings on the rootlets of the vine, by M. Max. Cornu. — 

 Observations on M. Guerin Meneville's suggestion that the Fhyl- 

 lo.xcra is a result of the vine disease. — Note on the best dimen- 

 sions for electro-magnets, by M. Th. du Moncel. — On a process 

 for the preparation of active amylic alcohol, by M. J. A. Le Bel. 

 — On the influence which certain gases exercise on the preser- 

 vation of eggs, and on the influence of certain substances in the 

 preservation of eggs, by Mr. C. Calvert. — On the metamorphism 

 and physiological changeability of certain microphytes under the 

 influence of media and on the relation of these phenomena to th 

 initial cause of fermentation, &c., by M. J. Duval. — On the action 

 of the respiratory apparatus after the opening of the tlioracic cavity, 

 by MM. Carlet and Strauss. — On the different properties and 

 structures of the red and white muscle m rabbits and in rays, by 

 M. Ranvier. — On scurvy and its treatment, by M. Champouillon. 

 — On telluric intoxication, by M. L. Colin. — On the calcareous 

 spar of the green marles of Chenneviere, by M. Stan. Meunier. 



CONTENTS Page 



On the Medical Curriculum 21 



The Southern Uplands of Scotland 23 



Local Scientific Societies . , 24 



Thorpe's " Quantitative Analysis " 36 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Ttie Management of the British Museum. — Prof. \V. Stanley 



Ievons. K.R.S 26- 



On the Equilibrium of Temperature of a Gaseous Column subject 



10 Gravity. — G Hansemann .' . . 27 



Periodicityof RainlalL— G. J. SVMONS 27 



The Common Frog, IV. By St. George Mivart. F.R.S. (With 



ItlustralioHS) 28 



Inauguration of the Linnean Society's New Rooms: Openi.ng 



Address by the President 30 



Inauguration OF THE Chemical Society's New Rooms 33 



Notes 33 



Physical Geography and Terrestrial Mollusca of the Eaham.\ 



Islands s 35 



SaENTiFic Serials 35 



Societies and Academies 35 



