The photographing of the interior of the Pyramids, by Prof. Piazzi Smith, has not proved successful in an artistic point of view, on account of the extremely vitiated state of the air within the close passages constantly visited by travelers with numerous torches and candles, by reason of which the magnesium wire burned with much impaired brilliancy. Some limited views, sufficing however to establish disputed measurements, were taken, though only one picture could be obtained within twenty-four hours, the magnesia smoke requiring this time to settle. A mixture of magnesium filings and mealed powder was said to produce a better effect than the wire. The following comparison of the magnesium wire with other sources of light is of interest. Four wires weighing three grains per foot, each burning at the rate of eight inches per minute, or eight grains in that time, give a light equal to 288 sperm candles, or 214 Argand gas-burners. At this rate of consumption one ounce of wire, costing $6.50 would last one hour. British Journal of Photography.—A curious French toy has lately been exciting much attention. It is called the egg of Pharaoh's serpent, and consists of sulpho-cyanide of mercury made into a little conical pellet like a pastel. This being ignited, burns with a blue flame giving out a long coil of a consistent material resembling a snake in its length and convolutions, and seemingly a hundred times larger than its parent egg: Professor John F. Frazer here showed the operation of some of these serpent eggs, prepared by the Messrs. Wyeth, and explained their action, as, also, the history of the substance mellon which is the bulky product of their combustion. Mr. Coleman Sellers showed some others made by Messrs. Bullock & Crenshaw. The meeting was then, on motion, adjourned. H. MORTON, Secretary. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. The Practical Entomologist. A monthly bulletin published by the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, for gratuitous distribution among farmers and agriculturists. A very neatly printed journal, apparently devoted to the distribution of information on the subject of insects noxious and useful (?) to plants and farmers. We do not doubt the value of the knowledge thus disseminated, and we believe that the gratuitous distribution by the Society may carry it where it will be useful. At all events, we are glad to see this indication of health and energy in this young Society. ERRATA. Page 351, line 6 from top, for "inclends," read "materials." A Comparison of some of the Meteorological Phenomena of OCTOBER, 1865, with those of OCTOBER, 1864, and of the same month for FIFTEEN years, at Philadelphia, Pa. Barometer 60 feet above mean tide in the Delaware River. Latitude 39° 57′ N.; Longitude 75° 11' W. from Greenwich. By JAMES A. KIRKPATRICK, A. M. *Sky one-third or less covered at the hours of observation. 48.7 51.4 50.6 3.358 ins, 1.727 ins. 2.888 ins. 6 8 8.8 INDEX. Air prior to the Discovery of Oxygen,-On the Supposed Nature of 138, 195, 248, 341 Albumen; Its Application to Calico Printing and Photographing,-F. C. 336 Ammonium,-Pharaoh's Serpents' Eggs,-The preparation of Sulphocyanide of 142 Animal Charcoal,-On the Revivification of Fatty Matters,-F. C. Calvert's Lecture on Atmospheric Pressure as a source of Mechanical Power, Anti-Fouling Composition, Avanturine Glass,-New Green Bile, its properties; Blood, its Composition and Application in Refining Sugar and Manufacture of Albumen,-F. C. Calvert's Lecture on 58 114 187, 244 28, 279 88 413 421 366 Blasting Powder.-Substitute for Bourdon Pressure Gauge,-J. D. Van Buren on the Bouton, (W.) on Minimum Material in a Trussed Girder, 365 73 175 Suspension Bridges,-On the size of Pins for Connecting Flat Links in Chains of Bryson, (W.) on the Strength of Cast Iron and Timber Pillars, Cadet Engineer; or, Steam for the Student. By John H. Long, Curious Facts in the History of Insects. By Frank Cowan, Cadet Engineer; or, Steam for the Student. By J. H. Long,-Notice of the 287 Iron,-H Bessemer on the Manufacture of Cements, Mortars, and Concretes,-C. H. Has well on Limes, 359 427 387 171 114 Chemistry Applied to the Arts,-Lectures by F. C. Calvert on 102, 187, 244, 336, 397 Clark (J.) on the Problem of the Gyroscope, Coal Gas, Results of the Experiments on the Carburation of of the World,-Statistics of the per Horse Power,—On the Average Consumption of Colburn (Z.) on Certain Methods of Treating Cast Iron in the Foundry, Cotton Fibre,-F. C. Calvert on the Action of Silicate and Carbonate of Soda in Cut-offs,-On Expansion by Decay of Material in Tropical Climates and the Methods Employed for Arresting and Preventing it, Draft Regulator,-Self-acting Pressure and Drainage Works and Water Supply,-Suggestions on Electric Buoy, Elements and their Compounds,-On the Specific Refractive Energies of the Electricity,-Measurement of Inductive Resistances Engines from 1851 to the Present time,-On Marine Engraving,-Another New Process of Entomologist,-Notice of the Practical Erith Explosion and the Repair of the Thames Embankment,-On the 406 161 254, 257 421 312 422 261 Field Boiler, its Principle, Construction, and Action,-Description of the Foundry,-On Certain Methods of Treating Cast Iron in the Occurrence of Petroleum in Canada,―T. D. Rand's paper on Gas,-Results of the Experiments on the Carburation of Coal Gauges and other Instruments used in Steam Engineering,—Pressure Giffard Injector,-An Improvement in the Girder,-W. Bouton on Minimum Materials in a Truss Work,-On Uniform Stress in Girders,-D. V. Wood on General Problem of Trussed Process and Appliances in the Manufacture of Polished Sheet Haswell (C. H.) On Limes, Cements, Mortars, and Concretes, 171 Indian Engineering,—On the Peculiarities of 375 Inductive Resistances,—Electricity,-Measurement of Inventors and the Crown; an Infringement by the Admiralty of England, 281 359 211 Iron and Timber Pillars,-W. Bryson on Strength of Cast H Bessemer on the Manufacture of Cast Steel, its Progress, and in the Foundry,-On Certain Methods of Treating Cast Water Pipes,-On the Strength of Cast Jackson (H.) and Ott (W. A.),-On a new Process for Extracting Gold 179 387 41 330 135 Lead,-On the Erosion of -Poisoning by Leather,-F. C. Calvert's Lecture on Limes, Cements, Mortars, and Concretes,-C. H. Haswell on Magnesium,-Notes on --Recent Applications of Marine Engines from 1851 to the Present Time, Mechanical Power,-Atmospheric Pressure as a Source of 24 274 Milk; its Composition, Properties, and Preservation,-F. C. Calvert's Lecture on Mirrors,-Process for making Platinum Mont Cenis,-Railway over Mortars, and Concretes,-C. H. Haswell on Limes, Cements, National Lyrics. By J. G. Whittier,-Notice of 397 273 233, 289 171 288 243 414 56 175 New Zealand Coal Mines,-Notice of the Nitro-Glycerine, Nystrom, (J. W.,) on Work and Vis-Viva, Oblique Bridge,-Intersection of Joints of an Oxygen,-On the Supposed Nature of Air prior to the Discovery of in Canada, T. D. Rand on the Occurrence of 847 Pillars,-W. Bryson on Strength of Cast Iron and Timber Pumping Engine Practically and Commercially considered,-The Economy of 200 Railway Collision,-On the Prevention of over Mont Cenis, 243 233, 289 |