!44 



NATURE 



[Jan. 8, 1880 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 London 



Royal Society, December iS, 1879.— "On the Histology of 

 Hydra fitsca." By T. Jeffery Parker, B.Sc, Lecturer 011 Biology 

 in Bedford College, London, and Demonstrator in the Royal 

 School of Mines. Communicated by Prof. Huxley, Sec.R.S. 

 (From the Biological Laboratory of the Royal School of Mines.) 



The following is an abstract of the paper :— The correctness 

 of Kleinenberg's view of the relations of the muscular fibres wa 

 proved by longitudinal sections of amnionic bichromate speci- 

 mens, in which the fibres were obtained in situ in direct connec- 

 tion with the attenuated inner ends of the ecdoderm cells. 



No interstitial tissue could be made out in the thinnest secti ms 

 of the tentacles ; this tissue, therefore, cannot be the exclusive 

 source of the nematocy-ts. 



A distinct supporting lamella was clearly made out between 

 the muscular layer and the endoderm. 



The endoderm is shown to be, in all probability, ciliated 

 throughout. Sections of osmic acid specimens showed each cell 

 to bear one, two, or three, long, flageUiform cilia. 



The active amccboid movements of the endoderm cells durin ; 

 life is strongly insisted on, the pseudopodial processes given off 

 from them sometimes almost or entirely obliterating the digestive 

 cavity. . 



It is suggested that the dark irregular granules found in the 

 eudodernf cells are food particles derived from the alimentary 

 canals of the Entomostraca devoured. In one instance a di; a 

 frustule was seen to be imbedded in a cell. Hydra tin 

 most Metazoa, exhibits what Metschnikoff calls a ''parenchy- 

 matous " mode of digestion. 



Nematocysts are proved to occur here and there in the 

 endoderm. 



Taris 



Academy of Sciences, December 29, 1S79.— M. Daubre'e 

 in the chair. — M. Faye presented the Annuairc du / 

 Longitudes for 1SS0, which contains, infer film, tables of refractive 

 indices, densities of minerals, dilatations of metals and crystalline 

 bodies, all known gases, with formula-, &c, data of thermo- 

 chemistry, a map of lines of equal magnetic declination for 

 France and neighbouring localities, and a work on statistical 

 geography. — Note on the different branches of kinematics, by 

 M. Resal. M. Mannheim has recently introduced the expression 

 Kinematic geometry; this branch dealing with motion independ- 

 ently of forces and times. It is not simply the geometrical part 

 of kinematics as studied hitherto.— On some applications of 

 elliptic functions, by M. Hermite.— On hydride of copper; reply 

 to M. Wurtz, by M. Berthelot.— On the heat of formation of 

 gaseous hydrate of chloral ; reply to M. Wurtz, by M. Berthelot. 

 —On the butyric ferment (Bacillus amylcbaekr) in the coal 

 epoch, by M. van Ticghem. Examining numerous silicified 

 rootlets of coniferae from the coal strata, he finds signs of the 

 same process in destruction of tissues as now ; develo] 

 Bac. am. in the organs, either in the form of slender jointed fila- 

 ments, or inflated rods each with a terminal spore, or innumerable 

 free spores, amid homogeneous silica 1 >r ranged against the cuticle 

 , —On the oxidation of alcohol by ammoniacal bioxide of 

 copper, by M. Letellier. He heated the mixture at 180° in a sealed 

 tube ; the blue liquor becomes colourless, and the alcohol is changed 

 into acetic acid.— On a property of certain functions similar to 

 algebraic functions, by M. Picard.— On the impossibility of the 

 algebraic relation X" + Y" + Z" = o, by M. Lionville.— On 

 the determination of the elements of a vibratory movement ; 

 measurement of the phase, by M. Mercadier.— On a new electric 

 burner, by M. Perruche. The "candle" part consists of three 

 carbons, two being cylindrical (0-004 m. diameter) a. 

 to each other, the other of square section (0-005 in. a side), and 

 placed in the angle formed by the first two. The cylinders are 

 in pivoted brass holders, between brass plates, brought together 

 by a spring. The holder of the square carbon is also capable of 

 oscillation, and this carbon is held by a spring in contact with 

 the others, while no current passes, but, v, hen the current begin-, 

 takes its separate position. It is regulated by an iron lever and 

 electro-magnet in circuit. — On a new phoneidoscopic process by 

 coloured rings, by M. Guebhard. A development of his experi- 

 ment of producing coloured rings by breathing on a surface of 

 impure mercury. He shows the characteristic figures of the 

 principal vowel sounds. They prove that the vocal emission in 

 uttering these sounds does not present merely the longitudinal 



vibratory state of a cylindrical column (as indicated by mano- 

 nietric flames, &c), but a very complex vibratory state at right 

 angles to the direction of propagation, and whose influence cannot 

 be negligible in the final wave. Thisvhas an obvious bearing on 

 the sensibility of telephonic plates, which are affected by multiple 

 centres of percussion. — Action of permanganate of potash on 

 cyanide of potassium, by M. Baudrimont. This generates much 

 nitrite and little urea in an alkaline medium, while much urea is 

 formed if the medium tend to acidity by addition of S0 3 HO. 

 The greatest proportion of urea results from mixture of cameleon 

 and cyanide in equal equivalents in presence of an excess of 

 sulphuric acid. — Action of hydracids on isopreue; reproduction 

 of caoutchouc, by M. Bouchardat. Isoprenc behaves to 

 hydracids like valerylene, fixing one or two molecules of acid 

 and giving identical or isomeric compounds, with very similar 

 properties ; only isoprene (unlike valerylene) furnishes with dis- 

 solved acids an elastic potymer. — On the structure of sudori- 

 parous glands, by M. Rainier. — Alterations of cutaneous nerves 

 in a case of congenital ichthyosis, by M. Leloir. — On the loco- 

 motion of insects and of arachnida, by M. Carlet. Insects of 

 slow pace, and with equidistant legs, rest on a sustaining triangle 

 formed of the two extreme legs on one side and the middle leg 

 on the other, while they move the three other legs. In arach- 

 nida the polygon of sustentation is formed by the first and third 

 leg on one side and the second and fourth on the other. — On the 

 presence of diamond in an ophitic rock of South Africa, by MM. 

 Fouque and Lenz. 



Vienna 

 Imperial Academy of Sciences, October 16, 1879. — The 

 following among other papers were read : — On the physiological 

 regeneration of the ciliated epithelium of the trachea, by Dr. 

 1 Irasch. — On the solubility of mixtures of chloride of sodium 

 and chloride of calcium at different temperatures, by Herr 

 Schonach. — On a species of configuration in the plane and in 

 space, by Herr Kantor.— On the causes of severe winters in 

 Europe, by Herr Wolz. — Researches on the rain-conditions of 

 Austria-Hungary, by Herr Harm. — Contributions to a mono- 

 graphy of the genus Megalodus, \\ ith special reference to the 

 mesozoic forms, by Prof. Homes. — A new chemical photomcter 

 by means of mercury oxalate, for determining the intensity of 

 ultra-violet rays, and contributions to the photo -chemistry of 

 mercury chloride, by Dr. Eden. 



CONTENTS 



The Technical University Question --*' 



Osteology of Man ' aM 



Our Book Shblf:— 



"The Village Life" "4 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Artificial Diamonds.— W. Mattieu Williams =.'4 



Solar Phenomenon. — Ralfii Copeland =25 



Carbon and Water Figures.— W. M. Flinders Petkie (With 



Di.igrum) "5 



Velocity of Light.— A. A. Michelson 226 



The Word "Teletn-aph "—Dr. Warden Ds La Ri»f, F.R.S. . . =26 



The Lophiomys.— Paul Henky Siokoe 22C 



Scorpion Suicide?— Dr. R. F. Hutchinson 1226 



Strange Incubation in Fishes.— Dr. R. F. Hutchinson .... 226 



Further Notss upon the Papuans of Maclay Coast, New 

 Guinea, II. By J. C. Galton • ■ • • 204 



Epidemics. By Sir Jospin Faykhr, K.C.S.I., LL.D., M.D., F.R.S. 229 



Popular Natural History (With Illustrations) 232 



On the Secular Changes in the Elements of the Orbit of a 

 Satellite Revolving a rout a Planet Distorted by 

 By G. H.Darwin, FR.S • • • • a 3S 



The Sexual Colours of Certain Butterflies. By C, 

 Darwin, F.R.S =37 



Notes . 2 37 



Our Astronomical Column:— 



Minor Planets 2 4<> 



The Melbourne Observatory -*"> 



The Biela Comet Meteors M 



Vranometria-Argentina "■* 



The Close Binary 85 Pegasi *4° 



Biological Notes: — 



A Blind Is pod 



Notes on Crustacea 



Ptyaline and Diastase *< 



Existence of the Chamois- in the Abruzzi *j 



Movement in the Leaves cf Conifers 



Geological Notes : — 



Crustacea in the (lid Red Sandstone 4 



Salses of Mount Etna -** 



New Jurassic Reptiles ** 



Geographical Notes 



Physical Notes * 



Scientific Serials 



Societies and Academies 



