The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-11 00:00:00

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Country Markets.

10,1. D FM 1- OF ISCIENCE,','.

At the last sitting M. Faye read a paper on the
advantages which must accrue to science from the
study of figure of the earth, and concluded with
recommending the academy to use its interest with
the Government for the purpose of inducing it to
extend the great French meridian line to the limits
of Sahara. M. Eke de Beaumont, the perpetual
secretary, warmly seconded the recommendation. On
the same subject M. Leverrier read some remarks
on M. Biot's observations relative to M. Struve's
work on the Russian meridian, which had given
occasion to a recent discussion ; and showed that
M. Biot was wrong in attributing to M. Struve the
intention of measuring an arc of the earth without
taking the irregularities of our globe into account,
since Marshal Vaillant had announced that M.
Struve proposed to measure a parallel from Astra-
kau to Ikest, in order to ascertain whether the figure
of our planet has the shape of a revolving body.
M. Eke de Beaumont then suggested the expe-
diency of effecting a general triangulation of the
Marquesas Islands ; and subseqently stated that
the Isle of Wight was crossed from east to west
by a great line of dislocation, in which the chalky
and tertiary strata had actually assumed a vertical
position. This circumstance, he thought, might
tend to explain the anomalies existing in the south-
ern part of the British meridian. M. Seguier pro-
duced a fragment of an aerolith which had fallen
iu the department of the Yonne on the Ist Oct.
last, and stated that as soon as he had collected
sufficient information on the subject, he would com-
municate a circumstantial account of it to the
academy. M. Puesch gave a description of a female
child which lived for thirty hours after its birth,
although its most vital organs presented very re-
markable anomalies and defects. M. Bogdanow, of
Moscow, wrote on the subject of the colours of the
plumage of birds, and announced that he had been
able to extract the colouring matter contained is
the feathers of the Calurus auriceps and other birds
by means of boding alcohol. He further announced
his intention of examining whether a given colour
met within different orders of animals is produced
by the same or by different pigments. M. Leverrier
communicated a letter from M. Maury, director of
the observatory at Washington, announcing the
discovery of a new telescopic planet. The position
was, Oct. 4th, mean time at Washington, 1013. 21m.
24.45.; right ascension, Oh. 57m. 29.245.; declina-
tion, north, 3 deg. 58 min. 37.3 sec. Diurnal mo-
tion in right ascension, 52 sec.; in declination, 3
min. 54 see. The planet is of the 11th magnitude.
M. Leverrier, however, expressed an opinion that
this planet was probably identical with the 50th
planet discovered on the 19th ult. at Bilk by M.
Luther.—M. Tereil presented a lump of glass
crystallised after fusion, and gave an analysis of it,
showing that it contained but little alumina. and
oxide of iron.—M. Decharmescommunicated some
fresh information concerning the extraction of opium
from the common poppy at Amiens, announcing
that the quantity of morphine extracted from it
was this year 23 per cent., while in 1853, when the
attempt was first made there, it was only 14 per
cent.