412 



NATURE 



[February 21, 1901 



with those of Boussingault, show that the proportion of this gas 

 has not increased. Hence, like carbonic acid, it would appear 

 to be ehminated in some way. By an extensive series of experi- 

 ments, the author shows that this elimination is effected by 

 plants. — Actions of the esters of the monobasic fatty acids upon 

 the mixed organo-magnesium compounds, by M. V. Grignard. 

 The use of magnesium has the advantage over the Wagner- 

 Satzeff reaction not only in its simplicity and increased yield, 

 but also in increased generality. Thus ethyl formate and 

 magnesium ethyl bromide gives a 73 per cent, yield of diethyl- 

 carbinol ; with isoamyl bromide of magnesium and ethyl 

 formate the formate of diisoamylcarbinol is obtained. Diisobutyl- 

 carbinol can be prepared by the analogous reaction. — On the 

 absorption of light by the indophenols, by MM. P. Bayrac and 

 C. Camichel. — On the acid and alcoholic combinations of 

 phenylcarbazide, or the urea of phenylhydrazine, by M. P. 

 Cazeneuve. — Ketones from wood tar, by M. A. Behal. The 

 ketone, dimethylcyclohexonone, has been isolated from the 

 neutral oil of wood tar. Its constitution was determined by 

 means of its oxidation products, potassium permanganate giving 

 ■only acetic acid and a-levulinic acid. — On dibromo- and diiodo- 

 butane : a new synthesis of adipic acid, by M. I'abbe J. 

 Hamonet.— Comparison between the nucleated and non- 

 nucleated red blood corpuscle, by M. R. Quinton. From the 

 point of view of osmosis the nucleated red blood corpuscle 

 differs in its behaviour from the non-nucleated corpuscle, 

 inasmuch as an equilibrium is attained in the former case with 

 ^irea in solution, but not in the latter. — Blastoderm without an 

 embryo.byM.Gustave Loisel. — Action of the total pressure on the 

 -chlorophyll assimilation, by M. Jean Friedel. The diminution of 

 the total pressure tends to favour assimilation. When air contain- 

 ing carbonic acid is rarefied, the assimilation passes first through 

 a minimum and then through a maximum. — On the tuberculisa- 

 tion of the potato, by M. Noel Bernard. It has been previously 

 shown by the author that in certain plants the formation of 

 tubers from the buds is a consequence and a symptom of the 

 infection of the roots by endophytic fungi. Experiments are 

 «ow given for the potato, confirming these views, and it is 

 pointed out that if this conclusion is exact, it should be possible, 

 by a rational culture of the potato, to increase the size and yield 

 •of the tubers. — On a new group of very basic rocks, by M. A. 

 Lacroix. — New observations on the glacial period in the 

 southern Carpathians, by M. E. de Martonne. — The trans- 

 gressions and the regressions of the secondary seas in the basin 

 -of the Aquitaine, by M. Ph. Glangeaud. — Contribution to the 

 •study of subterranean waters. Isochronochromatic curves, by 

 M. Felix Marboutin. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, February 21. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — An Attempt to Estimate the Vitality of Seeds 

 by an Electrical Method: Dr. Waller, F.R.S. — On a New Manometer, 

 and on the Law of the Pressure of Gases between.! '5 and "or millimetres 

 of M-^rcury: Lord Rayleigh, F.R.S. — (i),An Investigation of the Spectra 

 of Flames resulting from Operations in the Open Hearth and ''Basic" 

 Bessemer Processes ; (2) The Mineral Constituents of Dust and Soot 

 from various Sources: Prof. Hartley, F.R S., and Hugh Ramage. — 

 Notes on the Spark Spectra of Silicon as rendered by Silicates : Prof. 

 Hartley, F. R S. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — On the Affinities oi j^lutopus melanoleucus, 

 Alph. Milne- Edw.: Prbfi E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S., and R. Lydekker, 

 F.R.S. — Etude d'une espece nouvtUe de L^papedes : M A. Gruvel. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — If the discussion on Mr. 

 Mordey's paper is closed, the following pape'' will be read : — The Elec- 

 trical Power Bill of 1900 : Before and After : W. L. Madgen. 



Chemical Society, at. 8. — (i) Isomeric Hydrindamine Mandelates and 

 Phenylchloracethydrindamides ; (2) Isomeric Benzylhydrindamine bromo- 

 camphorsulphonates and some salts of ^-/-Hydrindamine : F. Stanley 

 Kipping and H. Hall. — Condensation of Phenols with Esters of the 

 Acetylene STies. IV. Benzo-y-pA rone and its Homologues : S. Ruhe- 

 mann and H. W. Bausor. — Constitution of Bromocamphoric Anhydride 

 and Camphanic Acid : A. Lapworth and W. H. Lcnton — The Action of 

 Acetylchlor- and Acetylbrom-aminobenzenes on Amines and Phenyl- 

 hydrazine : F. D. Chattaway and K. J. P. Orton. 



FRIDAY, February 22. 



Royal Institution, at 9.— Metals as Fuel : Sir W. Roberts-Austen, 

 F.R.S. • - 



Physical Society, at 5.— How Air subjected to X-Rays loses its Dis- 

 charging Property, and how it Discharges Electricity : Prof. Emilio 

 Villari. — (i) On the Propagation of Cusped Waves and their Relation to 

 the Primary and Secondary Focal Lines: (2)OnCyanine Prisms, and a 

 New Method of Exhibiting Anomalous Dispersion : Prof. R. W. Wood. 



Institution of Civil Engineers at 8.— Automatic Coupling: J. L. 

 Cridlan. 



NO. 1634, VOL. 63] 



SATURDAY, February 23. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — Sound and Vibrations : Lord Rayleigh, F.R.S. 

 Essex Field Club (Essex Museum of Natural History Stratford), at 6 30. 

 — Recent Work in MoUuscan Morphology: Prof. G. B. Howes, F.R.S. 

 MONO A Y, February 25. 

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

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30. — Some Aspects of South 



American Geography : Colonel G. E. Church. 

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



of Fermentation : W.J. Pope. 

 Institute of Actuaries, at 5.30. — The Increase of Cancer : R. Teece. 



ri/.£'.S"Z>/lK, Ffbruary 26. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — The Cell as the Unit of Life : Dr. A. Mac- 



fadyen. 

 Institution OF Civil Engineers, at 8. — The Rotatory Process of Cement 



Manufacture : W. H. Stanger and Bertram Blount. 

 Royal Photographic Society, at 8. — Notes from Five Years' Work with 

 X-Rays : W. Webster. 



WEDNESDAY, February 27. 

 Society of Arts, at 8. — The Outlook for the World's Timber Supply : 

 Dr. W. Schlich. 



THURSDA Y, February 28. 

 Royal Society, at 4.30. 



Society of Arts, at 4.30. — Railways and Famine : Horace Bell. 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Conclusion of discussion 

 on Mr. Madgen's paper. — Followed, if possible, by Cables : M. 

 OGorman. 



FRIDAY, March i. 

 Royal Institution, at 9.— Enamels : H. H. Cunynghame. 

 Geologists' Association, at 8. — The Post-Pliocene Non-Marine Mol- 

 lusca of the South of England : A. S. Kennard and B. B. Woodward. — 

 The Pleistocene Fauna of West Wittering, Sussex : J. P. Johnson. 

 SATURDAY, March 2. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — Sound and Vibrations : Lord Rayleigh. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Genesis of Art. By Prof. Alfred C. Haddon, 



F.R.S 389 



The Partial Differential Equations of Modern 

 Mathematical Physics. By G. H. B. . . . . . 390 



The Classification of Ears. By Dr. A. Keith . . . 392 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Rosenberger : "Die moderne Entwicklung der elek- 



trischen Principien " 393 



Shelley: " The Birds of Africa. "--R. L 393 



Snyder and Palmer: "One Thousand Problems in 



Physics " .... 393 



Pierce : " Peach-leaf Curl : its Nature and Treatment " 393 

 Letters to the Editor: — 



The Size of the Brain in the Insectivore Centetes. — 



Frank E. Beddard, F.R.S -394 



Thermochemical Relations. — Prof. Spencer Picker- 

 ing, F.R.S. ..... , . .394 



The Fraunhofer Lines in the Spectrum of the Corona. 



— A. Fowler 394 



Malaria and Mosquitoes. — F. R. Mallet 395 



Audibility of the Sound of Firing on February i. — 



Sir W. J. Herschel 395 



The Origin of the " Tumbling" of Pigeons. — E. P. ; 



Prof. G. B. Howes, F.R.S 395 



Lummer's "Photographic Optics." — Dr. Rudolf 

 Steinheil; Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson, 



F-R-S. . . . .395 



The Ash Constituents of Some Lakeland Leaves. — 



Dr. P. Q Keegan .... 396 



An Earthquake on February 10. — Prof. Augusto 



Arcimis 396 



The late Prof. Heimite.— W. B, C. . . . . . 396 



The Radio-Activity of Matter. By Prof. Henri 



Becquerel • . . 396 



Progress of the Magnetic Survey of the United 



States .... .... 398 



Max Josef von Pettenkofer. W. H. C 399 



The Royal Indian Engineering College, Coopers 



Hill 399 



Notes. {Illustrated.) 401 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Reduction of Observations of Eros 405 



Constant of Aberration 405 



Harvard College Observatory 406 



Science in Technical and Preparatory Schools. By 



A. T. Simmons . 407 



The Figure of the Earth. {With Map.) By C. A. 



Schott 408 



University and Educational Intelligence 410 



Societies and Academies 410 



Diary of Societies 412 



