2l6 



NA TURE 



\Jtme 28, 1888 



satisfies all the conditions of the problem, while its orbit is con- 

 tinually intersected by millions of these bodies, as required by 

 the hypothesis in question. Hence their origin is to be sought 

 in the earth itself and in the moon, whence they were ejected 

 under conditions which have long ceased to exist. — Fluorescence 

 of ferruginous lime, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. These 

 experiments show that a small quantity of the sesquioxide of 

 iron added to the carbonate of lime produces a green fluorescence 

 after high calcination in the air. This fluorescence, which is 

 occasionally somewhat intense, is very sensitive to the action of 

 heat ; hence it soon fades away in the presence of the electrode, 

 retaining its brilliancy only in the parts of the tube furthest 

 removed from the centre of action. — Experimental researches on 

 the diseases of the vine, by MM. Pierre Viala and L. Ravaz. 

 Having already shown that the different reproductive organs 

 found on the parts affected by black rot belong to the fungus, 

 cause of this disease, the authors here demonstrate the true 

 parasitic character of the fungus itself. They once for all 

 establish the filiation which exists between its various forms of 

 reproduction, and thus make it evident that the blight on the leaves 

 has the same origin as that of the grapes. — Researches on the 

 accidental errors occurring in the observations of transits made 

 by the method of eye and ear, by M. G. Rayet. In supplement 

 to the studies of Struve, Robinson, Dunkin, Finlay, and others, 

 the author here describes the results of special observations made 

 on about seventy stars, or constellations, comprised between 20 

 of austral declination and the North Pole. He has thus deter- 

 mined the numerical value of the accidental errors relative to 

 some dozen stars between 8o° and 89 22' '3 of declination. — On 

 the rings of Saturn, by M. Perrotin. During the opposition of 

 Saturn in the present year the author has made a series of 

 micrometric measurements of the rings by means of the great 

 equatorial of the Observatory of Nice. The results of these 

 observations, made for the purpose of determining the dimensions 

 of the system, are here fully tabulated for the whole period 

 from February 2 to May 8. — On the planet Mars, by M. Perrotin. 

 On presenting the already promised sketches of recent appear- 

 ances in this planet, the author remarked that since his last 

 communication the region of Libya has undergone fresh modifica- 

 tions. The sea which covered the surface of this insular mass 

 has mostly receded, its present appearance being intermediate 

 between that of 1886 and its condition a few weeks ago. The 

 existence has also been determined of canals or channels, partly 

 double, running from near the equator to the neighbourhood of 

 the North Pole. They mainly follow the meridian, and merge 

 in the seas encircling the white snow-cap of the Pole, and, strange 

 to say, their course may be followed across the seas themselves 

 right up to the snow-cap. — Heat of combination of the primary, 

 secondary, and tertiary aromatic monamines with the acids, by 

 M. Leo Vignon. In continuation of M. Louguinine's study of 

 the primary monamines, the author here investigates the 

 reactions of several acids on a series of primary, secondary, and 

 tertiary monamines. He deals more especially with aniline, 

 monomethyl aniline, and dimethylaniline in the presence of the 

 hydrochloric, sulphuric, and acetic acids. — On the decomposition 

 of" the ferrate of baryta at high temperatures, by MM. G. 

 Rousseau and J. Bernheim. In his researches on ferric acid, 

 Fremy has indicated the analogy existing between the ferrates 

 and the manganates, as established by the wet process. Here 

 the authors endeavour to ascertain whether the parallelism is 

 maintained in the reactions of the dry process and in their mode 

 of decomposition under the action of heat. — On some new 

 double phosphates in the magnesian series, by M. L. Ouvrard. 

 The products here described have been obtained by the method 

 already referred to in a previous note on the action of the 

 alkaline phosphates on the alkaline earthy oxides. All the 

 metals investigated are allied in their composition to the 

 substances obtained with the pyro- and ortho-phosphates of 

 potassa and soda. — On the poison of the Hymenoptera with 

 smooth sting, and on the existence of a poison-cell in the honey- 

 producing insects, by M. G. Carlet. In continuation of his 

 researches on the barbed sting of bees, wasps, &c, the author 

 here studies the smooth sting of Philanthus, Pompilus, &c. 

 He describes the nature of the poison, which has merely a 

 soporiferous effect, and clearly determines the presence of a 

 poison-cell in bees and allied insects. — On a new bacterial 

 disease of the duck, by MM. Cornil and Toupet. An examina- 

 tion of the bacteria of this disease (" duck cholera ") shows that 

 it is quite distinct from chicken cholera. The virus is fatal to 

 the duck alone, sparing hens and pigeons, and killing rabbits 



only when an excessive dose is administered. — M. A. d'Arsonval 

 contributes an elaborate paper on the relation between animal 

 electricity and surface tension. 



Amsterdam. 

 Royal Academy of Sciences, May 26. — M. Franchimont, 

 communicating the results of experiments on nitro-ureides and 

 nitramines, said that internal ureides, by their behaviour with 

 nitric acid, may be distinguished into at least three sorts. — M.' 

 Sahols treated of the calculation of the moments of flexion and 

 the shearing-forces in railway-bridges, in connection with the 

 irregular distribution of the pressures exercised by the axles of 

 locomotive-engines. He pointed out what elements of the 

 engine are of especial influence on these, and arrived at very 

 simple approximative formula? for the calculation of the said 

 moments and forces on bridges of not too insignificant length. — 

 M. Pekelharing read a paper on the proliferation of endothe- 

 lium-cells in arteries, stating, as the result of his experiments 

 made upon them, that this proliferation is most probably caused 

 by a diminution of the pressure upon the inner wall of the 

 arteries. — M. van der Waals treated of the connection between 

 the change in the density of the limiting layer between fluid 

 and vapour, and the mode of action of the molecular forces. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Sessions 1883 to 1887 

 (Edinburgh). — Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. xxx. 

 Part 4, vol. xxxii. Parts 2, 3,4, vol. xxxiii. Parts 1, 2 (Williams and Nor- 

 gate). — Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. xxxi. Botany 

 ofSocotra: Prof. I. B. Balfour (Williams and Norgate). — British Reptiles 

 and Batrachians : C. C. Hopley (Sonnenschein). — Anleitung zu Wissen- 

 schaftlichen Beobachtungen auf Reisen, Bands 1 and 2 : Dr. G. Neumayer 

 (Oppenheim, Berlin). — Mathematical Drawing Instruments, sixth edition : 

 W. F. Stanley (Spon). — Proceedings of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, New York Meeting, 1887 (Salem). — British Dogs, 

 Parts 17 to 2C : H. Dalziel (U. Gill). — Observations made at the Hong Kong 

 Observatory in the year 1887 : W. Doberck (Hong Kong). — Synopsis of the 

 Aphididae of Minnesota : O. W. Oestlund (St. Paul). — Report on Botanical 

 Work in Minnesota for the year 1886 : J. C. Arthur (St. Paul). — Preliminary 

 Description of the Peridotytes, Gabbros, Diabases, and Andesytes of Minne- 

 sota: M. E. Wadsworth (St. Paul). — Palaeolithic Man in Eastern and 

 Central North America (Cambridge, Mass.). — Journal of the Royal Micro- 

 scopical Societv, June (Williams and Norgate). — Proceedings of the Society 

 for Psychical Research, June (Triibner). — Sulla Forza Elettromotrice del 

 Selenlo, Memoria del Prof. A. Righi (Padova). 



CONTENTS. pace 



The Early Correspondence of Christian Huygens. 



By A. M. Clerke 193 



Norwegian Geology 194 



Travels in Arabia Deserta 195 



Our Book Shelf :— 



" Charts showing the Mean Barometrical Pressure over 

 the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans " .... 196 



" Commercial Mathematics " 196 



Beatty- Kingston : " A Wanderer's Notes " 196 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The " Sky-coloured Clouds " again.— T. W. Back- 

 house 196 



Earth Pillars in Miniature. — Cecil Carus-Wilson . 197 

 Egg-masses on Hydrobia tilvce. — Prof. W. A. Herd- 

 man 197 



Interpretation of the Differential Equation to a Conic. 



— R. B. H 197 



The Nephridia of Earthworms. — Prof. W. Baldwin 



Spencer 197 



Strange Rise of Wells in Rainless Season. — Baldwin 



Latham 198 



The Opening of the Marine Biological Laboratory 



at Plymouth. {Illustrated.) 198 



Personal Identification and Description. II. {Illus- 

 trated.) By Francis Galton, F.R.S 201 



A Magnificent Meteor. {Illustrated.) 203 



Notes 203 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Rotation Period of the Sun from Faculae 2o5 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1888 



July 1-7 207 



Geographical Notes 207 



Diffraction of Sound. {With Diagrams.) By Lord 



Rayleigh, F.R.S 208 



Scientific Serials 211 



Societies and Academies 212 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 216 



