14 



NA TURE 



[November i, 1900 



and of Manchot in particular, proving the production of 

 hydrogen peroxide in such cases. Engler has recently suggested 

 that probably in all such cases hydrogen peroxide is formed simul- 

 taneously, half the oxygen molecule going to oxidise the sub- 

 stance present, and the other atom forming hydrogen peroxide. 

 In many cases the formation of the latter substance is difficult 

 to prove on account of its secondary oxidising action upon the 

 substance used. In the current number of the Berichte, Dr. 

 H. Biltz describes experiments on the oxidation of the hydrazone 

 of dibromoxybenzaldehyde in alkaline solution by air at the 

 ordinary temperature, and in this case he has been able to prove 

 that the amount of oxygen in the hydrogen peroxide formed is 

 exactly equal to the oxygen used up by the hydrazone. 



The same number of the Berichte also contains an account by 

 Prof. Curtius of what appears to be a new general method of 

 preparing aromatic aldehydes from the corresponding acids. By 

 the action of dilute alkalis upon benzhydrazide, 



CeHg.CO.NH.NHg, 

 benzalbenzoylhydrazine, 



CfiH5.CO.NH,N:CH.C6H5, 

 is obtained, and this gives benzaldehyde upon hydrolysis with 

 dilute acids. Prof. Curtius makes no attempt to explain the 

 mechanism of this reaction, but states that a similar reduction 

 in alkaline solution has been found to take place with many acid 

 hydrazides with formation of the corresponding tertiary hydr- 

 azones 



R.CO.NH.N:CH.R, 



the latter being insoluble substances capable of easy isolation in 

 a pure state, and in good yields. Distillation with dilute sul- 

 phuric acid then gives the corresponding aldehyde. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include two Common Marmosets {Hapale jacchus) 

 from South-east Brazil, presented by Lady Mackenzie ; a Persian 

 Gazelle (Gazella subgitt/erosa) from Central Asia, presented by 

 Mr. B. T. Ffinch ; a Red-necked Bustard {Eupodotis ricficolHs ?) 

 from South Africa, presented by Mr, J. E. Matcham ; a Raven 

 {Corvus corax), European, presented by Mr. F. Sykes j seven 

 Gold Pheasants ( Thaumalea picta) from China, presented by 

 Mr. Henry G. Hobbs ; a Carrion Crow {Corvus corone) captured 

 at sea, presented by Mr. S. T. Henderson ; a Bearded Tit 

 (Panurus btannicus), European, presented by Mr. A. R. Gill- 

 man ; a Spotted Slow Skink (Acontias fueieagris) from South 

 Africa, presented by Mr. W. L. Sclater ; a Green Lizard 

 {Lacerta viridis), European, presented by Dr. Dyer ; two 

 Severe Macaws {Ara severa) from South America, two Spotted 

 Eagle Owls {Bubo maculosa) from Africa, a Westerman's 



Eclectus [Eclectus westermani) from Moluccas, six Finches 



(Afum'a, sp. inc.) from India, two Simony's Lizards {Lacerta 

 simonyi) from the Canaries, a Mocassin Snake ( Tropidonotus 

 fasciatus), a Caroline Anolis {Anolis carolinensis) from North 

 America, two Leopardine Snakes {Coluber leopardtnus), two 

 Vivacious Snakes {Tarbophis fallax), an CEsculapian Snake 

 {Coluber longissimus), a Four-lined Snake {Coluber quatuor- 

 /z«^«/«j), a Lacertine Snake {Coelopeltis monspessulana), South 

 European, deposited ; two Hog Deer {Cervus porchtus), two 

 Dwarf Turtle Doves ( Turtur humilis), bred in the Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



Astronomical Occurrences in November. 

 9h. iim. Minimum of Algol (;8-Persei). 



Nov. I. 911. iim 

 4. 6h. oh 

 6. 9h. 54m. to loh. 58m. 



by the moon. 

 6. I3h. 47m. to i4h. 31m. 



by the moon. 

 II. I4h. 38m. to I5h. 56m 

 occulted by the moon. ^ 



NO. 16 1 8, VOL. 63] 



IT Arietis (mag. 5 "6) occulted 



p'' Arietis (mag. 55) occulted 



Cancri (mag. 5*9) 



12. 



12. 



14. 

 14-15- 



IS- 

 18. 



21. 

 21. 

 23- 



23-24. 



24. 

 24. 



27. 

 30. 



A^ Cancri (mag. 

 A^ Cancri (mag. 



5-6) 



5-8) 



iih. 54m. to I2h. 58m. 



occulted by the moon. 

 I4h. 4Sm. to I4h. 56m. 



occulted by the moon. 



5h. Mars in conjunction with moon. Mars 7° 39' N. 



Epoch of the November meteors. Leonids. (Radiant 



150 + 23.) 

 Venus. Illuminated portion of disc = 0*751. 

 Mars. ,, ,, ,, = 0-896. 



Saturn. Outer minor axis of outer ring = 15" "99. 

 I3h. Venus in conjunction with moon. Venus 



5°5i'N. 

 loh. 53m. Minimum of Algol (;3 Persei). 

 I9h. 23m. Eclipse of the sun invisible at Greenwich. 

 5h. Jupiter in conjunction with moon. Jupiter 



i°3'S. 

 Epoch of the meteoric shower of Biela s comet. 



(Radiant 25 -f 43.) 

 7h. 42m. Minimum of Algol ()3 Persei). 

 I2h. Saturn in conjunction with moon. Saturn 



2° 8' S. 

 4h. 31m. Minimum of Algol (;3 Persei). 

 6h. iim. to 7h. 7m. k Piscium (mag. 5'o) occulted 



by moon. 



Ephemeris of Eros for November. 



Ephemeris for \2h. Berlin Mean Time. 



R.A. 



Nov. 



Fireballs. — On Sunday evening, October 21, there appear 

 to have been a remarkable prevalence of brilliant meteors. They 

 were noticed at about 8h. 3Sm., 8h. 40m., 9h. 30m., loh, and 

 I ih. 58m. The first of these was a magnificent object, and it lit 

 up the sky with three flashes which many people mistook for 

 ordinary lightning. The night was very cold and clear through- 

 out the country, and a great number of descriptions of the fire- 

 ball alluded to have been published in the newspapers. Its 

 flight was exceedingly slow from S.W. to N.E., and it appears to 

 have been directed from a radiant point either in Capricornus 

 or Aquila. The accounts are, however, somewhat conflicting. 

 Near its disappearance the meteor had a height of between 20 

 and 30 miles over the Midlands, and a detonation was noticed at 

 several places, including Tewkesbury and Clun, Shropshire. 



On October 27, iih. 42m., a magnificent meteor was seen by 

 Mr. Denning at Bristol, traversing a path from 79° + 33° to 

 56° + 24!°, and directed from a radiant at 136° -h 34°. The 

 object left a brilliant, irregular streak, one section of which 

 remained visible in an opera glass for 13 minutes, during which 

 time it drifted 17° in a southerly direction. 



Temperature Observations during Solar Eclipse. — 

 Mr. C. Martin made a systematic series of temperature obser- 

 vations during the eclipse of the sun on May 28, 1900, and his 

 results are published in the Scientific Proceedings of the Royal 

 Dublin Society, vol. ix. pt. 3, pp. 362-364. The observations 

 were made with two instruments, one having a black bulb, the 

 other with a white one. These were mounted about an inch 

 apart on a black wooden post, some six feet high, the bulbs 

 being six inches from any part of the woodwork, and pointed 

 directly towards the sun. Parts of the first stages of the eclipse 

 were rendered inactive by clouds, but for a period of two hours 

 good readings were obtained. These are plotted as curves, the 

 results from the two instruments being given both individually 

 and in combination, the agreement being very close ; if anything, 

 the white bulb thermometer moved less quickly than the black. 



