24 



NA TURE 



[May 5, 1887 



and compressibility of water, and displacement of the maximum 

 of density by pressure, by M. E. H. Amagat. The author has 

 carried his experiments on water as far as 3200 atmospheres, 

 operating between 0° and 50° C. as limits of temperature, with 

 the general result that a sufficient increase of pressure and tem- 

 perature tends to bring water within the normal condition of 

 other fluids. Towards 3000 atmospheres the last traces dis- 

 appear of the perturbations of the general laws resulting from 

 the existence of the maximum of density. — Tsogonic magnetic 

 curves, by M. C. Decharme. The author endeavours to show 

 by a series of diagrams the double magnetic influence to which 

 the needle is subjected in the vicinity of a magnet.— A study of the 

 alkaline vanadates (continued), by M. A. Ditte. Here are ex- 

 amined the vanadates of lithine, to which is appended a general 

 table of the well-defined crystallized salts yielded by potassa, 

 soda, ammonia, and lithine. — Artificial production of magnetite, 

 by M. Alex. Gorgeu. By the process here described a magnetic 

 oxide is obtained apparently identical with natural magnetite. 

 It is attracted by the magnet, shows a metallic lustre, and affects 

 opaque'octahedral forms, sometimes modified by minute facets of 

 the rhomboidal dodecahedron, with hardness from 6 to 6 '5, and 

 density 5 •21 to 5-25. — Qualitative study of the sulphites in the 

 presence of the hyposulphites and sulphates, by M. A. Villiers. 

 A convenient and rapid process is described for the research of 

 the sulphites in the presence of the hyposulphites, which, like 

 the former, liberate sulphurous acid by the action of the acids. — 

 On the various sulphurous waters of Olette, Eastern Pyrenees, 

 by M. Ed. Willm. A tabulated analysis is given of these waters 

 on the assumption that all the carbonic acid is combined under 

 the form of bicarbonates. — On synthetic acetonitril, by M. Louis 

 Henry. The acetonitril obtained by the process here described 

 is in every respect identical with that yielded by the dehydrata- 

 tion of acetamide. — On some cases of morphinomania in animals, 

 by M. Ludovic Jammes. Several instances are mentioned of 

 cats, and especially monkeys, acquiring a decided taste for the 

 fumes of opium through association with opium-smokers in 

 Camboja and China. 



Berlin. 



Meteorological Society, April 5. — Prof, von Bezold, Presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — Prof, Upton, of Providence (U.S.A.), spoke 

 on meteorological observations during eclipses of the sun. After 

 discussing the phenomena which may theoretically be expected 

 during an eclipse, he gave a full account of his own meteorolo- 

 gical observations, already known to the readers of Nature, 

 which he made during the eclipses of May 6, 1883, on the 

 island of Carolina, and which have already been published in 

 full. He then discussed an explanation of the barometric 

 variations during the period of totality which had been appended 

 to the report of his observations as published in the Zeitschrift 

 fiir Meteorologie, and expressed his dissatisfaction with the same. 

 He is rather inclined to believe that the very evident fall in the 

 atmospheric pressure before the period of totality is due to an 

 outrush of air which is becoming cooled in the moon's shadow, 

 and that the rise of pressure which is observed shortly after the 

 period of totality is due to a compensating inrush of air. In 

 conclusion Prof. Upton pointed out the importance of making 

 meteorological observations in Prussia, especially as regards the 

 variations of barometric pressure, during the total eclipse of 

 August 19, along the line of total eclipse, and more particularly 

 along the boundaries of the area of totality. In the discussion 

 which followed, Prof. Sporer gave a description of the dense 

 clouds of mist which he observed close to the earth during the 

 eclipse of August 18, 1868, in India. Several days previously 

 to the eclipse there had been a heavy fall of rain ; the unclouded 

 sun which rose on the 1 8th heated the surface of the earth and 

 the dark stones, and then, as soon as the totality began, long, 

 dense bands of mist made their appearance, and with the sharp 

 breeze which was blowing gave rise to a very obvious sensation of 

 coolness. Dr. Zenker then pointed out that, inasmuch as in 

 Prussia the period of totality would occur in the very early 

 morning hours, it would be out of place to expect any very 

 marked variations of either temperature or barometric pressure. 

 On the other hand, he considered that the meteorological obser- 

 vations should be directed more especially to an investigation of 

 Bishop's rings, and of the alternating light and dark bands which 

 precede and follow the stage of totality ; they are probably 

 interference fringes, and could be most efficiently recorded by 

 means of photography. Prof, von Bezold laid stress on the im- 

 portance of observations on the twilight which occurs during the 



eclipse, pointing out that specially favourable conditions for suet 

 observations will present themselves in Germany during this 

 year. It is to be hoped that exact observations of the umbra, 

 the penumbra, and the colours which simultaneously make theii 

 appearance will throw considerable light on the phenomenon, 

 Prof, von Bezold intends to provide at the time for an adequately 

 numerous participation in carrying out these observations. 



Stockholm. 



Royal Academy of Sciences, March 9. — Sir Lowthian 

 Bell, Bart., was elected a foreign corresponding member of the 

 Academy. — On the species and varieties of the Coniferse found 

 in Scandinavia, by Prof Wittrock. He also exhibited Viola 

 SueciiE exsiccatcB, prepared by Messrs. L. M. Neuman, L. J. 

 Wahlstedt, and S. Murbeck. — Report of a visit to some lakes 

 and fresh-water basins in Sweden for the purpose of studying the 

 flora, by Dr. N. A. Lundstrom. — Remarks on the fishes of the 

 Mediterranean and the Sea of Japan, by Prof. F. A. Smitt. — A 

 description of the collection of Japanese fishes in the zoological 

 museum of the University of Upsala, by Herr E, Nystrom. — Re- 

 searches on the volume and composition of the gases resulting 

 from the solution of iron in acids, by Herr H. Backstrom and 

 Herr G. Paykull. — On the effects of hardening on the volume 

 and composition of the gases evolved on the solution of steel in 

 acids, by Herr G. Paykull. — On the number and congruences of 

 the roots of the second order, by Dr. A. Berger. — On the integ- 

 ration of the differential equations for a material point movement, 

 by Dr. G. Kobb. — The Secretary announced the acceptance of 

 the following papers for publication in the Academy's Pro- 

 ceedings : — On the application of a numerical-theoretic formula 

 for the transformation of a definite double integral, by Dr. A. 

 Berger. — Contributions to the theory relating to the undulating 

 movement in a gaseous body, by Prof. A. V. Backlund. — On 

 allaktite from the Langban Mines, by Herr A. Sjogren. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



The Problem of Evil : G. D. Thompson (Longmans). — Die Natiirlichen 

 Pflanzenfamilien, Lief. 1 and 2 : A. Engler and K. PrantI (Engelmann, 

 Leipzig). — A Popular History of Astronomy during the Nineteenth 

 Century, 2nd edition ; A. AL Gierke (Black, Edinburgh). — Bulletin 'de la 

 Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes da Moscou, No. 4, 1886, and No. i, 

 1887 (Moscou). — Botany Notes, 2 parts, 3rd edition : A. Johnstone (Living- 

 stone). — Organic Materia Medica : R, Bentley (Longmans). 



CONTENTS PAGE 



Loomis's Contributions to Meteorology ...... i 



The Game of Logic. By Alfred Sidgvi^ick 3 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Stutzer : "^Nitrate of Soda " 4 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Units of Weight, Mass, and Force. — Rev. Edward 



Geoghegan . . . . • 4 



Earthquake in the Western Riviera. — Prof. Henry H. 



Giglioli 4 



The Boiling- Point and Pressure. — M. F. O'Reilly . . 4 



A Sparrow chasing Pigeons. — W. Harcourt Bath . 4 



The Royal Society Selected Candidates 5 



The Pans Astronomical Congress 7 



On Ice and Brines, II. By J. Y. Buchanan .... 9 

 The Classification of Spiders. By Rev. O. P. Cam- 

 bridge 12 



Christmas Island. By Capt. W. J. L. Wharton, 



F.R.S. ; Capt. J. P. Maclear 12 



Notes 13 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Orbit of the Minor Planet Eucharis 16 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1887 



May 8-14 16 



Geographical Notes 17 



The Work of the Imperial Institute, II. By Sir 



Frederick Abel, C.B., F.R.S 17 



The Locomotor System of Star-fish. By Dr. George 



J. Romanes, F.R.S 20 



The Report of the Select Committee on Endowed 



Schools 21 



University and Educational Intelligence 22 



Scientific Serials 22 



Societies and Academies 22 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 24 



