68 



NATURE 



[March 9, 191 1 



Daniel Barthalot and Henry Oaud*chon : Nitrification 



by the ultra-violet rays. An aqueous solution of ammonia 

 under the action of ultra-violet light forms some nitrite. 

 A solution of ammonium nitrate under similar conditions 

 gives off oxygen mixed with nitrogen and nitrite is formed. 

 The effects of ultra-violet light are generally similar to 

 those of ferments. — Emile Andr4 : The combination of 

 amines with aretylenic ketones. The preparation of /5-sub- 

 stituted ethylenic aminoketones. — Charles Moiireu and 

 Amand Valsur : Isosparteinc, a case of stereoisomerism 

 of nitrogen. — Henri Coupin : The comparative toxicity of 

 plant essences on higher plants. ITie action of the essen- 

 tial oils from a large number of plants has been studied 

 from the point of view of their action on wheat germs. 

 The great majority prove to have clearly toxic effects. — 

 G. Qaatina : The use of saponins for the preparation of 

 insectidal emulsions and liquids for the destruction of in- 

 sects and cryptogams. The addition of saponin to such 

 liquids is shown to be distinctly advantageous. — Henri 

 Bl«rry, Victor Henri, and Albert Ranc : The action of 

 ultra-violet light on glycerol.— J. Renaut : Mitochondria 

 of the globular cells of the hyaline cartilage of mammals. — 

 Ph. NAsrri* : The existence of the trias at Mt. Ktypas 

 fMessapion) and the importance of the gap between the 

 Trias and the Cretaceous in Greece. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, March g. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.— (i) The Absorption Spectra of Lithium and 

 Cscsium ; (2) Dispersion in Vapours of the Alkali Metals : Prof. P. V. 

 Bevan.— On the Ionic Solubility-product : J- Kendall. — Note on the 

 Electrical Waves occurring in Nature : Dr. "W. H. Eccles and H. M. 

 Airey.— The .\ction of Animal Extracts on Milk Secretion : Prof. E. A. 

 Schafer, F. R.S., and K. Mackenzie. 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30.— On the Reduction and Classification 

 of Binary Cubic Forms which have a Negative Determinant: G. B. 

 Mathews. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— The Laying and Main- 

 tenance of Transmission Cables : C. Vernier. 



Society op Dyers and Colourists, at 8.— The Fading of Dyestuffs : 

 J. W. Lovibond. 



FRIDAY, March id. 



Royal Institution, at 9.— Recent Advances in Turbines : Hon. C. A. 

 Parsons, F.R.S. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at s-— f^n the bearing of the Principle 

 of Relativity in Gravitational Astronomy : W. de Sitter.— The long- 

 period Variable R T Cygni : A. N. Brown.— On a New Family of 

 Periodic Orbits in the Problem of H hree Bodies : E. W. Brown.— On the 

 Determination of the Places of Reference Stars and Fundamental Stars 

 by Photographic Methods : H. H. Turner.— On the Oscillating Orbits 

 about the Triangular Equilibrium Points in the Problem of Three Bodies : 

 E. W. Brown.— On the Problem of Distribution in Globular Star 

 Clusters : H. C. Plummer.— Measures of Double Stars : Royal Ob- 

 servatory, Edinburgh. 



Malacological Society, at 8.— On the Recent Species of Vulsella ; on 

 a New Species of Phasianella : E. A. Smith.— On the Value of the 

 Gasteropod Apex in CUssification : T. IrcAaXc.—Vabiata IVoodwardi, 

 n.sp., and Sf>h<rrium BulUni, n.sp., from the Forest Bed (Cromerian) of 

 West Runton, Norfolk : A. S. Kennard. 



Physical Society, at 8.— Demonstration of the Working of the Gyro 

 Compass : G. K. B. Elphinstone.— Note on an Electrical Trevelyan 

 Rocker: Dr W. H. Eccles.— Notes on the Tilted Gold-leaf Electroscope: 

 Dr. G. W. C. Kaye. 



SATURDAY, March ii. 



Roval Institution, at 3.— Radiant Energy and Matter: Sir I. T. 

 Thomson, F.R.S. 



MONDAY, March 13. 



Royal GeographJcal Society, at 8.10.— A Pioneer Journey in the 

 Purcell Range, British Columbia : Dr. T. G. Longstaff. 



Royal Society oe Arts, at 8.— Applications of Electric Heating : Prof. 

 J. A. Fleming, F.R.S. * 



TUESDAY, March 14. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— Crystalline Structure: Mineral, Chemical. 

 Liquid : Dr. A. E. H. Tutton, F.R.S. 



Illuminating Engineering Society, at Z.— Resumed discussioH on 

 School Lighting. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— The Electrification of a Portion 

 of the Suburban System of the London, Brighton and South Coast 

 Railway: P. Dawson. 



Faraday Society, at 8.— Some Properties of Aluminium Anode-films: 

 G. E. Bairsto and R. Mercer.— The Weight of a " Normal " Litre of 

 Hydrogen Chloride and the Atomic Weight of Chlorine : F. P. Burt and 

 J- A^' ^•'yt'aw-Gray.— A Physico-chemical Study of Merrury- 

 sodium Alloys or Sodium Amalgams : E. Vanstone.— On Surface Effects 

 between Mercury and certain Solutions, and an Electro-chemical Method 1 

 of Estimating Dissolved Oxygen : Dr. S. W. J. Smith and W. F. 1 

 Higgins. I 



U'EDIfESDAY, March 15. 



*^?**i Society of Arts, at 4.30.— The Adulteration of Food : Colonel i 

 C E. Cas.sal. 



NO. 2158, VOL. 86] 



Royal Mbtborological Sociktv, *X 7.30.— What can we learn from 

 Rainfall Record*?: Prof. H. H. Turner, F.R.S. 



Entomological Sociktv, at 8. 



Royal Microscopical Socibty, at 8.— 5>ome Photomicrographs illm- 

 Iraiing the Morphology of the Organisms concerne<l in th<: Production of 

 Acute Intestinal Toxaemia in Infants : Dr. Raloh Vim cnl.— Anomali« 

 in Objective .Screw Threads : F. W. Watson Raker.— <i) On some New 

 Objectives and Kye-pieres by R. Winkel of fioitenberg ; (i) An Objective 

 Mount with an Iris on the Variable Microscope : W. Nelson. 



THURSDAY, March 16. 



Royal Society, at ^.yi.— Probable Paper t : Gametogenesis of the Gallfly, 

 Neuroterus Icniicularis. Part II. : L. Doncaster. — The Action of the 

 Venom of Echis carinatm : Sir T. R. Kraser, F.R.S., and Dr. J. A. 

 Gunn.-;-Further Researchei on the Development of Trypancsoma gam- 

 bictise in Glossina palpalis : Colonel Sir D. Bruce, F.R.S., and others.— 

 Spontaneous Cancer in Mice: Dr. M. Haaland. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— Giants and Pygmies: Prof. A. Keith. 



Linnean Society, at 8.— On the Brown Seaweeds of the Salt Martfa : 

 Miss S. M. Baker. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 4.30.— Education in India : C. H. A. Hill. 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8.— Presidential Address: 

 K. B. Ellington. 



FRIDAY, March 17. 



Royal In.stitution, at 9 —Water Supply : J. H. Balfour- Browne. 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— The Prodoction of Water-gas : 

 Alwyne Meade. 



SATURDAY, March 18. 



Royal Institution, at 3. -Radiant Energy and Matter: Sir J. I. 

 Thomson, F.R.S. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



What Consumptives ought to Know 35 



Egyptian Religion 37 



Anatomy of Sedges. By Rev. Edward F. Linton . 38 

 Tables of Symmetric Functions. By P. A. M. . . 39 



Workshop Mathematics 39 



Spectroscopy. By E. C. C. B 40 



Our Book Shelf ^o 



Letters to the Editor:— 



The Extinct Buffalo of Algeria as Drawn by Prehistoric 

 Man. (Illustrated.) — Sir H. H. Johnston, 



G.C.M.G., K.C.B 42 



The Transference of Names in Zoology. — Rev. 



Thomas R. R. Stebbing, F. R.S 43 



Time Accuracy in Magnetic Registration. — G. van 



Dijk 44 



Reflections in Water. — W. B. Croft 45 



A Self-regulating Siphon. {Illustrated.)— VJ.il.TaA.X. 45 



The Plumage Bill. — Joseph Collinson 45 



Edward Blyth and the Theory of Natural Selection. — 



Edward A. Martin 45 



Cat Playing with Shadow. — H. S. G 45 



The A-Kamba of British East Africa. [Illustrated.) 



By Dr. A. C. Haddon, F.R.S 45 



The Tokyo Imperial University. By H. D 46 



Fifth Migration Report of the British Ornithologists 



Club 47 



Johan Gadolin. By T. E. T 48 



Notes 49 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Brilliant Meteor of February 19 54 



Halley's Comet 54 



The Angular Speed of Rotation of a Long-enduring 



Prominence ... 5? 



Conjunctions of Major Planets and Stars in 1911 . . . 55 



Astrophysics in the United States 55 



Studies of Algol Variables 55 



The Spectroscopic Binary u Herculis 55 



Forthcoming Books of Science 55 



Canadian Mineral Statistics. By H. L, . . . ! . . 55 

 Scientific Research in Australasia. By A. D. . . . 59 

 The Manufacture of Varieties of Common Salt . 60 



Archaeological Research in Arkansas 60 



The Coefficient of Skin Friction in Air at Moderately 



High Velocities. By Prof. Herbert Chatley ... 60 

 Biology of the Eel-fishes, especially of the Conger. 



{Illustrated.) By Dr. Jobs. Schmidt 61 



Report of the Carnegie Foundation 63 



University and Educational Intelligence 63 



Societies and Academies 65 



Diary of Societies 68 



