532 



NATURE 



[February i6' 191 i 



between 80 and 120 kilometres per hour. The results 

 obtained, so far, are inconclusive. — G. Sagrnac : Optical 

 systems in motion and the translation of the earth. — A. 

 Leduc : The application of the Lenz principle to the 

 phenomena accompanying the charge of condensers. — 

 L. Ddcombe : A physical interpretation of non-compen- 

 sated heat. — A. Lafay : A method of observation of the 

 trajectories followed by the elements of an air current 

 deflected by obstacles of variable forms. As an 'indicator, 

 a gas is used the refractive index of which is higher than 

 that of air, but approximately the same density. Such a 

 gas casts a sharp shadow on a screen, and hence the 

 motion of the air currents can be followed. Acetylene, a 

 mixture of acetylene and carbon dioxide, and ethylene are 

 suggested as suitable for this method of working. — MM. 

 Chdneveau and Heim : The extensibility of vulcanised 

 indiarubber. — G. Friedel and F. Grandjean : The struc- 

 ture of liquids with focal conies. — Louis Matruchot : A 

 new fungus pathogenic to man. This fungus, to which the 

 name Mastigocladitini Blochii has been given, has been 

 obtained in pure cultures direct from the lesions in man, 

 and hence appears to be the sole cause of the diseased 

 condition observed. — T. Klobb : The dextrorotatory phyto- 

 sterols (anthesterols) from Anthemis nobilis. — Gabriel 

 Bertrand and R. Veillon : The action of the Bulgarian 

 ferment on the monobasic acids derived from reducing 

 sugars. — A. Marie and M. MacAuliffe : Comparative 

 measurements of individuals of both sexes from lunatic 

 asylums with normal men and women. The inmates of 

 the asylums are generally smaller than the normal, especi- 

 ally in the bust. Details of the comparison -of various 

 limbs and parts of the body are also given. — E. 

 Deschamps : The treatment of epilepsy of gastro- 

 intestinal origin. Remarks on a recent note of M. Doumer 

 on the same subject. — A. Bonnet : Researches on the 

 causes of the variations of the aerial entomological 

 faunule. — M. Gigrnoux : The layers containing Strombus 

 bubonius in the western Mediterranean. — J. Bosler : The 

 relations between the earth currents and magnetic disturb- 

 ances. — M. Birkeland : The zodiacal light. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, February 16. 

 Royal Society, at 4.30. — The Constitution of the Alloys of Aluminium 

 and Zinc: Dr. W. Rosenhain and S. L. Archbutt. — The Production and 

 I'roperties of Soft Rontgen Radiation : R. Whiddington. — Experiments 

 on Stream-line Motion in Curved Pipes : Prof. J. Eustice. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 5.— Re'search Meeting. Some Ant- 

 arctic Problems: Prof. Edgeworth David, F.R.S. 

 LiNNEAN Society, at 8. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — Problems of Animals in Captivity : P. Chalmers 



IMitchell, F.R.S. 

 Illuminating Engineering Society, at 8. — Discussion on School Light- 

 ing. Openers : Dr. James Kerr and Dr. N. Bishop Harman. 

 FRIDAY, February 17. 

 Royal Institution, at 9. — The Stimulation of Digestive Activity : Prof. 



H. E. Armstrong, F.R.S. 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8. — Annual General Meet- 

 ing. Further discussion : Modern Electrical Dock-equipment, with 

 Special Reference to Electrically-operated Coal-hoists : W. Dixon and 

 G. H. Baxter. 



MONDAY, February 20. 

 Society of Chemical Industry, at 8. — The Composition of the Acids 

 flowing from the Thompson Displacement Apparatus for the Manufacture 

 of Guncotton : G. W. MacDonald. — (i) Ammonium Sulphate and its 

 Instability; (2) The Hydrolysis of Ammonium Salts : Watson Smith. — 

 A Study of some Reactions in Gels : Emil Hatschek. — A New Still Water 

 Calorimeter : J. H. Coste and B. R. James. 

 Royal Society of Arts, at 8. — Brewing and Modern Science : Prof. 



Adrian J. Brown. 

 Victoria Institute, at 4.30. — Science in Relation to Christian Missions : 

 Rev. F. Baylis. 



TUESDAY, February 21. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Heredity : Prof. F. W. Mott, F.R.S. 



Zoological Society, at 8.30. — Report on the Deaths which occurred in 



the Zoological Gardens during 1910 : Dr. H. G. Plimmer, F.R.S. — On 



Tragelaphus buxtoni, an Antelope from Abyssinia : R. Lydekker. — 



A Contribution to the Study of the Variations of the Common Salamander 



(Salamandra maculosa) : E. G. Boulenger. — On a Collection of Fishes 



from the Lake Ngami Basin, Bechuanaland : G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. — 



Observations on different Gibbons of the Genus Hylobates now or recently 



living in the Society's Gardens, and on a Sywphalati^s syndactylus, 



with Notes on Skins in the Natural History Museum : Dr. F. D. Welch. 



Royal Anthropological Society, at 8.15. — Prehistoric and Aboriginal 



Pottery Manufacture : Rev. J. W. Hayes. 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — Coast Erosion : W. T. Douglass. 

 Royal Statistical Society, at 5. — The Fatality of Fractures of the 

 Lower Extremity and of Lobar Pneumonia. A Study of Hospital 

 Mortality Rates, 1751-1Q01 : M. Greenwood, jun., and R. H. Candy. 



WEDNESDA Y, February 22. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 8. — Water Finders : Prof. J. Wertheimer. 



Geological Society, at 8.— The Geology of the Districts of Worcester, 

 Robertson, and Ashton (Cape Colony): R. H. Rastall. — Geology of 

 Northern Albania : Baron Ferencz Nopcsa, Jr. 



British Astronomical Association, at 5. 



7"iV:/^.S'ZJ^K, February 23. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable Papers: Transmission of Flagellates 

 living in the Blood of certain Freshwater Fishes: Miss M. Robertson. — 

 Report on the Separation of Tonium and Actinium from certain Residues 

 and on the Production of Helium by Tonium : Dr. B. B. Boltwood. — The 

 Secondary y-Rays produced by ^-Rays : J. A. Gray. — The .Specific Heat 

 of Water and the vi^chanical Equivalent of the Calorie at Temperatures 

 from 0° to 80° C. vVith Additional Note on the Thermoid Effect : 

 W. R. Bousfield and W. E. Bousfield.— On the Measurement of Specific 

 Inductive Capacity : Prof. C. Niven, F.R.S. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Problems of Animals in Captivity : P. Chalmers 

 Mitchell, F.R.S. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Long Distance Trans- 

 mission of Electrical Energy : W. T. Taylor. — Extra High Pressure 

 Transmission Lin , ;: R. B. Matthews and C. T. Wilkinson. 



FRIDAY, February 24. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Mouvement Brownien et R^alit^ Mol^culaire : 

 Prof. Jean Perrin. 



Physical Society, at 5. — Flames of Low Temperature supported by 

 Ozone : Hon. R. J. Strutt, F.R.S.— The Movement of a Coloured Index 

 along a Capillary Tube, and its Application to the Measurement of the 

 Circulation of Water in a Closed Circuit : Dr. Albert Griffiths.— An 

 Optical Lever of High Power suitable for the Determination of Small 

 Thicknesses and Displacements : E; H. Rayner. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— The Design and Construction 

 of Works for the Bacterial Purification of Sewage : R. J. Samuel. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



A Practical Modern Treatise on Geometrical 



Optics 499 



Manchuria, Korea, and Russian Turkestan. By 



J. T 500 



Variability in "Lower" Organisms, By C, Clifford 



Dobell 501 



Biochemistry of Fats. By W. D. H 502 



Bird Observation 502 



Electrical Engineering, By Prof, Gisbert Kapp . . 503 



Aspects of Darwinism. By F. A. D 504 



Our Book Shelf 505 



Letters to the Editor:— 



Origin of Incense.— Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 



K.C.M.G., F.R.S 507 



The Electromotive Force of Standard Cells. — Dr. 



R. T. Glazebrook, F.R.S 508 



Klaatsch's Theory of the Descent of Man. — Gerhardt 



V. Bonin; Prof. A. Keith 508 



" In Forbidden Seas."— Prof. John Milne, F.R.S. ; 



Prof. D'Arcy W. Thompson 510 



An Apparently hitherto Unnoticed "Anticipation" 

 of the Theory of Natural Selection. — H. M. 



Vickers 51° 



The Sailing-flight of Birds. ( With Diagram. )— F. W. 

 Headley ; A. Mallock, F.R.S.; Edward D. 



Hearn . 5" 



Demonstration of Peltier and Thomson Effects. 



(;r?V/i Z)f'rt^raw5. )—S. G. Starling 512 



The Formation of Spheres of Liquids.— Chas. R. 



Darling 512 



Colliery Warnings.— R. M. Deeley 512 



The Oceanographical Institute at Paris. {Illus- 

 trated.) By Dr. William S, Bruce Si3 



The Observatory at Messina. {Illustrated.) Prof. 



J. Milne, F.R.S .-.515 



Synchronisation of Clocks 5^6 



Julius Wilhelm BriihL By R. M 5i7 



Notes 518 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Nova Lacertte 5^3 



Ephemeris for Faye's Comet 5^3 



Standard Astrometry 5^3 



New Spectroscopic Binaries 5^3 



Observations of Jupiter's Galilean Satellites .... 524 



A Confirmation of the Disintegration Theory . . 524 



Safety Lamps and the Detection of Fire-damp . 524 



Flies as Carriers of Infection 5^5 



Reports on Meteorological Observatories 525 



Association of Technical Institutions 525 



Progress of the Smithsonian Institution .... 526 



University and Educational Intelligence 528 



Societies and Academies 5^9 



Diary of Societies 53^ 



NO. 2155, VOL. 85] 



