April 2b, 1888] 



NATURE 



615 



occur in winter, on the western coasts, and accompany a baro- 

 metric depression coming from the Atlantic. An attempt is 

 made at fixing the heights of thunderstorm clouds, but these 

 vary very much with different times and localities ; it seems 

 proved, however, that the movements of the cirrus clouds are in 

 no way affected by the storms. The summer storms occur most 

 frequently in the afternoon, and most rarely between 2 and 4 a.m. 

 But on the coast of Norway the maximum frequency occurs 

 about 8 p.m., and the winter storms occur more frequently in 

 the night. These facts have also been pointed out l)y Dr. 

 Buchan with regard to the storms of the north-west of Scot- 

 land. In the annual period the storms occur most frequently in 

 July and August, but there is also a secondary maximum in 

 January. The work contains much that would repay careful 

 study. 



The monthly meteorological notes and rainfall statistics for 

 South Australia, published by Mr. C. Todd, the Government 

 Astronomer, contain very useful climatological data and notices 

 of miscellaneous phenomena. Mr. Todd has taken advantage 

 of his position as Postmaster-General to establish meteorological 

 or rainfall stations at a great number of telegraph offices ; the 

 number of reports published for February 1887 is 298, together 

 with the means for all stations having at least seven years' record. 

 The observations in their present form seem to date from 1883, 

 when 235 records were published, but the work commenced as 

 as far back as 1857, since which time it has been steadily pur- 

 sued. For Adelaide itself, the records of Sir G. S. Kingston 

 extend back as far as 1839, and these observations have been 

 used by Mr. Todd in his excellent article on the climate of the 

 colony in the " Hand-book of South Australia." It is stated in 

 this work that local features are apparently insufficient to explain 

 the large differences in the yearly averages of the rainfall ; Mr. 

 Todd's continued exertions must tend to elucidate this subject. 



A NEViT series of isomorphous double chlorides of the metals 

 of the iron and alkali groups have been prepared by Dr. 

 Neumann {Liebig's Annalen). The general formula of the 

 system is 4RCI . MgClg + 2H2O, where R may represent any 

 member of the group of alkali metals, and M either iron, 

 chromium, or aluminium. Magnesium and beryllium are also 

 included in the series, 2MgCl2 or 2BeCl2 replacing 4RCI. They 

 all crystallize in forms belonging most probably to the regular 

 system, generally in octahedrons or rhombic dodecahedrons. 

 The iron salts especially are remarkably beautiful, 4KCI . FcjClg 

 ■\- 2H2O forming octahedrons and dodecahedrons of reddish-brown 

 tint, while crystals of the corresponding ammonium compound 

 possess a magnificent garnet-red colour ; the rubidium and 

 magnesium salts are yellow, and the chloride of beryllium and 

 iron separates in fine orange crystals. These iron salts, the first 

 two of which have been known some time, are prepared compara- 

 tively readily by dissolving ferric chloride in concentrated 

 hydrochloric acid, adding the necessary quantity of the alkaline 

 chloride, and crystallizing. But Dr. Neumann, in attempting to 

 complete the series, found considerable difficulty in preparing the 

 corresponding chromium and aluminium salts. He eventually 

 succeeded completely, in the case of chromium, by dissolving the 

 chromium chloride in warm 96 per cent, alcohol, adding a pro- 

 portionately small quantity of the other chloride and passing a 

 rapid stream of hydrochloric acid gas, the whole being gently 

 boiled for some time, using a reflux condenser. It was found that 

 the 4 per cent, of water, together wit^i that liberated during the 

 formation of ethyl chloride, was just sufficient to supply the water 

 of crystallization, hence on cooling the double salt crystallized out 

 in microscopic crystals resembling in shape those of their ferric 

 brethren. These chromium salts are of various shades of violet, 

 are deliquescent like all other members of the series, and are like- 

 wise decomposed by water. The only aluminic member of the 



series yet prepared by Dr. Neumanrj is the potassium compound 

 4KCI . AljClg + 2H2O, which, however, is one of the finest of 

 the whole class ; it, crystallizes in splendid octahedrons, resem- 

 bling large diamonds and refracting light with similar brilliancy. 

 Crystals will ever remain among the choicest fruits of the 

 chemist's labour, and form an inexhaustible source of pleasure to 

 lovers of the beautiful. The new isomorphous group is of great 

 theoretical interest, and will take its rank with the well-known 

 alums and the double sulphates of the ferrous-ammonium type. 

 A MOST interesting account of the work in mound-exploration 

 carried on by the United States Bureau of Ethnology, has been 

 issued by the Smithsonian Institution. The writer is Mr. Cyrus 

 Thomas. It seems that over two thousand mounds have been 

 explored, including almost every known type as to form, from the 

 low, diminutive, circular burial tumulus of the north, to the huge, 

 truncated, earthen pyramid of the south, the embankment, the 

 effigy, the stone cairn, house site, &c. Every hitherto known 

 variety as to construction, as well as a number decidedly 

 different in details, has been examined. .Some of the latter are 

 very interesting and furnish important data. Particular atten- 

 tion has been paid to this branch of the work, because the mode 

 of construction and the methods of burial in the ordinary conical 

 tumuli furnish valuable data in regard to the customs of the 

 builders, and aid in determining the archaeological districts. 

 Many ancient graves and cemeteries and several caches and cave 

 deposits have also been explored. The number of specimens 

 obtained by the division since its organization is not less than 

 thirty-eight thousand. The specimens procured by the field 

 assistants in person constitute by far the most valuable portion 

 of the collection, since the particulars regarding their discovery 

 and surroundings are known. Not a single stone or tablet with 

 anything like letters or hieroglyphics inscribed on it, by which 

 linguists might be able to judge of the language of the mound- 

 builders, has been discovered. 



A SECOND Laura Bridgman is at present attracting the atten- 

 tion of American psychologists. Her name is Helen Keller. 

 Although blind and deaf, she makes rapid progress in her 

 studies. Science (April 6) gives her portrait and that of her 

 teacher, Miss Annie Sullivan, a graduate of the Perkins Insti- 

 tute at Boston, and also reproduces in facsimile a letter written 

 by Helen Keller to A. Graham Bell, of Washington. It was 

 only in March 1887 that Miss Sullivan was engaged to give 

 the first instruction to her pupil, who was then six years old. In 

 a month the little girl learned to spell ab jut 400 words, and in 

 less than three months could write a letter, unaided by anyone. 

 In six weeks she mastered the Braille (French) system, which 

 is a cipher for the blind, enabling them to read what they have 

 written. She has also mastered addition, multiplication, and 

 subtraction, and received lessons in geography. She is trained 

 solely through the sense of touch. 



The new number of the "Year-Book of the Scientific and 

 Learned Societies of Great Britain and Ireland " (Griffin and 

 Co.) has just been published. This is the fifth annual issue. It 

 comprises lists of papers read during 1887 before Societies en- 

 gaged in all departments of research, with the names of their 

 authors. There is also an appendix, presenting a list of the 

 leading scientific Societies throughout the vvorid. The work is 

 a useful one, but it ought to have been more thoroughly revised. 

 On the very first page, in the list of the members of the Council 

 of the Royal Society, two names are wrongly given : Sir A. 

 (instead of W.) Bowman, and R. (instead of W.) T. Thiselton 

 Dyer. 



A PAPER entitled "Additional Records of Scottish Plants 

 for the Year 1887," by Mr. Arthur Bennett, has been sent to us. 

 It consists of a list of the new county botanical records which 

 came under Mr. Bennett's notice during 1887, and forms a con- 



