September 2, 1920] 



NATURE 



35 



cerninjj the spherical representation of surfaces. — 

 B. Deiaunay : The number of representations of a 

 number by a binary cubic form with negative dis- 

 criminant. — F. Carlson : The zeroes of the series of 

 Uirichlet. — C. Fremont ; Cause of the frequency of 

 breakages of rails at their extremities. — J. Key : 

 I'errot's experiment relating to the movement of rota- 

 tion of the earth. In 1859 Perrot observed certain 

 rotations in a jet of water flowing from a hble in the 

 base of a cylindrical vessel, and regarded these as 

 due to the rotation of the earth. Laroque, in i860, 

 I oncluded that the observed phenomena were not con- 

 nected with the earth's rotation, but many pheno- 

 mena in geophysics have since then been explained on 

 the assumption of the validity of Perrot's views, 

 ■experiments are described which lead to the con- 

 ' lusion that Perrot's views are erroneous, and fully 

 confirm Laroque's criticisms. — H. Godard : Observa- 

 tions of the periodic comet Tempel II. made at the 

 Bordeaux Observatory with the 3&-cm. equatorial. 

 1 he apparent positions of the comet and comparison 

 stars for July 24, 25, and 27 are given. — S.. Buhl : 

 The symmetries of the electromagnetic and gravific 

 field. — E. DarmoU : The influence of ammonium 

 inolybdate on the rotary power of malic acid. A 

 < ryslallised compound of malic acid and ammonium 

 molybdatc has been isolated. Its rotatory power is 

 MTV high ( + 219°), and constant over a wide range 

 f concentrations. There is a probability that this is 

 • )t the only complex compound formed when am- 

 monium molybdate is added to solutions of «malic 

 acid. — .\. Portevin : The similitudes of micrographic 

 aspect existing in various states between the iron- 

 carbon (steels), copper-tin (tin bronzes), copper-zinc 

 fbrassos), and cof,prr-alimiinium alloys (aluminium- 

 bronzes).- J. BougaHit and P. Robin: Catalytic oxida- 

 tion by unsaturated bodies (oils, hydrocarbons, etc.). 

 Dlrhloroethyl sulphide, which alone or in solution is 

 un.i fleeted by oxvfjen, in presence of turpentine 

 readily oxidises on exposure to air, the sulphoxide 

 SO(CH,.CH,ri), being formed. By a similar oxida- 

 tion, thiodiglyrol in presence of ' citral is readily 

 oxidis<Hi by air to the sulphoxide SO(CH,.CH,.OH),. 

 — R. SoDigei : The embryogenv of the Compositie. 

 The last stages of the development of th<' embryo 

 ^fntcio vulgaris.— P. Lesaftc : Experiments ulilis- 

 >!'• in plant physiology on osmosis and on the aspir.i- 

 n due to evaporation.— M. and Mme. G. Vllledieii : 

 •■ action of rain on the deposits of copper mixtures 

 plants.— J. Amar: How to determirie the output 

 workmen.- .\. Mifjot : The formation of the axial 

 leton in EiinirfUa (Corgotiia) Cavolitiii.—MM. 

 I urtFTtmM. j. DraK«la, and Mile. Du Vivier de 

 lel : 'I he historhemical difTorentialion of the firtal 

 Monarv <pithelium in the sheep.— M. Pleltre and 

 \ Vila : Some properties of serine.— C. Leballly : The 

 virulence of the milk in apfhous fever. The milk is 

 virulent before any appe.-jrance of svmpfoms charar. I 

 teristir of the disease, the hiph temperature beinc 

 the only indication of departure from the normal 

 henlthv condition.- E. Alilalre and E. Fembach : 

 Some observations on the culture of the tubercle 

 harillu* in non-glyrerinafed medi;i. 



ROMF. 



^Reale Accadcmia del I.lncel, April 11 — A. R<')iti viro- 

 president. in the chair. C. Ciaotil : Jntegrniion of 

 gjf •'""'f.';'''*''" •'qu-ilion of waves in a canal of any 

 ■Vpth, iii. Formula! for the effect of local p«-rturba. 

 Ions are found.— P. Conncci : So-ralk>d hydro- 

 iforite of Elba. Analysis shows that this is not 

 definite species of mineral, but rather a product of 

 teration found as a rule in different minerals of 

 NO. 2653, VOL, 106] 



uncertain composition. — G. Valle : Interrupted in- 

 coherent sounds. .An examination of the acoustical 

 effects produced by sirens in which the openings are 

 arranged in groups, the interval between which 

 is not an exact multiple of the interval between 

 the members of a group. — .M. Tenani ; Diurnal oscilla- 

 lations of wind velocity at different heights. Between 

 May and September, 1917, regular observations were 

 made with ballons-sondes at different times of the 

 day at the Royal .Serological Station of Vigna di 

 Valle for the purp>oses of aviation. The mean ampli- 

 tude of diurnal oscillation decreases upwards, start- 

 ing with 3 m./sec. at tlie ground. The oscillations 

 parallel to the shore-line are almost negligible com- 

 pared with those in a perpendicular direction. .An 

 attempt is made to determine a coefficient of correla- 

 tion between the difference of temperature of earth 

 and sea and the wind velocity perpendicular to 

 the shore, but the mean error is too large to allow 

 of the results being practicallv applicable up to the 

 present.— C. Ravenna and G. Bosinelli : The dipeplid 

 of a.spartic acid and the function of asparagin in 

 plants. In these experiments the dipeptid was ob- 

 tained directly in a state of puritv bv prolonged boil- 

 ing of a solution of asparagin.— R.' Ralneri : Coral- 

 linaceae of the Tripoli coast, i. A description 

 (accompanied by three figures) of tlie five species of 

 the genus Lithothamnium found along the floor of 

 the Tripoli Sea, namely, . L. crispatum, Haucki, 

 Lenormandi. PhilippU (eiicrusting), and fruticulostim 

 (lightly branching). .Seven other species, to be 

 described later, were also found. — M. Ascoil and .\. 

 Fagiuoll : Sub-epidermic pharmacodynamic experi- 

 ences, iv. This deals with the action'of thyroids and 

 indirect effects. — L. de March! : Obituary notice of 

 Prof. Vincenzo Reina, with list of works.— The 

 .Academy passed a resolution expressing the hope that 

 the Government would secure for the nation the " Villa 

 Gioiello," near .Arcetri, in which Galileo spent the last 

 ten years of his life. 



.April 25. — F. D'Ovidio, president, in the chair. — 

 I.. Tonelli : Points in the calculus of variations. — E. 

 Cleric! : .\ pulverulent mineral from Dorgali, in 

 .Sardinia. This mineral produces luminescence w'hen 

 heated. By comparing the corresponding effects with 

 various fluorites it is inferred that this phenomenon 

 arises from the presence of traces of rare earths. — 

 R. Ralneri : Corallinace.-e from Tripoli, ii. The re- 

 rnaining species are Uthophyllum expansum, 

 lichenoides, hvasoidex, and decuxsatum. and MeJo- 

 hcsia Lejolisii. in addition, two corallines w'ith 

 articulate thnllus occurred.— I,. Pigorinl : Colouring 

 matters from the eggs of silkworms. One gram of 

 eggs was treated with a mixture of alcohol and 

 acetone and the coloured extract tested with a 

 Duboscq colorimeter. The coefficients of extinction 

 of the various colours were found to differ accor<Iing 

 to whether the ejrgs were laid by the white, golden, 

 or yellow type of female, or, again, bv crosses of 

 the two latter, and the results were sufficiently marked 

 to be practically useful in testing the variety to which 

 the ova belong. — I,. Plgorlnl and R. Orandiori : .Anion 

 of sulphide of lime on Lenidopterous ova. Pigorini 

 found that sulphide of lime dissolves the sliell of 

 the epg without damaging the living elements, nnd 

 Orandiori uses the methrnl in his embr%-ologicaI 

 studies of the eggs of Bomhyx mori, R. Ya*naniai, 

 and Orgiya aniiqua with great success.- -R. Qrandieri : 

 Symbiotic micro-organisms in Pt*riv hrassicae and 

 Afiantrlrf glomerattis . Ob<»ervnf!ons were made on 

 four embryonic stages of the Pieris. in which were 

 found symbiotic forms similar to others previou.tlv 

 seen to penetrate the hypoderm of ilie parnsitir 

 hhneumon. 



