460 



NATURE 



[March 7, 1901 



of sawing metals, by M. Vasseur. From the analysis given, 

 it would appear that the lines discovered by M. Fremont 

 have no relation with the curves of distribution of deformations 

 in vmetals, but depend upon the nature and condition of the 

 saw employed. — On the insulating properties of snow, by 

 M. Bernard Brunhes — On certain conditions of rever- 

 sibility, by M. Albert Colson. The reversibility of the 

 reaction between carbon dioxide and silver oxide is de- 

 pendent upon the presence of water vapour. — The compres- 

 sibility of solutions, by M. Guinchant. Up to a pressure 

 of four atmospheres the volume of the dissolved body 

 is independent of the pressure. — Contribution to the study of 

 indium, by MM. C. Chabrie and E. Rengade. On prolonged 

 boiling, caesium indium alum deposits pure indium oxide. 

 Determinations of the molecular weight of indium acetyl- 

 acetonate in boiling ethylene bromide are consistent with 

 the trivalency of this element. — ^^On a new crystallised sulphate 

 of molybdenum, by M. Bailhache. — Some new reactions of 

 organo-metallic derivatives, by M. E. E. Blaise. A mode of 

 synthesis of alkyl-ketonic esters. — Action of the organo-metallic 

 derivatives upon alkyl esters, by M. A. Behal. The final pro- 

 duct of the action of an excess of magnesium iodoethylaie upon 

 anester,R.CO.OEt, is an ethylenic hydrocarbon, R.C(CH3):C1J2. 

 — Synthesis of tertiary alcohols in the fatty series, by M. Henri 

 Masson. — On the absorption spectra of the indophenols and the 

 colouring matters derived from triphen>lmethane, by MM. C. 

 Camichei and P. Bayrac. — On the constitution of glucose, by 

 M. L. J. Simon. — The diastatic actions of colloidal platinum 

 and other metals, by M. G. Bredig. A solution of colloidal 

 platinum shows a remarkable analogy with the enzymes in its 

 catalytic action towards hydrogen peroxide. Both the colloidal 



: metal and the enzyme increase in activity with increasing tem- 

 perature up to a certain point, and then fall off, and both are 

 similarly influenced by the addition of minute quantities of 

 hydrocyanic acid or sulphuretted hydrogen — -The function of 

 jthe peritoneal canals, by M S. Jourdain. — The action of chloro- 

 form upon the reducing action of the blood, by MM. M. 

 Lambert and L Garnier. — On the identity of the modifications 

 of structure produced in vegetable cells by cold, plasmolysis, 

 and by drying, by MM. L. Matruchot and M. Molliard.— Food 

 value and culture of the furze, by M. A. Ch. Girard. — The ex- 

 amination of a meteorite which fell in the island of Ceylon on 



, April 13, 1795, by M. Stanislas Meunier. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, March 7. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.— Further Observations of Nova Persei : Sir 

 Norman Lockyer, K.R.S.^Some Physical Properties of Nitric Acid 

 Solutions: V. H. Veley, F.R.S , and J. J. Manley.— The Anatomy of 

 Symmetrical Double Monstrosities in the Trout : Dr. J. F. Gemmill. — 

 Preliminary Communication on the Qistrous Cycle and the Formation of 



the Corpus luteum in the Sheep : F. H. A. Marshall. To be read in title 



only : On the Composition and Variations of the Pelvic Plexus in 

 Acanihias vulgaris : R. C. Punnett. — On the Heat dissipated by a 

 Platinum Surface at High Temperatures. IV. High Pressure Gases: 

 J. E. Petavel. 



-LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — A Contribution to the Fresh-water Algae of 

 Ceylon : Messrs. W. West and G. S. West.— On Mediterranean Mala- 

 costraca : A. A. Walker. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Insulation on Cables : 

 M O'Gorman. 



Chemical Society, at 8.— <i) Nomenclature of the Acid Esters of Un- 

 symmetrical Dibasic Acids ; (2) Additive Compounds of a- and /3-Naph- 

 thylamine with TrJnitrobenzehe Derivatives ; (3) Acetylation of Aryl- 

 amines : J. J. Sudborough. — Formation of Amides from Aldehydes : R. H. 

 Pickard and W. Carter. 



RoNTGEN Society, at 8. — Exhibition of Skiagrams and Apparatus. 



FRIDAY, March 8; 



Royal Institution, at 9.— Vitrified Quartz: W. A. Shenstone, F.R.S. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5. — Partial Solar Eclipse, 1900 

 November 22, observed in Western Australia: W. E. Cooke.— On the 

 Observation of Position Angles of Polar Double Stars : R. T. A. Innes. 

 —On the Oxford Photographic Determmations of Stellar Parallax; 

 Reply to the Criticisms of Sir D. Gill : H. H. Turner.— Occultation of 

 Jupiter and his Satellites, 1900, September 29 : John Tebbutt.— Cape 

 Double Star Results, 1900 : Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope. 

 —The Nearest Approach of Two Planets: C. T. Whitmell.— Observa- 

 tions of Leonids, 1900 November 15, 16 : Royal Alfred Observatory, 

 Mauritius.— Description of a Floating Photographic Zenith Telescope, 

 and some Results obtained with it : Bryan Cookson.— Note on Mr. 

 Cookson's Paper on the Accuracy of Eye Observations of Meteors : 

 H. C. Plummer.— The Variable Star R Centauri : A. W. Roberts— On 



the New Star in Perseus: A. Stanley Williams. Probable papers: 



Photographic Positions of Nova Persei and Neighbouring Stars : Uni- 

 versity Observatory, Oxford.— Spectrum of Nova Persei : H. F. Newall. 



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

 Johnston. 



NO. 1636, VOL. 63] 



Physical Society, at 5.— A Theory of Colloidal Solutions : Dr. F. _ G. 

 Donnan. — Exhibition of Apparatus: R. Apphyard. — On the Production 

 of a Bright Line Spectrum by Anomalous Dispersion and its Application 

 the " Flash Spectrum " : Prof. R. W. Wood. 



Malacological Society, at 8. — Note on the Anatomy of Thersiies 

 {Hadrd) bifiardta, Fer. : S. Pace. — New Marine Shells from "the 

 Kowie" of South Africa : G. B. Sowerby. — New Marine Shells from the 

 Philippines, &c.: G. B. Sowerby. 



SATURDAY, March 9. 

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



MOflDAY, U\v.CH i\. 

 Society of Arts, at 8. — Electric Railways: Major Philip Cardew. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30. — The Geography of the North- 

 West Frontier of India : Col. Sir Thomas H. Holdich, K.C.I.E., C.B. 



TUESDAY, March 12. 

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



fadyen. 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The .^Esthetic Treatment of 



Bridge Structures: J. Husband. 

 Royal Photographic Society, at 8. — The Apochromatic CoUinear Lens: 



Dr. Harting. 



WEDNESDAY, March 13. 

 Society of Arts, at 8.— -The Proposed High-Speed " Monorail" between 



Liverpool and Manchester : F. B. Behr. 



THURSDAY, March 14. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Greek and Roman Portrait Sculpture: Prof. 

 Percy Gardner. 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30. 



Society of Arts (Indian Section), at 4.30. — The Growth and Trend of 

 Indian Trade — a Forty Years' Survey : H. J. Tozer. 



Institution of Electrical ENGiNKEHh. at 8. — Some -Notes on Poly- 

 phase Substation Machinery: A. C. Eborall. , 



FRIDAY, March 15. 

 Royal Institution, at 9. 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8. — Combined Trolley and 



Conduit Tramway Systems : A. N. Connett. 

 Epidemiological Society, at 8.30 — The Enteric Fever Mortality in 



Copenhagen from 1828-1898 : Dr. N. P. Schlerbeck.— The Effect of 



Sewerage and Water Supply upon the Behaviour of Enteric Fever in 



Buenos A.yres : Dr. J. T. R. Davison. 



SATURDAY, March 16. 

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



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Present Aspect of some Cytological Problems. 



By Prof. J. B. Farmer, F.R.S 437 



Method m Philosophy. By H. W, B. . . . . .-. . 438 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Ewart : " First Stage Botany, as Illustrated by 

 Flowering Plants" . ... . . 439 



Gray : " The Principles of Magnetism and Electricity. 



An Elementary Text-book." — A. H 439 



Frenkel : " Die Lehre vom Skelet des Menschen unter 

 besonderer Beriicksichtigung entwickelungsgesch- 

 ichtlicher und vergleichend-anatomischer Gesicht- 

 spunkte und der Erfordernisse des anthropolo- 

 gischen Unterrichtes an hoheren Lehranstalten " . 440 

 Chemin : " De Paris aux Mines d'Or de I'Australie 



occidentale " 440 



Letters to the Editor. — 



Malaria and Mosquitoes. — Major R. Ross .... 440 

 Abundance of I'eripatus in Jamaica. — Dr. J. E. 



Duerden ; . . . 440 



Audibility of the Sound of Firing on February i. — 



Arthur R. Hinks 441 



Protective Markings in Animals. —Clarence Waterer 441 



Snow Crystals. — C. J. Woodward 441 



The New Star in Perseus. {Illustrated.) By Sir 



Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S 441 



Recent Swiss Geology. {Illustrated.) 443 



George Francis FitzGerald. ByJ. L 445 



Notes 447 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Variability of Eros 452 



New Type of Shortened Telescope 452 



Catalogue of New Variable Stars 452 



New Component of the Polar Motion . . . • . . . . 452 

 Inauguration of a Birmingham Section cf the 



Institution of Electrical Engineers 452 



The Tamnau Mineralogical Endowment, By 



Prof. H. A. Miers, F.R.S 453 



Craniology. By N. C. Macnamara 454 



University and Educationallntelligence ..... 458 



Societiesand Academies 458 



Diary of Societies ^ . 460 



