40 



NA 7VRE 



[May II, 1876 



C-HrNoNOs + C,H4N02Na = NaNOr, + CcHgNjCsH^NOa 

 Nitrate of " ' Sodium- Nitro-ethyl- 



diazobenzol. nitro-ethane. azophenyl. 



By generalising this reaction the following compounds have been 

 prepared : — By V. Meyer : azonitropropylphenyl, 



CgHfiN^CaHgNOj ; 

 by T. Barbieri : azonitroethylparabolyl, C7H7N„C2H4N02 ; and 

 azonitrophenylorthobolyl, C7H7N2C2H4NO2 ; by H. Wald : 

 azonitroethylparabromophenyi, CgH4BrN5C2H4NOj, ; by F. 

 Hallmann : azonitroethylnitrophenyl, C6H4NO2N2C2H4NO.2. — 

 V. Meyer and M. Lecco described the following reaction : — 

 CH3CH2CBr2(N02) + H3NOH = 2HBr + 

 Dibromoiiitropropan. Hydroxylamine. 

 CH3 . CH2 . C = NOH(N02). 

 Propylnitrolic acid. 

 — W. Michler described the following reactions : — 



COCI3 + NH(C«H«)2 = HCl + C05^(c«H5,2. 



^of'c^bon'' Diphenylamine New chloride. 



This, with ammonia, yields the urea, C0{NH2) . N(C6H5)2 ; 

 and with aniline the urea, COlNHCeHg) . NiCaH,)^. Oxy- 

 chloride of carbon and ethylaniline yields the chloride — 



If, instead of monoethyl-aniline, dimethylaniline is submitted to 

 the action of oxychloride of carbon, tbe reaction passes in a 

 different manner, namely : — 



2N(C6H5)(CH3)2 + COCI2 = HCl N(C6H5)(CH3)2 + 

 Dimethylaxiline Hydrochlorate of dimethylaniline 



N(CH3)sCeH4COCl 

 Chloride of dimethylamidobenzoic acid. 

 The acid is easily obtained, and proves to be identical with 

 dimethylamidoparabenzoic acid. — P. Claessen proved the identity 

 of rhodan-acetic acid of Heintz with what Vollhardt called 

 isosulfocyano-acetic acid. — C. Reimer has obtained the following 

 very remarkable result of the action of chloroform on an alkaline 

 solution of phenol, viz. , salicylous acid. This reaction may be 

 generalised. Cresol and other phenols offer similar results. — 

 O. Braun described an apparatus destined to retain the solid and 

 liquid parts of smoke, as also those parts that may be absorbed 

 by solids or liquids. He likewise described a similar apparatus 

 for retaining sparks. — E. Schunk and H. Roemer gave details 

 on the preparation of isoanthraflavinic acid and a comparison of 

 its properties with anthraflavinic acid. The described substi- 

 tution-derivatives with four atoms of bromine and with two 

 molecules of acetyl, ethyl, and methyl respectively. — F. 

 Tieman has transformed vanilline by acetic anhydride into a 

 coumarine. The corresponding acid is ferulic acid. He drew 

 attention to the relation of vanillinic and coniferylic derivatives 

 which corresponds to that of benzoic and cinnamic compounds. 

 — F. Tiemann and H. Haarmann have found in vanilla besides 

 vanilline, vanillic acid, resin, and fat. 

 Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, May i. — Vice-Admiral ParLs in 

 the chair. — The following papers were read : — Discovery of the 

 small planet (163), M. Leverrier. It was discovered at Toulouse, 

 April 26, by M. Perrotin. — On the electro- motive forces produced 

 on contact, of liquids separated by capillary diaphragms of any 

 nature, by M. Becquerel. Using dilute instead of concentrated 

 liquids, he finds the electromotive force increases with the time 

 ot contact reaching a maximum . The action probably consists of 

 a condensation of acid and alkaline particles on the faces of the 

 diaphragm, just as gases are condensed in porous bodies. — 

 On the oscillations of temperature of half January, half Feb- 

 ruary, and half April, 1876, by M. Sainte-Claire-Deville. 

 In April there was a minimum about the 15th ; in January 

 and February about the I2fh. — On microclinic felspar and 

 on andesine, by M. Sainte-Claire-Deville. — Microscopic ex- 

 amination of orthose and of various triclinic felspars, by 

 M. Des Cloizeaux. — On electric polarisation, by M. Du Mon- 

 eel. An electrified plate sheathed with oxygen may pro- 

 duce a different effect from an unelectrified plate so sheathed, 

 the electric vibrations continuing after the electric source has 

 ceased (phosphorescence is analogous). The author studies this 

 with hard stones ; he also studies the effects of polarisation with 

 induced currents, effects of local currents in stones, &c. — Note on 

 the theory of several hydraulic machines of his invention, by M. 

 De Caligny. — On the embryogeny of Ephemera, especially that 

 of Palm^enia virgo (Olivier), by M. Joly. — On fishes of the 

 Ceratodus group in the river Fitzroy, Australia, by M. de Cas- 

 telnau. — New researches on gallium, by M. Lecoq de Bois- 



baudran. — Experiments on solar heat, by M. Salicis. A sealed 

 packet (of 1868) relating to utilisation of solar heat by reflectors, 

 &c. He describes a heliodjmamic and a heliostatic apparatus. — 

 Researches on the compounds of pure carbon in meteorites, by 

 Mr. J. Lawrence Smith. — On the Phylloxera which comes from 

 the winter egg, by M. Boiteau. Direct application of sulphide of 

 carbon in the treatment of phylloxerised vines, by M. Allies. — 

 On a new mode of cultivation of the vine without pruning, by M. 

 Martin. — On the employment of the method of articulation in edu- 

 cation of deaf mutes, by M. Houdin. — Observations of planets 

 at the Observatory of Marseilles, by M. Stephan. — Phenomena 

 of interference obtained with thin sheets of collodion, by M. 

 Gripon. — On the distribution of magnetism in cylindrical bars, 

 by M. Bouty. — On the transmission of electric currents by deri- 

 vation across a river, by M. Bouchotte ; an experiment made in 

 1858. An air line of 300 m. (with battery) on one bank of a 

 river, was connected by both ends to earth, and a similar line on 

 the other bank contained a galvanometer. On the battery circuit 

 being closed, the needle was deflected. — On a new system of 

 electro-magnet with flat spirals, by M. Serrin. The wires of 

 bobbins of electro-magnets, used in regulators of powerful 

 electric lights, sometimes become so hot as to fuse the insulating 

 matter surrounding them. M. Serrin forms his electro-magnetic 

 spirals of metallic helices without insulating cover, and so 

 arrauged that] the spirals cannot touch one another. He 

 hollows out his helice from a copper cylinder of thick- 

 ness equal to that of the bottom, and he covers the core 

 with vitreous enamel. The spiral may be raised to a red 

 heat without the sensibility of the apparatus being affected. — 

 On a new sulphate of potassium, by M. Ogier. — On the origin 

 of stripe in puddled iron, by M. Le Chatelier. The stripe 

 results from small fusibility of partially peroxidised scoriae, and 

 from the comparatively low temperature at which the puddling 

 is done. — On a new crystallised organic substance, by M. 

 Loiseau. It is called rqffinose, and was got in investigating the 

 most favourable conditions for extraction of sugar from molasses 

 by means of the sucrate of hydrocarbonate of lime. Crystalline 

 rafiinose has the formula CgH^Oy. — On a new method of studying 

 the respiration of aquatic animals, by MM. Jolyet and Regnard. 

 The object is to keep the medium always in the normal state, 

 however long the experiment. In a limited closed space, con- 

 taining determinate quantities of water and air, it was required 

 to make air circulate in the water, to absorb the CO.2 in propor- 

 tion as it was exhaled, and replace O as it was consumed. A 

 figure of the apparatus is given. — On the crystalline system of 

 various substances presenting optical anomalies, by M. Mallard. 

 — The elephants of Mont Dol ; dentition of, the mammoth; 

 distinction of upper and lower molars, right and left, by M. 

 Sirodot. — On the cranial cavity and the position of the opdc 

 orifice in Steneosaurus Heberti, by M. Morel de Glasvillc. — On a 

 new thermo-cautery, by M. Paquelin. It depends on the pro- 

 perty which platinum has, of becoming incandescent (once it has 

 been raised to a certain degree of heat) in a gaseous mixture of 

 air and of certain hydrocarbonised vapours. 



CONTENTS Page 



The Loan Collection 21 



Diffusion of Gases through Absorbing Substances. By J. Clbrk 



Maxwell 24 



Macalisthr's "Animal Morphology" 25 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Page's " Introductory Textbook of Physical Geography" ... 26 



Schomburgk's " Flora of South Australia." — ^A. W. b 27 



Letters to the Editjk : — 



Theory of Electrical Induction.-— Prof. J. Clerk Maxwell, 



F.R.S 27 



Cherry Blossoms. — Charles Darwin, F.RS 28 



The Pollen of the Cherry. — Alfred W. Bennett (With Illustra- 

 tion) 28 



Spring Dynamometers. — Prof. W. F. Barretf sg 



The Meteors of April 20th. — Prof. Daniel Kirkwood .... 29 



American Mocking Bird. — M. C . . ... 29 



An Unusual Optical Phenomenon.— Joseph Gledhill 29 



Our Astkknomical Column : — 



The Binary \ Ophiuchi 29 



The Rotation of Venus 30 



Song of the Screw 30 



On the Telephone, an Instrument for Transmitting Musical 

 Notes by Means of Electricity. By J. Munro {Wttk Illust?-n- 



tions) . 30 



Our Perception or the Direction of a Source of Sound. By 



Lord Rayleigh, F.R.S 32 



Prof. Huxlf.y's Lectures on the Evidence as to the Origin of 



Existing Vertebrate Animals, VI 33 



The Loan Collection Conferences 34 



Notes . 35 



Scientific Serials 37 



socibtibs and acadkmibs 37 



