36o 



NATURE 



[January 3, 19 18 



solubility of the calcium salt:s of .the three acids in 

 alcohol of varying concentration. — F*. L, Navarro : The 

 non-existence of the Cretacean in the island of Hierro 

 (Canaries). The author, after visits to the island of 

 Hierro in 1911 and 1917, has definitely proved the 

 absence of Cretaceous deposits. The fossil, Discoidea 

 pulvinata, described by J, Cottreau and P. Lemoine in 

 19 10, was probably brought to the island by a ship as 

 ballast. — F. Georgevitch : The evolutive cjicle of Myxi- 

 diutn gadii. — A. Lecaillon : Aptitude for natural par- 

 thenogenesis considered in various races or varieties of 

 the silkworm. — L, Boutan : The rSle of the fins in teleo- 

 stean fishes with swimming bladder. — W. Kopaczewski : 

 The mechanism of the toxic action of the serum of the 

 muraena. 



Cape Town. 

 Royal Society of South Africa, October 17, 1917. — Dr. 

 A. Jasper Anderson, vice-president, in the chair. — J. 

 Moir : Spectrum phenomena in the chromium com- 

 pounds, being part iv. of the spectrum of the ruby and 

 emerald. It^ has been found that although aqueous 

 solutions of the chromium salts do not show any 

 narrow characteristic bands in the spectrum, yet when 

 anhydrous (or nearly anhydrous) solutions are used the 

 sp)ectrum is crossed by narrow bands in the red similar 

 to what are seen in the ruby or emerald spectrum. The 

 solutions of chromium oxide in concentrated sulphuric 

 and in fused metaphosphoric acid have been investi- 

 gated, and the bands measured ; they are very similar 

 to those seen in the emerald, but not absolutely iden- 

 tical ; while the bands of the ruby, although similar 

 in arrangement, are displaced into a region of lower 

 frequency. Both gem colours are due to chromium, 

 but the vibrations are differently loaded (silica and 

 beryllia against alumina). — J. Moir : Colour and chem- 

 ical constitution Part iii. : Derivatives of the un- 

 known ortho-para-phenolphthalein. Phthaleins in 

 which one of the hydroxyl groups is ortho- and the 

 other para- to the central carbon have been prepared 

 from para-substituted phenols with oxybenzoylbenzoic 

 acid. They are like the common phthaleins, but their 

 absorption bands are broad, although in much the 

 same oosition. 



BOOKS RECETVED. 



The University of Sheffield. Calendar for the Session 

 1917-18. Pp. 767. (Sheffield : The University.) 



Medicinsk — Historiske Smaaskrifter. 18. Om Laege- 

 kunst Hos Perserne. BvA. Christensen. (K0benhavn : 

 Vilhelm Trydes Forlag.) 



The Education of Engineers. By H. G. Taylor. 

 Pp. vii + 64. (London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd.) 

 25. net. 



Chemistry for Beginners. By C- T. Kingzett. 

 Second edition. Pp. viii+150. "(London: Bailliere, 

 Tindall," and Cox.) 2s. 6d. net. 



Les Universit^s et la Vie Scientifique aux Etats- 

 Unis. By Prof. M. Caullery. (Paris: A. Colin.) 

 3.50 francs. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY. January ■>.. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— Electricity as an Illuminator and Doctor : 



Prof. J. A. Fleming. 

 Child Study Association, at ^-io.— Discussion : The Education of the 



Clever Child : Openers : O. F. Daniell and Miss M. Berryman. 

 Association of Science Teachers (University College, Cower Street), 



at 11.30.— Some Applications of Physics: Prof. Dovidge.— At 2.30.— 



Discussion: The Teaching of Physics in Girls' Schools: Opener: Prof. F. 



Womack. 



SATURDAY, January 5. 

 Royal Institution, at t,.— Electric Dynamos, Motors, Transformers, and 



Railways : Prof. J. A. Fleming. 

 Geographical A.ssociation, at 11.30.— The Crafts of Britain, Past and 



Future: H. Wilson.— At 3.— Map Study in Geography and Military 



Education : W. E. Whitehouse. 



MONDAY, January 7. 



Society of Chemical Industry, at 8. — The Toxicity of Methyl Alcohol 

 in Relation to its Industrial Uses. A Review of the Published Data : 

 T. D. Mor.son. — The Rapid Estimation of Pyridine in Ammonia : 

 T. F. Harvey and C. F. Sparks. — (i) Corrosion of Lead Roofing; (2) 

 The Action of Rainwater on a Portland Stone : Prof. J. S. S. Brame. 



Geographical A.ssociation (London Day Training College), at 10.30.— 

 Discussion: Geography in Advanced Courses: Openers; Miss Odell, 

 L. Brooks, and W. H. Barker.— At 5 (King's College).— Presidential 

 address : The Great Goddess Mother Earth : Sir W. M. Kamsay. 



Aristotelian Society, at 8.— Is there a Mathematics of Intensity?: 

 Prof. J. A. Smith. 



Royal Geographical Society (Keasington Town Hall), at 3.30.— The 

 Yukon since the Trail of '98 : Mrs. George Black. 

 TUESDAY, January S. 



Association of Public School Science Masters (City of London School),. 

 at 12.15.— President's address :-The Needs of our Education at the Present 

 Day, with Special Reference to Science Teaching.— At -i.— Discussion: 

 Compulsory Science in University Entrance Exanrinaiions : Opener: 

 O. H. Latter.— At -^.^s.— Discussion: Examination or Inspection as a 

 Test of Science Teaching: Opener : G. F. Daniell.— At s.is.—Discussion : 

 Subsidiary Subjects in University Scholarship Examinations : Opener : 

 H. deHavillsnd.. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— Electric Telegraphs and Telephones: Prof. 

 J. A. Fleming. 



Institution ofCivilEngineers, at 5.3o.-^A Statement in Commemoration 

 of the Founding [of the Institution on January 2, 1818. — Rail-Creep: 

 F. Reeves.— Creep of Rails : H. P. Miles. 



WEDNESDA Y, January 9. 



Association of Public School Science Masters (City of London 

 School), at II. — Discussion : "Descriptive Astronomy" in the ''Science 

 for All " Course : Openers: Rev. A. L. Cortie, S.J., E. O. Tancock. — 

 At 12. — Discussion : " Map Work " in Schools. 



Mathematical Association (London Day Training College), at 5.30. — 

 The Graphical Treatment of Power Series : Dr. W. P. Milne. 



Geological Society, at 5.30. — The Highest Silurian Rocks of the Clun 

 Forest District (Shropshire) : L. D. Stamp. 



THURSDAY, ]KWKm iQ. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 6.— Electrical Signalling and 

 Control on Railways : C. M. Jacobs. 



Mathematical Association (London Day Training College), at 11. — 

 The Uses and Functions of a^ School Mathematical Library: Dr. W. P. 

 Milne.— Nomography : Dr. S. Brodetsky.— Some Suggestions for a 

 Presentment of Mathematics in Closer Touch with Reality : G. Goodwill.— 

 At 2.30. — President's address : Mathematics and Individuality : Prof. T. P. 

 Nunn. — Discussion : The Position of Mathematics in the New Scheme of 

 the Board of Education for Secondary Schools: Openers: W. D. Eggar, 

 P. Abbott, Miss J. Dow. 



FRIDAY, January it. 



Royal Geographical Society (Kensington Town Hall), at 3.30. — The Old 

 Life in Egypt : Miss Mary Brodriek. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Electrical Engineering. By Dr. A. Russell .... 341 



Geodetic Base Measurements. By H. G. L. ... 342 



Philosophy 342 



Our Bookshelf 343 



Letters to the Editor:— 



Magnetic Storm and Aurora, December 16-17. — Dr. 



C. Chree, F.R.S. . ... 344 

 Sources of Potash. By Sir T. E. Thorpe, C.B., 



F.R.S. . . . 344 



National Power Supply 347 



Economising Sugar 347 



Notes 348 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



New Stars in Spiral Nebulae 351 



"Companion to the Observatory for 1918" 351 



Hyderabad Observatory Report . . 351 



Prize Awards of the Paris Academy of Sciences, 1917 352 



Committee on the Chemical Trade 353 



The Physiology of Learning 353 



International Fishery Statistics. By J. J 354 



The Production of Scientific Knowledge. {With 



Diagrams.) By Dr. C. E. Kenneth Mees 355 



University and Educational Intelligence 358 



Societies and Academies 359 



Books Received 360 



Diary of Societies 360 



Editorial and Publishing Offices ; 



MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd., 



ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON, W.C.2. 



Advertisements and business letters to be addressed to the 

 Publishers. 



Editorial Communications to the Editor. 

 Telegraphic Address : Phusis, London. 

 Telephone Number : Gerrard 8830. 



NO. 2514, VOL. 100 



