cat. But what I mention him to you for is to tell you the curious account which the doctor, a man of perfect veracity, gives of his habits-he is as afraid of rain as his foster mother, will never, if possible to avoid it, set his paw in a wet place; licks his feet two or three times a day, for the purpose of washing his face, which operation he performs in the true cattish position, sitting upon his tail; will watch a mouse-hole for hours together; and has in short all the ways, manners, habits, and dispositions of his wet nurse, the cat. Is not this very singular? But it's puzzling as well as amusing, and opens a new and strange view into that mysterious subject, the instincts of animals. Mrs. Routh, and Mrs. Blagrove (the mistress of the cat, who was present at dinner to-day), confirmed all the facts of the case. They say that one can hardly imagine how like a cat Romulus (the dog's name) is, unless one lived with him." The following is from a letter of October 20, 1835 :"Another characteristic of this hot dry summer (1835) has been the manner in which the large humble bees have forced open, torn apart the buds of my geraniums; an operation I never saw them perform before. "Another novelty of this season has been that the splendid new annual, the Salpiglossis picta, has, after the first crop of blossoms, produced perfect seed without flower petals, a proof (if any were needed), that the p. tals which constitute the beauty of a flower, are not necessary to its propagation." We may mention that Mr. C. H. Jeens has a cat and a dog, the latter now twenty months old, which, from the time the dog was a month old, have been in a relation similar to the cat and the pups in Miss Mitford's story, with a result somewhat similar. When the dog catches a mouse he treats it after the well-known manner of cats, pawing it, allowing it to run a distance, then pouncing upon it, and so on for many minutes. SCIENTIFIC SERIALS THE Monthly Microscopical Journal commences with the paper on "a new Callidina; with the results of experiments on the Desiccation of Rotifera," by Mr. H. Davis, which was read before the Royal Microscopical Society in April, and in which the author, by means of several carefully performed experiments, proves that Rotifera, which survive after being exposed to a temperature of 200° F, or in a vacuum for some time, do not get desiccated, but only covered with an impervious gelatinous covering which retains a certain amount of moisture in them. This Mr. Slack shows to have been previously proved. Mr. Parfitt describes a new form apparently related to the Rotifera and the Annelida, named by him Agehisteus plumosus, with the oral aperture lateral and inferior. Dr. Braithwaite describes Sphagnum papillosum and S. austini in his paper on Bog Mosses; and Mr. F. Wenham has another valuable paper on "Binoculars for the highest powers." A new slide for the microscope, designed by Mr. D. S. Holman, is described. It is a current cel or moist chamber for studying the blood and other organic fluids. The accompanying illustration will assist in explaining it. Two shallow circular cavities are excavated in a very flat thick glass slide, not far from one another. They are united by two cr three grooves, which are cut as triangles in order that they may be of unequal depth in different parts. When the apparatus is to be used, each of the shallow cavities and the intermediate grooves are partly filled with the fluid to be examined, after the slide has been warmed by the hand, and a glass cover is laid over the whole, which soon becomes fixed from the cooling of the slide and the consequent rarification of the enclosed air. The grooves between the cavities form the field for inspection, and any degree of movement may be produced in the fluid which they contain by approaching the warm finger to the top of one of the cavities, as the air inside is thus made to expand and drive some of the fluid into the other which is not heated. There is scarcely any limit to the degree of delicacy of movement which may be attained with this instrument; the slightest movement, not sufficient to remove a body from the field of vision, being produced without difficulty after some practice. SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES LONDON Chemical Society, May 15.-Dr. Odling, F.R.S., president, in the chair.-Dr. H. S. Armstrong delivered a most able and comprehensive lecture on "Isomerism," pointing out that the generally received position theory was incompetent to explain many reactions which took place in the formation of metameric and isomeric substances. He suggested that the investigation of the thermal properties of compounds would establish facts which might ultimately enable us to obtain some insight into the matter. in the chair.-A paper was read by Mr. Hyde Clarke on the Anthropological Institute, May 20.-Prof. Busk, F.R.S., Egyptian Colony and Language in the Caucasus. This was devoted to a part of a series of investigations to ascertain the comparative chronology of prehistoric races by the correlation of comparative philology with the study of physical features, monuments, weapons, &c. It identified the Ude language of the Caucasus, that of an expiring population, with the Coptic, and still more closely with the Hieroglyphic in minute and numerous details of roots, grammar, and structure. The resemblance of the differences between Hieroglyphic and Coptic. The paper the Bzyb dialect of Ude with the Bashmurie Coptic illustrated then proceeded to point out the conformity of strata in the linguistic topography of Caucasia and the Nile regions, particularly in the earlier epochs of Agaw and Abkhas, and of Furian and Akush. Hence the conclusion was drawn that the sources of Egyptian grammar were not in the late Semitic, but in the prior epochs, and that Egyptian grammar and civilisation belong to a remote period in the annals of civilisation, but still to a relatively modern period in the history of man. The author, accepting the history of Herodotus as to the conformity between the Colchians of Caucasia and the Egyptians, did not accept his theory that the Colchians were a colony of Lesodites. In the time of Herodotus and Pindar, the Colchians, now light, were as dark as the Egyptians, GLASGOW Geological Society, April 24.-Mr. John Young, vicepresident, in the chair.-Mr. David Robertson, F.G.S., read a note on the "Precipitation of Clay in Fresh and Sea Water." He stated that in making some observations on by water, he found that in fresh water these the gradual deposition of particles of clay held in solution were held suspended for a long time before wholly subsiding, while salt water, or a mixture of salt and fresh, became comparatively clear in the course of a few hours. The results showed that water only slightly brackish had a great power in precipitating the clay, and from this he concluded that the great bulk of the clay carried down in solution by rivers must be deposited before it could reach any great distance from the sea shore. This might throw some light on the formation of deltas, and on the silting up of river courses within the influence of the tides. It might also assist in determining how far the glacial mud, for example, could be carried into the sea by tides and currents.The chairman read a paper which he had prepared in conjunctic n with Mr. Robertson, "On the Composition of the Boulder and Laminated Brick Clays of the West of Scotland." The authors stated that their object was to ascertain, if possible, the conditions under which these clays had been deposited, and how far any of them were fossiliferous. For this purpose they had collected samples of clays from upwards of fifty localities. These, after being dried, were weighed, and then carefully wasl.ed. The results led them to regard as most probable the conclusion that the till or unstratified boulder clay was a deposit that had been laid down in water and formed from materials which land ice had carried seawards, the ice extending over the submerged tracts now covered by the boulder clay. This seemed to be borne out by the large percentage of fine glacier mud found in all the boulder clays, and which they thought could not have been retained in the deposit had it been formed under a sheet of land ice above sea level, seeing that streams of muddy water continually issue from under all existing ice sheets. The laminated brick clays they viewed as having been formed by rewashings out of the boulder clay, and from the flow seawards of the muddy water from under the melting ice-sheets that bound the shores; the sea, however, being then com. paratively free of ice. In nearly all the brick clays of the maritime districts they had found organisms, chiefly marine; but a few indicated brackish and fresh water conditions. Only in one or two instances had they found organisms in the boulder clay. BERLIN German Chemical Society, May 12.-President, A. W. Hoffmann. C. Engler spoke on the simultaneous action o ammonia and phosphoric anhydride on ketones, especially on acetophenone, C,H,O. The results are two bodies, NC24H18 and a hydrocarbon. The former crystalline, and a weak base is formed according to the formulæ, The hydrocarbon simultaneously formed is beautifully crystallised a liquid boiling between 210° - 220°.-C. Rammelsberg has investigated a so-called ozone-water, an article of trade, much advertised and praised for its medical properties. He has found no trace of ozone, but a small proportion of chlorine in it. Pursuing his researches, he found water of ordinary temperatures unable to absorb ozone without the application of pressure. The ozone was produced by Siemen's tube. Referring to a popular error: he explains what is generally considered as the production of ozone by mixing potassic permanganate with sulphuric acid, by the unavoidable presence of potassicperchlorate.-C. Scheibler referred to a gum, C12H22O1 (isomeric with arabine) which he found in beetroot, and which is identical with metapectic acid. It occurs in two modifications turning the plane of polarisation to the right or to the lett. The latter is transformed by sulphuric acid into "arabin sugar "identical with the sugar he obtained by the same process from arabine. Both crystallise in identical rhombic prisms, turn the plane of polarisation to the right (a +116), reduce solutions of copper, and do not ferment.-N. Michaelis has made the interesting discovery that a liquid phenylic phosphide is obtained by passing benzole and tercloride of phosphorus through red hot tubes. It corresponds to the formula, CH5. P. Cl, and boils at 222°.-A. Brückner, comparing two various mononitrophenoles, has found erroneous the supposition that there are four bodies of this formula, which he has reduced to three.-N. Baumgarten retutes the generally adopted opinion that bromine replaces chlorine in chloric acid. His experiments corroborate the doubt expressed by J. Thomson, and founded on his thermochemical researches.--C. Schorlemmer continued his valuable communications on hephylic acids and alcohols, as derived from hep an and from cenenthol.V. Meyer recommends, for analysing commercial chloral, to heat it with a certain quantity of potassa of known strength, and to determine volumetrically the quantity of potassa that remained uncombined with formic acid. = PARIS paper on isomeric and allotropic transformations was then read, and also one on a memoir on the proximate analysis of rocks, &c., by M. Fouqué.-On the water supply of Versailles during the first half of 1873, by M. E. Decaisne.-On the algebraic representation of bright lines in space, by Mr. W. Spottiswoode. -On the regulation of compasses, by M. Caspari.--On an electro-diapason of continuous, movement, by M. E. Mercadier. -An answer to an observation of M. Raynaud on the conditions of maximum resistance in galvanometers, by M. Th. du Moncel.Observations on the notes of MM. du Moncel and Thenard on the decomposition of carbonic anhydride by the silent electric discharge, by M. G. Jean.-Observations on a paper by M. du Moncel on the condensed induction spark, by M. Houzeau. -On the action of sulphur on arsenic, by M. Angélis.—On the action of gaseous hydochloric acid on the compound ammonias, by M. Ch. Lauth.—On a modification of the optical saccharimeter, by M. Prazmowski.-On the action of the dissolved oxygen of water on reducing agents, by MM. Schützenberger and Risler.-A new classification of the fresh-water alga of the genus Batrachospermum, by M. Siroclot.-On spring and winter frosts, by M. Martha-Beker. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, at 9.-Conversazione. SOCIETY OF ARTS, at 8. PAMPHLETS RECEIVED ENGLISH-The Method of Quantitative Induction in Physical Science: Dr. G. Hinrichs.-Two Essays drawn up for the Official Record of the Exhibition held in Melbourne, 1872-3. 1. Un Preserved Meats. 2. On Colonial Wines: Rev. J. I. Bleasdale, Melbourne.-Solar Radiation: an Account of the Experiments made at Harpenden, Herts, by the Rev. F. W. Stow, M.A. -Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 1872.-The Geological Survey of Canada, Report of Progress for 1871-2.-The Fourth Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts, January, 1873.Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Pt. 1, No. 17, Vol x. (Murray).-Local Biology: Rev. L. Blomfield (Bath).-Report of the Committee on the Treatment and Utilisation of Sewage, 1871 (Taylor and Francis) Forbes and Tyndall.-Prof. T. H. HUXLEY, F.R.S. Perception and Instinct in the Lower Animals.—A. R. WALLACE, The Origin of Volcanic Products.-Prof. T. STERRY HUNT BICHROMATE PHOTOGRAPHS. By H. BADEN PRITCHARD ON THE METhod of ColleCTING AND PRESERVING ENTOMOSTRACA ON THE ORIGIN AND METAMORPHOSES OF INSECTS, IV. By Sir JOHN Academy of Sciences, May 12.-M. de Quatrefages, president, in the chair.-The following papers were read :-On the portative force of magnets, by M. Jamin. The author thus denominates the carrying power of magnets. He exhibited two : an ordinary one weighing 6 and carrying 80 kilos, and one made on his principle, weighing 600 grammes and carrying 500 kilos ; the paper described their construction.-On the causes which produce the tumefaction of obsidian at a high temperature, by MM. Boussingauld and Damour.-New researches on aldol, by M. Ad. Wurtz. The author thus names a condensed aldehyde partaking of the properties of that body and of an alcohol.Hydrologic studies of the Seine, by M. Belgrand. The Academy COMPARISON OF THE SPECTRA OF THE LIMB AND THE CENTRE OF THE then proceeded to elect a member of the physical section in the place of the late M. Babinet. M. P. Desains obtained 32; M. Cornu, 13; M. Le Roux, 7; and MM. Bourget, Gau. gain, and Lucas I vote each. M. Desains was therefore declared duly elected.-A report on MM. Troost and Hautefeuille's DIARY A FRENCH PHYSICAL SOCIETY. BY M. CORNU. SUN. By C. S. HASTINGS (With Illustration) SCIENTIFIC SERIALS (With Illustration) · 77 CLARENDON PRESS PUBLICATIONS. A TREATISE on ELECTRICITY and MAGNETISM. By J. C. Maxwell, M.A. F.R. S., Professor of Experimental Physics in the University of Cambridge. 2 vols. 8vo, 31s. 6d. ELEMENTS of NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, By Prof. Sir William Thomson, F.R.S., and Prof. P. G. TAIT. Part I. 8vo. 9s. The GEOLOGY of the VALLEY of the THAMES. By John Phillips, M.A. F.R.S., Professor of Geology in the University of Oxford. With Coloured Map and Numerous illustrations. 8vo, 215. 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ANSTIE, M.D., F.R.C.P. Senior Assistant Physician to Westminster Hospital, and Lecturer on Medicine in Westminster Hospital School. "PRACTITIONER" OFFICE, 29, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, W. C. LONDON, April, 1873. THE Publishers of The Practitioner have much pleasure in announcing the immediate enlargement of the Journal by the addition of 16 pages in each number, which will be devoted exclusively to matters of Public Health. The sanitary legislation of 1872 has created an entirely new set of public appointments, which must necessarily be filled by medical men. The numerous Medical Officers of Health who have been, or will be shortly, appointed all over the country, must necessarily feel the want of some channel through which they may obtain the most recent and correct information respecting all matters which concern the important duties which they are called on to perform. 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