May 2 2, 1879] 



NATURE 



91 



Meyer and J. Rosicki. — On a new glucosid obtained from 

 Ltipinus luteus, by E. Schulze and J. Barbieri. — On the action 

 of bromine upon some paraffins of high molecular weights, by 

 V. Merz and F. Weith.— On cantharic acid, by J. Piccard. — 

 On some reactions of silver ultramarine, by K. Heumann. — On 

 the reactions of nitrosyl silver, by W. Zorn. — On the transfor- 

 mation of undecylenic acid into undecylic acid (C^HjaOj), by 

 F. Krafft. — On the stipulae and their rdle in inflorescence and the 

 flowers of plants, by M. CIos. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 

 London 



Royal Society, May 8. — "On the Relation between the 

 Diurnal Range of Magnetic Declination and Horizontal Force, 

 as observed at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, during the 

 years 1841 to 1877, and the Period of Solar Spot Frequency." 

 By William Ellis, F.R.A.S., Superintendent of the Magnetical 

 and Meteorological Department, Royal Observatory, Greenwich. 

 Communicated by Sir George Airy, K.C.B., F.R.S., Astronomer- 

 Royal. 



In this paper the author draws attention to the long series of 

 magnetical observations which have been made at the Royal 

 Observatory under the direction of Sir George B. Airy, K.C.B., 

 Astronomer-Royal, and remarks that examination of the Green- 

 wich records shows that, in addition to the ordinary diurnal and 

 annual changes, there appears to exist, in the magnetic diurnal 

 ranges, an inequality, resembling in its features the well-esta- 

 blished eleven-year sun-spot period. 



This is not by any means the first time that such relation has 

 been discussed, it being, by some investigators, considered to be 

 already sufficiently well proved. But it appeared that the long 

 series of Greenwich observations might be well applied as an 

 independent test of the accuracy of the supposed relation. 



The restJts for declination and horizontal force only are used, 

 the strict continuity of the record by the vertical force instru- 

 ment being somewhat broken. 



The monthly mean diurnal range of declination, or of hori- 

 zontal force, is taken to represent the magnetic energy of the 

 month relatively to other months, and smoothed curves of the 

 magnetic numbers and Dr. Wolf's sun-spot numbers are drawn, 

 which show a remarkable similarity. 



ITie epochs of minimum and maximum being tabulated, it is 

 found that, on the average, the mean magnetic epoch follows 

 the sun-spot epoch by 0*27 of a year. By another method of 

 tabulation the difference becomes reduced to o'lo of a year. 



It seemed further desirable to ascertain whether the more fitful 

 changes of the phenomena in any way also correspond. To 

 make this comparison, the magnetic numbers, instead of being 

 smoothed, as before described, were now cleared only of the 

 average annual inequality, and compared with the actual monthly 

 sun-spot numbers. Curves are given, founded on these numbers, 

 and they show some very remarkable correspondences between 

 the more rapid sun-spot and magnetic variations, especially 

 between the years 1869 and 1873. 



Further inquiry seems lo point to a variation in the annual 

 inequalities of magnetic diurnal range. 



The following are the general conclusions supposed to be 

 derived from the whole inquiry : — 



1. That the diurnal ranges of the magnetic elements of declina- 

 tion and horizontal force are subject to a periodical variation, 

 the dtiration of which is equal to that of the known eleven-year 

 sun-spot period. 



2. That the epochs of minimum and maximum of magnetic 

 and sun-spot eflTect are nearly coincident ; the magnetic epochs, 

 on the whole, occurring somewhat later than the corresponding 

 sun-spot epochs. The variations of duration in diffi5rent periods 

 periods appear to be similar for both phenomena. 



3. That the occasional more sudden outbursts of magnetic and 

 sun-spot energy, extending sometimes over periods of several 

 months, appear to occur nearly simultaneously, and progress 

 collaterally. 



4. That it seems probable that the annual inequalities of mag- 

 netic diurnal range are subject also to periodical variation, being 

 increased at the time of a sun-spot maximum, when the mean 

 diurnal range is increased, and diminished at the time of a sun- 

 spot minimum, when the mean diurnal range is diminished. 



Conclusions Nos. i, 2, and 3 appear to be sufficiently certain, 

 but the evidence in faTonr of No. 4 is not so decisive. 



Chemical Society, May 15.— Mr. Warren de la Rue, presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — The following papers were read : — On nitri- 

 fication, part ii., by R. Warington. The author finds that light 

 hinders the conversion of ammonia salts into nitrites and 

 nitrates, by the nitrifying ferment ; the presence of carbonate of 

 calcium is indispensable ; nitrification is stopped by a temperature 

 of 40° C. ; there is a period of incubation after the addition of 

 the ferment, during which no effisct is produced ; this period is 

 increased by using stronger solutions of ammonia salts, but dimi- 

 nished by raising the temperature ; in some cases nitrites, in 

 others nitrates are formed. — On the alkaloids of the Veratrum 

 family, part iii., by C. R. A. Wright and A. P. LuflT. The 

 authors have obtained two new crystalline alkaloids, pseudo- 

 jervine, melting at 299", and rubijervine, melting at 237°, and 

 a new amorphous base veratralbine, from Veratrum album. — On 

 the alkaloids of the Veratrums, part iv., by C. R. A. Wright. 

 From Veratrum viride the author has obtained jervine, pseudo- 

 jervine, rubijervine, veratrine, and cevadine. — On the alkaloids 

 of the aconites, part iv., by C. R. A. Wright and A. P. Luffi 

 The authors have examined Japanese aconite roots, and obtained 

 a base Japaconitine melting 185°, resembling aconitine. By 

 saponification a new base Japaconin was formed. The yield of 

 alkaloids from Japanese aconite is about three times that from 

 A. napellus. — On the action of hydrochloric acid on manganese 

 dioxide, by S. U. Pickering. The author criticises, and in the 

 main disagrees with the conclusions of W. W. Fisher as to the 

 existence of manganese tetrachloride. — On some reactions of the 

 ammoniochloride of magnesium, known as magnesia mixture, by 

 H. D'Arcy Power. The author has observed that potassium 

 salts, and especially potassium iodide, precipitate magnesium 

 hydrate from this solution to an extent equal to 46 per cent, of the 

 magnesia present. — The composition of cow's milk in health and 

 disease, by A. Wynter Blyth. The author has separated from 

 whey two alkaloidal bodies, by precipitation with nitrate ol 

 mercury, galactine, andlactochrome ; also a supposed glncoside, 

 precipitated by tannin. He gives details as to the composition 

 of milk from healthy and diseased cows, and concludes that a 

 cow suffering from very acute disease may give milk differing in 

 no essential feature from normal milk. — On the effect of alcohol 

 on saliva, and on the chemistry of digestion, by W. H. Watson. 

 Alcohol hinders markedly the conversion of starch into sugar by 

 saliva ; a trace of hydrochloric acid, on the other hand, increases 

 the rapidity of the conversion. 



Anthropological Institute, April 29. — Mr. E. Burnet 

 Tylor, D.C.L., F.R.S., president, in the chair. — The follow- 

 ing new Members were announced : — W. S, Duncan and 

 Edmund Knowles Binns. — A paper was read by Col, H. Yule, 

 C. B., entitled "Notes on Analogies between the Indo-Chinese- 

 Races and the Races of the Indian Archipelago." The author 

 first stated that the paper was written abroad some nine or ten 

 years ago, and had been unaltered since. A large number of ana- 

 logous manners and practices were adduced, common alike to the 

 peoples of the two regions, which Col. Yule, in conclusion, con- 

 sidered would singly be of no value as arguments for some original 

 close bond of kindred between the races of the Indo-Chinese coun- 

 tries and those of the Archipelago. But when thus accumulated 

 they must surely be admitted to have great weight, and to be 

 too numerous and striking, considering the comparative con- 

 tiguity of the regions occupied by those races, and the physical 

 resemblances which often occur among those of them, the most 

 remote from one another to be due merely to the parallel deve- 

 lopment of isolated bodies of men in like stages of growth. — 

 A paper was also read by the Rev. James Sibree, jun., of the 

 London Missionary Society, upon relationships and the names 

 used for them among the peoples of Madagascar, chiefly the 

 Hovas, together with observations upon marriage customs and 

 morals among the Malagasy. It was remarked that in the 

 Malagasy language there are in many classes of words strange 

 deficiencies, as compared with English, while, at the same time, 

 in other groups there is great fulness and minuteness of distinc- 

 tion. Notice was taken of the low standard of morals gene- 

 rally prevailing through the island, and of the evidence of this 

 given by the dictionary, in the absence of such words as chastity, 

 purity, and allied terms. The paper concluded by a descrip- 

 tion of the class distinctions among the Hovas, there being three 

 main divisions : the Andrians or nobles, the Hovas or com- 

 moners, and the Andevo or slave=, the subdivisions of which 

 were also pointed out, together with the restrictions upon mar- 

 riage between the different ranks of native society. , 



