288 



NATURE 



[July 19, 1888 



by Mr. W. Morrison, Dingwall Academy. — These papers were 

 accompanied by various analyses, by Prof. J. Macadam. — The 

 rock-forming ieldspars and their determination, by Mr. Alex. 

 Johnstone, and A. B. Griffiths, F.R.S.E. — A Scottish locality for 

 boruite, with analyses by Prof. Macadam, by Rev. W. W. 

 Peyton. — Minerals of the Treshinish Isles, by Prof. Heddle. — 

 On the zeolites of rye water, Ayrshire, by Prof. Heddle. — Prof. 

 Macadam communicated various analyses of coals, of head dies, 

 and of diatomite. — Minerals were exhibited by the Duke of 

 Argyll, Dr. Balfour, Prof. Macadam, Mr. Peyton, and Dr. 

 Black. 



Paris. 



Academy of Science, July 9. — M. Janssen, President, in 

 the chair. — On cyclones, by M. Mascart. Referring to M. 

 Faye's last communication, the author accepts as a concession 

 the remark that at all events in fixed depressions currents arise 

 about the periphery, which have a more or less convergent 

 tendency. He also quotes the full text from Mohn's work, 

 showing that this meteorologist admits an ascending motion in 

 tropical cyclones, and is consequently opposed to M. Faye's 

 theory. — On the figure of the earth, by M. H. Poincare. The 

 object of these calculations is to ascertain whether it be possible 

 to find a law for the varying density in the interior of the globe 

 which shall satisfy at once (1) Clairaut's equation ; (2) the 

 observed value yfj of the flattening ; (3) the observed value 

 305*6 of the constant of the precession. The conclusion arrived 

 at is that no hypothesis on the law of densities will satisfy these 

 values. — The number of centenarians in France according to 

 the census of 1886, by M. Emile Levasseur. Of the 184 

 returned as centenarians, 101 are shown to have been classed in 

 this category by error. For 67 of the others no documentary 

 evidence was forthcoming, leaving 16 whose claim to the honour 

 appeared to be fairly well established. Joseph Ribas, the 

 oldest, was born at San Estevan de Litera, in Spain, on August 

 20, 1770, and was still living at Tarbes in 1888, and is con- 

 sequently now close upon 118 years old. The greater proportion 

 belong to the south-western provinces, and as far as can be 

 judged from available data there is no reason to suppose that 

 they are either more or less numerous now than in former 

 times. — Formula for the calculation of longitudes by means of 

 chronometers, by M. Caspari. By the formula here worked out 

 the author has determined a correction of 2" '45 for Hai-Phong, 

 Tongking, which differs little from the 2"'93 which M. La Porte 

 has recently obtained by the telegraph. — On the position of 

 Timbuktu, by M. Caron. The approximate position of this 

 place is found to be 16 49' N. lat. ; 5° 12' W. long., which 

 differs considerably from Barth's 18 3' 45" N. ; 4 5' 10" W. — 

 On the determination of the constants and dynamic coefficient 

 of elasticity of steel, continued, by M. E. Mercadier. These 

 researches lead to the general conclusion that the strictly clastic 

 properties shown in vibratory or other phenomena of a transitory 

 nature should be carefully distinguished from the physical 

 properties accompanied by permanent distortion. The former 

 vary but slightly, the latter considerably in the different kinds of 

 hard and soft steel. — On the propagation of the sound produced by 

 firearms, by M. de Labouret. The apparent increase of velocity is 

 explained with M. Journee on the hypothesis that the projectile 

 at each successive instant of its motion through space is the centre 

 of a fresh concussion. The series of observations here recorded 

 gives results for the velocity of the sound, which are mainly in 

 accordance with the theoretic calculations. — A new method for 

 the measurement of the electric resistance of saline solutions, by 

 MM. E. Bouty and L. Poincare. A process is described by 

 means of which the difficulties may be overcome, which are met 

 with in the application of ordinary methods to salts in solution at 

 temperatures ranging from 300 to 500 C. The results agree 

 sufficiently well v\ ith those previously obtained by M. Foussereau 

 by a different process for temperatures from 329° to 355° C. — 

 Actino-electric researches, continued, by M. A. Stoletow. The 

 author here describes an apparatus constructed by him for the 

 purpose of studying the actino-electric currents in diverse gases 

 and vapours, and under diverse pressures. At ordinary pressure 

 he finds little difference between dry air, moist air, and hydrogei, 

 while for carbonic acid the current is nearly twice as strong. — 

 On some compounds of yttrium, by M. A. Duboin. To the few 

 combinations of yttria hitherto obtained by the dry process the 

 author here adds the silicate of yttria, gadolinite of pure yttr.'a, 

 and the crystallized oxide of yttrium. — Syntheses by means 01 

 cyanacetic ether, by M. Alb. Haller. By the process 



already described for the preparation of the corresponding 

 benzoyl, acetyl, propionyl, and other ethers, the author has suc- 

 ceeded in obtaining the synthesis of the orthotoluyl, phenylace- 

 tyl, cinnamyl, and dicinnamyl cyanacetic ethers. — On the 

 alkaloids of cod liver oil, by MM. Arm. Gautier and L. Mour- 

 gues. It is shown that this substance contains several alkaloids, 

 some very active : but the present paper deals mainly with the 

 leucomaines obtained by the authors from the yellowish oils 

 yielded both by the Norwegian and Newfoundland cod. — On 

 paradoxal deafness and its treatment, by M. Boucheron. This 

 curious affection, the paracousia of Willis, in which the patient 

 is deaf to words uttered in the silence of a room, but not in a 

 noisy street, is here carefully studied and found to be a variety 

 of otopiesis. — A fishing basket for deep sea hauls, and an electric 

 apparatus for illuminating the oceanic depths are described and 

 illustrated, the former by Prince Albert of Monaco, the latter by 

 M. P. Regnard. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Tabular List of Australian Birds: E. P. Ramsay (Sydney). — Flora of the 

 North-East of Ireland: Stewart and Corry( Belfast Naturalists' Field Club). — 

 Lewis's Medical and Scientific Library Catalogue (Lewis). — Charles A. Gillig's- 

 Tours and Excursions in Great Britain : S. F. Smart (United States Exchange). 

 — Numerical Examples in Practical Mechanics and Machine Design : R. G. 

 Blaine (Cassell). — Austrian Health Resorts : W. F. Rae (Chapman and 

 Hall). — An Illustrated Manual of British Birds, Part 4 : H. Saunders (Gur- 

 ney and Jackson). — Euclid 's Method or the proper way to treat on Geometrv : 

 A. H. Blunt. — Experimente iiber die Bacterienfeindlichen Einfliisse des 

 Thierischen Korpers : Dr. G. Nuttall. — Annals of Botany, vol.2, No. 5 

 (Frowde). — Annalen der Physik und Chemie, i883. No. ?>b (Leipzig). — The 

 Auk, vol. v. No. 3 (New York). — Notes from the Leyden Museum, vol. x. 

 No. 3 (Leyden).— Studies from the Biological Laboratory, Johns Hopkins. 

 University, vol. iv. No. 4 (Baltimore). 



CONTENTS. page 



The Choice of a Chemist to the Navy 265 



New Works on Le-pidoptera 266 



Factors in Life 267 



The Landslip at Zug 268 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Bamford : "Turbans and Tails" 269 



Salomons: " The Photographer's Note-book " . . . 269 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



"Cloud Electric Potential." — E. Douglas Archi- 

 bald 269 



Transparency of the Atmosphere. — J. Parnell . . . 270 

 Preserving the Colour of Flowers. — A. W. Buckland 270 

 Distribution of Animals and Plants by Ocean Currents. 



Isaac C. Thompson 270 



A Curious Resemblance — W, J. Lockyer 270 



The "Sky-coloured Clouds."— T. W. Backhouse . 270 



An Unusual Rainbow. — E. L. Layard 270 



Timber, and some of its Diseases. IX. By Prof. H. 



Marshall Ward, F.R.S. . . , 270 



Michell's Problem. By Sydney Lupton 272 



Vegetable Rennet. By Prof. J. R. Green 274 



The Meteoric Season. By W. F. Denning . . . . : 



Notes 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1888 



July 22-28 



Geographical Notes 



The Multiplication and Division of Concrete Quanti- 

 ties. By Prof. A. Lodge 2 



Discovery of Elephas primigenius associated with 



Flint Implements at Southall 283 



The Poisonous Snakes of the Bombay Presidency . 2S4 



Scientific Serials 2S4 



Societies and Academies 2S4 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received .... • 288 



