Feb. 26, 1874] 



NATURE 



333 



length of two tentacular arms, 24 ft. each ; eight pedal appen- 

 dages, 6 ft. in length, and 9 in. in circumference nearest the 

 head ; the sucking-discs are denticulated, and in some instances 

 measure \\ in. in diameter. This individual has been preserved, 

 and its measurements are therefore authentic ; but still larger 

 specimens are believed to exist, and an account is given of an 

 encounter between some fishermen and a huge creature which, 

 on being strucl< by them, attacked their boat by twining its arms 

 round the vessel. Two of the arms were cut off by a fisherman, 

 when the squid moved off, ejecting a large quantity of inky fluid 

 to cover its retreat. A portion of one of these arms, measuring 

 19 ft., has been preserved, but it is said tliat 6 ft. of it were de- 

 stroyed, while the fishers estimate that they left 10 ft. moreen 

 the body of the squid. This would bring its length to 35 ft. It 

 is to be hoped that more care will in future be taken to prevent 

 the mutilation of specimens ; and the capture of the first-men- 

 tioned one will, no doubt, excite the fishermen and others to 

 greater care and exertions in looking out for still larger examples. 

 The first squid was caught in Logy Bay, Newfoundland. The 

 encounter with the second took place off Portugal Cove, Con- 

 ception Bay, about 9 miles from .St. John's, 



At a recent meeting of the Essex Institute (Salem, Mass.), 

 Mr. Byron Groce of Peabodyread a paper on "The Study of 

 Natural History in Schools," in which he advocated its 

 introduction by substituting it for some of the less useful 

 studies now pursued. He also gave an account of the method 

 he had followed in the High School of Peabody, stating that 

 during the summer he took his school into the woods and fields 

 for a half day each week, taught the scholars to collect specimens 

 and preserve them properly ; then had the specimens arranged 

 in the school cabinet, and on unpleasant days in Ihe winter they 

 were used for instruction. In this way a lively interest h.ad been 

 created in the school, and a Natural History Club had been 

 formed among the scholars (or the purpose of carrying on the 

 study. 



A NEW illustrated weekly newspaper is announced for first 

 appearance on March 7. The title is the Pictorial World. We 

 trust the projectors will be wise enough — to take the word in its 

 largest sense — to let its readers know something of what is being 

 done in the world of Science. 



We have received a map (published by the U.S. Geological 

 Survey) of the sources of the Snake River, with its tributaries, 

 together with portions of the head waters of the Madison and 

 Yellowstone, from surveys and observations of the Snake 

 River Expedition, by G. R. Bechler, Chief Topographer, and 

 James Stevenson, Director. The scale is five miles to an inch, 

 and all the remarkable features of the extensive district, which 

 includes the Yellowstone National Park, and the nature and pro- 

 ducts of the ground, are clearly indicated. 



We have received the third volume, for 1873, and the com- 

 mencement of the fourth volume of the " Proces-verbaux des 

 Seances de la Societe Malacologique de Belgique," showing the 

 activity with which this department of Natural History is pur- 

 sued in Belgium. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Crested Agouti {Dasyprocta cristata), from 

 Mexico, presented by Mr. C. H. M. de Lichtacbel ; a Pennant's 

 Parakeet {Plalycerctis peiiitanti), and a Cockateel {Calopsilta 

 noviv-hollandiii), from Australia, presented by Dr. H. Wheeler ; 

 a Common Gull (Larits canus), British, presented by Mr. W. 

 K.Stanley; a Malayan Ilornbill [Buccros nialayanus), from 

 Malacca, purchased ; and a hybrid Pheasant (between Thaunuiia 

 amkerslice and T. picta), received in exchange. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



yiistiis Licbig's Annakn der Chemie u. Pharmacie, Band 

 170, Heft I und 2. This number contains the following papers : 

 — On the chlorides and oxy-chlorides of sulphur, by A. 

 Michaelis. The author describes the compound SCI4 and other 

 chlorides, also an oxy-chloride of the formula S.^Or.Clo. He 

 gives tables and curves showing the dissociation of SCI4 which 

 is very rapid between — 20" when 100 per cent, of that body 

 exists and -I- 6^ 2 when only 2^43 per cent, exists as SCI4, the 

 rest consisting of SCU and chlorine. SCU dissociates much less 

 rapidly, 5^44 per cent, existing at a temperature of + 120°. 

 Researches on the nature and constitution of gallic acid, by H. 

 Schiff A correction of the formula of carbazolin, by C. 

 Grabe. — On caprcnic acid contained in the crude butyric 

 acid of fermentation, by A. Lieben — On the salts of capronic 

 acid derived from fermentation, by F. Kottal. — On a con- 

 densation product of oxybenzoic acid, by L. Barth and 

 C. Senhofer. The author's obtained a body of the formula 

 CjjHgOj ; two of the hydrogens of this fonnula are replaceable 

 by metals. The Ba Ca, K and Na salts thus formed are described. 

 On treating the original body with zinc, anthracene was obtained. 

 They propose to call this body Anthratlavon ; it is useles as a dye- 

 slulf. — On phenol-trisulphuric acid, by C. Senhofer. Theacidis 

 prepared by acting on sulphuric acid W'th phosphoric anhydride 

 in the presence of phenol ; it is a tribasic acid of the formula 

 C|;H|;S.jO,Q crystallising with 3I molecules of water. Several 

 of its salts are described. — On orthoxylol prepared from liquid 

 brom-toluol, by P. Jannasch and H. Htibner. — On the action 

 of ozone on carburetted hydrogen, by A. Houzeau and A 

 Renard. This is a translation from a paper in the Comptcs Rendns^ 

 vol. Ixxvi., 572. — On dichlorglycide, by A. Claus. This body 

 is prepared by the action of potassic hydrate on trichlorhydrin. 

 On the action of potassic cyanide on dichlorglycide, by the same 

 author. — On cenanthylic acid and normal heplyl .alcohol, 

 by Harry Grimshaw and C. Schorlemmer. — On trimethyl acetic 

 .acid, by A. Butlerow. — On the dichlor propionic ether from 

 glyceric acid, by Messrs. Werigo and Werner. — Contributions to 

 our knowledge of citric acid ; and On baric citraconale, by H. 

 Kiimmerer. — On dissociation, by A. Horstmann. — ^The number 

 concludes with a short reply to Butlerow's paper on trimethyl 

 carbino', by E. Linnemann. 



Piiihtin de la Socic'lc Imperiale des Naitiralistis de Moscou. 

 No. 2. 1873. — This number commences with a paper by Dr. 

 Koch on malformations in the embryos of species of salmon 

 and Coregonus ; the various monstrosities being treated under 

 the headings of (l) Dicephaly ; (2) Diplomyelia (duplicity of 

 spinal cord, total or partial ; (3) Divergences of body from its 

 long axis ; (4) Defects in organs of locomotion ; (5) Anomalies 

 in the vegetative sphere ; (6) Defects in organs of sense. As to 

 thef disputed point how double monsters arise, Dr. Koch finds 

 confirmation of I. Midler's view, according to which they are 

 produced thi'ough union of two organised embryos arising from 

 an imperfect fission. He also asserts that doitble monsters, where 

 both bodies are formed alike, never live after leaving the egg, 

 and when the yolk has been absorbed ; other monsters m.ay, if 

 the form permits of food being procured. From experiments 

 made on production of monsters, it seemed well established, 

 that unfavouraljle conditions, such as shaking, were peculiarly apt 

 to cause them ; even double formations, but only of a certain 

 kind, \\i. Diplomyelia partialis, not jQ. totalis. The influence of 

 temperature was also seen in the fact, that, with embryos in these 

 unfavourable conditions, a difference of three degrees R. (above 

 the normal cold temperature), made a difference of twelve days 

 in the time of development, which was to this extent retarded. 

 The paper is accompanied with numerous illustrations. — M. Wol- 

 kenstein continues his account of anthropological researches on 

 the ancient cemeteries of Waldai, named "Jalnikis;" giving 

 here detailed measurements of the skeletons found in these 

 peculiar tombs. — M. Becker describes ajourney he made in 1S72 

 to several places in the neighbourhood of the Caspian and in 

 South Daghestan ; apppendirg a list of plants and .animals 

 found there. — M. Truntschold furnishes some measurements of 

 Elasmolhcrium sibcricum ; M. Motschoulsky a list of new species 

 of Coleoptera ; and there are one or two notes, in Russ, on 

 botanical subjects. 



Astronomische Nachrichteti, No. 1973. I" ^^^ number Dr. 

 Stein gives an account of an apparatus for astronomical photo- 

 graphy, with which the negatives are taken without the use of 

 a dark room or tent, and if useful in practice, it justly deserves 

 credit. It consists practically of a sort of flat box of glass, one 



