Sept. 17, 1885 | 
position—suspended as they were with the front edge downward 
—is the most favourable one possible for the retention of water 
within the gill-cavity, for in this position the edges of the mantle 
would closely pack against the inner edges of the shell, effectually 
closing any small leaks, and the retained water would also be in 
the most favourable position to moisten the gills, even after part 
had evaporated. It is also possible that when in this position 
the oyster instinctively keeps the shell tightly closed, to prevent 
the loss of water. This incident, says Prof. Verrill, may give 
hint of the best mode of transporting oysters and clams long 
distances. Perfect shells should be selected, and they should be 
packed with the front edge downward, and kept moderately cool, 
in a crate or some such receptacle which will allow a free circu- 
lation of air, Under such favourable conditions selected oysters 
can doubtless be kept from eight to twelve weeks out of water, 
Mr. Ryder, of Washington, adds that he has had oysters live in 
the shell for two weeks, where the temperature ranged from 30° 
to over §o° F., lying on shelves in the cases in his work-room, 
. exposed the whole time to the air, without showing the slightest 
—_—s- eee” 
tendency to decompose. 
THE schooner Rosario, at New York, reports than on June 23, 
in lat. 29° 14’ N. and long. 133° 25’ W., at If a.m., two heavy 
shocks of submarine earthquake were experienced. These were 
about one minute apart, and the last was much heavier than the 
first, causing the vessel to tremble violently. The sky was over- 
cast, and the sea remarkably smooth. 
THE Russian Geographical Society is said by the St. Peters- 
burgh journals to contemplate sending a scientific expedition to 
the Amour for the purpose of studying the surrounding region 
with regard to its geographical, historical, and commercial 
features, as well as its mineral resources. 
If is announced in Brussels that the German Lieutenant | 
Weissmann, who is in the service of the African Association, 
has discovered that the River Kassai, which was always believed 
to join the Congo above the equator station, forms a curve and 
falls into Lake Leopold IT. 
ON the night of August 31 to September r temperature fell to 
a lower point in several districts than is known to have ever 
before happened so early in the season. Over upper and middle 
Strathspey in particular the frost was verysevere. At Kingussie 
the protected thermometer fell to 24°°9 and the exposed to 18°0, 
while at Grantown the exposed thermometer fell to 15°’0, these 
being all compared instruments and in good order. At Kin- 
gussie ice an inch thick was found on the water supplying the 
hygrometer. In this large district the potato crop is completely 
destroyed, not only in low-lying situations but also on the high- 
lying slopes. On the other hand, on crossing from Inverness- 
shire into Perthshire, the potato crop is safe, the tops being only 
slightly blackened. At the Ben Nevis Observatory on the 
same night, with a sky equally clear and cloudless as was over 
Strathspey, the protected thermometer fell only to 32°'9 and the 
exposed thermometer to 24°°6, being respectively $°-o and 6°°6 
higher than occurred at Kingussie on the same night. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Barbary Ape (JZacacus tnuus) from North 
Africa, presented by Miss Bedford; at Bank Vole (Arzicola 
pratensis) from Essex, presented by Mr. E. Rosling ; a Common 
Hedgehog (Z7inaceus europeus), British, presented by Master 
C. Hanrott; a Common Polecat (AZustela putorius), British, 
presented by Mr. W. Buckley ; an Undulated Grass Parrakeet 
(Melopsittacus undulatus) from Australia, presented by Malle. 
de Nujac ; a Smooth Snake (Coronella levis) from Dorsetshire, 
presented by the Rev. O. P. Cambridge, C.M.Z.S. ; two 
Douglass’s Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma douglass?) from New 
Mexico, presented by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt; two Common 
Chameleons (Chameleon vulgaris) from North Africa, presented 
by Mr. F. Bland. 
NATURE 
——————— 
-by Dr. 
495 
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA FOR THE 
WEEK, 1885, SEPTEMBER 20-26 
(For the reckoning of time the civil day, commencing at 
Greenwich mean midnight, counting the hours on to 24, is here 
employed.) 
At Greenwich on September 20 
Sun rises, 5h. 44m. ; souths, rrh. 53m. 1672s. ; sets, 18h. 2m. 5 
decl. on meridian, o° 56’ N.: Sidereal Time at Sunset, 
18h. Im. 
Moon (Full on Sept. 24) rises, 16h. 21m.; souths, 2th. 21m. ; 
sets, 2h. 27m.* ; decl. on meridian, 12° 12’ S. 
Planet Rises Souths Sets Decl. on meridian 
h. m. h. m, h. m. en 
Mercury... 4 I ELOL5SOn 4) 17/39) 8 51 N. 
Venus g 12 14 7 19 2 a} ae Sy 
Mars O 23 8 21 16 19 20 42 N. 
Jupiter Bol 2 2 ccna eS, ET hae con 15; QaIN. 
Saturn vy 227 27 cco ONG T4o4Aly <5 1226205 
* Indicates that the rising is that of the preceding and the settimg that of 
the following day. 
Occultations of Stars by the Moon 
Corresponding 
angles from ver- 
Sept. Star Mag. Disap. Reap. ‘tex to Henttor 
inverted image 
h. m. h. m. Co) ° 
20 ... 18 Aquarii HO! he OeAyes..19) 55 49 305 
Zig BOALC. 77740. 6: ... 22) °8) s.) 28) 22 136 283 
2am, BSA. G.8365 -.5. Gk aes Sil 2ice- 16) Ges.) 124, 350 
25... « Piscium... pS ee O my s.55 2a) 94 233 
BOM Bs ACoA fou OF, cen 20M O) ton 22) 9S 26 299 
The Occultations of Stars are such as are visible at Greenwich. 
Sept. h. f 
20 8 Mercury at least distance from the Sun. 
22 - Sun in equator. 
24 - Partial eclipse of the Moon, but the Moon 
will set at Greenwich at about sunrise 
whilst partly obscured by the penumbra 
and before entering the shadow. 
SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 
The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 1884, vol. 
i. parts 2, 3, 4.—We are glad to see that this new Society in 
one of our leading colonies is advancing rapidly. In the parts 
before us Mr. Tryon describes certain rock-drawings of the 
aborigines of Queensland, of a class hitherto undescribed (with 
plates). Mr. C. W. de Vis, who is one of the most indefatigable 
contributors, writes on new Australian lizards ; on a new form 
of the genus Therapon ; on new Queensland lizards; on a new 
species of Hoplocephalus; on an apparently new species of 
Halmaturus ; on a new species of Hyla; a description of 
new snakes with a synopsis of the genus Hoplocephalus ; 
on the fauna of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and a _conspect 
of the genus Heteropus. Mr. Bailey gives instalments of 
his contributions to Queensland Flora. Mr. Broadbent writes on 
the migrations of birds at the Cape York peninsula, which is a 
peculiarly favourite spot for observing the migrations of birds 
from and to New Guinea, for the passage is shortest here. 
Ethnology is well represented in the numbers before us, for, 
besides the paper by Mr. Tryon mentioned above, we have one 
Bancroft on the food of the aborigines of Central 
Australia, and one by Mr. Duffield on the inhabitants of New 
Treland and its archipelago, their fine and industrial arts, 
customs, and language, especially their tattooing. Mr. Knight 
describes a new species of Parmelia, and Baron von Miiller, 
the Dendrobium cincinnatum, sp. noy. Mr. Bernays describes 
exotic fruits new to Queensland. Mr. Pink pleads for the practice 
of hybridisation of plants; and Dr. Bancroft describes experi- 
ments with Indian wheats in Queensland. There are numerous 
other minor contributions. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, August 31.—M. Bouley, President, 
in the chair.—On the cyclonic character of the solar spots. in 
reply to M. Tacchini’s objection, by M. Faye. _ In their normal 
state the spots, like terrestrial cyclones, are described as of circular 
form, with funnel-shaped penumbra, concentric circumferences, 
