216 
Anthropological Institute, June 23.—Francis Galton, 
F.R.S., President, in the chair.—The election of the following 
new members was announced.—Prince Roland Bonaparte, Lady 
Brassey, Miss M. North, Dr. Robert Brown, M.A., Col. 
Cadell, V.C., C. Heape, H. H. Johnston, D. MacRitchie, 
Prof. H. N. Moseley, F.R.S., C. Seidler.—Lady Brassey exhi- 
bited a collection of objects of ethnological interest from Poly- 
nesia.—Several ethnological specimens from New Ireland were 
exhibited by Miss North.—Mr. Carl Lumholtz exhibited a series 
of Australian implements.—Mr. H. B. Guppy read a paper on 
the physical characteristics of the natives of the Solomon 
Islands. In this paper the author gave the results of observa- 
tions made during the years 1881-84 on the natives of certain 
localities in the Solomon group. The typical Solomon Island 
native (male) is well proportioned, with a height of about § feet 
3 inches, a weight of 125 to 130 lbs., and a chest-girth between 
34 and 35 inches, whilst the colour of his skin is a deep brown, 
corresponding with colour-type 35 of M. Broca. Considerable 
variety, however, prevails in the physical characters of these 
natives, and it was shown, by comparing the inhabitants of the 
islands of Bougainville Strait with those of St. Christoval and 
its adjoining islands at the opposite end of the group, that in the 
former locality there exists a taller, darker, and more brachy- 
cephalic race, whilst in the latter mesocephaly prevails, and the 
average native is rather shorter and of a lighter hue. The 
colour of the skin varies considerably throughout the group from 
a very deep brown to a light copperish hue, the range being 
represented by colour-types 42 and 29 with their intermediate 
shades. After making 109 measurements of the heads and 
skulls of natives in order to obtain the ratio of the transverse to 
the longitudinal diameter, the author arrived at the conclusion 
that, although mesocephaly and brachycephaly most frequently 
characterise these people, the form of the skull varies between 
too wide limits to allow of one particular type being referred to 
this group. The range of the cephalic indices calculated from 
these measurements is 69 to 86, and the greater number are 
gathered in two groups—one around the indices 74 and 75, and 
the other around the indices 79 and 80.—The following papers 
were also read :—-On the Sakais, by Mr. Abraham Hale.— 
Notes on the astronomical customs and religious ideas of the 
Chokitapia or Blackfeet Indians, by M. Jean L’Heureux.— 
Observations on the Mexican zodiac and astrology, by Mr. 
Hyde Clarke.—On the primary divisions and geographical dis- 
tribution of mankind, by Mr. James Dallas. 
Entomological Society, June 3.—R. McLachlan, F.R.S., 
President, in the chair.—Two new members were elected.— 
Exhibitions : Mr. F. P. Pascoe, aérial roots of an orchid which 
resemble caterpillars ; and a new genus and species of Colydiide 
from North Borneo.—Mr. G. T. Porritt, larvae of Phycis betule 
and of Coleophora currucipennella.—Mr. R. McLachlan, a speci- 
men of Deiofeia pulchella captured on board ship in the Atlantic, 
many miles from land.—Mr, J. W. Douglas communicated 
notes on an apple-tree destroyed by Schizoneura lanigera and 
Mytilaspis pomorum, and Mr. F. Enock read the completion of 
his account of the life-history of Adypus piceus. 
Paris 
Academy of Sciences, June 22.—M. Bouley, President, 
in the chair.—At the opening of the proceedings the President 
announced the death of M. Tresca, member of the Section for 
Mechanics, who died on June 21, and in whom the Academy 
loses one of its most distinguished and active associates.—Note 
on Dr. Raphael Dubois’ apparatus for applying anesthetics 
composed of titrate mixtures of chloroform and air, by M. Paul 
Bert. This apparatus has been tried with the greatest success 
in Brussels and Ghent, and especially by Dr. Péan of Paris, 
who has already tested its efficiency in 400 surgical operations. 
The anzsthesis in nearly all cases continues perfectly regular 
and complete, without any interruption, even under severe 
operations. The pulse remains normal, the respiration easy and 
undisturbed, the awakening calm and natural.—On the supe- 
riority of the new ‘‘tubes 4 ailerons” over the ordinary smooth 
cylinders at present employed in tubular boilers for generating 
steam, by M., J. Serve. The author and inventor claims by 
these» cylinders to have solved the problem how to produce 
the greatest quantity of heat with the least expenditure of 
fuel. —On an arrangement by which the magnetic poten- 
tial due to a system of bobbins may be determined without 
calculation, by M. G. Lippmann.—Note on the influence of 
thunderstorms on underground telegraphic wires, by M. Blavier. 
NATIT, 
[uly 2, 1885 
The occasional disturbances, to which even well-protected 
underground wires are subject, apparently in opposition to the 
theory of static electricity, the author thinks may be explained 
either as an effect of electrodynamic induction, or as an effect of 
electrostatic induction.—On the molecular lowerings which 
constitute the limits of congelation for bodies dissolved in water, 
by M. F. M. Raoult.—Description of two new types of hygro- 
meters, by M. Bourbouze.—On the transformation of sulphur: 
MM. Reicher and Ruys’ claims of priority of invention in con- 
nection with M. Gernez’s recent communications, by M., J. H. 
Van’t Hoff.—Alkaloids produced by the action of ammoniac on 
glucose, by M. C. Tauret.—Action of the seleniates and selenites, 
and the alkaloids. A new reaction of codeine, by M. Ph, 
Lafon.—Note on Aseptol (orthoxyphenylsulphurous acid), by 
M. E. Terrant.—Contribution to the study of antiseptics. 
Action of antiseptics on the higher organisms, Thymic acid, 
by MM. A. Mairet, Pilatte, and Combemale.—On the proces: 
of fructification of the genus Callipteris, by M. Ed. Bureau.— 
On the infusoria by Balbiani named Axnoflophyra circulans, by 
M. A. Schneider. 
* 
CHRISTIANIA 
Society of Science, May 15.—Herr Worw-Miiller referred t 
the meritorious work of the recently-deceased Danish Prof. Panum 
as regards physiology as well as pathology. He further presented 
a paper in which he demonstrated the utility of Robert’s metho 
for the determination of sugar in animal substances when above 04. 
per cent. Finally he explained the researches made by Herr ja 
Otto on the functions of the sugar in the liver. He stated that 
they proved that the blood contained far more sugar on entering 
than on leaving the liver, and more than the blood in general. 
The researches went to support M. Bernard’s experiences, viz., 
that the quantity of sugar formed in the liver in the course of 
twenty-four hours was much larger than hitherto thought.—Prof. 
O. Sars presented a paper: ‘‘ A contribution to the Norwegian 
invertebrate fauna,” by Herr C. A. Hansson. 
CONTENTS 
Two Botanical Translations from the German 
Russian Central Asia 
Our Book Shelf :— 
“Bulletin of the Bussey Institution.”—Prof. John 
Wrightson)... 06 6 a.50 cure 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Clifford’s Common Sense of the Exact Sciences.— 
K) PP. Prof, \P)\G: Tait) >- 1.) ae 
Recurrence of Markings on Jupiter.—W. F, Denn- 
ing ees 
Occurrence of ‘‘ Torpedo Marmorata” off the Coast 
of Gornwall.—Francis Day. 5 <=) cn sienna 
Composite Portraits. —John Cleland hee Cet 
Ocular Images and After-Images.—W. M. Laurin 
A Query as to Swallows.—-E. H. ........ 
The Compound Locomotive ..... 
The Geological Survey of Belgium. ....... 
System of Orthography for Native Names of 
Places . oe ce of SUS JS 
The Universal Meridian, II]. By Dr. Janssen . . 
The Voyage of the ‘‘ Challenger,” I. (Z//ustrated) . 
PAGE 
@) (a 40. os ae 
INOteS) (ee see ot es: Wo nga wes 
Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1885, 
July HHTT so So ee oo Tes ON) a a 
Geographical Notes ....... ; «he 
By Prof. A. W. Riicker, F.R.S. 
(Lilustrated). . ee) lees 
The Fauna of the Seashore. By Prof. H. N. 
Moseley; FOR:S.. 6 set topes oon ee 
The Philosophical Society of Glasgow. .... . 
An Earthquake Invention. By Prof. C. Piazzi 
Smyth and D, A. Stevenson .......... 
Scientific Serialsic) a) ee) eng ce stele 
Societies and Academies. ......+.++s+-+.-s 
Liquid Films. 
