JUNE 20, 1884.] 
with the stretched membrane, the glove or paper, 
and for a third person to hear the conversation in the 
bare hands of the two holding the electrodes, when 
these two held his ears as shown in fig. 2. It has 
even been possible to render the sounds audible to a 
chain of people, each holding the ear of his neighbor. 
WES 2. 
— In the report of the meeting of the Royal society 
of Canada, published in Science for June 6, it was 
stated that Mr. F. N. Gisborne had devised a new 
method of getting rid of the cross-talk in telephone 
cables. The device, that of the use of a metallic cir- 
cuit of wires near one another, was patented by A. 
Graham Bell in England in i877, and later in the 
United States. 
— Dr. Palisa has had a declinograph, on the plan 
of Dr. Knorre’s at Berlin, fitted to the twelve-inch 
Alvan Clark refractor at Vienna, and he is observing 
zones with even greater assiduity than usual. He 
reports himself as satisfied with the working of the 
instrument, which gives positions accurate to about 
05.2 and 2”. In a zone 25™ by 20’ a hundred and 
fifty stars can be registered. ‘The positions are to be 
reduced to 1875.0, and this is chosen as the equinox 
for all the new Vienna maps. Each map is to have 
a catalogue of its stars accompanying it, which is an 
excellent addition. Dr. Peters’s catalogue of sixty 
thousand zone stars would be of great usefulness, if 
it were available, as a supplement to his splendid 
series of celestial charts. 
— Prof. W. Preyer of Jena is publishing a ‘Spe- 
cielle physiologie des embryo’ in four parts, of which 
the first two have appeared. It is written from a 
purely medica] stand-point ; for it discusses really 
human embryology, drawing upon mammals, birds, 
and other lower forms, for illustration. In spite, how- 
ever, of its narrow scope and one-sided view, it is a 
valuable treatise. By the collation of the researches 
previously published, and the addition of some obser- 
vations of his own, Preyer has compiled a work 
SCIENCE. 
71 
which reveals an extent of positive knowledge in this 
obscure field, which few would have anticipated. 
In the parts before us, the circulation, respiration, 
and nutrition of the embryo are very fully treated. 
The work is excellent, and, without doubt, will do 
much towards dispelling some of the crude and erro- 
neous conceptions still prevalent in regard to the 
physiology of the mammalian embryo. 
— The French geographical societies will hold their 
seventh general congress in the month of August at 
Toulouse. Geographers of several adjacent coun- 
tries, especially of Spain, are expected to participate 
in the proceedings. ‘The municipality has devoted a 
sum of twenty thousand francs to the expenses of the 
local committee, of which Dr. Ozenne is president, 
and Commander Blanchot, general secretary. 
— An international fisheries, ornithological, and 
hunting-appliances exhibition is planned for 1886, in 
Vienna. 
— A new expedition to Greenland has started from 
Copenhagen: it consists of Lieut. Jensen, Lorenzen 
as geologist, and the painter Ris-Carstensen. The 
object of the expedition is the exploration of the west 
coast of Greenland between Holstensborg and Luk- 
kertoppen. They expect to return in October. 
— Prof. F. A. Forel of Morges reports that the 
glaciers of Mont Blane, after decreasing for a consid- 
erable time, are now again advancing. Professor 
Forel has for many years recorded his observations 
on the Mer de Glace. 
— A botanical section of the Cincinnati society of 
natural history was organized June 7, under the chair- 
manship of the curator of botany in the society. Its 
object was stated to be, to bring together those inter- 
ested in the study of botany for the purposes of mu- 
tual encouragement and benefit, the investigation of 
the flora of the vicinity of Cincinnati, and the for- 
mation of alocal herbarium. A number of specimens 
of plants were exhibited, and two or three new addi- 
tions to the flora were announced. One of these was 
Matricaria discoidea, from near Loveland, O.,—a 
very late introduction. 
— There is no truth, the Athenaeum states, in the 
rumor that Mr. Herbert Spencer purposes paying a 
visit to Australia. His trip to the United States in- 
jured his health too seriously to induce him to try 
another experiment of a like kind on a much larger 
scale. Though still suffering from impaired health, 
he is happily able to devote a portion of his time to 
his favorite studies. 
— Lieut. Frederick Schwatka, the arctic explorer, 
has resigned his position on Gen. Miles’s staff, and 
will join his regiment in Arizona. The Russian geo- 
graphical society has awarded its silver medal to. 
Schwatka for his explorations. 
— Dr. Griffiths sends to the Chemical news of 
March 7 a note on the formation of the recently dis- 
covered parafiine shale deposits of Servia,; which he 
thinks coincides with the results of his other inves- 
tigations. ‘These deposits are situated on the River 
Golabara, in the western part of Servia. The shale 
occurs in upheaved cliffs about two hundred feet 
