264 
M. Mascart’s recent note on the great movements of the atmo- 
sphere, by M. Faye.—Researches on vegetation: on the car- 
bonates in living plants, by MM. Berthelot and André. In this 
paper the authors explain the methods followed by them in 
determining the quantity of the simple organic salts now known 
to be largely, if not universally, diffused throughout the veget- 
able kingdom.—Anatomy and physiology of Phcenicurus, a 
remarkable parasite found largely associated with certain mol- 
lusks, by M. de Lacaze-Duthiers.—On the homography of two 
solid bodies, by M. Sylvester.—Report on the experiments made 
in Holland and Belgium on an application of the large movable 
tubes of the hydraulic system constructed at the sluices of the 
Aubois; further modifications of that system, by M. A. de 
Caligny.-—Spectrum of ammonia obtained by reversal of the 
induced current, by M. Lecoq de Boishaudran.—A process of 
prophylactic inoculation against splenetic or charbon fever, by 
M. A. Chauveau. ‘The peculiarity of this process consists in the 
method adopted for attenuating the cultivated virus, which is 
effected by means of compressed oxygen. Three points are 
established : (1) that it suffices to inoculate animals a single time 
in order efficiently to protect them both from experimental in- 
oculations with strong, unattenuated virus and from the effects 
of spontaneous contagion ; (2) that the virus attenuated by means 
of compressed oxygen is as harmless as that obtained by other 
methods constituting what is known as the first charbon vaccine ; 
(3) that the most attenuated virus continues still active and 
serviceable long after its preparation.—Remarkable solar pro- 
tuberances observed at diametrically opposite points of the disk 
on June 26, in Paris, by M. E. L. Trouvelot.—On some formu- 
las in the theory of left curves, by M. Ph. Gilbert.—On the 
reductive properties of pyrogallol; its action on the salts of 
iron and copper, by MM. P. Cazeneuve and G. Linossier. 
The authors’ experiments establish a complete parallelism 
between the reactions of ferric and cupric salts.—On the 
action of acetic acid in decomposing the hyposulphites of 
sodium and potassium, by M. E. Mathieu-Plessy.—Description 
of a new method of quantitative analysis for cadmium, by MM. 
Ad. Carnot and P. M. Proromant.—A new process for detecting 
and rapidiy analysing small quantities of nitric acid in the air, 
water, earth, &c., by MM. Al. Grandval and H. Lajoux.—On 
the formation of large deposits of nitrates in Venezuela, the 
Andes, the Orinoco Basin, and other intertropical regions, by 
MM. A. Muntz and V. Marcano. From their observations the 
authors conclude that these nitrates have a purely animal origin, 
developed without the intervention of atmospheric electricity. 
Their position, the constant presence of large quantities of 
sulphates and of the nitrifying organism, combined with the 
study of the phenomena observed in deposits now in process of 
formation, all tends to exclude the recently advanced hypothesis 
of electric influences.—On the composition and fermentation of | 
interverted sugar ; a reply to M. Maumené, by M. Em. Bourgue- 
lot.—On the fermentation of the jéquirity plant, by MM. J. 
Béchamp and A. Dujardin.—On the production of the hydrate 
of crystallised magnesium (artificial brucite) and of the hy- 
drate of crystallised cadmium, by M. A. de Schulten.— 
On the determination of the mineral group of zeolites in 
the absence of determinable crystalline forms, by M. A. 
Lacroix.—On a new group of felspar rocks in the district 
of Four-la-Brougue, Puy-de-Déme, by M. F. Gounard.—On 
the position of some serpentine rocks on the road between 
Granada and Jaen in the north of,the province of Granada, 
Spain, by M. W. Kilian.—On the augite and hornblende erup- 
tive formations (diorites and serpentines) in the Sierra de Teiia- 
flor, Andalusia, and on the genesis and dissemination of gold 
throughout these rocks, by M. A. F. Nogués.—Contributions to 
the study of the oolitic flora of West France, by M. L. Crié.— 
On the structure and growth-of whalebone in the Balenopterz, 
by M. Y. Delage.—On the structure and action of the stylets in 
the sting of the bee, by M. G. Carlet.—On the respective toxic 
properties of the organic and saline matters present in the urine, 
by MM. R. Lépine and P. Aubert.—Epilepsy of auricular origin : 
a contribution to the study of otopiesis (auricular compression), 
by M. Boucheron.—New metalloscopic processes applicable 
especially to cases of lethargy, catalepsy, and somnambulism, 
by M. Moricourt. The author shows that patients subject to 
these morbid affections are peculiarly sensitive to the action of 
metals, many cases having been successively treated by his new 
metallotherapic processes.—Clinical studies on the leprosy still 
surviving in the rural districts of Norway, by M. Paul Bert.—On 
the passage of pathogenic microbes from the mother to the 
NATURE 
[Fuly 16, 1885 
foetus, by M. Koubassoff.—M. Grandidier was elected a member 
of the Section for Geography and Navigation in place of the late 
M. Dupuy de Lome. 
SYDNEY 
Royal Society of New South Wales, May 6.—Annual 
Meeting.—H. C. Russell, B.A., F R.A.S., President, in the 
chair.—The report of the Council stated that 34 new members 
had been elected during the year, making the total on the roll 
494. Sir G. B. Airy, K.C.B., F.R.S., and Prof. John Tyndall, 
F.R.S., had been elected Honorary Members in the room of ~ 
Sir F. B. Barlee, K.C.M.G., and George Bentham, C.M.G., 
F.R.S., deceased. The sum of 380/. had been expended on 
books and periodicals during the year. The Clarke Memorial 
Medal for 1885 had been awarded to Sir J. D. Hooker, K.C.S.1., 
C.B., and the Society’s Medal and a prize of 25/7. to Mr, W. E. 
Abbott for his paper on the water-supply in the interior of 
New South Wales. The Society had presented its Yournal to 
313 kindred societies and institutions, and received 1147 volumes 
and pamphlets in return. The following papers had been read 
at its monthly meetings :—Presidential Address, by Hon. Prof. 
Smith, C.M.G. ; the removal of bars from the entrances to our 
rivers, by W. Shellshear ,A.M.I.C.E. ; notes on gold, by Dr. 
Leibius, M.A. ; some minerals new to New South Wales, by 
Prof. Liversidge, F.R.S.; the oven-mounds of aborigines in 
Victoria, by Rev. P. MacPherson, M.A. ; notes on the troch- 
oided plane, by L. Hargrave; a new form of actinometer, by 
H. C. Russell, B.A. ; notes on some mineral localities in the 
northern districts of New South Wales, by D. A. Porter ; 
notes on Doryanthus, by C. Moore, F.L.S. ; water-supply in 
the interior of New South Wales, by W. E. Abbott ; notes on 
a new self-registering anemometer, by H. C. Russell, B.A. ; 
researches upon the embryology and development of the Marsu- 
pials, Monotremes, and Ceratodus, by W. H. Caldwell, M.A. 
—A conversazione was held on October 8 in the Great Hall of 
the University, attended by about 900 members and their friends. 
The Council had issued the following list of subjects with the 
offer of the Society’s Bronze Medal and a prize of 25/. for each 
of the best researches, if of sufficient merit (to be sent in not 
later than May 1, 1886) :—On the chemistry of the Australian 
gums and resins ; on the tin deposits of New South Wales ; on 
the iron ore deposits of New South Wales; list of the marine 
fauna of Port Jackson, with descriptive notes as to habits, dis- 
tribution, &c. (to be sent in not later than May 1, 1887) ; on 
the silver ore deposits of New South Wales ; origin and mode 
of occurrence of gold-bearing veins and of the associated mine- 
rals ; influence of the Australian climate in producing modifi- 
cations of diseases ; on the Infusoria peculiar to Australia. —The 
Chairman delivered the Presidential Address, and the officers 
were elected for the ensuing year. 
CONTENTS PAGE 
The Birds of Wancashire’ <<). 2) 2 ete 
A Catalogue of Canadian Plants ........ 242 
Letters to the Editor :— 
The Zoology of Dr. Riebeck’s ‘‘ Chittagong Hill 
Tribes ’’—the Gayal and Gaur.—W. T. Blanford, 
ERIS! MEE Ss soe 
“The Fauna of the Seashore.”—Arthur R. Hunt 243 
“* New System of Orthography for Native Names of 
Places:’—Ni 5) i. sas 3 ot Ce see 124A 
Recession of Niagara Falls in 133 years.—E. L. 
Garbett... sa 7 & «ts 2 ene 
Sky-Glows.—Robt. C. Leslie ........-2 245 
Black and White.—Col, Wm. E. Warrand 245 
“* Foul Water.”—Herbert C. Chadwick. ... . 245 
Earthquake-Proof Buildings. —Wm. Muir 245 
The Question of Civil and Astronomical Time . 245 
Mr. Frederick Siemens’s Gas Lamp. (J//ustrated). 247 
The Voyage of the ‘‘ Challenger,” II. (Z//ustrated) . 249 
Notes! = 2s siscs) | Goc) So nee ee age 252 
Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1885, 
July 19225) cei oi laws) Se eiks) secon = ane et On a 255 
A Teaching University for London .,..... 255 
Danish Researches in Greenland. ........ 256 
The Royal Society of Canada 7) 2.05 03 6): 6 =n) ) 250 
On the Observation of Earth-Tips and Earth- 
Tremors. Dy Prof. John Milne. (Lilustrated). . 259 
Societies'and Academies) (7. = «1 «1: | 0 eee 
