1871.] Mr. F. Galton's Experiments in Pangenesis. 



after each minimum, and concludes by a simple proportion of the re-f 

 mainder. He finds that the curve ascends more rapidly than it descends — * 

 the ascent taking in the mean 3*7 years, the descent lasting 7*4 years. 

 We have established these data far more reliably in our last paper ; and 

 our curve gives 3*52 years for the ascent, 7*54 years for the descent (average 

 of the three periods). Professor Wolf also thinks that although a single 

 period may differ essentially in its character and form from the mean, still, 

 on the whole, if the descent is retarded, the ascent in the same period is 

 also retarded ; if the former is accelerated, the latter is also accelerated. 

 This is not quite borne out by our curve. He also overlooks the se- 

 condary maximum, which may lead to great conclusions if more investi- 

 gated together with other matters. 



M. Fritz comes to the following conclusions : — 

 . 1. The connexion between sun-spots and auroral and magnetic disturb- 

 ances indicates an external cause, to be sought in planetary configurations. 



2. The relative influence of the planets must be exerted in the following 

 order: — Jupiter (greatest), Yenus, Mercury, Earth, Saturn. 



3. This influence cannot entirely depend on the time of rotation; but 

 chauges in the magnetic axes of these planets may have the most deter- 

 mining effect. ' 

 i 4. Investigating the comparative influences of them singly and together 

 (as far as possible), at the times of conjunction and quadrature, he finds 

 the greatest coincidence of maxima of sun-spots with the time when Jupiter 

 and Saturn are in quadrature ; and the greatest coincidence of minima 

 when these planets are in conjunction. 



5. There is also (a minor) coincidence of maxima when Jupiter and 

 Venus are in quadrature. 



There is also an extension of the paper for finding the connexions with 

 auroras, and a statement that every 27*7 days there seems to be a monthly- 

 maximum, which may probably be explained (according to Fritz) by the 

 tendency of a particular solar meridian to spot-formations, depending upon 

 the presence of an intra-Mercurial planet. 



March 30, 1871. 



General Sir EDWARD SABINE, K.C.B., President, in the Chair.! 



The following communications were read : — 



I. "Experiments in Pangenesis, by Breeding from Rabbits of a pure 

 variety, into whose circulation blood taken from other varieties 

 had previously been largely transfused." By Francis Galton* 

 F.R.S. Received March 23, 1871. 



Darwin's provisional theory of Pangenesis claims our belief on the ground 

 that it is the only theory which explains, by a single law, the numerous 



