November j 7, 1923] 



NATURE 



747 



j — W. W. Heinrich : The analytical prolongations oi 

 the limited problem. — Ladislas Gorczinski : The 

 , diminution of intensity in the red portion of the 

 solar radiation, observed in Europe and at the 

 I equator. The measurements were made with bi- 

 ij metallic actinometers (Michelson system) furnished 

 I with coloured glasses. Between the equator and 

 i latitude 52° N. there is a progressive increase in the 

 » intensity of the red portion of the solar radiation 

 1 as the distance from the equator increases. — P. 

 j. Lambert, G. Dejardin, and D. Chalonge : An attempt 

 [; to prove the existence, at high altitude, of a solar 

 i| radiation in the extreme ultra-violet. Photographs 

 of the solar spectrum were made with a specially 

 designed spectrograph at the Vallot Observatory at 

 the summit of Mt. Blanc, the experiments being 

 specially directed to detect ultra-violet light between 

 the wave lengths 1900 A. and 2150 A. The results 

 were negative, no impression being shown by the 

 plate after 40 minutes' exposure. It is suggested that 

 oxygen may possess absorption bands in this region, 

 and this point is to be the subject of further experi- 

 ments. — F. Wolfers : The diffusion of the X-rays 

 and Bragg's law. The work of Stenstrom, Siegbahn, 

 Hjalmar, and Duane and Patterson has shown that 

 Bragg's law, K\ = 2asina is not rigorously true, the 

 angles measured in the higher orders being a little 

 too small. The author shows that it is possible to 

 explain these deviations in a manner compatible with 

 the quanta theory, assuming only that diffusion in 

 a crystal of any substance is of the same nature. 

 The deviations calculated from the theory thus 

 developed are compared with the measurements of 

 Hjalmar. — E. Darmois and J. Perin : Cryoscopy in 

 Na2S04 . loHjO. The molecular magnitude of the 

 malates, mofybdates, and molybdomalates. Cry- 

 scopic measurements show that these complex 

 molybdic acids are all derived from two molecules 

 of malic acid. — Paul Pascal : The constitution and 

 evolution of the metallic oxides and hydroxides. 

 Magnetic analysis serves to distinguish water of 

 hydration from water of constitution. Applications 

 of the method to the cases of cadmium hydroxide, 

 magnesium hydroxide, and zinc hydroxide are given 

 in detail. — P. Brenans and C. Prost : The /)-iod- 

 oxybenzoic acids. Description of the preparation 

 of the iodo- derivatives of para-oxybenzoic acid, 

 C,H,I(OH){CO.OH) (3:4:1) and C,H2l2 (OH)(CO.OH) 

 (3,5:4:1). — E. Kohn - Abrest and J. Ricardoni : 

 A new method of estimating hydrocyanic acid in 

 cyanogenetic plants. The hydrocyanic acid is re- 

 moved from the cold solution by means of a current 

 of air passed for a period of eight hours. — A. Baldit : 

 The trajectories of storms and their splitting up into 

 two. — Marc Bridel and Pierre Delauney : The pro- 

 perties of loroglossin and its products of hydrolysis : 

 glucose and loroglossigenine. Loroglossin, under the 

 action of emulsin, gives glucose and a new substance, 

 loroglossigenine. The latter has been obtained in 

 the crystalline form, but in a quantity too small for 

 complete analysis. — C. Fromageot : The influence of 

 the concentration of salts in sea water on the assimila- 

 tion of green Algae. The intensity of the photo- 

 synthesis varies appreciably with the concentration 

 of the medium. There is an optimum saline con- 

 centration for the photosjTithcsis, and this concentra- 

 tion is precisely that of sea water. — F. W. T. Hunger : 

 The nature of the cocoanut pearl and its fonnation. — 

 Georges Claude : The transformation of ammonia 

 into fertiliser. — J. Athanasiu : The nervous motive 

 energy of the heart and the nature of the contraction 

 of the myocardium. — Charles Benoit and Andr6 

 Helbronner : The antagonism of radiations. Physio- 

 logical and therapeutic consequences. In the field 

 physiology, the effect of irradiation by ultra-violet 



NO. 2820, VOL. 112] 



light is increased both in intensity and rapidity by 

 a preliminary infra-red irradiation. On the other 

 hand, the effects tend to be neutralised by a sub- 

 sequent infra-red irradiation. — Jacques Pellagrin : 

 A new apodal fish from the Bay of California, and its 

 biology. — J. Legendre : The zoophilia of certain 

 mosquitoes and its application to prophylaxy. In 

 some regions Culex pipiens and Anopheles mactili- 

 pennis both attack man, but it has been noted that 

 at a coast station in Brittany, where these species 

 are present together, neither attacks man. It is 

 suggested that one of these insects might be used to 

 suppress the other, and an experiment in this direction 

 has been started. — A. Vandel : The existence and 

 conditions of parthenogenesis in a terrestrial Isopod : 

 TrichoniscHS (S-piloniscus) provisorius. — A. Desgrez, 

 H. Bierry, and F. Rathery : The utility of vitamin B 

 and of levulose in the cure by insulin. The transitory 

 effect of insulin in diabetes may be increased and 

 prolonged by a suitable food regime. The addition 

 of either vitamin B or levulose, or a mixture of both, 

 allows the insulin injections to be made at longer 

 intervals and thus increases the useful effect of a 

 given amount of this substance. — Mme. J. Samuel 

 Lattes : The corpuscular nature of the radiation 

 responsible for the phenomenon of necrosis (produced 

 by the X-rays) and on the best thickness of the 

 filters. — M. Sluys : The creation of multiple foci of 

 the secondary ^a-radiation in the middle of the tissues 

 for a therapeutic purpose. — Charles Richet and Jean 

 Cilice : Local sera therapy in acute infantile gastro- 

 enteritis. 



Sydney. 



Linnean Society of New South Wales, August 29. — 

 Mr. A. F. Basset Hull, president, in the chair. — 

 Vera Irwin- Smith : Studies in life-histories of 

 Australian Diptera Brachycera. ii. Asilidae. No. i. 

 Catalogue of the species of Asilidaj of which the 

 earlier stages have been recorded. Asilidae. No. 2. 

 Notes on the egg-laying, eggs and young larvae of 

 Neoaratus herctdes Wied. Larvae were hatched from 

 eggs laid by a female in captivity. The eggs were 

 I-I-I-2 mm. long and o- 40-0- 43 mm. broad, and the 

 newly-hatched larvae were 2 -2-2 -6 mm. long. The 

 eggs are distinguished by a characteristic pattern in 

 dark pigment on the inner layer of the shell. — 

 J. McLuckie : Studies in symbiosis, v. A contribu- 

 tion to the physiology of Gastrodia sesamoides (R.Br.). 

 An account of the mycorhiza and the bacteria 

 associated with the rhizomes of the species, and 

 their relation to the higher plant. The nutritive 

 phase of the association of fungal hyphae, bacteria 

 and Orchid is also discussed. — J. M. Petrie : Studies 

 in plant pigments, i. The yellow colouring-matter 

 of the Acacias. Four different species of Acacia 

 {A. discolor, A. linifolia, A. decurrens and A. longi- 

 folia) have been examined to ascertain the nature 

 of the colouring matter of their yellow inflorescences. 

 The water soluble yellow pigment was a glucoside 

 of kaempferol, which exists in the flowers as a rhamnose 

 glucoside ; no free flavonol wius found. The Acacia 

 tannins were composed of phloroglucinol, proto- 

 catcchuic and gallic acids and deposited on hydrolysis 

 large amounts of red piilobaphenc anhydrides. The 

 carotin and xanthophyll as plastid pigments were 

 present in amounts from 0-14 to 0-3 per cent., and the 

 flavonol about o-o6 per cent, of the fresh flowers. — 

 H. W. Ferguson : Revision of the Amycterides 

 (Coleoptcra). Pt. viii. The Euomides. There is no 

 single character separating this group from tlic 

 remainder of the subfamily. All the desciihcd 

 species are reviewed and in many ca.ses redescribed 

 from the types. The descriptions of ten new species 

 and two new varieties are included. 



