364 



NATURE 



[February 7, 1901 



importance of this phenomenon in teratolos;y. — Remarks by M. 

 Lannelongue on the preceding paper. — ^On the manna of the 

 olive, hy M. Trabut. In the region of Bibans there is a con- 

 siderable number of olive trees which exude during the summer 

 a very large quantity of manna. On analysis this was found to 

 be identical with the manna from the ash, containing about 52 per 

 cent, of mannite. — Influence of the osmotic pressure of the 

 medium on the form and the structure of vegetables, by M. J. 

 Beauverie. The roots of Phaseoliis, growing in a concentrated 

 solutioti, possess no medulla, the differentiation of the ligneous 

 tissue proceeding from the centre. There is also very early 

 produced an abundant pericyclic cork layer, having evidently a 

 protective function as regards the central cylinder. In a root 

 of the same age growing in water th6re is, on the contrary, a 

 voluminous medulla, and there is no premature production of 

 cork. — On the presence of the genus Caprina in the Urgonian, 

 by M. V. Paquier. — On the specific heats of silk, wool and 

 cotton, by M. Testenoire. A reclamation of priority against 

 M. G. Fleury. 



; , GOTTINGEN. 



Royal Society of Sciences.— The Nachrichten (physico- 

 mathematical section), part 3, for 1900, contains the following 

 memoirs communicated to the Society :— 



June 16. — (). Wallach : I. (i) On the splitting-up of cyclic 

 oximes, (2) hexacyclic ketones, (3) heptacyclic ketones ; II. New 

 syntheses in the terpene series. 



June 30 — A. Loewy : On the transformation into itself of a 

 non-vanishing Hermite determinant. 



July 14. — E. Riecke : On the relative conductivities of metals 

 for heat and for electricity. — D. Hilbert : Mathematical prob- 

 lems, an address before the International Congress of Mathema- 

 ticians at PariSi, 1900. — R. Fricke : Automorphous elementary 

 forms. ' ' 



July 28. — R. Fricke: Ritter's prime-form on ain arbitrary 

 Riemann surface. — A. Voss : On the principles of Hamilton and 

 of Maupertuis. — W. Nernst and H. Reynolds : On the conduc- 

 tivity of solid mixtures at high temperatures. 



October 27. — W. Voigt : On the inductivity of ferromagnetic 

 crystals, with special reference to Weiss's observations on mag- 

 netite. — M. Dehn : On equivalent polyhedra (capable of dissec- 

 tion into congruent portions). 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, 'Sv.^^VKvy T. 



■Royal Society, at 4.30. — The Boiling Point of Liquid Hydrogen, de- 

 termined by Hydrogen and Helium Gas Thermometers : Prof. Dewar, 

 F.R.S. — On the Brightness of the Corona of January 22, 1898. Pre- 

 liminary Note: Prof. H. H. Turner, F.R.S. — Preliminary Determina- 

 tion of the Wave-Lengths of the Hydrogen Lines derived from 

 Photographs taken at Ovar at the Eclipse of the Sun, iqoo, May 28 : F. 

 W. Dy.son. — Investigations on the Abnormal Outgrowths or Intumescences 

 on Hibiscus vitifolius, Linn.: a Study in Experimental Plant Pathology : 

 Miss E Dale. — On the Proteid Reaction of Adamkiewicz, with. Contri- 

 butions to the Chemistry of tilyoxylic Acid: F. G. Hopkins and S. W. 

 Cole. — The Integration of the Equations of Propagation of Electric 

 Waves : Prof. Love, F.R..S. 



Chemical Societv, at 8.— Ballot for the Election of Fellows — The Action 

 of Hydrogen Bromide on Carbohydrates : H. J. H. Fenton and 

 Mildred Gostling. — Note on a Method of comparing the AfRnity-Values 

 of Acids : H. J. H. Fenton and H. O. Jones. — Organic Derivatives of 

 Phosptioryl Chlor de, and the Space Configuration of the Valencies of 

 Phosphorus: R. M. Caven. — (i) Synthetical Work with Sodamide 

 Derivatives: (2) Note on Two Molecular Compounds of Acetamide ; 

 (3) Diacetamide, a New Method of Preparation : Dr. A. W. Titherley. 



RoNTGEN Society, at 8.— Experiences of X-Ray Work during the Siege 

 of Lady smith ; Lieut. F. Bruce. 



./^/e/Z)^K, Februarys. 

 Royal Institution, at 9. — History and Progress of Aerial Locomotion: 



Prof. G. H. Bryan, F.R.S. 

 Physical Society, at 5. Annual General Meeting.— Address by the 

 President. — Followed by a paper on Mica Echelon Grating : Prof. R. W. 

 Wood. 

 Royal Astronomical Society, at 3. — Annual General Meeting. 

 Geologists' Association, at 8. — Annual General Meeting.— Twelve 



Years of L.mdon Geology : The President, W. Whitaker, F.R.S. 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Cycle Resistance : H. E. 



Wimperis. 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8.— Power Gas and Large 



Gas-Engines for Central Stations : H. A. Humphrey. 

 Anatomical Society, at 4 30.— The Origin of the Vertebrate Ear and 

 Eighth Pair of Cr.anial Nerves: W. H. Gaskell, F.R.S.— A Critical 

 Review of Recent Literature on Fossil Anthropoids : W. L. H. Duck- 

 worth. 

 Malacological Society, at 8.— Annual General Meeting. 



MONDAY, February ii. 

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

 Society of Arts, at 8.— The Bearings of Geometry on the Chemistry 

 of Fermentation : W.J. Pope. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30. — On Her Maiesty's Connection 

 with the Society and I ntere.st in Geography, and on Polar Exploration 

 during the Queen's Reign The President — Progress of Exploration 

 and the 'Spread and Consolidation of the Empire in America, Austra- 

 lasia, and Africa : Right Hon. Sir George Taubman Goldie, K.C.M.G. 

 — Advances in Asia, and Imperial Consolidation in India: Colonel Sir 

 Thomas H. Holdich, K CLE. 



TUESDA Y, Ffbruary 12. 



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

 F.R.S. 



Socikty of Arts, at 8. — Recent Advances in Pottery Decoration : 

 William Hurton. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — Pa>>er to be further discussed : 

 The Present Condition and Prospects of the Panama Canal Works : 

 J. T. Ford. Paper to be read, time permitting : The Nilgiri Moun- 

 tain-Railway : W. I. Weightman. 



Royal Photographic Society, at 8. — Annual General Mtering. 



WEDNESDAY, Y-E.%-R\i\v.v \^. 



Society of Arts, at 8. — Arsenic in Beer and Food : William Thomson. 

 THURSDA Y, February 14. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30. — The Distribution of Velocity and the 

 Equations o.f the Stream Lines, due to the Motion of an Fllipsoid in 

 Fluid Frictionless and Viscous : T. Stuar' — On FactoriSable Twin Bi- 

 nomials : Lieut. -Colonel Cunningham, R.E. — Concerning the Abelian 

 and Related Linear Groups : Prof. L. E. Dickson. — A Geometrical 

 Theory of Differential Equations of the First and Secoiid Orders : 

 R. W. Hudson — Broc.irdal Properties of some Associated Triangles : R. 

 Tucker. 



Society OF Arts (Indian Section), at 4.30. — The Greek Retreat frcm 

 India : Colonel Sir Thomas H. Holdich, K.C.I. E. 



Institution of Electrical Enginkfrs, at 8. — Capacity in Alternate 

 Current Working : W. M. Mordey. (Adjourned Discussion.) 



FRIDA Y, February 15. 

 Royal Institution, at 9. — Electric Waves : Right Rev. Monsignor 



Gerald MoUoy. 

 Geological Society, at 3. — Annual General Meeting. 



NO. 1632, VOL. 63] 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



A Neo-Darwinian on Evolution. By F. A. D. . 341 

 The Century of Scientific Progress. By Prof. T. G. 



Bonney, F.R S. . . ..... 342 



Van 't Hoff's Physical Chemistry. By J. W. . . . 343 



New Maps and Atlases . 344 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Terschak : " Die Photographic im Hochgebirg" . 345 

 Green : *" An Introduction to Vegetable Physiology." 



—J. B. F. 345 



Tillman: " A Text-book of Important Minerals and 

 Rocks, with Tables for the Determination of 



Minerals " 346 



Shenstone : " Laboratory Companion for Use with 



Shenstone's Inorganic Chemistry " .... 346 



Letters to the Editor: 



A Compact Method of Tabulation.— Prof, J. D. 



Everett, F.R.S. . . ... 346 



Frost Fronds. — Prof. T. G. Bonney, F.R.S. . 317 

 The Total Solar Eclipse of May 17-18.— Dr. J. J, A. 



Muller . . . ^47 



The Museum of the Institute of Jamaica.— Hubert 



Lyman Clark ... 347 



The Mongoose in Jamaica. — Prof. T. D. A. 



Cockerell ... . . 348 



Thermochemical Relations. — Dr. Carlo del Lungo 348 



Direction of Spirals in Horns. — George Wherry . 348 

 Some Disputed Points in Zoological Nomenclature. 



By R. L. . 348 



Charles Hermite. By G. H. B 350 



Adolphe Chatm 351 



Notes. {With Diagram.) 351 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Variations in the Motion of the Terrestrial Pole . 354 



Definitive Elements of the Orbit of Comet 1898 VII. 355 



Observations of Eros . 355 



Photographic Catalogue of Polar Stars 355 



Audibility of the Sound of Firing on February i . 355 



Jupiter and his Markings. By W. F. Denning 355 



Agriculture in the West Indies. By Prof. J. P. 



D'Albuquerque . . .... 356 



National Aspects of Scientific Investigation 356 

 The Effect of Physical Agents on Bacterial Life. 



By Dr. Allan Macfadyen . . .... 359 



University and Educational Intelligence .... 362 



Scientific Serial . . . 362 



Societies and Academies 363 



Diary of Societies 364 



