438 
Notes. 
[July, 
M. Andries (“ Ciel et Terre ”) contends that hail is formed 
during ascending whirlwinds. 
M. Hirn (“ Comptes Rendus ”) concludes that we must count 
by millions of degrees in estimating the internal temperature o 
the sun. 
M. Hugo Gylden, in a communication to the French Academy 
of Sciences, maintains that the relative distances of the principal 
planets in their primordial state must have been much smaller 
than they are at present. 
The Bestiarians have held an “ International Congress ” to 
protest against the crucial experiment by which M. Pasteur pro- 
poses to demonstrate the efficiency of his vaccine for rabies. 
Mrs. A. Kingsford, M.D., who made herself very prominent on 
this occasion, exclaimed that M. Pasteur was not justified, in 
“ torturing thousands of animals ” with the objeCt of abolishing 
so “ very rare ” a disease. The “ thousands ” when translated 
into the language of sober reason shrink to 40 ! As lor the 
“ rarity,” we must remember that 21 persons died of hydrophobia 
in the Department of the Seine within twelve months ! 
A belief prevails in certain rural districts of France that the 
direction of the wind on Palm Sunday will predominate during 
the first half of the year. M. de Touchimlekt has studied the 
case, and finds that in a series of fifteen years the be hel was 
justified seven times and failed eight. In general it holds good 
if the wind on the day in question blows from the south-wes., 
but not if the current is north-easterly. 
Mr. S. E. De Morgan (“ Light ”) points out several errors in 
the utterances of Root Hoomi as given by Mr. Sinnett (see 
“Journal of Science,” 1882, pp. 405, &c.). 
The occurrence of the Egyptian cobra ( Naja Haje) has been 
demonstrated by M. Valery Mayet, who has captured a fine 
specimen not far from Oued Leben. 
M. Mussett (“ Comptes Rendus ”) shows that the supposed 
influence of light on the anatomic structure of the leaves of 
Allium ursinum is non-existent. 
Dr. T. Tommasi (“ Cosmos les Mondes ”) notes that the 
thermic constant of thallium is exactly the mean of the thermic 
constants of potassium and lead, the two metals which it most 
resembles in its chemical character. 
M. Trouvelot, of the Observatory of Meudon, after observing 
the shadows thrown by the faculse on the penumbras of sun-spots, 
suggests that the brilliant light emitted by the faculas, and 
perhaps the entire light of the sun, is generated at its surface, 
the presence of the coronal atmosphere being, perhaps, necessary 
for its production. 
