30,000l. was, as we have already intimated, placed at his command by Mr. Lick, the celebrated Californian capitalist, who is the founder of the Lick Observatory.

M. CHEVREUL, the great French chemist and director of the Jardin des Plantes, has been presented by the Minister of Public Instruction with the grade of Grand Officer in the Legion d'Honneur. This promotion is considered as being a compensation for the difficulties raised by the Ministry in the appointment of a Professor in the Museum. These quarrels had induced the venerable savant to resign.

THE Bulletin of the French Geographical Society for December contains an exceedingly interesting and carefully compiled paper by M. H. Duveyrier, entitled “L'Afrique Necrologique.” This is a list of all the African explorers, from 1800 to 1874, who have met their death while doing their work, either from disease caught in the country, or by murder, or other causes; a very large proportion have died from "intermittent fever." The list includes not only those whose object was purely geographical discovery, but also those whose researches were connected with geology, meteorology, botany, zoology, ethnography, archæology, or languages. The list is a sadly long one, numbering about 150; and M. Duveyrier, in each case, gives a brief account of the explorer and of the work which he accomplished; a large proportion of these martyrs to science are English. Accompanying the paper is an ingeniously constructed map, showing the place

at which each traveller met his death.

It is announced that the committee to whose hands the SubWealden Exploration is entrusted have resolved to abandon the present boring after six ineffectual efforts to recover tools which have dropped down and obstructed the whole. The Diamond Boring Company having made a very favourable offer to commence again, a contract for the completion of 1,000 feet for 600l. has been agreed to, with a conditional promise to execute the second thousand feet for about 3,000l. additional. Mr. Willett, hon. sec., has guaranteed 600l., and appeals for funds to carry on the enterprise.

MR. CHARLES DARWIN's new work on "Insectivorous and Climbing Plants is in the press and will be shortly published. The following are the contents :-Part I.: On the sensitiveness of the leaves of Drosera, Dionea, Pinguicula, &c., to certain stimulants; and on their power of digesting and absorbing certain animal matter. Part II. : On the habits and movements

of climbing plants. The book will be issued by Mr. John

Murray.

MR. JOHN MURRAY has also preparing for publication the following two works in travel :-"The Land of the North Wind," being an account of travels among the Laplanders and Samoyedes, and along the coast of the White Sea, by Edward

Rae; this book will be illustrated by a map and woodcuts:

and a description of a journey to Tabreez, Kurdistan, down the Tigris and Euphrates to Nineveh and Babylon, and across the desert to Palmyra, by Baron Max von Thielmann. The title of the book will be The Caucasus, Persia, and Turkey in Asia," and it will be translated from the German by Mr. Charles Heneage.

MESSRS. LONGMAN and Co. have in the press a translation of a work on the Primæval World of Switzerland, by Prof. Oswald Heer, of the University of Zurich. The book will be edited by Mr. James Heywood, M.A., F. R.S., and will be issued in two octavo volumes with numerous illustrations. The same firm will shortly publish a series of Elementary Lessons on the Structure of Man and Animals, with special reference to the principles affecting health, food, and cooking, and the duties of man to the animal creation; by Mrs. Buckton. This volume will be illustrated with wood engravings.

IN the Astronomische Nachrichten, Nos. 2,009 and 2,016, are notes on the spectroscopic observation of fifty-two stars made by M. D'Arrest. The stars are chiefly of the 6th and 7th magnitude, and appear in the Bonn Catalogue. The colours of thirty-four of these stars are given, and the type to which each star belongs is generally mentioned. From an analysis of the notes we gain that there are in the list four red or reddish stars of type III. and two of type IV. ; of reddish yellow stars there are nine of type III.; of yellow or orange stars there are thirteen of type III., and of the same type one brown and five colourless ones; on the remaining eighteen there are no remarks on colour. The author remarks on the different grades of spectra of type III, from an almost line spectrum to a discontinuous one of bands, as that of a Herculis, but that grades of colour do not always agree with grades of spectrum; and he thinks that the theory that the coloured stars are older because cooler than others cannot be received without numerous exceptions, and he has concluded that the temperature of the coloured stars may in general be lower than that of others, but that it is not proved; and further, that the greater age of these stars is without foundation. author appears to take exception to the part of the address of M. Wurtz at the French Association, reported in NATURE, vol. x. p. 350, where he says of the stars, "We have classed them according to their ages. Stars coloured, stars yellow, stars white; the white are the hottest and the youngest ... the coloured stars are not so hot, and are older." It certainly seems from M. D'Arrest's observation that there are exceptions to this rule, and a large number of stars must have their spectra and colours tabulated before it can be judged how far this law holds good.

The

AT the last meeting of the Photographic Society a paper was read by Mr. Hooper, "On the Origin, Aim, and Achievements of the Photographic Society, with suggestions as to its future development." The suggestions were, the necessity of obtaining a Royal Charter, the Society's claim upon the Government for a money grant and suitable premises, and the necessity of forming committees for scientific investigation. In the subsequent discussion, the general 'opinion was that there was little hope of obtaining the proposed Charter, and that it was a mistake to speak of photography as a science. "Science," one speaker said, "had done a great deal more for photography than photography had done for science."

AT the meeting of Convocation of the London University on Tuesday, the motion brought forward by Mr. A. P. Hensman,

66

That, in the opinion of Convocation, it is desirable that women should be permitted to take degrees in Arts in this University," was, after some discussion, withdrawn.

A RECENT decision has been given by the French Ministry in favour of female doctors. A certain Mdlle, Domerque, of Mont

pellier, has received due authorisation to pass her examination

for the doctorship.

WE are glad to see that by the decision of the Supreme Court at Sydney, N.S. W., Mr. Gerard Krefft has been restored to his position and house as Curator of the Sydney Museum. Mr. Krefft has been connected with the Museum for fourteen years, and in September last had been violently ejected by an order from the trustees, who, it seems, had in this exceeded their powers.

THE prospectus lies before us of a new Italian monthly journal, to be entitled, Rivista Popolare di Scienze e Lettere. Judging from the prospectus, its projectors have a high idea of the important place which science is daily assuming in the life of the world, and intend to devote a considerable proportion of the pages of their Review to subjects of scientific interest. The programme of the new journal is very comprehensive, embracing all departments of philosophy and physical science, and we most

heartily wish it complete success. The prospectus is dated from Lentini, in Sicily, where, we believe, the Review is to be published. It seems rather strange to make such an out-of-the-way place the head-quarters of so important an undertaking; we hope, however, its circulation won't suffer in consequence.

THERE are many signs that Italy is really awakened from her long dormancy and seems quietly determined to do her share of the modern world's work. The above announcement may be regarded as one, and we know that in more than one of the sciences valuable work is being done by Italians. In geography, especially, they seem inclined to revive the reputation which of old their country had; they have recently produced one or two noteworthy explorers, and their geographical magazine, Cosmos, is a model of typography and good editing.

Only

on Monday last, Prince Humbert, in returning thanks for his election as President of the Italian Geographical Society, spoke with warm approval of the project of an expedition to the African great lakes, and hoped that Italy would be worthily represented at the forthcoming Geographical Congress at Paris.

THE Queensland Government have received information that Hume, who proceeded in search of Classan, a supposed survivor of the Leichardt Exploring Expedition, perished for want of water fifty miles from Drynan's station on the Wilson River, in the Warrego district. O'Hea, another of the party, is also supposed to be dead. The third man, Thompson, has reached Drynan's station.

As about forty ladies and gentlemen have signified their intenion to become members of the proposed Natural History Society at Watford, a meeting to found the Society and to elect a provisional committee will be held at the Watford Public Library on the 23rd inst., at seven o'clock.

P. W. WRIGHT, one of the late porters at the College of Surgeons Museum, commenced duty as dissecting-room porter at St. Thomas's Hospital about a fortnight ago. On last Tuesday week he wounded himself in the hand with a knife whilst assisting in a post-mortem on a child which had died of pyæmia. We regret to hear that he died in consequence of the wound, from the same disease, on Monday last, leaving a wife and five young children quite unprovided for.

M. J. DEBY, in examining the contents of the stomachs of mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the Brussels market, found thirtyseven species of diatoms, including Hyalodiscus stelliger, a species found previously only in Florida.

THE death of the veteran Dr. Gideon Lincecum, of Long Point, Texas (U.S.), is announced as having taken place at his residence on the 28th of November last, in his eighty-second year.

Dr. Lincecum was well known to the naturalists of the United States on account of his abilities as an observer and the wonderful minuteness of his investigations into the habits and peculiarities of American animals. His contributions in this direction to the archives of the Smithsonian Institution, to the American Naturalist, to the Academy of Natural Sciences, and to the American Sportsman, were very numerous and varied. In addition to his contributions of notes, Dr. Lincecum was an extensive collector of specimens, especially of insects and reptiles of which he sent large numbers to the museums of the United States.

PROF. MARSH and his exploring party returned to New Haven, U.S., on Dec. 12, after an absence of two months in the Rocky Mountains. The object of the present expedition was to examine a remarkable fossil locality, discovered during the past summer in the "Bad Lands" south of the Black Hills. The explorations were very successful, notwithstanding extremely cold weather and the continued hostility of the Sioux Indians. The fossil deposits explored were mainly of Miocene age,

and, although quite limited in extent, proved to be rich beyond expectation. Nearly two tons of fossil bones were collected, most of them rare specimens, and many unknown to science. Among the most interesting remains found were several species of gigantic Brontotherida, nearly as large as elephants. At one point these bones were heaped together in such numbers as to indicate that the animals lived in herds, and had been washed into this ancient lake by a freshet. Successful explorations were made, also, in the Pliocene strata of the same region. All the collections secured go to Yale College, and will soon be described by Prof. Marsh.

DR. HUNT gives an account, in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, of the contents of the stomach of a mastodon lately found in Wayland, New York. These consisted of remains of both cryptogams and flowering plants, exhibiting distinctly the vegetable characters. No sphagnum was found in the deposit. The evidence was that the animal bad eaten his last meal from the tender mosses and boughs of the flowering plants growing on the banks of streams and margins of swamps, and that pines and cedars formed no part of his diet.

CARRIER pigeons have been employed for a new purpose. When his Majesty of Spain was nearing Barcelona, a Spanish steamer was sent to meet Los Navos on the high seas, and succeeded in doing so at the distance of 150 miles from the seaport. Carrier pigeons were then liberated so as to announce in Barcelona the happy coming of Don Alphonso XII. The experiment appears to have been successful. It is said that carrier pigeons were in use among the old Roman navigators in the time of the Cars. The practice was discontinued for centuries, and the question has been asked by some French papers whether it is desirable to revive it for Transatlantic steamers.

THE Signal Service observer on the summit of Pike's Peak (U.S.) reports that the local storms there experienced originate over the parks to the westward on hot afternoons. On one occasion he was favoured with an excellent view of the interior structure of the clouds of a tornado, when he observed that while the cloud-bearing currents of air float toward the centre, they had a decided downward movement, but that masses of smoke-like vapour rapidly ascended through the interior funnel.

IN a paper read by Capt. Shaw, of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, at the Society of Arts on Tuesday night, an ingenious apparatus was described for enabling persons to breathe in dense smoke or poisonous vapours. It consists essentially of a closefitting hood, with a respirator, holding a filter, the invention of Prof. Tyndall, which consists of a valve chamber and filter tube about 4 inches long, screwed on outside, with access to it from the inside by a wooden mouth-piece. The charge for the filter consists of the following materials, which are put in with the tube turned upside down, and the lower valve removed :- Half an inch deep of dry cotton-wool, an inch deep of the same wool saturated with glycerine, a thin layer of dry wool, half an inch deep of fragments of charcoal, half an inch deep of dry wool, half an inch deep of fragments of lime, and about an inch of dry wool. The whole can be put on and adjusted in a few seconds by the wearer.

THE additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the past week include a Pig-tailed Monkey (Macacus nemestrinus) from Java, presented by Dr. Cole; a Creste i Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) from Mogadore, presented by Mr. Alfred Hay; two Chukar Partridges (Caccabis chukar) from North-west India, presented by Capt. Murray; a Sooty Mangabey (Cercocebus fuli ginosus), and a Patas Monkey (Cercopithecus ruber) from West Africa; an Australian Goshawk (Astur approximans) from Australia, purchased; an Ocelot (Felis pardalis) from America, deposited,

SCIENTIFIC SERIALS Poggendorff's Annalen der Physik und Chemie, No. 10.This number contains several papers of great interest: the first is by G. Quincke, on electric currents resulting from the nonsimultaneous insertion of two mercury-electrodes into different liquids. The author bases his experiments upon those of St. Claire Deville and Troost, who found it probable that platinum absorbs hydrogen or other gases when being heated in a gas or alcohol flame, and then shows a different electric action towards water and dilute acids from that of platinum that has not been so heated. The paper contains a minute description of the apparatus used and tables of the results obtained; in an appendix the author treats of the relation between capillary and electrical phenomena, referring to G. Lippmann's paper (Pogg. Ann., vol. 149, p. 556), from whom he materially differs.-Experiments made with a magnetised copper wire, by Prof. Balfour Stewart and Dr. A. Schuster.-On the chemical action of the solar spectrum upon haloid salts of silver, by H. W. Vogel. Chloride, bromide, and iodide of silver, are not only sensitive towards the highly refrangible rays of the spectrum, but also towards the less refrangible ones, although in a much smaller degree; their sensitiveness does not only depend upon their optical power of absorption of the respective rays, but also upon the absorption power of other substances they may be mixed with. Coloured substances which assist the photographic reduction process and absorb certain spectral rays, highly increase the sensitiveness of the silver salt towards the absorbed rays; thus the sensitiveness of silver salts for red, yellow, and green rays can be greatly augmented. Certain colourless bodies are found to have a similar action. The light reflected from pigments shows a very different effect from that of spectral colours, on account of the varying optical composition of artificial colours and their smaller intensity. On the question of velocity of magnetic action at distances, by H. Herwig; investigations relating principally to terrestrial magnetism. It is found that this velocity is at least half a million geographical miles (or about 24 millions of English miles) per second; in other words, that at any given spot on the surface of the earth terrestrial magnetism becomes fully active in less than the 300th part of a second.-On a modification of the mag. neto-electric revolution experiment, by the same. On comparison of electric machines, by Mr. Mascart. The author describes experiments made to ascertain the actual quantity of electricity produced by eleven different machines in a given time and under the same conditions.-On the measuring of the electromotive power of voltaic piles in absolute units, by A. Crova.-The frequency of changes of colour in the scintillation of stars is gene. rally related to the spectrum they show, by C. Montigny. Stars that twinkle strongly show few spectral lines, while those with little scintillation have many bands and lines in their spectra. On the theory of organ-pipes, by H. Schneebeli.—Is the application of the vis viva justified in the mechanical theory of heat? by H. Fritsch. The author answers this question in the negative.On induction-effects in magnets of different hardness, by L. Külp.

SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES

LONDON

Royal Society, Jan. 7.-"Remarks on a New Map of the Solar Spectrum," by J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S.

I beg permission to lay before the Royal Society a portion of the new map of the solar spectrum, referred to in one of my former communications.

It consists of the portion between w. 1. 39 and 41.

I have found it necessary, in order to include all the lines visible in my photographs in such a manner that coincidences may be clearly shown, to construct it on four times the scale of Angstrom's "Spectre-Normal."

The spectra of the following elements have been photographed side by side with the solar spectrum, and the coincidences shown:

Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Ce, U, Cr, Ba, Sr, Ca, K, Al. The wave-lengths of new lines in the portion of this spectrum at present completed have been obtained from curves of graphical interpolation. Instead of the reading of a micrometer-scale, a photographic print of the spectrum has been employed in the construction of these curves, the wave-lengths of the principal lines being taken from an unpublished map of the ultra-violet region of the solar spectrum, a copy of which has been kindly placed at my disposal by M. Cornu. The photograph of the

solar spectrum, from the ultra-violet to beyond F, kindly given to me by Mr. Rutherford, has also proved of great service in the present work. I have, in fact, up to the present time, only been able to excel this photograph in the region about H.

From the extreme difficulty of carrying on eye-observations upon the portion of the spectrum now completed, Angstrom's map is, of course, very incomplete about this region. The few lines mapped differ slightly in some cases from the positions assigned by Cornu; but the wave-lengths given by the latter observer generally fall into the curve without breaking its symmetry, and these positions have therefore been adopted. The advantage possessed by the photographic method over eyeobservation may be estimated from the following numerical comparisons

:

Region of spectrum, 3900-4100. Number of lines in Angstrom's "Spectre-Normal"... Angström's and Thalén's map of the violet part of the solar spectrum... 183 Cornu's map New Map

205 518

The purification of the various metallic spectra has at present been only partially effected; but I have seen enough already to convince me of the extreme rigour with which the principle I have already announced may be applied, while at the same time there are evidences that the application of it may lead to some results not anticipated in the first instance.

My object in laying these maps before the Society, and presenting this ad interim report of progress, is to appeal to some other man of science, if not in England, then in some other country, to come forward to aid in the work, which it is improbable that I, with my small observational means and limited time, can carry to a termination. I reckon that, having regard to routine sclar work, it will require another year before the portion from H to G is completely finished, even for the metals the spectra of which are shown in the maps now exhibited. When this is done there will still remain outstanding all the ultraviolet portion, the portion from G to F, both capable of being photographed by short exposure, and the whole of the less refrangible part, which Draper and Rutherford have both shown can be reached by long exposure with the present processes.

I cannot but think, moreover, that when the light which the spectroscope has already thrown upon molecular action shall be better known, and used as a basis for further inquiry, methods of photography greatly exceeding the present one in rapidity, in the less refrangible portion of the spectrum, will be developed and utilised in the research.

The map is being drawn by my assistant, Mr. Raphael Meldola (to whom my thanks are due for the skill and patience he has brought to bear upon the work), in the first instance with more especial reference to the positions, thicknesses, and individualities of the lines; the final revision will consist of an absolute intensity reproduction of the photographs.

"On the Spectrum of Coggia's Comet," by Willam Huggins, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S.

From his observations of five small comets in the years 1866, 1868, and 1871, the author had shown that a great part of the light of those comets was emitted by the cometary matter; and further, that carbon, in some form, was probably present in

them.

The author then gives his observations of three different spectra, and of the relative intensity of the two latter spectra in different parts of the comet.

On acoustic reversibility, by J. Tyndall, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. In this paner Prof. Tyndall refers to the series of experiments on the velocity or sound which were made on the 21st and 22nd of June, 1822, between Villejuif and Montlhéry, south of Paris, and 116 miles distant from each other.

On this occasion it was noticed that while every report of the cannon fired at Montlhéry was heard with the greatest distinctness at Villejuif, by far the greater number of the reports from Villejuif failed to reach Montlhéry. The air at the time was calm. the slight motion of translation actually existing being from Villejuif towards Montlhéry, or against the direction in which the sound was best heard.

So far as the author knows, no explanation of this has hitherto been given.

Experimenting with a sensitive flame, from 18 to 24 inches in height, and a reed, less than a square quarter of an inch in area, on a screen of cardboard, 18 inches high by 12 inches wide, in all cases it was shown that the sound was effective when the reed was at a distance from the screen and the flame close behind it ; while the action was insensible when these positions were reversed.

It was observed and recorded when the experiments of 1822 were made, that while the reports of the guns at Villejuif were without echoes, a roll of echoes, lasting from twenty to twentyfive seconds, accompanied every shot at Montlhéry, being heard by the observers there.

From various considerations the author infers that Montlhéry, on the occasion referred to, must have been surrounded by a highly diacoustic atmosphere; while the shortness of the echoes at Villejuif shows the atmosphere surrounding that station to have been acoustically opaque.

The non-homogeneous air surrounding Villejuif is experimentally typified by the screen with the source of sound close behind it; the upper end of the screen representing the place where equilibrium of temperature was established in the atmosphere above the station. In virtue of its proximity to the screen, the echoes from the sounding-reed would, in the case here supposed, so blend with the direct sound as to be practically indistinguishable from it, as the echoes at Villejuif followed the direct sound so hotly, and vanished so rapidly, that they escaped observation. And as the sensitive flame, at a distance, failed to be effected by the sounding body placed close behind the card. board screen, so, the author takes it, did the observers at Montlhéry fail to hear the sounds of the Villejuif gun.

Something further may be done towards the experimental elucidation of this subject. The facility with which sounds pass through textile fabrics has been already illustrated; * a layer of cambric, or even of thick flannel or baize, being found competent to intercept but a fraction of the sound from a vibrating reed. Such a layer of cambric may be taken to represent a layer of air differentiated from its neighbours by temperature or moisture; while a succession of such sheets of cambric may be taken to represent successive layers of non-homogeneous air.

Two tin tubes with open ends were placed so as to form an acute angle with each other. At the end of one is the vibrating reed; opposite the end of the other, and in the prolongation of its axis, is a sensitive flame-a second sensitive flame being placed in the continuation of the axis of the first tube. On sounding the reed, the direct sound through the first tube agitates the second flame. Introducing the square of cambric at the proper angle, a slight decrease of the action on the second is noticed, and the feeble echo from the cambric produces a barely perceptible agitation of the first flame. Adding another square, the sound transmitted by the first square impinges on the second. It is partially echoed, returns through the first square, passes along the second tube, and still further agitates the flame opposite its end. Adding a third square, the reflected sound is still further augmented, every accession to the echo being accom

Phil. Trans, Feb. 1874.

panied by a corresponding withdrawal of the vibrations from the flame opposite the first tube, and a consequent stilling of that flame. With thinner cambric it would require a greater number of layers to intercept the entire sound. Hence, with such cambric, we should have echoes returned from a greater distance, and, therefore, of greater duration.

Jan. 14.-"On a Class of Identical Relations in the Theory of Elliptic Functions," by J. W. L. Glaisher, M. A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; communicated by James Glaisher, F.R.S.

Chemical Society, Jan. 14.-Prof. Odling, F.R.S., presi dent, in the chair.-On the action of the organic acids and their anhydrides on the natural alkaloids, Part III., by Mr. G. H. Beckett and Dr. C. R. A. Wright, was read by the latter. It is a continuation of their researches on the opium alkaloids morphine and codeine.-The next communication was a note on the effect of passing the mixed vapours of carbon bisulphide and alcohol over red-hot copper, by Mr. T. Carnelly.-Dr. H. E. Armstrong then read a paper on the iodonitrophenols.

Anthropological Institute, Jan. 12.-Prof. Busk, F.R.S., president, in the chair.-Mr. T. J. Hutchinson, F. R. G.S., late H.M.'s Consul, Callao, read a paper on the anthropology of Prehistoric Peru. The paper commenced with a notice of how little is known up to the present time about the glorious days of Peru long before the time of the Incas, agreeing with Mr. Baldwin as to the original South Americans being the oldest people on that continent. The grandeur of colossal works in the extent of the ancient burial mounds was shown by illustrations. A comparison of these examined by the author in Peru was made with those explored by Messrs. Squier and Davis in the valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi. The prehistoric architecture of Peru, described by Prof. Raimondi in his recent work on the mineral riches of the department of Aucachs, were mentioned as highly interesting; more particularly the tombs cut out of solid blocks of diorite in the valleys where sandstone is the geological character; thus proving the enormous capacity for work of the ancient Peruvians in transporting these stony masses over the Andes. So small was the author's faith in Spanish accounts of South America, that he inclined to the belief in some future explorer finding the mythical "cradle of the Incas" in the National Library at Madrid, instead of in the Lake of Titicaca, to which latter place it is accredited by the Hakluyt Society.A paper, by Dr. George Dobson, was read on the Andamans and Andamanese. After giving a sketch of the geographical position of the Andaman Islands and their geological and zoological relations to the Asiatic continent, the author passed in review the various theories that had been propounded by eminent biologists to account for the origin of the Andamanese. He strongly inclined to the views of Mr. Wallace and M. Quatrefages that the Andamanese are Nigritos, or Samangs from the Malay peninsula, and was opposed to the theory of their descent from shipwrecked African negroes, on the ground rather of the dissimilarity of their manners and customs than of their physical characteristics. It was impossible, however, to account for the presence of the wild tribes of Southern India or of the peculiar Samangs of the interior of the Malay peninsula, surrounded by races with which they have no connection whatever, except on the hypothesis that they are the few surviving descendants of a woolly-haired people which in ages past occupied lands south of the Himalayas when the continent of Asia included within its southern limits the Andamans, Nicobars, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Philippine Islands; and that the present inhabitants of the Andamans and the Nigritos of the Philippines are also the remnant of those ancient Nigrito inhabitants of Southern Asia, which have almost disappeared before the invading Aryan and Mongolian races. Dr. Dobson exhibited a series of photographs, taken by himself, of Andamanese men and women.

Entomological Society, Jan. 4.—Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., president, in the chair.-Mr. Stevens exhibited varieties of Diloba cæruleocephala and Hibernia defoliaria, bred from larvæ taken near Brighton. -Mr. Smith exhibited a box of hymenopterous insects collected in the neighbourhood of Calcutta by Mr. Rothney. It comprised several rare species of Formicide and Fossores, and also many undescribed species of Apida, amongst which were two species of Nomia, one of them with remarkable capitate antennæ.—Mr. M'Lachlan made some remarks on the December Moth (Cheimatobia brumata), which he had observed one evening during the recent severe frost,

attracted in great numbers to the gas lamps in the neighbourhood of Lewisham. Mr. Weir remarked on the importance of ascer taining whether they were hybernated specimens or whether they had been newly hatched during the severe weather.-A letter was read from Mr. R. S. Morrison, of George Town, Colo. rado, expressing a wish to be placed in communication with any entomologists who might be interested in the insect faunas of the higher altitudes (8,000 to 14,000 ft.), which he considered

should be more fully investigated.-The Secretary exhibited a small bottle containing specimens of a Mantis, forwarded to him from Sarawak by Mr. de Crespigny. He stated that while sitting at table his notice was attracted by the unusual appearance of a column of ants crossing it; but on looking more narrowly he observed that they were not ants, but a species of Mantis, and he believed them to be full-grown insects, but that they had no wings. Mr. M'Lachlan, however, observed that some of the specimens had rudimentary wings; and the President and others expressed a belief that they would prove to be larvæ, and not perfect insects.

Institution of Civil Engineers, Jan. 12.-Mr. Thos. E. Harrison, president, in the chair. The paper read was on the construction of gasworks, by Mr. Harry E. Jones.

BERLIN

German Chemical Society, Dec. 19.-Annual ordinary meeting; A. W. Hofmann, V.P., in the chair. The vice-presi dent reported on the state of the Society, which counts 1,209 members, while the reports are published to the number of 1,800 copies. The number of papers published through its means amounted to more than 500 during the last year. The elections called the resident officers back to their posts, while, as non-resident members of the committee, the following were elected for the new year :-Messrs. Baeyer, Griess, Ladenburg, Landolt, and Schorlemmer.

Dec. 28.-A. W. Hofmann, V.P, in the chair.-P. Wallach and A. Böhringer, in treating methylated oxamine with PCl5, have produced a well-defined base yielding well-crystallised monobasic salts and a direct combination with CHI. The base CHCIN2 has received the name chloroxal methyline, and is homologous with CHCIN2 lately produced by Dr. Wallach from ethylated oxamine in a similar way.-I. Piccard has succeeded in producing anthrachinone by heating, in closed tubes to 220°, benzol and phthalic chloride with zinc:

C.H, COC +C_H% =CH, COCH,

6

I. Siebel proposed as a method for producing soda the treatment of tribasic phosphate of soda with carbonic acid, adding subsequently carbonate of ammonia. The double phosphate of sodium and ammonium crystallises out, while two-thirds of the sodium, transformed into carbonate, remain in solution.-A. Oppenheim reported on a mechanical method for preventing the most frequent cause of the incrustation or furring of steam boilers, lately patented by a large boiler-maker, M. Paukoch, in Landsberg. Instead of introducing the water directly into the boiler, he lets it run slowly through a wide tube passing through the boiler. Here, on being heated, the water deposits its carbonate of lime before it is admitted into the boiler. As the inner tube is not in contact with the fire, the deposit in it cannot produce the usual dangerous results.

PARIS

Academy of Sciences, Jan. 11.-M. M. Fremy in the chair. -The following papers were read :-On the mesaticephalic and brachycephalic fossil human races, by M. de Quatrefages, being the third part of the author's and M. Hamy's work on the skulls of the human races.-Report on M. Alph. Guérin's work, on the patho-genetic effect of fermentation products in surgical cases, and a new method of treatment of the amputated, by M. Gosselin. -MM. Bouilland and Pasteur then spoke in detail on the same subject; M. A. Trécul made some observations with regard to the production of vibriones and bacteria, in reference to the last subject.-Report on M. Halphen's memoir, concerning the importaut points of plane algebraic curves, by M. de la Gournerie. -On the existence of the integral in equations with partial derivatives, containing any number of functions and independent variables, by M. G. Darboux.-On the action of electrolytic oxygen on alcohol, by M. A. Renard; experiments made by the author, who exposed alcohol, to which about five per cent. of dilute sulphuric acid had been added, to an electric current from

Lake Leman, by F. A. Forel. Seiches are the sudden rises and falls in the level of this lake. The author gives an explanation of these phenomena and considers them constant and frequent in all larger lakes, and not rare and accidental as was believed hitherto. -A note by M. Martha-Becker, relating to his paper on ether and the origin of matter.-A note by M. H. de Kerikuff, with corrections for his communication on the velocity of light and the parallax of the sun. A note by M. Poupelle, with regard to a system of electric danger signals to prevent railway collisions on a single line of rails.-On the reduction of equations with partial derivatives to ordinary differential equations, by M. W. de Maximovitch.-M. E. Flaquer communicates the observations and calculations made by the French Commission for the measuring of the arc of meridian between Barcelona and the Balearic Isles.-M. Lemonnier gives some new theories with regard to equations with common roots.-On the correction of Descartes' ovals, by M. A. Genocchi.-On some properties of the curvature of the surfaces, by M. Halphen.-On stratified light, by M. Neyreneuf.-On the specific rotative power of mannite, by M. G. Bouchardat; accounts of experiments made in M. Berthelot's laboratory.-M. P. Bouloumié communicates the results of his observations and researches on micro-organisms in suppurations, their influence on the healing of wounds, and the different means to prevent their development. On white globules in the bloodvessels of the spleen, by MM. Tarchanoff and A. Swaen.-On the habits of a remarkable serpent of Cochin China: Herpeton tentaculatum, by M. A. Morice.

BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED BRITISH.-On the Recent Progress and Present State of Systematic Botany: George Bentham, F.R S. (British Association). - Institution of Civil Engineers (Printed by Private Press).-Agricultural Gazette Almanack, 1875 (W. Richards).-Westminster Review, January 1875 (Trübner).—The Nagpur Waterworks: James Forrest (Clowes and Sons).

FOREIGN.-Note sur un procédé pour donner ou pour rendre leur couleur rouge aux muscles Conservés dans l'alcool: Felix Plateau (F. Hayez, Bruxelles).-Un parasite de l'Heiroptères de Belgique: Félix Plateau (Académie Royale de Belgique).-Die Lösung der wichtigsten probleme in der Natur: Johann Friedrich Lochner (E. H. Mayer, Leipzig-Les Comètes: Amédée Guillemin (Paris, Hachette and Co.) In Sachen Darwin's insbesondere Contra Wigand: Dr. Gustav Jaeger (Stuttgart, E. Schweigerbart).-Annuaire de l'Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres, et des beaux-Arts de Belgique, 1875 (Brussels, F. Hayez).-Third Annual Report of the Director of the Imperial Mint, Osaka, Japan. Year ending July 31, 1874 (Hiogo News Office).-Der Darwinismus und der Naturforschung Newtons und Cuviers: Dr. Albert Wigand (Brunswick, F. Vieweg und Sohu).