August 1 1, 1887] 



NATURE 



349 



analysis of the diurnal range of air-temperature at seven Observa- 

 tories for each month of the twelve years 1871 -82. The nume- 

 rical results have been obtained directly from the continuous 

 photographic records by means of Sir William Thomson's har- 

 monic analyzer. A comparison of the monthly means obtained 

 from the machine with those got by calculation shows that the 

 results obtained by the former are as accurate as those obtained 



very much greater labour by the latter method. (2) Tables 

 and formula;, by Lieut, -General R. Strachey, R.E., C.S.I., to 

 facilitate the computation of harmonic coefficients in the form 

 /j cos « 15°, &c., and in the form P sin (« 15° -F t°). Tables 

 are calculated for the coefficients of / and q from hourly values, 

 harmonic coefficients from five-day means, non-periodic correc- 

 tions, and multiples of the usual sines. Tables of multiples of 

 the natural and logarithmic sines, &c., have been previously 

 published, but we know of nothing which at all compares in 

 detail and usefulness with the tables now in question, for the 

 calculations which they are intended to simplify. 



Dr. von Lendenfeld's account of his investigations in the 

 Australian Alps, published in Erganzungsheft No. 87 of 

 Petermann' s Mitteilungen (see Nature, July 21, p. 283), con- 

 tains some interesting observations on the meteorology of that 

 district, especially with respect to rainfall. He found that the 

 mountainous part of the continent has much more rain than any 

 other part of temperate Australia south of the zone of tropical 

 rains. At Hiandra, to the north of the Kosciusko group, it 

 amounts to 61 inches ; while between the mountains and the 

 coast the amount is small, being only 18 inches at Cooma. 

 Some places to the west of the mountains, and still in sight of 

 them, suffer much from want of water. Generally speaking 

 there appears to be no connexion between the weather on the 

 Alps and that on the coast. On the latter most rain falls in 

 autumn, while on the mountains the spring is especially wet. 

 In the middle of summer (January and February) rainfall is 

 least both on the mountains and on the coast. In the lowlands 

 precipitation always falls as rain, while on the mountains snow 

 falls at all times of the year, and it never rains in winter. The 

 amount of dew is exceedingly great, but as this is only taken into 

 account in the total amount of the rainfall, the climate of the 

 mountains appears drier than it really is. There are not suffi- 

 cient observations to determine the temperature and wind 

 conditions accurately, and these can only be estimated from th- 

 behaviour of the snow. At heights exceeding 1000 metres (3280 

 feet) the snow lies for a month or two, and above 2000 metres it 

 is met with in places, even in the height of summer. Snow- 

 drifts are found exclusively on the eastern slopes, which clearly 

 proves the prevalence of westerly winds in winter. 



It has been arranged at the Hong Kong Observatory that 

 Mr. Knippin'T will, as heretofore, investigate typhoons within 

 the area of the Japanese weather-maps, as well as north and 

 east of that area. Father Faura will investigate the typhoons 

 in their passage across the Philippine Archipelago, and those 

 that approach very near the coast of Luzon. Dr. Doberck will 

 investigate typhoons at sea south and west of Mr. Knipping's 

 district, from information collected from men-of-war and merchant 

 vessels, and typhoons in China from the facts recorded in the 

 returns of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs. 



A NOVEL series of voltaic combinations, in which solutions of 

 alterable compounds are substituted for the attackable metals, 

 has lately been investigated by Dr. Alder Wright and Mr. C. 

 Thompson (Journ. Chem. Soc, August 1887). The chief 

 feature of the new cells consists in the replacement of the zinc 

 or its equivalent by a plate of carbon, platinum, or other con- 

 ducting but unchanged substance, immersed in a solution of 

 some easily oxidized or chlorinated compound, and opposed to 

 a similar plate in contact with the solution of a substance capable 



of being readily deoxidized or dechlorinated. The plate in 

 contact with the oxidizable fluid acquires the lower potential or 

 becomes the negative pole, while the other plate takes the higher 

 potential and forms the positive pole with regard to the outer 

 circuit. An almost endless variety of new combinations may 

 thus be employed, some of which may be expected to develop 

 considerable energy. A convenient cell, of electromotive force 

 1*5 volt, consists of a U"t"be, into one limb of which is poured 

 a solution of sodium sulphite, while a solution of "chromic 

 liquor," that is, a mixture of sulphuric acid and potassium 

 bichromate solution, is run into the other, a little moderately 

 concentrated sulphuric acid being previously placed in the bend 

 to prevent too rapid diffusion of the two. On placing the two 

 platinum plates in their respective solutions and completing the 

 external circuit by a wire, a constant current is maintained, 

 owing to oxidation of the sulphite to sulphate, and reduction of 

 the chromic acid to chromium sulphate. In all the cases ex- 

 amined the currents were remarkably steady, and capable of 

 performing measurable amounts of electrolytical work. 



Sir Philip Magnus has preserited his Report on the techno- 

 logical examination held in 1887, under the direction of the 

 City and Guilds of London Institute for the Advancement of 

 Technical Education. A special feature of this year's examin- 

 ation is that forty-eight candidates were examined in nine sub- 

 jects, under the direction of the Institute, in New South Wales. 

 Examinations were held in Sydney, Bathurst, and Newcastle. 

 The question papers were sent out to Sydney, and the answers 

 of these colonial condidates were forwarded to London, where 

 they were examined together with those of other candidates, 

 the date of the examination having been so timed as to render 

 this arrangement possible. Sir Philip Magnus considers that 

 the increase in the total number of candidates examined and of 

 those who have passed is satisfactory. In 1886, 4764 candidates 

 were examined, of whom 2627 passed ; in 1887, 5508 we-e 

 examined, of whom 3090 passed. The increase in the number 

 of candidates in 1887 is 744 as against 796 in 1886. During 

 the past session 365 classes were held in 121 different towns. 

 Manchester heads the list of provincial centres from which the 

 largest number of candidates have passed, the number being 

 183 as against 169 in the previous year. Next in order comes 

 Glasgow with 169 as against 163, Leeds with 114 as against 81, 

 Blackburn with 73 as against 10, Huddersfield with 69 as against 

 70, Belfast with 66 as against 74, Bradford with 63 as against 80. 



The results of the survey and last census of India are that the 

 area of the peninsula of Hindostan is 1,382,624 square miles, 

 and the population 253,891,821. Although immense tracts of 

 country are annually cultivated, according to the most recent 

 survey ten million acres of land suitable for cultivation have not 

 as yet been ploughed. At the same time, 120 millions of acres 

 are returned as waste lands. 



On July 21 the people of Nancy were astonished by the 

 sudden appearance of an immense number of common ants, 

 which were brought by a very strong wind. Most of the insects 

 were wingless. 



According to the Free Press of Singapore, a work which 

 has occupied much of the recent attention of those Government 

 officials connected with the Land and Survey Departments of 

 the Straits Settlements has been completed, and has been sent 

 to England. This is a map of the Malay Peninsula, based upon 

 one produced in 1879 under the direction of the Straits Branch 

 of the Royal Asiatic Society, but altered and improved by 

 subsequent exploration. 



In a recent number of the Revw. Scientifique, M. Arnau- 

 deau develops the idea of a double postal tube between 

 Dover and Calais, to be suspended in air. Each tube should be 



