334 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [OCT. 4, 



even after repeated reductions and oxidations. An examination 

 of Wolframite showed that it contains hj^drogen and nitrogen in 

 considerable quantities, while Scheelite yielded a comparative!}' 

 large quantity of nitrogen. The hydrogen is probabl}^ present 

 also, and the gas from Scheelite will, shortly, be analyzed quanti- 

 tatively. 



We were unable to detect either argon or helium in the gases 

 obtained from Wolframite or Scheelite, but Professor Runge, of 

 Hanover, informed me that on heating Wolframite very stronglj' 

 is a platinum tube both were developed and could be detected 

 by means of the spectroscope. 



That varying atomic weights can be obtained for tungsten by 

 fractionating the acid and varying the conditions of the reduc- 

 tion, can scarcely be doubted. A consideration of the condi- 

 tions under which the experiments were conducted seems to 

 indicate that several explanations are possible, any one of which 

 would appear to be theoretically satisfactory. It becomes neces- 

 sary, therefore, to determine which is the true one, and a further 

 series of investigation has, accordingly, been undertaken which, 

 it is hoped, will settle the question. 



Among the interesting facts noted it may be mentioned that 

 not only metallic tungsten but also the brown oxide decom- 

 poses carbon dioxide, with formation of carbon monoxide. 



The Academy then adjourned till October. 



J. F. Kemp, 



Secretary. 



Regular Business Meeting. 



October 4th, 1897. 



The Academy met with President Stevenson in the Chair. 

 The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



The Secretary presented the following nominations of new 

 members : 



Professor Lucien M. Underwood, Columbia University. 

 Professor Henry M. Howe, Columbia University. 

 The Section of Astronomy and Physics then organized. 

 The paper of the evening was by R. S. Woodward on the 

 Mass of the Earth's Atmosphere. This was given as the result 



