The Ear. It is said that the blind fishes are acutely sensitive to sounds as well as to undulations produced by other causes in the water. In the only instance in which I have dissected the organ of hearing (which I believe has not been before noticed) all its parts were largely developed, as will be seen by reference to figures 2 and 3. As regards the general structure, the parts do not differ materially from those of other fishes except for their proportional dimensions. The semi-circular canals are of great length, and the two which unite to enter the vestibule by a common duct, it will be seen, project upwards and inwards under the vault of the cranium, so as to approach quite near to the corresponding parts of the opposite side. The otolite contained in the utricle was not remarkable, but that of the vestibule (fig. 3) andwhich is seen in dotted outline in fig. 2 e is quite large when compared with that of a Leuciscus of about the same dimensions as the blind-fish here described.

3.

Otolite.

The parts represented in fig. 2 are the olfactory lobes and nerves a, the cerebral lobes b, optic lobes c, the cerebellum d, the otolite in situ e, the medulla oblongata ƒ, and the eyes g.

The parts in figures 2 and 3 are enlarged three times linear

measurement.

ART. XXX. Additional Note to Researches on the Development of the Viviparous Aphides by W. I. BURNETT, M.D.

.*

SINCE the preparation of the paper on the development of Aphides, which appeared in the last number of the Journal, I have enjoyed the opportunity of making this series of investigations more complete by an examination of the terminal or last brood which appears at the end of autumn.

This terminal brood has hitherto been considered, as far as I am aware, to be composed exclusively of males and females, or, in other words, of perfect insects of both sexes. I was surprised, therefore, on examining the internal organs of the non-winged individuals, to find that many of these last were not females proper, but simply the ordinary gemmiparous form already described. Moreover so great was the similarity of appearance between these two forms-true females and gemmiparous individuals-that they could be distinguished only by an examination of their internal genitalia. Among the proper females there were, besides those which were filled with eggs or had already deposited them, other individuals in which the ovaries were but feebly developed, or at least, in which no mature eggs had been formed. An opportu

*This volume, page 62.

nity was thereby afforded me to examine the structural differences between the true ovaries and their quasi representatives-the bud-like processes. The true ovaries had their usual, well-known structure multilocular tubes containing nucleated cells which are probably the undeveloped germs; the bud-like processes, on the other hand, consisted of a row of cell-masses, oval and connected by a kind of peduncle, as described in detail in the preceding paper. These wide differences have, more than ever, persuaded me of the morphological dissimilarity of these two kinds of reproducing parts in this animal. It seems to me then that the real intrinsic difference between an ovum and a bud lies as deep as the conditions of sex itself, notwithstanding the latter often has, as in the present case for instance, some of the morphological characteristics of the former.

The appearance of sexless, gemmiparous individuals in the terminal brood would seem to indicate, moreover, that the conditions which determine the appearance of individuals usually exclusively male and female, are not, perhaps, referable to the fact of this being the last brood, but rather to relations of warmth and nutrition. This view is rendered more probable by the fact of the variation in the number of broods between the first and last, observed in the same species on different years-ranging between seven, nine, eleven or more. Moreover, Kyber, as quoted already in the preceding paper, by nursing continually in a warm room a collection of Aphis dianthi, keeping about them a summer temperature, succeeded in continuing uninterruptedly the series of sexless or gemmiparous individuals for four years. There are many other facts in insect life that indicate in like manner some direct relation between temperature and nutriment, and definite sexual development. The subject is as important as it is interesting in physiology, and these very animals will, perhaps, subserve the successful study of the primary morphological conditions of sex.

ART. XXXI.-Correspondence of M. Jerome Nicklès, dated Paris, December 30, 1853.

Academy of Sciences: Election of a Perpetual Secretary.-The Sciences represented in the Academy are divided into two classes: the Mathematical and the Physical. Each of these classes is subdivided into sections, consisting of six members, excepting the sections of Geography and Navigation, which have only three. The Mathemati cal class comprises five sections, as follows: Geometry, Mechanics, Astronomy, Geography and Navigation, and finally, General Physics. The class of the Physical Sciences contains six sections, namely, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Botany, Rural Economy, Anatomy and Zool. ogy, and Medicine and Surgery. The President of the Academy is

elected for a year, and chosen alternately from the two classes. Each of the classes is represented also by a perpetual secretary, usually elected from its numbers. Thus Arago, of the Astronomical Section, was the Perpetual Secretary for the Mathematical Sciences, and M. Flourens, the distinguished physiologist is perpetual secretary for the class of the Physical Sciences.

Besides the sixty-three members, having a right to vote, there are also ten free Academicians, eight Foreign Associates, and 100 corresponding members, of which 45 pertain to the Mathematical class and 55 to the Physical.

The Academy of Sciences is hence organized, so as to include the most distinguished representatives of the sciences of all countries, and nominations are held very select. It is hence understood why the election of a perpetual secretary is an occurrence of great importance, and should have been with the Academy the subject of constant deliberation, ever since the death of Arago. When the decision was to be made, a large number of names were put on the roll; and finally the commission for preparing the list of candidates, fixed upon three names, taken from the Mathematical class, MM. Charles Dupin, Lamé, and Pouillet. On the proposition of M. Cauchy, the Academy added to those names that of the able geologist, Elie de Beaumont. The Academy was nearly complete in its attendance. Members detained at home for a long time past, on account of health, were conveyed to the meeting. Two ballotings took place, and on the second, the name of Elie de Beaumont was drawn out from the urn victorious, to the great disappointment of the Mathematicians, already inferior in numbers, and whose votes were divided between the three candidates.

A fifth name was obstinately put into the urn: it was that of M. de Senarmont, to whom mineralogical physics owes so much of its recent progress. For some time M. de Senarmont was the preferred candidate: but he declined the honor, excusing himself on the ground of his delicate health.

This election took place at the session of the 19th of December. M. Elie de Beaumont is fifty-five years of age. He was born on the 15th of September, 1798. One of his principal scientific claims consists in his labors along with von Buch, for the establishment of the theory of Elevation, which he has developed and extended. He is an elegant writer, and has vast literary acquirements; but it is against him that he has a feeble voice, which will hardly be heard in the Hall of the Academy, amid the agitations of the meetings, where they have been accustomed to the powerful resounding voice of Arago.

Publication of the works of Arago and Laurent.-The works of these two great philosophers are now in the press. The works of Arago will make 12 volumes in 8vo, and will consist of original memoirs, reports, historical eulogies, several of which have not yet been published, and a popular Astronomy. The printing is rapidly going for

ward.

Circumstances have hindered thus far the entire publication of the work left by Laurent,-a work in which this chemist, so prematurely taken from science, rapidly collected together his views on chemical theories, along with a historical account of organic chemistry, in the

construction of which branch of science he had had so large a part. The work is now in press and will soon be published. The avails of its publication are the only dowry which the unfortunate Laurent left to his widow and children, his long sickness having absorbed all his resources. As an addition to this, the French savants, headed by MM. Biot, Thénard, Dumas, Pelouze and Balard, have set on foot a subscription, to which all friends of science are invited to contribute.

Death of Theodore Olivier.-This representative of Descriptive Geometry, the student of Monge and of Hachette, the Director of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers, died recently while at the South for his health. Born at Lyons on the 21st of January, 1793, he early entered the Polytechnic School, where he became distinguished for his mathematical tastes, and especially for Descriptive Geometry, to which he afterwards devoted his life. He became Lieutenant of the Artillery and was attached as Professor to the School of Applied Science at Metz. In 1821 he was invited to Stockholm by the Swedish government, and established there a Polytechnic institution. On returning to France he organized, in conjunction with MM. Dumas, Péclet, and Lavallé, the Central School of Arts and Manufactures, which has produced all the distinguished engineers of the country, and which is now attended by students from all parts of Europe.

Olivier was an able Professor. His language, clear, precise and elegant, fitted him for public instruction. A chair of Descriptive Geometry was created for him at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers, and he filled it with distinction till the time of his death. For illustration in his lectures, he constructed moveable silk-thread models, such that the surface represented by the model could be changed from a surface of one kind to that of another.. This unique collection consists of over 50 models, made with most admirable care, precision and economy. Besides this collection, there is another likewise made by Olivier, illustrating the movements of cog-wheels, either as employed in the Industrial Arts, or as interesting simply in a mathematical point of view in the transmission of motion.

In 1815 he published an important memoir on White's theory of cog-wheels without friction from sliding. He afterwards occupied himself with the study of nodes. In 1842, he published his geometrical theory of cog-wheels; in 1843, his "Developpements de Géométrie Descriptive," in 1845, a continuation on this subject; in 1847, its applications; in 1852, the 1st part of a new edition of his Memoirs, the continuation of which was occupying him intently when he was taken from Science, his pupils, and his friends.

M. Olivier succeeded General Morin in the direction of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers, and his place has been filled by M. Morin, celebrated for his fine work on Mechanics.

On the Proximate principles of Bran of Wheat.-Some years since, M. Millon, as a result of long labor, arrived at the conclusion that bran is an alimentary substance; that bran bread, and pilot bread (“pain de munition") was more healthy and more nutritious than white bread. This opinion has been contested, and Millon has been ironically attacked for not conforming to the regimen he recommends. But the opinion is now sustained by Chevreul, who declared his views on the

occasion of a memoir of M. Mourier on this subject. It is known too that according to Magendie's experiment, dogs could live on bran bread, whilst they died when kept on white bread. This fact which appeared so singular, is explained through the researches in question.

The inner surface of bran is covered with azotized principles which like diastase will dissolve starch, changing it into dextrine and sugar. These principles differ somewhat from diastase; still it is demonstrated that the bran acts as a ferment in fermentation, and consequently in a similar manner in digestion.

On the Ammonia contained in Rain-water.-M. BOUSSINGAULT has continued at his country seat at Liebfrauenberg (Lower Rhine) his researches mentioned in the November number of this Journal. From his new investigations it appears that the rain of the country contains less ammonia than that of the city, and that the ammonia is more abundant at the beginning than at the end of a shower.

Boussingault has examined also the dew, and always found it to contain ammonia. The proportions, by several trials, were 6 milligrams to the litre; but the amount is reduced to 102 after a rainy day. On the 14th to the 16th of November a thick mist prevailed, so rich in ammonia, that the water had an alkaline reaction; a litre of the water contained about 2 decigrams of carbonate of ammonia. Seventy-five rains (including the dew and mist) examined by Boussingault between the 26th of May and the 8th of November, contained, as a mean, half a milligram of ammonia. The great quantity of ammonia contained in the mist appears interesting in its bearing on vegetable pathology: in fact, although ammonia in small quantity is favorable to vegetation, a large proportion would be injurious, and would show its effects especially on the leaves of flowers. Moreover, such a storm might have a deleterious influence on respiration, and especially on the lungs of persons with pulmonary affections.

Heating of Wire by the Voltaic Current.-Suppose we have a platinum wire, a, b, inserted between the electrodes of a battery composed of n elements; and we apply to two points, a, 8, in the platinum wire, the electrodes of another battery also composed of n elements, two cases will be presented, according to the direction given to the currents; if the currents are contrary in direction, the intermediate space a of the wire, will be instantly cooled so that you may touch it with your finger without burning it; whilst the two extremities a b and a 3 will be raised to a temperature much higher than before. On reversing the direction of the current of the pile B, it will be, on the contrary, the portion of the wire which becomes highly heated, whilst the outer parts are reduced to a low temperature.

These facts, in which MM. de la Provostaye and Desains seem to see arguments against theory, are not out of the domain of acquired facts. These physicists admit that both currents traverse the joining wire, that they neutralize one another in one case, and add to one another in the other; and as the development of heat is regarded as due to the reunion of the two fluids, nothing prevents that the four equal streams should combine two and two in the common part of the current, and produce in all cases an elevation of temperature alike whatever may be the direction of one of the currents.

SECOND SERIES, Vol. XVII, No. 50.-March, 1854.

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