descriptions of a few extralimital forms," "Descriptions of New American Phalanidæ,' "Notes on North American Moths of the Families Phalænidæ and Pyralidæ in the British Museum," "On the Cave Fauna of Indiana," and "Record of American Entomology for 1872."

THE Dundee Advertiser is a daily paper of wide circulation and of considerable influence in the north, and is, therefore, we presume, able to keep a competent "London Correspondent." That gentleman, however, in writing in a recent number of the Advertiser about Mr. Prestwich's paper on tunnelling the Channel, is made to make the extraordinary statement that "in order to get under the chalk to the Palæogovic rocks the Company would have to go to a depth of ten miles on either side!" We had recently occasion to point out that science is at a discount in Dundee.

THE Berdeaux district branch of the French Association for the Promotion of Science has resolved to hold its meetings weekly on Mondays.

GOVERNMENT has sanctioned the appointment of a Professor of Physical Science at the Madras Presidency College, on a salary of 500 rs., rising to 700 rs. per month.

THE New York papers have lately contained quite a number of articles urging the propriety of establishing an Aquarium in Central Park, on the same scale as that at Brighton.

WE learn from La Revue Scientifique that two specimens of the Ibis, a bird found only in Egypt and at the mouths of the Danube, were recently shot by a hunter in the department of the Somme.

WE can only briefly refer to the following new books and new editions :-"Where there's a Will there's a Way; or, Science in the Cottage" (Hardwicke), is the title of a little volume by Mr. James Casb, containing an interesting collection of lives of persons in humble life who have to some purpose pursued the study of science, especially of Natural History.—“ Mountain, Meadow, and Mere, a series of Outdoor Sketches of Sport, Scenery, Adventures, and Natural History," by Mr. G. C. Davies (Henry S. King & Co.), is a series of articles which originally appeared in the Field and some magazines. The sketches are generally graphic and racy, and contain information that, we should think, would be valuable to sportsmen of various kinds, with occasional observations on the natural history of the districts referred to by the author.--Mr. John Murray has just published third editions of Mr. H. W. Bates' "Naturalist on the River Amazons," and Mr. J. G. Bertram's interesting work, "The Harvest of the Sea, including Sketches of Fisheries and Fisher Folk." The latter work, which has been the means of doing good service to our fisheries, has been revised, and a considerable amount of new matter added.

A Times telegram dated Rome, Dec. 20, states that Colonel 'Gordon, who has accepted from the Khédive the leadership of a scientific expedition into Upper Egypt, is furnished by his Highness with a credit of 100,000l.

WE are glad to hear that a Section for Microscopical Investigation has been formed in connection with the Leeds Naturalists' Field Club and Scientific Association, one of the most efficient of local scientific societies. An excellent microscope has been purchased by liberal subscriptions among the members. WE have received the Report of the 16th Session, 1872-3, of the Birkenhead Literary and Scientific Society, which numbers 134 members. The Report, among other papers, contains an address by the President, the Rev. G. II. Hopkins, on "the

Insufficiency of Facts to establish a Scientific Law," characterised by considerable acuteness and knowledge. A paper read before this Society by Dr. Ricketts, F.G.S., on "Fissures, Faults, Contortions, and Slaty Cleavage," has been printed in a separate form.

THE Annual Report for 1872 of the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society, is on the whole very satisfactory. Prefixed to the Report is a very able and extremely interesting address by the retiring President, the Rev. H. W. Crosskey, F. G. S., on some of the general principles on which geology as a science depends. Some of his illustrations are very forcible and ingenious.

THE Mining Commission, consisting of Savot Bey and Osmin Bey, sent into the district of Lom, in the Danubian viceroyalty of Turkey in Europe, has been compelled, on account of the winter, to bring its labours to a close. It has, however, dis covered two good coal mines, one ten and the other twenty miles from Lom. There are other mines of iron, copper, and bitumen. ON November 26, at 11 P.M., a smart shock of earthquake was felt at Prevesa, in European Turkey. Though reported to have been violent, the shock only lasted a few seconds and did no damage. The earthquake of November 10, in Anatolia, extended to Ak Hissar, where it did some damage, and also in the village of Suleimanieh. On October 11, there was a slight shock at Lima, in Peru.

THE following statistics relating to Swedish Universities are from the Medical Record :-In the University of Upsala there are 52 ordinary and 2 extraordinary professors, 24 ordinary and 2 extraordinary assistant-professors, and other teachers, making a total of 109 persons engaged in instruction. The number of pupils is 1,607, of whom 172 belong to the faculty of medicine. The University of Lund has 64 teachers, including 28 ordinary and I extraordinary professor, and 28 ordinary assistant-professors. There are 545 students, of whom 33 are medical.

THE Journal of the Society of Arts informs us that from a recent report to the Congress by the Inspector-general of Public Instruction in Chili, some idea of the educational condition of that republic may be formed. There are 1,190 schools in Chili, of which 726 are public and 464 private. It appears from the latest census that the population of the towns is 520,668, being at the rate of one school for every 1,769 inhabitants; and in school for every 3,020 inhabitants. the country, with a population of 1,298, 560, there would be one In 1872 these schools were attended by 82, 162 children and young persons of both sexes, and the amount expended by the Government for education pur poses amounted to 414, 127 piastres. The number of teachers in the primary schools was 1,544, of which 896 were male and 657 female teachers.

ACCORDING to the "Reports of the Mining Surveyors and Registrars," the yield of gold in the colony of Victoria for the quarter ending June 30, was :-from Alluviums 123,643 oz. 6 dwt.; from quartz reefs, 159,604 oz. 17 dwt; total 283,248 oz. 3 dwt.

WE have received No. 3 of Albert Müller's "Contributions to Entomological Bibliography," up to 1862.

THE additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the last week include an Alpaca (Lama pacos) from Peru, and a Pileated Parraket (Platycerus pileatus) from Australia, pur chased; a Violaceous Plaintain-cutter (Musophaga violacea) frəm West Africa, received in exchange; a Puma (Felis concolor) from America, and two Tuberculated Iguanas (Iguana tuberculata) from the West Indies, deposited.

SCIENTIFIC SERIALS

THE Journal of the Franklin Institute, November 1873.-In this number Mr. Richards, mechanical engineer, communicates the first part of a treatise on “The Principles of Shop Manipulation for Engineering Apprentices;" the points dealt with being these plans of studying (and here he advocates the order, first, machine functions, next, plans or adaptations of machines, third, construction of machines), nature of mechanical engineering, engineering as a calling, and the conditions of apprenticeship. Dr. Coolley, in a lecture-extract, shows how convection may be usefully applied in detection of heat. He has an instrument somewhat like a Coulomb electrometer; in a glass case, a thin glass tube with black pith ball at one end is suspended horizontally by a silk fibre over a graduated disc. A heated body is introduced near the ball, which immediately swings towards it; while a cold body will repel the ball; these effects being due to air currents. The experiments Dr. Coolley makes, show that this forms a very sensitive thermoscope.-An account is furnished of the Cleveland Waterworks Tunnel, just completed, and which is similar to the one at Chicago. The shore section and lake section were carried on simultaneously, 40 ft. to 70 ft. below the bottom of the lake; the starting-points being a mile and a quarter apart. The work was somewhat disturbed by quicksands, but the sections met on an exact level. The capacity of the tunnel is 60 to 70 million gallons daily; though the average daily consumption is at present only about 6 million gallons.-A new process is described for utilising coal waste. The inventor uses, as a cement, only yellow clay with some milk of lime, but no bituminous or resinous matter; merely waterproofing the surface with a solution of rosin. From first to last no handling is required; and the lumps are delivered, in shape and size like hen's eggs. The process is highly commended.-We find notes on American machinery abroad, friction of screw propellers in water, &c., and, among other novelties of construction described, a planing bar, a compound beam engine, an antifriction journal, an irrigating machine, and a new optical toy (Prof. Dolbear).

Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie. Band 169, Heft 1, u. 2. -We notice that in this number Liebig's name disappears from the list of editors, and the title is changed to Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie und Fharmacie. The following papers are pub. lished:-Hubner and Post on the constitution of bromtoluol in relation to its hydrogen atoms. The authors give a collection of minor papers by various authors, dealing with the substitution of different hydrogen atoms in the formula by various radicles.On the estimation of nitrogen, by S. W. Johnson. The author finds that a mixture of sulphate or carbonate of sodium with slaked lime can be employed instead of the soda-lime usually used in Varrentrapp's and Will's processes. The mixture, when heated, of course, yields sodic hydrate and sulphate or carbonate of calcium. Experiments made with such mixtures are described. On the nitro derivatives of naphthalin, by F. Beilstein and A. Kuhlberg. The mono-, di-, and tri-nitro compounds are described. On atacamite, by E. Ludwig. The author proposes some alteration in the ideas of the constitution of this mineral advocated by Rammelsberg and others, his suggestions being based upon the way in which the substance gives up its water at different temperatures; he also makes some suggestions as to formula of brochantite.-On the action of sulphocarbonyl chloride on amidogen compounds, by B. Rathke and P. Schäfer. Note on a polyacetone, by W. Heintz.-On the production of talanin by means of potassic cyanide, and on a by product of the reaction by W. Heintz. The author gives details of the preparation of alanin, the by product is lactyt-urea.-On the constitution of natural silicates, by Dr. K. Haushofer, is a lengthy paper dealing with the probable constitutional and graphic formulae of these bodies.-On the polyolenes and on the change of ethylene into ethyl alcohol, by W. Goriainow and A. Butlerow.-On protein substances, by H. Hlasiwetz and J. Habermann.-On the compounds of the camphor group, by J. Kachler. The author describes pimelinic acid, C-H12O4, and many of its salts. -On the isomers of amylene obtained from the amylic alcohol of fermentation, by F. Flavitzky.-On the synthesis of anthracene and dimethyl-anthracene, by W. A. van Dorp.-On corulignon and its derivatives, by C. Lieberman. The author regards cœrulignon as a quinone.-On pentabrom resorcin and pentabromorcin, by C. Lieberman and A. Dittler.-The number concludes with an abstract from M. L. d'Henry's late paper in the Comptes Rendus, on the use of the sodium flame for observing litmus tints in alkalimetry.

Verhandlungen der k. k. geologischen Reichsanstalt. Nos. I to 6. (1873.) Amongst many other papers of interest contained in these numbers of the Proceedings we note the following :On the occurrence of a new genus and new species of palm seedvessel (Lepidocaryopsis Westphaleni) in the cretaceous sandstone of Kaunitz in Bohemia, by D. Stur.-Notices of the earthquake at Vienna on the 3rd January, by Dr. G. Stache.-Hugo Rittler's sketches of the rothliegende in the environs of Rossitz, by D. Stur.-On the analogies of the three carboniferous resins, anthracox, middletonite, and tasmanite, and their probable origin, by O. Feistmantel.-On the geological position and distribution of the silicified woods in Bohemia, by the same author.-The usual literary notices and other matters accompany each part of the Proceedings.

66

Ocean Highways, December. This number commences with an appreciative memoir of the late Sir Robert Maclure. An article entitled The Straits of Magellan" contains some very interesting information concerning the little known region in that quarter of the world, and what has been done recently for the settlement of the mainland-coast of the straits. The paper recommends to emigrants Sandy Point, the Chilian settlement at which most of the steamers touch on their way to and from the West Coast, and which "is admirably situated on Brunswick Peninsula, nearly on the line of demarcation between the dense forests which cover the whole western end of the Straits, and the naked, rolling Pampas, which spread uninterruptedly northward to the very shores of the river Plate."-H. H. Giglio sends a letter, with some remarks from Dr. Beccari, on the latter's Exploration of Papuasia. Three small maps of parts of New Guinea illustrate the discoveries of Beccari, D'Albertis, Moresby, Cerruti, and Meyer.

SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES

LONDON

Royal Society, Dec. 11.- "On the Action of Heat on Gravitating Masses," by William Crookes, F.R.S.

The experiments recorded in this paper have arisen from observations made when using the vacuum-balance, described by the author in his paper "On the Atomic Weight of Thallium,' for weighing substances which were of a higher temperature than the surrounding air and the weights. There appeared to be a diminution of the force of gravitation, and experiments were instituted to render the action more sensible, and to eliminate sources of error.

After discussing the explanations which may be given of these actions, and showing that they cannot be due to air-currents, the author refers to evidences of this repulsive action of heat, and attractive action of cold, in nature. In that portion of the sun's radiation which is called heat, we have the radial repulsive force possessing successive propagation required to explain the phenomena of comets and the shape and changes of the nebula. To compare small things with great (to argue from pieces of straw up to heavenly bodies), it is not improbable that the attraction now shown to exist between a cold and a warm body will equally prevail when, for the temperature of melting ice is substituted the cold of space, for a pith ball a celestial sphere, and for an artificial vacuum a stellar void. In the radiant molecular energy of cosmical masses may at last be found that "agent acting constantly according to certain laws," which Newton held to be the cause of gravity.

Dec. 18. "On Double Refraction in a Viscous Fluid in motion," by Prof. J. Clerk Maxwell, F. R.S.

According to Poisson's + theory of the internal friction of fluids, a viscous fluid behaves as an elastic solid would do if it were periodically liquefied for an instant and solidified again, so that at each fresh start it becomes for the moment like an elastic solid free from strain. The state of strain of certain transparent bodies may be investigated by means of their action on polarised light. This action was observed by Brewster, and was shown by Fresnel to be an instance of double refraction.

In 1866 I made some attempts to ascertain whether the state of strain in a viscous fluid in motion could be detected by its action on polarised light. I had a cylindrical box with a glass bottom. Within this box a solid cylinder could be made to roThe fluid to be examined was placed in the annular space

tate.

between this cylinder and the sides of the box. Polarised light was thrown up through the fluid parallel to the axis, and the inner cylinder was then made to rotate. I was unable to obtain any result with solution of gum or syrup of sugar, though I observed an effect on polarised light when I compressed some Canada balsam which had become very thick and almost solid in a bottle.

It is easy, however, to observe the effect in Canada balsam, which is so fluid that it very rapidly assumes a level surface after being disturbed. Put some Canada balsam in a wide-mouthed square bottle; let light, polarised in a vertical plane, be transmitted through the fluid; observe the light through a Nicol's prism, and turn the prism so as to cut off the light; insert a spatula into the Canada balsam in a vertical plane passing through the eye. Whenever the spatula is moved up or down in the fluid, the light reappears on both sides of the spatula ; this continues only so long as the spatula is in motion. As soon as the motion stops, the light disappears, and that so quickly that I have hitherto been unable to determine the rate of relaxation of that state of strain which the light indicates.

If the motion of the spatula in its own plane, instead of being in the plane of polarisation, is inclined 45° to it, no effect is observed, showing that the axes of strain are inclined 45° to the plane of shearing, as indicated by the theory.

I am not aware that this method of rendering visible the state of strain of a viscous fluid has been hitherto employed; but it appears capable of furnishing important information as to the nature of viscosity in different substances.

Among transparent solids there is considerable diversity in their action on polarised light. If a small portion is cut from a piece of unannealed glass at a place where the strain is uniform, the effect on polarised light vanishes as soon as the glass is relieved from the stress caused by the unequal contraction of the parts surrounding it.

But if a plate of gelatine is allowed to dry under longitudinal tension, a small piece cut out of it exhibits the same effect on light as it did before, showing that a state of strain can exist without the action of stress. A film of gutta percha which has been stretched in one direction has a similar action on light. If a circular piece is cut out of such a stretched film and warmed, it contracts in the direction in which the stretching took place.

The body of a sea-nettle has all the appearance of a transparent jelly, and at one time I thought that the spontaneous contractions of the living animal might be rendered visible by means of polarised light transmitted through its body. But found that even a very considerable pressure applied to the sides of the sea-nettle produced no effect on polarised light, and I thus found, what I might have learned by dissection, that the sea-nettle is not a true jelly, but consists of cells filled with fluid.

On the other hand, the crystalline lens of the eye, as Brewster observed, has a strong action on polarised light when strained, either by external pressure, or by the unequal contraction of its parts as it becomes dry.

the time from maximum to maximum, for the same hemisphere, being variable between 18 and 32 days, but having a mean value of about 25.2 days.

It occurs at once that if the variations of the mean terrestrial magnetic force are connected in any way with the solar spots, or the causes which produce them, we might here find some explanation of the magnetic period of 26 days, the difference of spot area in one hemisphere from that in the other being related to a difference of the solar magnetic action.

In order to determine whether such a connection existed, I projected first the curves of excess of spot-area given in the paper of Messrs. De La Rue, Stewart, and Loewy, and below them the daily mean horizontal force of the earth's magnetism during the same periods. The conclusion from these projections is, that there is no relation whatever between the two classes of curves. The maxima and minima of the one agree in no ways with those of the other; the greatest excesses of sun-spot area in the one hemisphere over those in the other occur when the earth's magnetic force is the most constant; the greatest variations of the earth's magnetic force from the mean occur in several instances when the sun-spot area is equal in the two visible quarter-spheres.

It should be remembered, in considering the curves of sunspot excess, that the minima and maxima are in some cases only relative; sometimes the one, sometimes the other being really cases in which there is neither maximum nor minimum; that is to say, cases in which the sun-spot area is equal, or nearly so in the two visible quarter-spheres.

It would be hasty to conclude from this comparison that the variations of the mean magnetic force are really unconnected with the mode of distribution of the sun-spots. Öther methods of grouping the spots may perhaps be employed with advantage relatively to this and other questions, for example, were the position of the centre of gravity of the sun-spots determined for the visible quarter-spheres and hemisphere, giving each spot a spot-weight in proportion to its area, the variation of these positions in latitude and longitude and their weights, might give a more satisfactory base for this comparison and for other deductions.

It will be obvious also that this investigation refers only to one visible hemisphere of the sun; an approximation to the spotdistribution on the other hemisphere will, however, be frequently possible.

"On the Nervous System of Actinia," Part I., by Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F. R.S.

"On certain Discrepancies in the published numerical value of," by William Shanks.

Mathematical Society, Dec. 11.-Prof. Cayley, F. R.S., V.P., in the chair.-Prof. Clifford gave an account of his paper on the graphic representation of the harmonic components of a periodic motion. The paper was an application of a theorem of Fourier's, which asserts that any motion having the period P may be decomposed into simple harmonic motions having

"On the Period of Hemispherical Excess of Sun-spots, and the 26-day Period of Terrestrial Magnetism." By J. A. Broun,

F.R.S.

It appears from the interesting communication to the Royal Society, June 19, by Messrs. De La Rue, Stewart, and Loewy,+ that the difference of the area of spots on the visible northern and southern quarter-spheres of the sun seems, during periods of considerable solar disturbance, to obey a law such that the difference is a maximum in the same quarter-sphere during several successive rotations of the sun, the difference being a maximum alternately in the northern and southern hemispheres;

*The "time of relaxation" of a substance strained in a given manner is the time required for the complete relaxation of the strain, supposing the rate of relaxation to remain the same as at the beginning of this time. ↑ Proc. Royal Soc. vol. xxi. p. 399.

of these motions by means of definite integrals.-Prof. Cayley next spoke on the subject of Steiner's surface. The author stated that he had constructed a model and drawings of the symmetrical form of Steiner's surface, viz. that wherein the four singular tangent planes form a regular tetrahedron, and consequently the three nodal lines (being the lines joining the middle points of opposite edges) a system of rectangular axes at the centre of the tetrahedron. He then described the general form of the surface, and finally discussed its analytical theory.-Lord Rayleigh, Mr. Roberts, Prof. Clifford, and Prof. Cayley made further extempore communications to the Society.

Linnean Society, Dec. 18.-G. Bentham, F. R. S., president, in the chair.-Dr. Hooker exhibited a magnificent zoophyte from Bermuda, sent by General Lefroy; also a six-lobed Seychelles cocoa-nut (Lodoicea Seychellarum) and two tazzas made from the shell of a Seychelles cocoa-nut sent from the Seychelles by Mr. Swinburne Ward to the Kew Museum; also some small boxes from Mauritius and Madagascar made from some grass-haulm; and two walking-sticks from Bermuda made of the "cedarwood" of commerce (Juniperus bermudiana).-Mr. Bowring exhibited an inflorescence of an orchid with a remarkable smell, probably a Bulbophyllum.-The following papers were then read, viz. :-"Contributions to the Botany of the Challenger Expedition," No. 2, by H. N. Moseley, M. A. On the Vegetation of Bermuda and the surrounding sea. About 160 species of flower

The chairman thought there could be no difficulty about it; the Rev. Mr. Cotton had taken bees out to New Zealand by keeping them at a low temperature, and consequently in a dormant condition, by means of ice.-Mr. McLachlan further wished the opinion of the committee with respect to another New Zealand inquiry by Captain Hutton; Aphides were now becoming very common in New Zealand, but were probably not indigenous. Could the golden-winged fly (Chrysopa) be advantageously introduced to check them. The chairman thought that it would be far better to send out dormant lady-birds (Coccinella). Mr. Wilson, F.R.S., pointed out the necessity of caution in these introductions; sparrows and hares were far from a boon in Australia.-Prof. Thiselton Dyer read a letter from Mr. Scott, F.R.S., Director of the Meteorological Office, with respect to a change in the climate of Scotland recently insisted on by Mr. McNab. He stated that it was an opinion too general to be lightly disregarded that our winters are warmer and summers cooler, on an average, than in the last century, but did not know where to find records which could be quoted with confidence in a discussion of the question.-Dr. Voelcker, F.R.S., mentioned that there was no doubt that it was quite possible to make wine from grapes ripened in this country; the often-repeated argument that our summers must be cooler because wine was not now made was manifestly fallacious.-Mr. A. W. Bennett, F. L.S., communicated a paper on pollen-eating flies of the group Syrphide.—Mr. Baker, F.L.S., sent capsules of Lilium auratum and L. speciosum.

Anthropological Institute, Dec. 9.-Mr. F. G. H. Price, F.G.S., in the chair.-Mr. J Park Harrison gave a detailed description of two incised tablets, from Easter Island in the South Pacific, discovered by the French missionaries in one of the stone houses supposed to be formerly occupied by the chiefs. The signs appeared to be principally iconographic and to represent forms of life and incidents connected with islands several thousand miles to the west.-Prof. T. McK. Hughes described the results of his exploration of the rock-shelter known as Cave Ha, near Giggleswick, Settle, Yorkshire. In the upper deposits flakes and scrapers of chert and flint and other ancient remains in stone and iron were mixed up with the most recent works of art by the operations of badgers, rabbits, &c. In these beds the bones were found by Prof. Busk to be all of recent species, still, or till quite lately, common in the district. In the older deposits, which were composed chiefly of angular fragments of limestone, and, therefore, were not disturbed by burrowing animals, the remains of bear occurred associated with ox, goat or sheep, and dog; but as yet no traces of men. A point to which the author called special attention was the explanation found here of the occurrence in many ossiferous caves of such immense quantities of the bones of mice. The floor was in places strewn with broken up pellets of owls with here and there a few retaining their form, which, when the hair had decomposed away would exactly correspond to the layers and little bunches of the bones of mice in the underlying beds.-Prof. Hughes also read a joint paper by himself and Rev. D. R. Thomas, "On the occurrence of Felstone implements, of the Le Moustier type, in Pontnewydd Cave near St. Asaph, North Wales," After explaining by reference to sections, the position of the cave and of the deposits in it, the authors described a series of implements of felstone as similar to the common forms of Le Moustier as would be expected, allowing for the difference of material. They exhibited also a collection of bones from the same deposit which were referred by Prof. Busk to Ursus spelæus, U. ferox, Hyæna spelaa, Rhinoceros hemistachus, and others, including a human molar which Prof. Busk pointed out was remarkable for its large size. the rock, of which the implements were manufactured, occurred in that river basin in the boulder clay only, as the implements seemed to have been made from fragments such as occur in the drift, and are found associated with remanié drift mixed with tumble from the roof of the cave, the authors inferred that the deposit was post-glacial, while the forms of the implements, and the animal remains found with them would refer the beds to the earliest cave deposit

As

in which human remains have been found.-A communication was made by Prof. Busk on a human fibula of unusual formation discovered in Victoria Cave, Settle, Yorkshire. The fragment lay at a considerable depth in the cave and beneath a thick layer of Boulder Clay, and was associated with bones of the two large species of cave Bear, Ilyana, Rhinoceros tichorhinus, Bison and Cervus. From its position, accompaniments, and

other considerations, the deposit in which the specimen was found, had been regarded as of pre-glacial age.

The London Anthropological Society, Dec. 2.-Dr. R. S. Charnock, president, in the chair.-Causes which determine the Rise and Fall of Nations, by T. Inman, M.D. The paper embraced the whole historical range. -Western Anthropologists and Extra Western Communities, by J. Kaines, D.Sc. The paper shows what should be the moral attitude of the more civilised to the less civilised-what the latter has to teach the former-and the evils of western contact with the backward races.

Photographic Society, Dec. 9.-J. Spiller, F. C.S., V. P., in the chair.-On photo-collotype printing, by Capt. J. Waterhouse. The author recommended the use of citric acid as a clearing agent.-Lieut. Chermside, R. E., read a paper on photography in the Arctic Regions. Mr. Chermside accompanied Mr. Leigh Smith in his Arctic expedition last summer. The temperature at which pictures were actually taken was rarely less than 32° Fahr., but much difficulty was experienced in maintaining the solutions in proper order during excessive cold. The author gave some practical advice on the subject of overcoming actual difficulties inherent to photographic manipulations in high latitudes.

PARIS

Academy of Sciences, Dec. 15.-M. de Quatrefages, president, in the chair.-The following papers were read :-On the laws of the magnetisation of steel by currents, by M. Jamin.-An answer to a note read by M. Trécul at the meeting of the Dec. 8, by M. Pasteur. This was a reply to M. Trécul's criticism on the author's note on beer and displayed considerable acrimony, M. Pasteur of course sustained his well-known views of the nature of ferments.-M. Berthelot presented some new remarks on the nature of the chemical elements, which however could not be read on account of want of time. The author, it may be stated, admits the possibility of the elements being modifications of a fundamental substance, and stated that nothing renders it improbable that a discovery like that of the voltaic current might not give us power to still further simplify matter. His paper concluded thus :- We shall only be too happy if Mr. Lockyer, guided by stellar spectral analysis, can shed a new light upon these questions, and continue to investigate problems raised now forty years ago by M. Dumas in a work (Leçons de Philosophie Chimique) which has contributed so much to our scientific education.-Researches on new butyl derivatives by M. A. Cahours. The author dealt with the aluminium silicon tin and mercury compounds of butyl.-On the propagation of the Phylloxera, by M. H. Marès.-Report on Mr. Douglas Galton's paper "On the Construction of Hospitals," by M. Larrey, and General Morin:-Valuation in mechanical units of the quantity of electricity produced by an element in a battery, by M. leaves of the vine, by M. Max. Cornu.-Action of the volcanic Branly.-Hybernation of the Phylloxera on the branches and earth of the solfatara of Pouzzoles on the diseases of the vine, by M. S. De Luca.--On certain morphological changes observed in the genus Cypripedium, by M. R. Guérin.

BOOKS RECEIVED

AMERICAN-Catalogue of Stars observed in the United States Observatory, 1845-71: Rear-Admira! Sands (Washington).-Daily Bulletin of Weather Reports for September 1872: War Department (Washington).-Annual Record of Science and Industry: Dr. Spencer F. Baird (Harper, New York).— Elements of Logarithms: Pierce (Ginn Bros.).

FOREIGN. Annalen der Sternwarte in Leiden: Dr. F. Kaiser (Nijkoff). -Somario delle Lezioni di Fisica: Prof. Mombello (Foligno).-Zoologische Studien auf Capri : Dr. Theodore Eimer (Engelmann, Leipzig)