Scientific Serials

Abstract

THE report of the meeting of Swiss Naturalists (Schweizerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft) in Solothurn on the 23–25 August, 1869, opens with an admirable presidential address on the progress of scientific investigation in Switzerland, by Prof. Lang. The reports of the sections contain numerous short notices of memoirs read, but among these are some of greater length and importance, such as a report by Dr. Hengi on his experiments in the culture of Saturnia Yama-maya and S. mylitta, a notice by M. F. Hermann on the use of Saussure's hair-hygrometer for scientific observations, a paper on creosote and other products by Prof. Völkel, a communication on fluorescence by Prof. Hagenbach, and a paper (printed in full) by Dr. von Fellenberg, containing analyses of some nephrites and jadeites, including a stone implement of the latter mineral from Möhringen-Steinberg, which he regarded as having been imported from the east. From his analyses of nephrites from different localities, it appears that they contain silica and magnesia in equal equivalents, but that the proportion of each of these to the lime varies as 7, 7 1/2), 8, 9: 3. Hence he regards them as forming not a definite mineral species, but a group of silicates of magnesia and lime formed by the metamorphosis of rocks of similar composition. He does not consider the nephrites allied to the amphiboles and augites. The memoirs include a report by Prof. Pictet de la Rive on the present state of the question as to the limits of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, a notice of which has already appeared in NATURE; an account of the Miocene Flora of Spitzbergen, by Prof. Oswald Heer; and a report on the investigation and preservation of the erratic blocks in Switzerland, by MM. A. Favre and L. Soret. An amusing account of the festal doings of the Society concludes the volume.