2l8 



NA TURE 



{July 1 6, 1874 



that Pcplorhhia anlhracina is a batiachian ; (2) that it is iden- 

 tical with Conchiopsh exanthematkiis ; (3) that C. filiferus is 

 Coclacaiithiis ch-^ans ; (4) that the dentition described by him is 

 not that of Codacanthus ; and that (5) the genus is the same as 

 that described by Agassiz forty years ago as Coelacunthiis. To 

 these propoiilions Mr. Cope replied that (i) additional evidence 

 derived from two specimens of Pcplorhina aiithraciiia, recently 

 studied, confirms the view that it is a fish, which evidence is 

 given below ; (2) that neither of the two specimens exhibits in 

 its cranial bones the characters of C. exanthcmaticus, though both 

 sides are exhibit..d. They show, however, that the latter should 

 be referred to the genus Pcplorhina, since among other points 

 they present the same type of teeth, which I find labelled on one 

 of them " ova?" (3) Mr. Newberry's identification of the species 

 C.filifa-us with Ccdiicanlhus elegaiis is doubtless correct ; but 

 (4 and 5) its reference (with that of similar species) to Agassiz's 

 genus is not warranted until it is found to possess an osseous 

 natatoiy bladder, and osseous ribs and the type of dentition 

 are discovered in Codacanthus granidaltis, the type of the genus. 

 The characters relied on as indicative of the reference of Pip- 

 hvJiina to the fislies, are (i) the presence of opercula like those 

 of CoiicJdopsh ; (2) the presence of jugular bones, and (3) of 

 oval imbricated scales ; (4) the absence of ambulatory limbs. 

 The thin scutiform crani.il bones, the dense patch of vomerine 

 teeth, and the mucous ducts of the bones and scales were all 

 ichthyic characters. As no limbs had been discovered iii three 

 specimens preserved in tlie appropriate regions, their nature, if 

 existing, could not be determined at present. — Prof. Cope 

 brought before the Acadtiny some results derived from study of 

 material obtained by him duriug the preceding summer in the 

 Miocene formations of Colorado. He announced the discovery 

 of the first fossil monkey of the Miocene of America, giving it 

 the name of iVf«o///£V7««/ Icmtirhium. He regarded it as allied ! 

 to the Tomillioium of the Biidger Eocene, and as the representa- j 

 live of the more numerous group of the lemuroids, which he had , 

 discovered in the latter formation. Size, that of a domestic cat. 

 He stated that his recent discovery of snakes, lizards, and lemurs 

 of forms allied to those previously discovered by Prof. Marsh 

 and himself in the Eocene of Wyoming, constituted points 

 of affinity to the fauna of that period not previously suspected. 

 He also observed that he had discovered some additional 

 species of Kuniinantia allied to the musk, and to the Liplomeryx 

 cvansii, which he named Hypisothis vdniinus, scaA Jfypci-tragiiliis 

 caicai'aliis, and //. tiicostatiis. The first was the least of the 

 orJer, not exceeding a cat-squiiTel in size. H)pcrtrai;iiliis differs 

 from Lcptomcryx in tlie isolation of the first premolar, as in the 

 camels, and in the sectorial character of the penultimate pre- 

 molar. —On circulatory movement in \'aucheria. Prof. Leidy 

 made some remarks on the intracellular circulation of plants, as 

 exemplified in the hairs of the Mullein, the leaf-cells of Valhs- 

 neria, &c. The moving streams of protoplasm he likened to 

 amtcboid movements, and expressed the opinion that they were 

 of the same character. In the common alga, Vauclicna, the 

 filaments of which consist of very long cells, comparable to those 

 of Nitella or Chara, he had observed an apparent nrotion of the 

 cell contents, which is somewhat peculiar and, at least, is not 

 generally mentioned by writers. The wall of the cells is in- 

 vested on the interior with a layer of tenacious protoplasm, con- 

 taining the thinner liquid cell contents as usual. The parietal 

 protoplasm is closely paved with green granules, and these 

 appear very slowly but incessantly to change their position in 

 relation with one another. The motion is so slow that it was a 

 question for some time whether it did actually occur, but it 

 appears sufiiciently obvious if observed in relation with the lines 

 of a micrometer, and its existence was confirmed by several 

 friends whose attention was directed to it. 

 Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, July 6. — M. Eertrand in the chair. 

 — The following papers were read : — Presentation ol a specimen 

 of the photographs of an artificial transit of Venus obtained with 

 the "photographic revolver," by M. J. Janssen. — Researches on 

 solution, crystallisation, precipitation, and dilution, by M, 

 Berthelot. This is a continuation of the author's important 

 researches in thermo-chemistry. The thermal effects accom- 

 panying coagulation, the transformation of an amorphous uito a 

 crjslalline substance, and the mixture of two saline liquids are 

 now tieated of. A difierential method for measuring the sjjccific 

 heats of dilute solutions h.as been introduced. — On parasitism 

 and coulagion, by M. Ch. Robin. — M. Dumas made some 

 remarks in reply to the foregoing paper. — On tlie spectrum of 



Coggia's comet, a letter from P. Secchi to the peqjetual secre- 

 tary." The author has observed that of the three carbon bands 

 the green is the brightest, while in Tempel's comet the yellow 

 was the brightest, a fact which proves that the gaseous combi- 

 nations are not rigorously the same for all comets. It was further 

 stated that at the beginning of the month only the band spectrum 

 was visible, but now a general line of connection exists, forming 

 a quasi-continuous spectrum through 'the centres of the bands. 

 A drawing of the spectrum accompanied the paper. — On the 

 photographic apparatus adopted by the Transit of Venus Com- 

 mission : reclamation of priority ; extract from a letter from 

 Col. Laussedat to M. Dumas. — On the method of em- 

 ploying carbon disulphile in the treatment of vines at- 

 tacked by Phylloxera, by M. Fouque. — In mathematical 

 analysis : — On osculatory surfaces, by W. Spottiswoode. — Note 

 on orthogonal surfaces, by M. E. Catalan, and Reply to the ob- 

 servations of M. Combescure, by M. I'Abbe Aoust.— M. 

 Praznowski presented (through M. Janssen) a note on the helio- 

 scope. This instrument is designed by the author for diminish- 

 ing the brilliancy of the sun's image by polarisation. — On the 

 diffusion of light and the illumination of transparent bodies, by 

 M. J. L. Soret. By examining quartz, amethyst, diamond, and 

 other crystals, the author has concluded that the illumination of 

 non-fluorescent transparent ciystalluie substances is always due 

 to want of homogeneity. — On the lormation of solar spots, by 

 M. Tacchini. The author sees no confirmation of the cyclone 

 theory of sun-spots in the detailed observations of the chromo- 

 sphere made in Italy, America, and England. Some solar ob- 

 servations for June were also communicated, from which it 

 appears that the sun was in a state of great activity during that 

 month. On the I ith Mg. was reversed all round the smr's limb : 

 on the 4th two double iines (4,924-5,018) were reversed on the 

 western limb, and on the nth they occupied nearly all that limb 

 and encroached upon the eastern border. A great eruption took 

 place on the loth, when all the lines from /' to 1,474 «'^'c seen 

 reversed. — Researches on electric transmission through lig- 

 neous bodies, by M. Th. du Moncel. The author's experi- 

 ments show that wood owes a considerable portion, if not 

 all, its relative conductivity to moisture contained in the 

 pores. — On the embryology of Rhizoccphalns, by M. A. 

 Giard. These animals constitute a Cirrhipedian group. — On 

 the male accessory glands of some animals and on the phy- 

 siological role of their product, by M. P. Hallez. — On the move- 

 ment of the stamens o{ Spaynnaitiiia a/ricaiia L., of Cwta and 

 oi HduiidlievniJii, by M. E. Heckel. — On the existence of dia- 

 toms in different geological formations, by M. I'Abbe Castracane. 

 — Carboniferous limestone of the Pyrenees. Marble of Saint- 

 Beat and of Mont (Haute Garonne), by M. F. Garrigou. — A 

 neolithic flute, by E. Piette. — On a scab of the horse of inter- 

 mittent character caused by an acarus, presenting the singular 

 pecuUarity of being psoric during winter, and simply parasitic 

 during summer, by M. Megnin. — Experimental researches on 

 the action of water injected into the veins, from the point of 

 view of pathogeny and ureray, by M. Picot. — Analyses of beers 

 and malts, by M. Ch. Meae. — On tlie extraordinary hailstorm 

 which fell in the department of Herault during the night of June 

 27-28 ; extract from a letter from M. J. Gay to M. Ch. Sainte- 

 Claire Deville. The loss of vines is stated to be valued at 

 50,000,000 francs. 



CONTENTS Page 



SCIEN'CE IN THE SllOWVARD 199 



Colonial Geological Surveys. II. Victoria. By Prof. A. Geikie, 



F.R.S 2tx> 



The Fisheries of New England 201 



Baldwin's "Irish F.\rming" 203 



Our Book Shelf 204 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Degeneracy of Man.— Prof. Oscar Peschel ; E. B. XfLOK, 



F.R.S 204 



Photographic Irradiation, — A. C.Ranvaru; W. J. Stillman 205 



Observatories in thb United States, II. [With i liustyations). . 206 

 The Relations between Human Mortality and the Se.\sons 



of THE Year 210 



Conference on the Registration of Periodical Natural Phe- 



nome.n-a. . . . ; 2IO 



The Spectrum of the Aurora Borealis 210 



TheCo.met (iF(M//te/n»//o«) 212 



Jasper's " Birds of North America " 212 



Notes 213 



Scientific Serials 215 



Societies and Academies .* 217 



