Notes and Memoranda. 239 



Mr. Glaisher presented the report on Luminous Meteors for 

 1866 — 7, in which, amongst much interesting matter with most 

 of which our readers have been acquainted, it is stated that the 

 August meteors which disappointed observers in this country, were 

 seen in countless numbers in America, after midnight of the 10th. 

 Amongst the remarkable meteors, the most curious seems to have 

 been one seen by Prof. Thomson at Aberdeen, on the 14th TsTovem- 

 ber last, at 2h. 40.5s., a.m. The nucleus passed over a Tauri and 

 disappeared without noise. Its diameter, i of the Moon. Its train 

 was pale yellow, and at first remained as a band of dense nebulous 

 looking light, about half the diameter of the Moon. After two 

 minutes the train wound about in a serpentine form, and after three 

 minutes it had collected itself into a nebulous-looking cloud, which 

 remained vividly distinct until four minutes, when it was obscured 

 by a cloud. The same meteor was seen by Prof. Grant at Glasgow, 

 Prof. Piazzi Smith at Edinburgh, and Mr. Barkas at Newcastle. 

 On the 20th November, a large detonating meteor is reported to 

 have been seen at Nashville, Tennessee, which made a tremendous 

 report, rattling windows and shaking the wall. " If," says the re- 

 port " it actually took place, it forms an interesting addition to the 

 list." In the Physiological department, some curious facts were 

 cited by Sir Duncan Gibb, who stated that of 4,600 healthy persons 

 he had examined with the laryngoscope, the epiglottis was pen- 

 dant instead of vertical. In some cases he found this formation 

 hereditary. It led to a modification of the voice, tending towards 

 a low tone in adult males, and preventing women from reaching the 

 higher notes. In the department of Zoology, Sir John Lubbock 

 read an interesting paper on the anatomy of Thysanura. The long 

 leaps of these insects are taken by means of two long appendages 

 bent under the body and forming a spring held by certain muscles 

 under a small latch or catch. Directly this is released, the spring 

 jerks back, and the creature is thrown upwards and forwards. 



NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 



The Newton Fobgebies. — M. Chasles holds the extraordinary opinion that 

 the quantity of the alleged Newton correspondence in his possession establishes 

 its claim to authenticity. In opposition to M. Fougere and other French critics, 

 who have detected the character of the letters, he brings forward comparatively 

 trivial criticism on certain details of their objections. The age of Newton, and 

 the date of some of the pretended lettei-3, is quite sufficient to overthrow their 

 claims, and so are the errors in the signature of his mother. M. Chasles declares 

 that he will publish the documents, and that competent judges will do justice. 

 It would surely be wiser first to remove the objections raised by Sir P. Brewster 

 and M. Fougere. The first proves that Newton could not have done what is- 

 pretended, and the last brings strong reasons for considering the correspondence 

 inconsistent with known facts concerning Pascal. M. Fougere says of the letters 

 ascribed to different persons, " They agree together like false witnesses who have 

 combined to stifle truth and obtain credit for falsehood." 



