INSTITUTE NOTES. 



Attention is directed to an error in \^ol. II, No. 3, page 98, 

 sixth line from bottom, in the article on "Sycamore Mill," 

 where the name George Dutton should read George Dunn. 



The Institute is indebted to Homer E. Hoopes, of the 

 Board of Curators, for the copies of Science which the Library 

 has been receiving for the past year or more. Likewise is it 

 indebted to the President, T. Chalkley Palmer, for the 

 Journal of the Franklin Institute. Both of these publications 

 are much appreciated by the members. 



The following extract from Gautier's "Chimie Biologique," 

 touching upon the most recent investigations regarding the 

 function of chlorophyl in plant life offers interesting subject 

 for thought. The similarity of the relationship existing 

 between this reduced chlorophyl and ordinary chlorophyl to 

 the relationship existing between the hemoglobin and oxy- 

 hemoglobin of the blood,' suggests similarity of function. In 

 both cases we seem to be dealing with an " oxygen-carrier," 

 but strangely enough in one case the oxygen is carried uphill, 

 and in the other downhill : — 



" On obtient un produit de reduction jaune paille, ou rouge 

 quand la solution est concentree : c'est la chlorophylle reduite. 

 Ainsi produit, elle possede la propriete de s'oxyder rapidement 

 a Pair en verdissant. Les solutions de ce substance 

 enfermees dans des tubes contenant de Pacide carbonique pur, 

 verdissent rapidement a la lumiere du soleil en se transformant 

 en chlorophylle, tandis qu'elles restent jaunatres ou rougeatres 

 a Pobscurite. Des tubes de solution protophylline ( chlorophylle 

 reduite) enfermee dans une atmosphere d'hydrogene pur ne 

 changent de couleur ni a la lumiere, ni a Pobscurite. L'agent 

 . qui reduit Pacide carbonique sous Pinfluence de la lumiere est 

 done bien (vtte protophylline ou rlilorophylle reduite." 



