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300 Other instances among insects were adduced to show the ime portant influence of the surroundings of a species in producing fanctional changes in its economy, and it wes sought to be esta: Blished that defective nutrition bas been a principal cause of cocoons being dist ed with by certain Bombycidz. From these prelninary condicntions the esther to consider the Evolution Of the various families of Lepidopters. He believes that the butterflies have as 2 whole been developed from the Bombyeis mene: that Seveloomeae a accome

several roads, ‘He claims the support of palzon- Nologial evidence for his views. ‘The earliest mathe yet ovorded

are the Tineids, the lowest family of tern 5 these may be ied as constituting a persistent at ‘erebra- falas “The ‘Sphinges “ure supposol Te have descended from

Phryganea with Bombycid characters, and many ingenious sug- gestions and considerations are advanced ins support of this view. A bypothetical genealogical tree is given at the close of the Paper.—A ‘monographic account of "Misuse (Accipiter) coopers and W. gundiacki, by Mr. R. Ridgway, gives the results of careful examination of many specimens. With regard to the former it is found impossible to establish the existence of two geographical races, The distinctness of the latter species is ly main- tained. Mr. Ridgway’s account of the Buteonine sub-genus, Craxirex, which is peculiar to America, gives a synopsis of the species. | The very variable Bu/eo noainsond is particularly fally described. —-A very interesting paper is contributed by Dr. Elliott Coues, devoted to a vindication of William Bartram as a scientific soe Dr. Cones seeks to: that, Maine | to the admitted of nomenclature and the rules of the Britis Association, Bartram bas not received his due, He maintains that Bartram’s Cat of United States Birds is not a mere value- leas list, bat all the more valuable in consequence of the terseness and simpli his descriptions, many of which are unmistak- able. papers of the year is by Dr. Lautenbach, on the physiological action of hemlock and its alkaloid. His conclusions, from careful experiments, are as follows :—1. Conia, instead of being poisonons to plants, really acts as 2 preservative ; the alcoholic extract of hemlock, however, acts poiscnously on plants. 2, When locally applied, conia pro- duces a progressive loss of fonctional power in every highly organised tissue with which it comesinta contact. 3. In inducing complete repose of the muscular system, conia powerfully pre- disposes to sleep, but it is not a hypnotic im the sense that opium is re The cotivelsions produced by a dose of hemlock are cerebral, and not spinal, as has fore been imagined. $. Conia produces a doable effect on the motor-nervous system, 1 paralysing effect on the periphery of the efferent or motor sereeny euitw depression of fae sentee tracts of the celui wie 6, The — ie paris of sessile which — early in conia poisoning is due to paresis of the pneumogastrics. 7. The primary acceleration in the respiratory movements is also due to pneumogastric paresis. 8, The salivary secretion is the only secretion markedly increased by a poisonous dose of conia. 9. The voluntary muscles unscathed in conia-poisoning. to, Contraction of the pupil only occurs when the nag is directly applied to the eyeball. 11. Conia causes a decided increase in temperature, 12, Conia is absorbed and ix eliminated unchanged by the kidneys.

Paris

Academy of Sciences, Jan. 31.—Vice-Admiral Paris in the chair—The following papers were read :—Thermal researches on the formation of alcobcls and on etherifcation, by M. Berthelot. Account of experiments made to determine the work expended by Gramme’s magneto-electr’c machines, used for producing light in the works of M&M. Santter and Lemonnier, by M. Tresca. A direct-illumination photometer was used fos comparing an electric lamp with a Carcel lamp, and when equality was had in the two contiguous zones, x dynamometer trace was taken, and the number of turns ascertained. The author gives data of machines, the light from which was equal to 1,830 and 300 Cascel bumers respectively. The cost of fael for the former was only about a huodredth of that of the oil and a fiftieth that of the coal gas—M, Du Moncel presented the fourth volume of bis ‘Exposé des Applications de I'Electricité” (3rd edi- tion), relating to electric clockwork, electric registers, and apphcations of electricity to safety appliances in railway service, —Researches on magnetic rotatory polarisation (and part), by M. Becquerel. ‘The rotation in diamagnetic bodies Increases with the index of refraction. In solutions of dia magnetic salt of varying conceatration, the ratio of the rotation

to the weight of the anhydrous salt is a number nearly constant. With salts of iron the tic rotation increases much more nickly than the number 1 Se se Nom of a homogeneous solid of uniform temperatare, by M. Lacan —On the forumtion of bail (second note), by Mi, Plancd. ‘The electrodes of the secondary couples are introduced into salt water, the positive being covered with moistened blotting-paper. A multitude of ovoid globules are scattered ont and up from this latter in alt directions. M. Plante thinks the electricity in clouds may sometimes act thus, and the globules, rising to a region of lower temperature, become hailstones, Electricity raay produce bail i ific, or magueto-dynamic effects, — President of the Commission on Phylloxera, by M. Mouillefert.—On the poring ope the tunnel of Saint Gothard, by M. Colladon, Notwithstanding much greater hard- ness of rock, &c., than in the boring of Fréjus. M. Favre has, in the third year, realised an advance of 48} per cent. above the maximum obtained in Fréjas Sang the thirteen years, ~Discovery of the planet (159), by M. Paul Henry.—Note on left carves of the fourth ord jerret.—On the principle of correspond fords of removing some difficulties in analytical solutions, by M. Saltel.—On topographic maps, by M. Hermite—On the congelation of mercury by use of a mixture of snow and hydrochloric acid, by M. Witz. A mixture, in equal parts, of mow and hydrochloric acid having = temperature of —1°, will give a temperature of — 375 C.—On electrolytic aniline black, by M. Gopy —~Oa the fer- ment of urea, by M. Musculus. It has none of the properties of ic fermenta, but is rather like soluble ferments, as diastase, maliras oo ‘pancreatic juice.—On the elements of inverted sugar, and their presence in commercial sugar, by M. Maumené,—On digestion in insects; remarks apropes’ of a recent work of M. Jousset, by M, Plateau, M. Plateat observation. —Nt

ie ae a claims priority of fote on the method to be e1 for testing the conductivity of lightning conductors, oy eke ae vations relative to the tions and fractures of the Cretaceous tem, dpropes of the project of making a tunoel under the M, Robert.~On spontaneous periodic movements in the stems of Saxifrage sarmentosa, umbroia, Geum, Acanth- Solia, sin Parnaisia palustris ; relations of this phenomenon ‘with the disposition of the foliar cycle, by M. Heckel,

BOOKS RECEIVED

Brrtism.—Three Months in the Mediterranean : W: 3 ’s Handbook of Astrenoay, E.RAS. (Lockwood) —British

can : Walter Coote (Stanford), 4th edition. Edited by E. Dunk, ish Maaufaccuring Industries. by, ford). ~The Races of Mankind, Vol. 111:

CONTENTS

Op avo New Woaro Suozes. ByO.P.C. .. Drang anp Catico Pxurrinc, By R. Matbota ‘ux Boor

‘Lavtaxs to Tue Boiron :— ‘On the most Nottherly Latitude at which Land and Freshwater pafclusc have bicberto been found —Prof A, E. Noxon j6u

jen Germs.—Dr. Hl

‘The’ University of London and LANassitr. .

yet. —Awtaux ANGELL

Large Meteors, —Wituiax F. Duwninc

‘The Flame of Common Salt—B. G..

Cuazuron Bastian ; In 1 Examinations.

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Muuuex (With [urrranons) ScuoLaasures ap Exaserrions 7¢ BaIDC, 70. 2. ee ‘Tux Inpusratat “Aprtications or OxvaRn, MAN. : Noes - Socien Boors Rucaivan.