20 



NA TURE 



[May 7, 1874 



versity Museum, ard through the kindness of Dr. Macallster I 

 had the opportunity of assisting hini in dissecting them. Nasua 

 iiarica, as doubtless many are aware, has a very long and flexible 

 snout, and hence we found the facial muscles correspondingly 

 better developed in it than in the others. Trapezius, which is 

 tripartite in all, is remarkable in N. fusca for sending from its 

 clavicular portion a slip to the humerus and also for being 

 joined to brachialis anticus. Omohyoid was completely absent 

 in the Coatis, but represented by a fine muscular band in Martes. 

 Teres major is ren^arkable in IVIartes for being inserted into the 

 humerus free from the ttndon of the latissimus dorsi. Pectoralis 

 major has the usual band from the presternum to the humerus ; 

 m A', fusca, besides the two laminae from the whole steniuni, 

 and from the mesostemum respectively to the pectoral ridge, and 

 greater tuberosity of the humerus, there was a third portion arising 

 from the abdominal parietes and inserted below the humeral 

 tuberosity. The clavicle being rudimentary, the subclavius, as 

 is generally the case amongst carnivores, had disappeared. 

 Acromial deltoid in N. iiarka has some of its fibres continuous 

 with those of brachialis anticus. There was a perfectly separate 

 prescapular slip of subscapularis in N. fusca, but not in the 

 other two pronater radii teres passes in all to be inserted below 

 the distal half of the radius. The extensor of the little finger 

 sends tendons to the third and fourth, as well in N. fusca and 

 Martes ; but in N. iiarica there is a separate extensor quarti et 

 ter/ii digiti. In the hind limb, sartorius has a double insertion 

 into the tibia and into the patella and femoral condyle, the former 

 segment being fused with gracilis. Al narica has a distinct agi- 

 tator Cauda:, which is represented in the marten by the caudal 

 origin of the biceps femoris. liicipiti accessorius is distinct in 

 the Coatis, but inseparable from triceps in Martes, in which also 

 gastrocnemius extemus and plantaris are fused. Tibialis anti- 

 cus is double in Martes, one part arising anterior to the other 

 and being inserted beside and separate from it. — Dr. Collins 

 read a paper On accessory Lobes of the Human Lung. The 

 specimen exhibited presented an accessory lobe o( the right lung, 

 lying above the root, and invested by a pleural duplicature, 

 which contained in its lower free margin the azygos vein, 

 and in its external border the superior intercostal. Refer- 

 ence having been made in detail to seven similar cases noticed in 

 different parts of Europe, special stress was laid upon a unique 

 case detailed by Wrisberg of a lobe having similar relations 

 upon the left side, as conclusively establishing the mode of 

 origin of the lobe in connection with the development of the 

 azygos, and superior intercostal venous systems. The author re- 

 garded these as the only true accessory lobes yet described in man. 

 Slention was made of other so-called accessory lobes, particu- 

 larly one described by M. Pozzi, below the right bronchus, from 

 its apparent homology to the mammalian lobus impar, and a 

 similar one upon the left side, described by Prof. Recktorzik. 

 These, however, the author regarded as merely higher develop- 

 ments of pulmonary notches, which in not a few instances are 

 normally to be found. The paper, which was illustrated by the 

 recent specimen and by drawings, concluded with an allusion to 

 accessory bronchi in their connection with the subject. 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, April 27. — M. Bertrand in the 

 chair. — The following communications were read : — Fourth 

 memoir on chemical dynamics, by M. Becquerel, a continuation 

 of the author's electro-chemical researches. — On freezing mix- 

 tures, by M. Berthelot. The author concluded, from his re- 

 searches, that by application of the resources indicated by 

 theory, a much lower temperature ought to be obtained than has 

 hitherto been reached. — Study and experiments upon sulphides ; 

 alkaline sulphides, by M. Berthelot, a continuation of the 

 author's thermo-chemical researches. — M. Kronecker contributed 

 an algebraical paper on quadratic and bilinear forms. — Note on 

 the decomposition of the work done by forces, M. A. Ledieu. 

 The author gave a rigorous enunciation of Luca's theorem 

 relating to the division of the work done by forces in a material 

 vibrating system. — The production of gum in fruit trees con- 

 sidered as a pathological phenomenon, by M. E. Prillieux. 

 Trees affected by this malady were stated to be cured by making 

 longitudinal incisions in the branches. — On unicursal curves, a 

 geometrical memoir by M. Painvin. — Orbit of the double star 

 7 Virginis, by M. C. Flammarion. This system offers the unique 

 case of an elliptical orbit facing us in a plane exactly perpen- 

 dicular to the line of sight, so that no distortion of the ellipse due 

 to perspective is perceived. — On the conclusions to be drawn 

 from the application of thermo-chemical theorems to ex- 



plosive bodies in general and to gttnpowder in particular, 

 by M. F. Castan. — On the thermal conductivity of rocks 

 and of bodies in general, by M. E. Jannettaz. The law 

 which regulates the propagation of heat in crystals appears 

 to the author a particular case of the general law that heat 

 is propagated most easily in the direction of least cohesion. 

 — Determination of the age of the human embryo by the exami- 

 nation of the evolution of the dental system, by M. E. Magitot. 

 The results are likely to be of great service in medico-legal 

 cases. — M. E. Conibescure presented a note on a theorem con- 

 cerning simultaneous partial differential equations. — Direct con- 

 struction of the radius of curvature of the curve of apparent 

 contour of a surface projected orthogonally on a plane, by M. 

 A. Mannheim. — On the limit of the degree of the primitive 

 groups which contain a given substitution, a mathematical note 

 by M. C. Jordan. — Elements and ephemerides of the planet 

 (127), by H. Renan. — On the elementary law of electrodynamic 

 actions, by M. J. Moutier. — Observations on Tyrdall's experi- 

 ments on the acoustic transparency and opacity of the atmo- 

 sphere, by M. Baudriment. The author stated that the given 

 explanation of the phenomenon of acoustic extinction might be 

 true, but did not seem sufficiently demonstrated to be admitted 

 without submission to a special inquiry, and concluded by stating 

 that the observations were made to be considered by Prof. Tyndall 

 only as means offered to him for the verification of facts of such 

 great importance. — Study of the properties of explosive bodies, 

 by F. A. Abel. — On the employment of oxygen mixed with 

 atmospheric air in respiration, by M. A. Gaudiu. The author 

 confirmed the results obtained by MM. Croce-Spinelli and 

 Sivel in their last balloon ascent. — On a burying-place of the 

 ancient Troglodytes of the Pyrenees superposed upon a (funeral) 

 hearth containing human remains associated with sculptured 

 teeth of the lion and bear, by MM. L. Lartet and Chaplain- 

 Duparc. 



BOOKS RECEIVED 



BRlTrSH. — Physiology for Practical Use. 2 vols. Edited by James Hinton 

 (H. S. King & Co.).— A Treatise on Food and Dietetics: Dr. Parry 

 (Cflurchill). — Sanitary Arrangements for Dwellings : W. Eassie (Smith, 

 Elder & Co.).— Thorpe's Qualitative Chemical Analysis (Longmans) —Prin- 

 ciples of Mechanics : Goodeve (Longmans). — Year Book of Facts : Timbs 

 (Longmans). — Surface Zones of the Globe: Keith Johnston (W. & A. K. 

 Johnston). — Lectures on Experimental Chemistry : Prof. Reynolds (Hodges, 

 Foster & Co.).— Mechanics : Willson (Thacker).— Pickering's Physical 

 Manipulation (Macmillan).— Physiology : F. de Gros. Clark (S.P.C.K.).- 

 Geology : T. G. Bonney (S.P.C.K.),— Africa : A. Gruar Forbes (Low & Co,). 

 — Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 



AMEBtcAN. — The Constants of Nature, Part L (Smithsonian Institute). 

 Compiled by F, W, Clarke, S.B,— A History of American Birds: S, F. 



Baird, T. M. Brewer, and R. Ridgway (Little, Brown & Co.) The Unity 



of Creation : F. K. Kingston (Trubner). 



Colonial,— General Report of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India 

 during 1873: Col. J, T. Walker (Dehra Doon).— Geological Survey of 

 Canada. Report for rS?^ : (Dawson), — Report of the Secretary for Agricul- 

 ture, Victoria. — Transactions!of the Royal Society'of Victoria, 



Foreign, — Statique des Liquides, 2 vols. J, Plateau (Gauthier Villars), 

 — Association Franfaise, rst session, Comptes Rendus. — Histoire de la 

 Creation : E, Haeckel (Reinwald, Paris). — Schriften der Naturforschenden 

 Gcsellschaft in Danzig. 1873,— Les Explorations Sous-Marines —Elements 

 de Geologie et de Palaeontologie : Ch Contejean (Bailliere) — Principes de 

 Geologie : Gustave Dollfas (Savigi, Paris). — Verhandlungen Zoologisch Bo- 

 tanishcn Gesellschaft in Wien, Band .vxiii. 



CONTENTS Page 



Lewes's " Pkoblems of Life and MtND." By Douglas A, Spalding i 



Our Book Shelf 2 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Necessary Truths — Physical and other. — Herbert Spencer , . 3 



Royal Society Soiree.— P, L. Scl.ater, F,R.S 3 



Father Secchi's Work on the Sun — P, R, Secchi 3 



Spontaneous Generation Experiments. — Dr.LHONARoW, Sedgwick 4 

 The Fertilisation of Fumariaceae. — }. Traherne Moggridge ; 



Dr. Hermann Muller: Prof. W,T. Thiselton Dver . . . 5 



Fertilisation of Corydalisclaviculata,— W. E, Hart 5 



Lakes with two Out/alls,— Col. GeorgeI Greenwoodj W. A. B.. 



CoOLIDGE ; 5 



Trees " Pierced " by other Trees. — J, Herschel 6 



The Antipathy of Spiders to the Wood of the Spanish Chestnut. , 6 



Flowers OF THE Primrose DESTROYED BY Birds 6 



The Lectures AT the Zoological Society's Gardens, III. , . . 7 



Camphor By John R. Jackson 8 



The "Spar Caves" of the North Bridge, Edinburgh. By Prof. 



Geikie, F.R.S 8 



Report of Prof. Parker's Hunterian Lectures "On the 

 Structure and Development of the Vertebrate Skull," III. 



(IVith I llitsirations) g 



The Coming Transitof Venus, III. [With Illmlratwm.') By Prof. 



George Forbes n 



Notes ,4 



The Meteorological Congress at Vienna 17 



Scientific Serials 18 



Societies and Academies jg 



