No spontaneous generation. The golden lotus of Brahminic and Buddhistic mythology is the sun, which floats in the waters which are above the firmament, like an earthly lotus in the deep blue stream below. From it distils the Amrita, the first manifestation of Vishnu. Brahma and Buddha (the supreme intelligence) were born of this heavenly lotus. Lakshmi, the Indian Venus, is represented sitting on this flower. The Hindoos see in the form of the lotus the mysterious symbol, Svastika. The allusions to this flower by Indian poets are innumerable. praise is too extravagant for it; it is the chaste flower, and its various synonyms are bestowed as names upon women. The red lotus is said by the poets to be dyed with the blood of Siva that flowed from the wound made by the arrow of Kama, the Indian Cupid. The face of a beautiful woman is compared by the poets to a lotus blossom, the eyes to lotus buds, and the arms to its filaments. The bee is represented as enamoured of the lotus. Although a humble little flower, the Tulasi is almost as great a favourite as the lotus; it is addressed to the goddess Sri or Venus. The heart of Vishnu is said to tremble with rage if a branch of his beloved is injured. The plant must be gathered only for medicinal or religious purposes, such as the worship of Vishnu or Krishna, or the wife of Siva. It is a kind of amrita, symbolical of the eternal essence; it protects the worshippers and gives children to women. The plant is often worshipped as a domestic deity, and its branches are placed on the breasts of the dead. The Champa is chiefly celebrated for its overpoweringly sweet odour and golden colour; so strong is its perfume that the poets affirm that bees will not extract honey from it; but they console it for this neglect by dedicating it to Krishna, who loves garlands of yellow flowers as becoming to his dark complexion. One of the greatest favourites of the poets is the Asoka; its flowers, which are yellow when they first open, gradually change to red. In March and April it is in its glory, and at night perfumes the air with its delicate odour. The tree is the kul or anthropogonic tree of the Vaisya caste, who call it Asupala. The Kadamba (Anthocephalus The cadamba) is sacred to Kali or Parvati, the consort of Siva; it has many synonyms, such as "protecting children," "dear to agriculturists," &c. It blossoms at the end of the hot season, and its night-scented flowers form a globular orange-coloured head, from which the white clubbed stigmas project. flowers are fabled to impregnate with their honey the water which collects in holes in the trunk of the tree. In Delhi the goldsmiths are fond of imitating the flowers. The wellknown prickly gold beads so often seen in Delhi jewellery are meant for kadamba flowers. In this part of India the Marathas will not gather the flowers for profane purposes as it is their anthropogonic tree. The Kadamba Rajas claim their descent from it, as recorded in the following legend:-"After the destruction of the demon Tripura, a drop of perspiration fell from the head of Isvara into the hollow of a kadamba tree, and assumed the form of a man with three eyes and four arms. He became the founder of Vanavasi or Jayantipur." There are other versions of the story, but all agree in connecting the origin of the family with this tree, a branch of which is necessary to represent the Kai at a Marathi marriage ceremony. UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL CAMBRIDGE.-At the biennial election to the Council of the Senate held on November 7, the following were nominated (the indicates retiring members) :-Heads (2 seats)-*Dr. Atkin- ¦ son, Clare, *Dr. Ferrers, Caius, Dr. Hill, Downing; Professors (2 seats)—*Dr. Cayley, Trinity, Dr. Sidgwick, Trinity, Prof. Ryle, King's; Members of the Senate (4 seats)-*Dr. D. MacAlister, St. John's, Dr. Forsyth, Trinity, Mr. Whitting, King's, Mr. R. T. Wright, Christ's, Mr. E. H. Morgan, Jesus, Mr. C. W. Moule, Corpus, Mr. C. H. Prior, Pembroke. The voting was as follows:-Dr. Ferrers, 184, Dr. Atkinson, 137; Dr. Cayley, 191, Dr. Sidgwick, 127; Dr. D. MacAlister, 158, Mr. Whitting, 156, Dr. Forsyth, 153, Mr. Wright, 117. These were elected. Dr. Hill received 109 votes, Prof. Ryle, 103, Mr. Prior, 111, Dr. Lea, 82, Mr. Morgan, 81, Mr. Moule, 71. The newly-elected members hold office for four years. The result is interpreted as a gain for those who favour the modern development of the University. It should have been stated that the election of Fellows referred to in our last number took place at St. John's College. Mr. Frank McClean, M. A., of Trinity College, has offered securities of the value of £12,000 to be held in trust for the University by Trinity College, for the purpose of founding three "Isaac Newton Studentships" in Astronomy, Astronomical Physics, and Physical Optics. The students are to hold their emoluments for three years, to be Bachelors of Arts, and of high mathematical attainments. R. S. Cole, B. A., of Emmanuel College, has been appointed a Junior Demonstrator of Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory, in the place of Mr. L. R. Wilberforce, promoted to be Demon strator. The General Board of Studies propose the foundation of an additional Demonstratorship in Physiology, under Prof. Michael Foster, without stipend from the University Chest. SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. Royal Microscopical Society, October 15.—Dr. C. T. Hudson, F. R. S., President, in the chair.-Mr. G. F. Dowdeswell's note on a simple form of warm stage was read, and the apparatus exhibited. The President said he had with great regret to record the deaths of two honorary Fellows of the Society-Prof. W. Kitchen Parker, F.R.S., and Mr. J. Ralfs. In place of these two gentlemen Dr. H. B. Brady, F.R.S., and Prof. W. C. Williamson, F. R. S., were nominated.-Mr. Mayall said he must ask the indulgence of the meeting to enable him to clear himself from possible ambiguity. In notifying the fact that at the first photographic trials of the new objective of 16 N.A. the visual and actinic foci had been found by Mr. Nelson and himself to be not coincident; and that when the objective was returned to Jena immediately after, Dr. Czapski found the foci were coincident; he had hazarded what he had imagined would appear a mere playful admission of the state of general puzzlement of both sides by suggesting that "the transit of the objective from London to Jena had somehow got rid of the chemical' focus." That sentence had unhappily been construed both in England and abroad into a reflection upon the good faith of Dr. Czapski, or Dr. Abbe, or the firm of Zeiss. Whatever blame was due to himself for the ambiguity of the expression, he must, of course, accept. At the same time he thought the Society would be interested to learn that upon his conveying his explanation to Dr. Czapski and Dr. Abbe, those believed that the existence of a "chemical" focus was probably due to a slight difference in the adjustment of the front lens, especially, as Dr. Abbe had pointed out, in view of the fact that with an objective of such large aperture the colour correction was, as it were, "balanced on a needle-point" in the matter of an alteration in the distance of the front lens from the posterior combinations; and that a very minute alteration in that distance, though producing no perceptible difference in the visual image, was quite competent to lengthen or shorten the focus of the violet rays to such an extent as to exhibit a "chemical" focus non-coincident with the visual focus when tested photographically. The President gave formal notice that a special general meeting would be held in the Library at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22, for the purpose of considering alterations in the byelaws, the terms of which he read. -Mr. G. C. Karop exhibited and described an improved students' microscope, made by Swift and Son. The new instrument embodied Mr. Nelson's "horseshoe" stage for convenience of readily seeing the condenser, and for estimating by the touch the approximation of the focus on the slide, and on which the Mayall mechanical stage was easily applied, together with a centring sub-stage focussed by sliding on the tail-piece, the whole of superior workmanship and design, and supplied at a moderate outlay.-Prof. J. W. Groves communicated a note by Mr. P. C. Waite on a new method of demonstrating intercellular protoplasmic continuity. A specimen in illustration was exhibited.-Mr. J. D. Aldous exhibited some early forms of microscope slides made of boxwood, similar to those formerly made of ivory, with the objects between pieces of talc.-The President called attention to some original drawings of a new Rotifer by Mr. W. B. Poole, of South Australia: also to a specimen of Ecistes mucicola exhibited by Mr. G. Western. Mr. E. M. Nelson exhibited upon the screen a series of thirty-one photomicrographs, which he described. -Dr. H. B. Brady's paper on a new type of Foraminifera was taken as read. gentlemen had expressed their complete satisfaction with it. He 48 -Dr. Maddox's paper on the structure of Spermatozoa was postponed until the next meeting in consequence of the lateness of the hour. PARIS. Academy of Sciences, November 3.-M. Duchartre in the chair.-Notice of the works of M. Pierre de Tchihatchef, by M. Daubrée. M. de Tchihatchef died at Florence on October 13. He was born at St. Petersburg in 1815, and elected a correspondent of the Academy in the Geographical Section when An account is given of his many about thirty years of age. scientific works.-A photo-chronographic apparatus that may be used to analyze every kind of motion, by M. Marey. A photographic film is caused to move across the focus of the lens of a camera. The motion is imparted by an electric motor, and with the arrangement described the film may be arrested fifty times a second for the production of as many views of the object being photographed. A plate giving six views of a trotting horse accompanies the note.-On the relation of gangrenous septicemia to lock-jaw, with special reference to the associations of virulent microbes, by M. Verneuil. From a series of surgical and chemical experiments, the author is led to believe that the co-existence in inan of certain forms of mortification and lockjaw is not accidental, but results from the simultaneous production in the wounds of two microbes well known to Pasteur and Nicolaier. On the movements of a double cone, by M. A. Mannheim.-On the periodic functions of two variables, by M. Appell.-On a particular case of Lamé's equation, by M. V. Jamet. -Undulatory pressures produced by the combustion of explosives in a closed vessel, by M. Vieille.-On Bunsen's photometer, by M. R. Boulouch.-The rotation of the earth on its axis produced by the electro-dynamic action of the sun, by M. Ch. V. Zenger. The author has caused a hollow sphere to rotate under the action of the two poles of a Wimshurst machine, and thence argues that the planetary motions in our solar system have an electro-dynamic origin.-Action of borax in alkaline developing baths, by M. P. Mercier.-On the affinities of iodine in the dissolved state, by MM. Henri Gautier and Georges Charpy. The authors have studied the chemical behaviour of solutions of iodine in different media. Shaking the solutions with a lead amalgam, they find the colours of the mixture of iodides obtained in each case-that is, the proportions of the iodides of lead and mercury respectively-depend on the kind of solution employed. On the 7-cyanoacetoacetic ethers and the hydrochlorides of the corresponding imides, by MM. A. Haller and A. Held.-Researches on the conditions of the reactions of the isopropylamines: limit, to the production and development of The authors have propylene, by MM. H. and A. Malbot. studied (1) the action of isopropyl iodide on very concentrated aqueous ammonia in equi-molecular proportions, at the ordinary temperatures; (2) the same at 100°; (3) the same above 100°; (4) the action of isopropyl chloride upon aqueous ammonia at 140°. From the results of experiment, they have summarized their conclusions as to the character of these reactions between aqueous ammonia and isopropyl iodide and isopropyl chloride. -The Hanneton parasite, by M. Le Moult.-On certain formations on copper and bronze, by M. Raphael Dubois. The author has observed and studied some white mycelium flakes, very similar to those of Penicillium and Aspergillus, in solutions of concentrated copper sulphate neutralized by ammonia and used for the immersion of the gelatine plates Similar formations have been employed in photogravure. observed on bronze.-On some rocks from the Lunain valley, supposed to have been used to polish stone implements in Neolithic times, and on the action of water in the Stone Age, by M. Armand Viré.-On the formation of abrupt escarpments of earth that interrupt the slope of valleys in the north of France, where they are known as rideaux, by M. A. de Lapparent.-Experimental contribution to the history of the dendrites of manganese, by M. Stanislas Meunier. DIARY OF SOCIETIES. LONDON. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13. MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY, at 8.-The Influence of Applied on the Progress INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8. PHYSICAL SOCIETY, at 5.-On Certain Relations existing among ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, at 8. AMATEUR SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY, at 8.-Geological Travels in France, Spain. and Algeria: G. F. Harris. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18. ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY, at 7.45.-Inaugural Address: Dr. Frederic THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20. ROYAL SOCIETY, at 4.30.-The following papers will probably be read :- LINNEAN SOCIETY, at 8. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22. ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, at 3.45. CONTENTS. The Cure of Consumption Clerk Maxwell's Papers. By the Right Hon. Lord Sap .. PAGE 25 26 27 Indoor Games. By W. 28 Our Book Shelf: Potts and Sargant: "Elementary Algebra 28 28 Hall: "Exercises in Practical Chemistry' "Annalen des k.k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, Wien" 28 Blanford: "An Elementary Geography of India, 29 29 Letters to the Editor: Squeaking Sand versus Musical Sand.-Prof. H Honeycomb Appearance of Water.-J. Shaw On the Soaring of Birds.-G. W. H. A Bright Green Meteor.-J. P. Maclear 88888 Weighing by a Ternary Series of Weights.-J. Willis 30 II. By Sir 31 37 The Laboratory of Vegetable Biology at Fontaine- 339 Notes on the Habits of some Common English 40 42 Our Astronomical Column: Measures of Lunar Radiation The Botanical Mythology of the Hindoos Diary of Societies 45 47 A NEW BOOK BY MR. J. NORMAN LOCKYER. THE METEORITIC HYPOTHESIS OF THE ORIGIN OF COSMICAL SYSTEMS. By J. NORMAN LOCKYER, F. R.S., Correspondent of the Institute of France, Professor of Astronomical Physics in the Normal School of Science, &c. 8vo, 17s. net. A SYSTEM OF SIGHT-SINGING FROM THE ESTABLISHED MUSICAL NOTATION: based on the Principle of Tonic Relation, and Illustrated by Extracts from the Works of the Great Masters. By SEDLEY TAYLOR, M. A., late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Author of "Sound and Music," &c. 8vo, 5s. net. A MANUAL OF LOGARITHMS. Treated in connection with Arithmetic, Algebra, Plane Trigonometry, and Mensuration, for the use of Students preparing for Army and other Examinations. By G. F. MATTHEWS, B. A., St. Peter's College, Cambridge. 8vo, 5s. net. Works in any Weather. Size giving 4 Sparks, £4 10s. CHEAP SCHOOL APPARATUS. CATALOGUES FREE. HARVEY & PEAK, 6 CHARING CROSS ROAD, W.C. CHADWICK'S PERFECT OPTICAL LANTERN (FOR LIME-LIGHT ONLY). This is the most perfect instrument for the purpose for which it is intended. Equally suitable for the drawing-room, the school-room, or the largest lecture-hall, and undoubtedly the instrument for SCIENTIFIC PROJECTIONS, the MICROSCOPE, POLARISCOPE, &c. (Bellows can be instantly removed.) Can be used on a tripod stand with or without the cabinet, and when packing up no portion need be removed or detached. 4-in. condensers, interchangeable objectives from the shortest up to 16 inches focus. FURTHER PARTICULARS SEE CATALOGUE. LEECH'S PATENT LANTERN MICROSCOPE AND POLARISCOPE. W. I. CHADWICK, AUTHOR OF "The Magic Lantern Manual," "The Stereoscopic Manual," &c. 2 ST. MARY'S ST., MANCHESTER. CROSSLEY'S "OTTO TO H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, THE EMPRESS OF GERMANY, &c. BRAND & CO.'S BOUILLON. A most Nutritious and Invigorating Beverage, made by the simple addition of Boiling Water, at a cost within the reach of all. PLEASE WRITE FOR LIST. CROSSLEY BROS., Ltd., Openshaw, Manchester. AND 251 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. Awarded 20 GOLD AND OTHER MEDALS at various International Exhibitions, including 2 GOLD MEDALS, Paris Exhibition, 1889, for Microscopes, &c. PERKEN, SON, & RAYMENT, MANUFACTURE PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Of every description. " OPTIMUS" "OPTIMUS" SCOUT. Medium Size. Clear Definition. SCORER. Small Size. Clear Definition. Large Field. 64 Magnifying 25 30s. OPTIMUS For Definition and Magnifying Power we invite intending Purchasers to test our Printed by RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, at 7 and 8 Bread Street Hill, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, and Published by Now Ready, Vol. XI., Nos. 4 and 5. Price to Subscribers 21s. per Volume, post free. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY. SPECTACLES. WITH FINEST BRAZILIAN PEBBLES, 00 NEGRETTI AND ZAMBRA make a Speciality of Spectacles for NE GRETTI & ZAMBRA, SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT MAKERS TO THE QUEEN, 38 HOLBORN VIADUCT, E.C. Branches: 45 CORNHILL; 122 REGENT STREET. TELEPHONE NO. 6583. Telegraphic Address-" NEGRETTI, LONDON." THE CAMBRIDGE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT COMPANY'S WORKS, Photographic Studio-CRYSTAL PALACE, Sydenham. ST. TIBB'S ROW, CAMBRIDGE. |