568 
WAT ORE 
[Oct. 8, 1885 
faults,” as described in Mr. Geikie’s ‘‘ Text-Book of Geology,” 
p- 532, which he concludes to be not merely local, but of gene- 
ral occurrence.—A standard of light, by John Trowbridge. 
Objections are raised to the standard adopted at the Paris Con- 
ference of 1881-4—that is, the light emitted by a surface of 
platinum at the point of solidification. A more satisfactory 
standard might be an incandescent strip of platinum radiating a 
definite amount of energy, this energy being measured at a fixed 
distance, which will best agree numerically with the absolute 
system of measures now universally adopted in heat and elec- 
tricity.—On hanksite, a new anhydrous sulphato-carbonate of 
sodium from San Bernardino county, California, by W. Earl 
Hidden. This new Californian mineral has a density of 2°562, 
hardness 3°—3'5, and is readily soluble in water, yielding an 
abundant precipitate of barium sulphate when barium chloride 
is added to the solution. The author names it ‘‘hanksite,” 
after Prof. Henry G. Hanks, whose name is so intimately asso- 
ciated with the mineralogy of the Pacific coast.—Mineralogical 
notes, by Edward S. Dana and Samuel L. Penfield. The chief 
subjects of this paper are the analysis of a Jarge crystal of hanks- 
ite from California and an artificial crystallised lead silicate 
from the Desloge Lead Company, St. Francois County, Mis- 
sourl.—On the amount of moisture which sulphuric acid leaves 
in a gas, by Edward W. Morley.—Local deflections of the 
Drift Scratches in Maine, by G. H. Stone. Traces of these 
indications of secondary glaciation have been observed, especi- 
ally in the Sebasticook Valley, the Belfast and St. George 
River districts.—Successional relations of the species in the 
French Old Tertiary, by Otto Meyer. In these, as well as 
in the corresponding American formations, many animal and 
vegetable species can be traced along through the succeeding 
strata, the latter being apparently connected by descent with 
the earlier forms. The paper is accompanied by a comparative 
table of Lower, Middle, and Upper Eocene and Oligocene 
forms illustrating this principle. 
The American Naturalist for August contains notices of 
some human remains found near the City of Mexico, by 
Mariano de la Barcena.—Eyolution in the vegetable kingdom, 
by L. F. Ward.—The relations of mind and matter, by Charles 
Morris.—A ffinities of Annelids to Vertebrates, by E. A. Andrews. 
—The use of copper by the Delaware Indians, by J. C. Abbott. 
—WNotes of recent literature, &c. 
Bulletin de 1 Académie Royale de Belgique, June.—Note on 
some derivatives of tetrabromuretted hydrocamphene, by M. 
De la Royere.—On certain developments of algebraic series ; 
the general formulas of these developments and their application 
to special cases, by M. J. Deruyts.—Researches on the action 
of a beam fixed at both ends and subjected to a movable over- 
charge, by M. G. Leman.—Questions of indeterminate analysis, 
by M. E. Catalan.—Note on the motions of the human brain, 
by M. Léon Frédéricq.—A new process of vivisection for the 
physiological study of the thoracic organs, by the same author. 
—On the optical properties of Ludwigite (RyFeB,O,,)), by M. 
A. F. Renard.—Determination of the coefficient of compress- 
ibility for some fluids and of the variations of this quantity under 
different temperatures, by M. P. De Heen. 
Rendiconti del Reale Istituto Lombardo, July 23.—On the 
causes and treatment of certain ophthalmic affections (pre- 
liminary note), by Dr. R. Rampoldi.—An exposition of the 
third paragraph of Riemann’s memoir on the theory of the 
Abelian functions, by Prof. Giulio Ascoli.—Further researches 
on the neutralising agents of the tubercular virus, by Prof. G. 
Sormani and Dr. E. Brugnatelli.—Toxico-chemical affinities 
and differences of gelseminina and strychnine, by Dr. C. 
Raimondi.—On the phenomenon of etherification by double 
decomposition, by Prof. G. Bertoni.—The mental infirmities 
and last days of Torquato Tasso, by Prof. A. Corradi.—Note 
on an artistic palimpsest of the fourteenth century, by Prof. G. 
Mongeri.—Meteorological observations made in the Brera 
Observatory, Milan, for the month of July. 
Rivista Scientifico-Industriale, July.—On the solar spots, 
their origin, nature, and harmless character, by Prof. Annibale 
Ricco.—Application of the telephone to the study of vibrating 
columns of gas, by Prof. Fossatii—A contribution to the study 
of etherification by double decomposition, by Prof. Giacomo 
Bertoni.—Geological constitution of Mount Vincigliata in the 
Fiesoli range, by C. del Lungo and R. Cocchi. 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 
PARIS 
Academy of Sciences, September 28.—M. Bouley, Pre- 
sident, in the chair.—Equilibrium of the moon, by M. F. 
Tisserand. In this paper calculations are submitted in support 
of M. Ch. Simon’s theory, supplemented by M. Poisson, that, 
neglecting the excentricity of the lunar orbit, the axis of rotation 
is displaced in the interior of the moon in such a way as con- 
stantly to oscillate in the plane perpendicular to the main axis 
directed towards the earth.—Note on earthquakes, by M. A. 
d’Abbadie. The author gives an account of the seismic movye- 
ments observed by him last winter in Egypt, where the seismo- 
graph was exceptionally active. He urges a systematic study of 
these phenomena in France, such as has already been com- 
menced by M. E. de Rossi in Italy, and by Mr. Milne in Japan. 
—Researches on the nitric cellulose substances (gun cotton, &c.), 
by M. Ch. Er. Guignet. The constituents and properties are 
described of the four distinct nitric cellulose bodies hitherto 
determined, all of which may be regarded as derivatives of the 
cellulose Cy,H4)O4), where 4eq., 6eq., Seq., or 10eq. of water 
are replaced by the same number of equivalents of hydrated 
nitric acid.—Memoir on the treatment of phylloxera by means 
of the organic sulphurs and the polysulphides of ammonium 
obtained by dissolving powdered sulphur in the night-soil of 
cesspools, by M. J. Jullien. 
as inexpensive, thoroughly efficient, and applicable to every de- 
scription of soil_—Note on an unpublished document by Sergio 
Venturi, dated February 26, 1610, on the invention and 
the theory of the telescope, recently edited by M. G. Govi. 
This letter, addressed by the writer to the Marquis John Baptist 
Manso at Naples, is specially interesting as being anterior to 
the earliest publications of Galileo on the telescope which had 
just been invented by Lippersheim in Holland.—Note on the 
separation of liquefied atmospheric air into two distinct fluids, 
by M. S. Wroblewski.—Description of two new types of con- 
densing hygrometers, by M. Georges Sire. The essential 
character of these hygrometers is that the moisture is precipit- 
ated on a bright metallic surface without solution of continuity. 
Perfect equality of temperature is secured in both instruments 
by the agitation of the volatile fluid and the thinness of the 
walls of the cylindric tube.—Genesis of the crystals of sulphur 
in square tables (five illustrations), by M. Ch. Brame. The 
author’s experiments on the genesis of the square tables of 
sulphur show the direct passage from the curve to the straight 
line in the development of these crystals.—Morphology of 
the mandibule of the hymenoptera, by M. Joannés Chatin. 
This organ of the hymenopterze is shown to be perfectly analo- 
gous in all its parts to that of the grinding insects.—Note on 
the application of thermo-chemistry to the explanation of geo- 
logical phenomena, continued ; iron ores, by M. Dieulafait. 
CONTENTS 
PAGE 
Mr. Grieve on the Garefowl. By Prof. Alfred 
Newton, F.R.S.. 2.0. ss <<, os) el 
‘Phe Waveiof branslation” = 2 jo0s)saeeeeee 2 5546 
Our Book Shelf :— 
‘Publication of the Norwegian Commission of the 
Measurement of Degrees in Europe”. ....- 547 
Letters to the Editor :— 
On the Influence of Wave-Currents on the Fauna of 
Shallow Seas.—Arthur R. Hunt ....... 547 
Prehistoric Burial-Grounds.—T. A. Archer. . . . 548 
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. By W.F. Denning. . 548 
Radiant Light and Heat, III. (Continued) By Prof. 
Balfour Stewart, F.R.S. (Z/lustrated) . . ... . 550 
Notes RR ter Msc rs SSL 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
The Satellites of Uranus and Neptune ...... 553 
Variable Stars . HEOMCAT eo oad 0 oe Neo a: 
Astronomical Phenomena for the Week, 1885, 
October7—L7 arent einai m-iee Pah oon stl 
Geographical Notes eel onan ote Gea oe ee 
The British Association :— 
Section G—Geology = © iis) sl-lonteme inne 555 
Section D—Biology ........ . ses 500 
Section E—Geography . . . «5 + + «+ = «+ « (504 
Japanese Tattobing) (95 =) autje ©) pe) tel > eNO 
ScientifciSerials)-y-enen ene eiione «3 6) oer 
Societies and Academies, 2)... <> wi.» » «> (eMemengnG 
This treatment is described 
