EDINBURGH. Royal Society, July 20.—The Rev. Prof. Flint in the chair—An obituary notice of Prof. Cremona, by Prof. Elaserna, was communicated by Prof. Chrystal.—Mr. James Russell read a paper on the, molecular condition of iron, demagnetised by various methods, in which a large number of experiments on the mutual effects of superposed magnetisations were described and discussed in the light of the molecular theory which had suggested them. According to the author's view, when iron has been demagnetised by a series of reversals diminishing by very small steps, the molecules in any small region, instead of being left in a condition in which as many point one way as another, are left with a preponderance pointing uniformly round the equatorial belt at right angles to the direction in which the magnetising forces had been applied. It is obvious that if a new magnetic force be applied codirectional with, or perpendicular to, the direction of the original set of forces, there will be no induction at right angles to the new force. But if the new force be applied in any other direction, there will be a component of induction perpendicular to this direction. The consideration of the theory in various combinations led to results which were tested by experiment. In all cases the theory stood the test of experiment satisfactorily.—Dr. D. Fraser Harris read a paper on affectability and functional inertia as the two fundamental properties of protoplasm. These were regarded as the two physiologically opposite functional capabilities, the degree of the relative intensities of which determined the particular manifestation at the moment. As examples of manifestation of functional inertia were mentioned insusceptibility, automatism, heredity, rhythmicality of action, the manner in which functional exhaustion was warded off and the state of fatigue substituted, &c Functional inertia not only accounted for vestigial organs, but also for vestigial metabolism, as, e.g. the formation of uric acid in the mammal, an avian or reptilian metabolic relic.—Dr. Noel Paton communicated a paper on October salmon in the sea, in which some new points in the life-history of these fish were brought to light. In late runs of salmon male fish markedly preponderated. In the series studied, ovaries in all stages of development were found, so that ripeness of ovary was not the determining factor of migration from sea to river. One fish which had been obtained was of peculiar interest. In its strong mandible and large teeth it resembled a male, but when the viscera were exposed ovaries were found. The ovaries were flabby and soft, and had a yellowish opaque appearance, with pale opaque patches on many of the eggs.—In a note on resistance change accompanying transverse magnetisation in nickel wire, Prof. C. G. Knott and Mr. P. Ross described an experiment which seemed to show that in nickel wire in strong fields (in moderate fields in which the effect of longitudinal magnetisation is easily observed there is no measurable effect) there is very slight effect until a field of nearly 2000 units is reached, when the resistance begins rapidly to decrease, and goes on decreasing linearly with increase of current to fields of 5000. When the coil is wound with a pitch of 1 in 20, the component of the field along the wire gives rise to an increase of resistance which in the lower fields may counterbalance the slight decrease due to the transverse field. In the higher fields, however, this longitudinal effect is of comparatively small account.—Mr. J. H. Maclagan Wedderburn communicated a paper on the application of quaternions in the theory of differential equations.—In a note on a method of bringing together the two spectra produced by the ordinary spectrophotometer, Mr. J. R. Milne described a neat application of the wellknown heliometric device of the divided lens. By using a divided lens in the eye-piece, he was able not only to bring the two spectra edge to edge without intervening dark space, but was able to shift the spectra sideways relatively to one another so as to compare directly the luminosities of strips belonging to different parts of the spectrum.—A paper by Dr. Thomas Muir on the theory of axisymmetric determinants in the historical order of development up to 1841 was also communicated.