Academy of Sciences, March 10.-M. Hermite in the chair.-,Note on the life and works of George Henry Halphen, by M. Emile Picard.—On the phenomena seen about the sun on March 3, 1890, by M. A. Cornu. Halos and parhelia were seen about the sun on this date, and observations of the aqueous bands of the solar spectrum made at the time when the first halo of 22° appeared, showed that warm and moist currents existed in the higher regions of the atmosphere in spite of the exceptional cold (-11°C.) at Paris.-Thermal researches on the allotropic modifications of arsenic, by MM. Berthelot and Engel. The amount of heat evolved on treatment with bromine and water was found to be nearly the same in both the forms; arsenic, in this respect, behaving like carbon.-Second note on the absorption of atmospheric ammonia by soils, by M. H. Schloesing. From the experiments described in this and the previous note, the author finds that calcareous, acid or neutral, dry or wet soils, absorb atmospheric ammonia. Moist earth, however, favours the fixation of ammonia, and dry earth retards it.-The muscular and elastic elements of the retrolingual membrane of the frog, by M. L. Ranvier. The problems investigated are: the attachment of the elastic fibres to the muscular bundles, and whether a fibril terminates in a thick or thin disc or a clear space, all of which occur in the muscular bundles.-On the microbes of acute osteomyelites called infectious, by MM. Lannelongue and Achard.-Study of the errors of observation, by M. J. E. Estienne.--Sun-spot in very high latitude, by M. Dierckx. To this note we refer elsewhere (p. 472).-On Stirling's formula, by M. E. Rouché.-On regular surfaces which pass through a given curve, by M. Ch. Bioche.-On the compounds of phosphoretted hydrogen and ammonia with boron chloride and silicon hexachloride, by M. A. Besson.-Note on the compounds of the metals of the alkalies with ammonia, by M. J. Moutier. On the estimation of free halogens and of iodides in presence of chlorine and bromine, by M. P. Lebeau. Iodine is estimated by liberation from its compound in aqueous solution by a standard solution of bromine, the iodine being dissolved out from the water by CS, as soon as liberated: the end of the reaction is indicated by the decoloration of the supernatant aqueous solution, to which a few drops of indigo solution has been previously added.-On the formation of thiosulphate of lead, note by M. J. Fogh. -Decomposition of thiosulphate of lead by heat. Trithionate of lead, by the same author. It is shown that, by the prolonged action of boiling water, thiosulphate of lead decomposes according to the equation 2PbS,O= PbS + PbS3O6.-On a new iodide of bismuth and potassium, M. L. Astre.-Note on the molecular increase of dispersion of saline solutions, by MM. Ph. Barbier and L. Roux. If the constant K given in a previous communication be multiplied by the molecular weight of the dissolved salt, what the authors term the molecular increase of dispersion is obtained. MK for chlorides of the type MCI is shown to have the mean value o 020, for chlorides MC, the mean value is 0'044.-Researches upon the application of measurements of the rotatory power to the determination of compounds resulting from the action of malic acid upon the neutral molybdates of lithium and magnesium, by M. D. Gernez.-The volumetric estimation of tannin, by M. E. Guenez.-Estimation of acetone in methyl alcohol and in the raw methyl alcohol used for methylation, by M. Léo Vignon. On the diminution of fermenting power of the ellipsoidal wine-yeast, in presence of salts of copper, by M. A. Kommier.-On a Coleopterous insect attacking the vine in Tunis (Ligniperda francisca, Fabricius), by M. A. Laboulbène. -The preparation of crystallized basic nitrate of copper and its identification with gerhardtite, by M. L. Bourgeois. BERLIN. Meteorological Society, February 11.-Prof. Schwalbe, President, in the chair.-Dr. Danckelmann spoke on the meteorological conditions which exist on the Gold and Slave Coast. General observations had been started in New Guinea, but were soon reduced to observations of rainfall only; during the years 1886 to 1889, they had yielded some interesting results on the connection between rainfall and the direction of the monsoons and trade-winds. No trustworthy data are as yet to hand of the meteorological conditions of Southern Africa, Cameroon, and East Africa, but, on the other hand, there is a mass of material accumulated at many stations on the Guinea coast. From the latter it appears that the atmospheric pressure varies but slightly, and shows a maximum in July and August. In Bismarckburg the wind blows from the north and north-east from the Sahara in December, January, and February; in June, July, and August it blows west and south-west. Variations of temperature are but slight, presenting a maximum in December to February, and a minimum in July and August. The amount of rainfall is very variable, being, in some places, as low as 575 mm. per annum; in others, 1000, 1500, or even 3500. The speaker concluded by describing the climatic conditions of this region, pointing out that they may be explained with reference to the contiguity of the Sahara Desert.-Dr. Eschenhagen gave a detailed description of the Magnetic Observatory at Potsdam, dealing with its structural arrangements and the internal location of the instruments. While exhibiting the photographically recorded curves of the previous fortnight, he dealt with the breaks in these which result from any more than usually severe shock of earthquake. These he attributed to purely mechanical' causes rather than to magnetic, basing his views on observations of the movement of the surface of mercury at the time. He pointed out that the opposite view, urged by French meteorologists, as based upon observation of a copper rod with a bifilar suspension, is inconclusively supported by such observations, inasmuch as the equilibrum of a copper rod is relatively stable, while that of a bifilar magnet is unstable.-The President referred, in conclusion, to the loss which meteorology had sustained in the death of Buys Ballot. After Physiological Society, February 14.-Prof. du Bois Reymond, President, in the chair.-Prof. Zuntz gave an account of experiments conducted in his laboratory by Dr. Katzenstein, on the influence of bodily labour on the metabolism of man. giving an historical résumé of previous researches, he described the methods employed in the present research. The experiments were conducted in a very convenient form of respirationapparatus, the analysis of the gases being made by Hempel's method. Great stress was laid on the accurate determination of the work done; the latter consisted in either turning a wheel against a graduated resistance, or else in motion on either a plane or inclined surface. In the latter form of work an apparatus was used which had previously been employed in experiThe oxygen consumed in each experiment ments on a horse. was taken as a measure of the metabolism. It was found that this was permissible, from the fact that the respiratory quotient was observed to be constant during the three conditions of rest, walking, and climbing. From this it appeared that the energy required for any given work was the outcome of the union of oxygen and carbon in the formation of carbonic acid gas. The increased respiratory interchange which accompanied any extra work fell to the normal some two or three minutes after the work ceased. In each experiment the distance covered and height through which the body was raised was measured in kilogram-metres; the oxygen simultaneously absorbed was determined, and from this the amount of oxygen which would have been absorbed if no work had been done was subtracted, so that the amount of oxygen required for the given work was obtained. It was found that, as in Smith's experiments, the metabolism might be increased to two or three times the normal during work. The experiment was then repeated, employing a different rate of motion and steepness of ascent, so that readily possible to calculate the oxygen, in cubic centimetres, required for a progression of one metre or the raising of one kilogram; the former was then reduced to a unit of one kilogram of body-weight. The result obtained from the person on whom most of the experiments were made was that the moving of one kilogram of body-weight over one metre of space on the level involved a consumption of I'II c.c. of oxygen, and for the raising of one kilogram through one metre, a consumption of 1438 c.c. In conclusion, the speaker drew some interesting comparisons between the results of these experiments and those previously made on a horse.Dr. Benda exhibited several preparations of sense-organs of mammals; and Dr. Katz showed some specimens of the organ was of Corti.-Dr. Hausemann spoke on unsymmetrical karyokinesis met with in epitheliomata. Ordinarily the chromatin-filaments divide into two equal parts, but in cancer-cells they do not, and from this results the polymorphism of the nuclei. Physical Society, Febuary 21.-Prof. du Bois-Reymond, President, in the chair.-Prof. von Bezold made a short speech in memory of Buys Ballot, pointing out with chief prominence that he was the first to draw attention to the necessity of cooperation between the meteorologists of different nations, and that he had been chiefly instrumental in establishing the existing International Meteorological Congress. He further showed that Buys Ballot was the first to give a survey of the meteorological conditions existing simultaneously at different places on the earth's surface, the pioneer in the production of the synoptic charts which are now published (see Poggendorff's Annalen for 1847), and the first to thoroughly grasp and state with precision the difference between weather and climate.-Dr. E. Pringsheim spoke on Kirchoff's law and gaseous radiation. During the experimental verification of the above, the speaker was chiefly interested in the behaviour of gases and vapours, and selected for his experiments sodium vapour. It was impossible to obtain any answer to the question "Does a gas acquire the power of emitting light-rays when its temperature is raised?" by the mere introduction of sodium or its salts into the non-luminous flame of a Bunsen burner, since it was not possible to exclude the occurrence of chemical changes during such an experiment. Thus he employed rather the method of Lockyer, Liveing, and Dewar, heating the metal in a sealed tube. In this way he verified the appearance of the bright emission-line and of the absorption-line of sodium. The lowest temperature at which they make their appearance was determined and measured thermo-electrically, but the speaker did not deduce any absolute value from his data. He further considered that the radiation of gases when heated is not yet definitely proved, since the nitrogen in which he heated the sodium contained minute traces of oxygen, and the method he employed for closing the ends of his tube permitted of the probable entry of small quantities of air. He had, therefore, additionally made experiments with thallium, and on the introduction of air into the metallic vapours; these experiments yielded a distinctly affirmative answer to the original question, but require further extension. So also do some experiments on the occurrence of a fluted spectrum of sodium, which the speaker had made during the course of the above work. SOCIETY OF ARTS, at 8.-Engraving in Wood, Old and New: W. J. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26. GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.-On a New Species of Cyphaspis from the Carboniferous Rocks of Yorkshire: Miss Coignou. Communicated by Prof. T. McKenny Hughes, F.R.S.-On Composite Spherulites Obsidian from Hot Springs near Little Lake, California: F. Rutley-A Monograph of the Pryozoa (Polyzoa) of the Hunstanton Red Chalk; G R Vine. Communicated by Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S.-Evidence furnished by Quaternary Glacial- Epoch Morainic Deposits of Perssylvania, U.S.A., for a Similar Mode of Formation of the Permia: Breccias of Leicestershire and South Derbyshire: W. S. Gresley. SOCIETY OF ARTS, at 8.-Carriage-Building and Street Traffic in Englan! and France: G. N. Hooper. THURSDAY, MARCH 27. ROYAL SOCIETY, at 4.30.-The following papers will probably be read :On Black Soap-films: Profs. Reinold and Rücker, F.R.S.-The Variability of the Temperature of the British Isles, 1869-83 inclusive: R. H. Scott, F.R.S.-Preliminary Note on Supplementary Magnetic Surveys of Special Districts in the British Isles: Profs. Rücker and Thorpe, F.RS. -The Rupture of Steel by Longitudinal Stress: C. A. Carus-Wilson.— Measurements of the Amount of Oil necessary in order to check the Motion of Camphor upon Water: Lord Rayleigh, Sec. R. S—On the Stability of a Rotating Spheroid of Perfect Liquid: G. H. Bryan-A Determination of v, the Ratio of the Electromagnetic Unit of Electricity to the Electrostatic Unit: Prof. J. J. Thomson, F.R.S., and G. F. C Searle. CHEMICAL SOCIETY, at 4.-Anniversary Meeting. -Election of OfficeBearers and Council. INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8. ROYAL INSTITUTION, at 3-The Early Development of the Forms of Instrumental Music (with Musical Illustrations): Frederick Niecks. FRIDAY, MARCH 28. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, at 7 30.-Deflection of Spiral Springs: Alfred E. Young. ROYAL INSTITUTION, at 9.-Foam: Right Hon. Lord Rayleigh, F. R.S. SOCIETY OF ARTS, at 3.-The Atmosphere: Prof. Vivian Lewes. CONTENTS. A Naturalist in North Celebes. By Dr. F. H. H. Guillemard Saint-Venant's Elastical Researches. G. Greenhill, F. R. S. Globes. By A. F. 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