292 



NATURE 



[January 17, 1901 



January I, by M. Th. Moureaux. The absolute values of the 

 magnetic elements is given for four stations, Pare Saint- Maur, 

 Nice, Perpignan and Val Joyeux. The removal of the magnetic 

 instruments to this last station from Pare Saint-Maur was 

 rendered necessary during the year by the increasing disturb- 

 ances caused by the development of the electrical tramway 

 system of Paris. — On a new phosphide of tungsten, by M. 

 Ed. Defacqz. All attempts to prepare the tungsten phosphide, 

 WP, at the temperature of the electric furnace were unsuccessful, 

 owing to the fact that at the temperature of boiling copper 

 phosphide the tungsten phosphide is dissociated. By working 

 at the highest attainable temperature of a wind furnace, 

 however, in presence of a large excess of copper phosphide, a 

 well crystallised phosphide was obtained having the composition 

 WP. This forms prismatic crystals of a grey metallic lustre, 

 density 8 '5, not attacked by air at the ordinary temperature, but 

 converted into tungstic acid at a red heat. — On some properties 

 of sodium peroxide, by M. George F. Jaubert. Sodium per- 

 oxide is commonly described as a white substance which deli- 

 quesces slowly when exposed to the air. The author now finds 

 that the colour of this substance when prepared in a perfectly 

 pure state is yellow, and further that it does not liquefy when 

 exposed to the air. — Composition of the hydride and nitride of 

 thorium, by MM. C. Matignon and M. Delepine. At a dull 

 red heat metallic thorium burns in a current of hydrogen forming 

 the hydride ThH. With nitrogen, if the metal be heated some- 

 what more strongly, the nitride Th3N4 is formed, which is rapidly 

 decomposed by hot water with the formation of thoria and 

 ammonia. — Some new reactions of the organo- metallic deriva- 

 tives, by M. E. E. Blaise. A description of a new general 

 method for the preparation of ketones and ketonic acids. The 

 reagent used is the alkyl magnesium iodide obtained by the 

 action of magnesium upon an alkyl iodide, and this is allowed to 

 react with either a nitrile or an isocyanic ester. Thus in this 

 way the author has obtained propionoacetic ester from cyanacetic 

 ester, diethyl ketone from cyanogen, and substituted anilides 

 from phenyl isocyanate. — Action of methyl-acetylacetone and 

 ethyl-acetylacetone on the diazoic chlorides, by M. G. Favrel. 

 The diazo-chlorides react with methyl- or ethyl-acetylacetone 

 with the elimination of a molecule of acetic acid and formation 

 of a hydrazone. This reaction resembles that of the cyanacetic 

 esters containing substituted acid radicles, and also the reaction 

 between the alkyl-acetylacetic esters and diazobenzene chloride. 

 — On the embryology of Taenia serraia, by M. G. Saint-Remy. 

 The author gives reasons for believing that the description given 

 by van Beneden of the young egg, not segmented, is not quite 

 exact, and that this description belongs in reality to a slightly 

 more advanced stage. — On the discovery of an origin of the 

 Swiss Pre-alps, by M. Maurice Lugeon. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, January 17. 



Royal Society, 314.30. — Total Eclipse of the Sun, January 22, 1898. 

 . Observations at Viziadrug, Part IV. The Prismatic Cameras : Sir N. 

 Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S. — Wave-length Determinations and General 

 Results obtained from a Detailed Examination of Spectra photographed 

 at the Solar Eclipse of January 22, 1898 : J. Evershed. — The Thermo- 

 chemistry of the Alloys of Copper and Zinc : T. J. Baker. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Origin of Vertebrate Animals: Dr. 

 Arthur Willey. 



Society of Arts (Indian Section), at 4.30. — Metalliferous Mining in 

 India: Dr. John W. Evans. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — On the Affinities oi Aehiropns melanoleucns. 

 Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S., with a Description of the Skull and 

 some of the Limb-bones : R. Lydekker, F.R.S. — On the Natural History 

 and Artificial Cultivation of the Pearl Oysier : Dr. H. Lyster Jameson. 

 Chemical 1:0CIE1Y, at 8. — 1 he Preps ration of Esters from other Esters 

 of the same Acid : T. S. Patterson and Cyril Dickinson. — Tecomin : a 

 Colouring Matter derived from Bignonia tecovia : T. H. Lee. — A New 

 Method for the Measurement of Ionic Velocities in Aqueous Solution : 

 B. D. Steele. — Metal-Ammonia Compounds in Aqueous Solution. II. 

 The Absorptive Powers of Dilute Solutions of Salts of the Alkali Metals : 

 H. M. Dawson and J. McCrae. 



/"/?/Z>^K, January 18. 



Royal Institution, at g.— Gases at the Beginning and End of the 

 Century : Prof. J. Dewar, F.R.S. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8. — Annual General Meet- 

 ing. — Possible discussion upon Mr. H. A. Humphrey's paper on Power 

 Gas and Large Gas-Engines for Central Stations. 



il/C>A^Z)^r, January 21. 

 Victoria Institute, at 4.30.— Evolution : Rev. G. F. Whidborne. 



TUESDA Y, January 22. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Practical Mechanics : Prof. J. A. Ewing, 

 F.R.S. 



Anthropological Institute, at 8.30. — On Malay Metal-working (illus- 

 trated by Lantern Slides and Experiments) : W. Rosenhain. — Slides illus- 

 trative of the damage to Stonehenge will also be shown. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The Present Condition and 

 Prospects of the Panama Canal Works : J. T. Ford. 



MiNERALOGiCAL SociETY, at 8.^Note on an Occurrence of Mirabilite : 

 Dr. Trechmann. — On a Question relative to Extinction-Angles in Rock- 

 Slices : Mr. Harker. — On the Arrangement of the Chemical Atoms in 

 Calc Spar and in some other Crystals : Mr. Barlow. 



Royal Photographic Society, at 8. — Imitative versus Creative (a 

 Comparison) : W. Edwin Tindall. 



WEDNESDAY, January 23. 



Geological Society, at 8. — The GLicial Geology of Victoria, Australia : 

 Prof. J. W. Gregory. — The Origin oftheDunmail Raise(Lake District) : 

 R. D. Oldham. 



THURSDA Y, January 24. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable papers : The Boiling Point of Liquid 

 Hydrogen, determined by Hydrogen and Helium G as Thermometers : 

 Prof. J. Dewar, F.R.S. — Investigations on the Abnormal Outgrowths or 

 Intumescences on Hibiscns "vitifolius, Linn.: a Study in Experimental 

 Plant Pathology : Miss Elizabeth Dale. — On the Proteid Reaction of 

 Adamkiewicz, with Contributions to the Chemistry of Glyoxylic Acid : 

 F. Gowland Hopkins and S. W. Cole. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Origin of Vertebrate Animals : Dr. Arthur 

 Willey. 



Lnstitution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Adjourned Discussion: 

 Capacity in Alternate Current Working': W. M. Mordej'. 



FRIDA Y, January 25. 



Physical Society, at 5. — The New Physical Laboratories of the Royal 

 College of Science : Prof. A. W. Riicker, Sec.R.S. — Note on an Absolute 

 Method for determining the Hygrometric State of the Atmosphere : 

 E. B. H. Wade. — Exhibition of an Experiment on the Migration of the 

 Ions : S. W. J. Smith. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — Sewage Treatment : C. 

 Johnston. 



SATURDAY, January 26. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Government and People of China: Prof. 

 R. K. Douglas.! 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Modern Thermodynamics 269 



An Authoritative Text-Book of Physiology ... 270 



The Royal Observatory, Greenwich. By H. H. T. 271 



The Management of Roads 272 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Turner: "Knowledge, Belief, and Certitude." — 



H. W. B 273 



Renard and Stober : "Notions de Mineral ogie " . . 273 

 Curtis : " The Essentials of Practical Bacteriology : 

 an Elementary Laboratory Book for Students and 



Practitioners " 274 



Hovenden : "What is Heat? and What is Elec- 

 tricity ? " 274 



Letters to the Editor:— 



On a Proof of Traction-Elasticity of Liquids, — Prof. 



G. van der Mensbrugghe 274 



Mathematics and Biology. — Prof. Karl Pearson, 



F.R.S . . 274 



Education in Science.— James Sutherland ... 275 

 Abbe's Optical Theorems. — Prof. J. D. Everett, 



F.R.S 276 



Fireball in Sunshine. — W. F. Denning 276 



Air and Disease. ^Harold Picton 276 



Recent Advances in the Geology of Igneous Rocks 276 

 The Disappearance of Images on Photographic 



Plates. By Dr. William J. S. Lockyer .... 278 



Vibration of Gun-barrels. {Illustrated.) By F. J.-S. 279 



The Royal Indian Engineering College 280 



Notes 280 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Origin of Terrestrial Magnetism 286 



Opposition of Mars in 1888 286 



Double Star Measures 286 



Scientific Developments of Biology and Medicine 286 

 The Distribution' of Vertebrate Animals in India, 

 Ceylon, and Burma. By Dr. W. T. Blanford, 



F.R.S 287 



Science Teachers in Conference. By A. T. 



Simmons 289 



University and Educational Intelligence 290 



Scientific Serials , . 290 



Societies and Academies 291 



Diary of Societies 292 



NO. 1629, VOL. 63] 



