210 



NA TURE 



[December 27, 1900 



The results of a new investigation of the anomalous disper- 

 sion of cyanin have recently been published by Dr. C. E. 

 Magnusson in No. 41 of the Bulletin of the University of Wis- 

 consin. An attempt has been made to determine the refractive 

 indices throughout the whole spectrum, including the region of 

 the absorption bands, by four distinct methods : (a) Direct 

 spectrometer readings in the visible spectrum using solid prisms, 

 the slit being illuminated with monochromatic light produced 

 by an auxiliary spectroscope ; i^b) photographic records of the 

 deviation of a system of monochromatic rays from a Rowland 

 concave grating illuminated by an iron arc ; {c) a qualitative 

 method, using crossed prisms, and recording the results photo- 

 graphically ; {d) photographic records of the displacement of 

 the fringes in the Michelson interferometer produced by thin 

 films of cyanin, prepared by dipping plates of glass in alcoholic 

 solutions. To obtain good prisms by Prof. Wood's method, 

 Dr. Magnusson finds that the substance must be heated rapidly, 

 the prism formed and cooled quickly, and at the right temper- 

 ature ; if too cool, the fused mass cannot be pressed between 

 the plates of glass to the required thinness, and if too hot, 

 bubbles make their appearance. The general accordance of the 

 values obtained by the different methods employed results in a 

 fairly accurate' dispersion curve for cyanin from the extreme red 

 well into the ultra-violet, and the work with the interferometer 

 gives conclusive evidence of the continuity of the curve through 

 the absorption band in the yellow. It was originally intended 

 to test the Ketteler-Helmholtz dispersion formula for the ultra- 

 violet and extreme red rays, where Pfliiger's investigations 

 showed discrepancies. In the case of the ultra-violet 

 it was suggested that the discrepancy might be due to an 

 absorption band, and Dr. Magnusson considers that he has 

 demonstrated the existence of such a band. Until further ex- 

 tensive observations have been made, however, he does not 

 consider a comparison of the new values with the formula 

 likely to be of much service. The results are illustrated 

 graphically, and numerous photographs are reproduced. 



At a meeting of the Anthropological Institute on December 11, 

 Mr. J. W. Crowfoot read a j>aper on the Bektashis of Cappa- 

 docia. Scattered about Turkey in Asia and Persia are many 

 peculiar religious sects, either professing heretical forms of 

 Islam or purely pagan in character, and in both cases hated and 

 persecuted by the orthodox. It has been supposed that the 

 adherents to these sects represent the earliest known inhabitants 

 of the land, and that their religious rites contain relics that go 

 back far beyond the rise of either Mohammedanism or 

 Christianity. With the object of testing this theory, Mr. 

 Crowfoot visited last suminer some villages close to the ancient 

 Halys in the Eastern half of Asia minor, occupied by a sect 

 called the Bektash or Kizilbash. Measurements and photo- 

 graphs were taken which corroborate the theory above stated, 

 though evidence was also found of an influx of some more 

 eastern element, driven westwards, probably, at the time of the 

 great Mongol invasions. These people are nominally 

 worshippers of Ali, but in reality the worship of •' heroes," 

 from whom they profess descent, plays the greatest r6le in their 

 religion. In one village there was a sacred well strongly 

 impregnated with sulphur, and the fumes of this were inhaled 

 by a prophetess who lived there until she fell into an 

 ecstatic condition, in which she used to give answers to the 

 many inquirers who resorted there, either to learn the future or 

 to be cured by the " hero." Other survivals of a similar 

 character were described. Some native weapons from the 

 south-west of Lake Tanganyika, lent by Dr. Felkin, were also 

 exhibited and described at the same meeting. 



Dr. J. Beard has sent us a copy of his paper on the morpho- 

 logical continuity of the germ-cells in Kaia batis, which 

 appeared in the Anatomischer Anzeiger, vol. xviii. nos. 20 and 



NO. 1626, VOL. 63] 



21. Germ-cells appear to be unicellular organisms, passing one 

 stage of their existence within a multicellular sterilised stock, 

 the embryo, which is formed by one of them at a definite period. 



Mr. E. S. Shrubsole, the curator of the newly-formed 

 Natural History Department at the Crystal Palace, sends us 

 an announcement of the ten " tableaux " of mounted animals he 

 has prepared for exhibition. They are stated to include 15,000 

 specimens. We are not at present aware of the manner in 

 which they are arranged, but if they are not grouped according 

 to their place of origin, a grand opportunity of familiarising 

 the public with the leading features in geographical distribution 

 will have been thrown away. 



We have received a copy of a memoir by Dr. S. J. Hickson 

 on the Alcyonaria and Hydrocorallinse of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, published by the Department of Agriculture of the Cape 

 in the series entitled "Marine Investigations in South Africa." 

 Four new species of Alcyonarians are described ; but of more 

 importance are certain new investigations the author has been 

 enabled to |make into the anatomy of the group, owing to the 

 excellent state of preservation in which the collection was sent 

 to England. As these investigations are not yet completed, 

 the author has published only the systematic work. 



RiCKETTS in monkeys that have died in captivity forms the 

 subject of a memoir by Signor A Monti, published in the 

 Memorie of the Royal Institute of Lombardy (vol. xix., part 3). 

 The author proposes to defer the discussion of the bearing of his 

 observations on zoology to a future occasion ; but he claims for 

 them great importance in regard to certain human diseases. 

 For one thing, they definitely controvert the theory advanced by 

 M. Parrot that ricketts in the human species is due to hereditary 

 syphilis. 



Physiological and pathological heredity in man forms the 

 subject of Dr. T. Oliver's introductory lecture to a course of 

 clinical medicine delivered in the Royal Infirmary at Newcastle- 

 on-Tyne on October 31, a copy 'of which we have received 

 from the Lancet office. The lecturer takes as his example of 

 heredity the modern racehorse, and states that while none but 

 thoroughbreds have won the Derby, no gelding has ever been 

 first past the winning post, and that in all high-class races 

 mares are much less frequently successful than stallions, although 

 it should be added that they are less frequently entered. In 

 one part of his discourse. Dr. Oliver touches upon the question 

 of " telegony," which, in spite of the Penycuick experiments, 

 he appears to think may not be a myth. 



From Mr. G. E. H. Barrett- Hamilton we have received 

 copies of five papers, four of which deal with local variation in 

 European species of mammals. With one exception (from the 

 Annals of Natural History) these latter are taken from the 

 Proceedings of the Zoological Society. The species dealt with 

 are the mountain or variable hare, the wood-mouse, weasel, 

 hedgehog, and dormice. Of the first of these no less than 

 eighteen local races are recognised, several being described for 

 the first time. In districts where it normally turns white in winter 

 the weasel is regarded as subspecifically distinct from the form 

 which remains brown at all seasons. The fifth paper received 

 from Mr. Hamilton is from the Ibis, and deals with the birds 

 observed by him in Kamschatka in 1896 and 1897. The most 

 important paragraphs in this communication are those deahng 

 with colour and migration. 



The greater portion of the December issue of the Zoologist is 

 taken up with a discussion on conscious protective resemblance 

 in animals. Mr. G. A. K. Marshall commences the discussion 

 with criticisms on Mr. Distant's articles on mimicry which ap- 

 peared some time ago in the same journal. First of all he ex- 

 presses the opinion that the term "mimicry" should be 



