May 6, 1920] 



NATURE 



3'5 



discovered by Brodie in beeswax, and named 

 Jby him melissic alcohol. By analysis of the alcohol 

 it is not possible to distinguish between CjoH.jO 

 (Brodie) and CjiH^O, but analysis of the iodide shows 

 that the true j;omposition is the latter. This has been 

 confirmed by the preparation of the hydrocarbon 

 C„Hm, and by other reactions.— Ph. Glangeaud : The 

 geyser of Martres d'Arti^res (Puy-de-Dome). In 

 Iceland the motive power of the geysers is steam ; 

 that of the Martres geyser is shown to be carbon 

 dioxide. — L. Gentil : The mode of formation of ter- 

 races in chalk districts. A discussion of the views of 

 Poulett Scrope. While these are in part in accord 

 with the views of the author, it is maintained that 

 these terraces can be formed by purely natural j 

 agencies, and are not in all cases due to ploughing, 

 as supposed by Poulett Scrope. — H. Vallois and 

 Peyron : The first stages in the development of the 

 1 ygian glomerule in man. — A. Krempl : Extension 

 ui the notion of oro-aboral metamerism to the internal 

 organisation of the larva of the hexacorals {Pocillopora 

 cespitosa and Seriotopora subulata). — MM. Dienert and 

 Girault : The action of activated sludge on the am- 

 monia of sewage and of ordinary water. — R. Legroux 

 and J. Mesnard : Vitamines for the culture of bacteria. 

 The current view that the growth of bacteria in a cul- 

 ture medium stops owing to the inhibiting action of de- 

 leterious substances is held by the author to be incor- 

 rect. Most media derived from animal or plant tissues 

 contain more or less substances (hormones) favouring 

 bacterial g-rowth. — A. Paillot : The polymorphism of 

 bacteria. — S. Giaya : Zinc in the human organism. 

 The normal presence of zinc in the body is proved, the 

 proportion increasing with the age of the subject. 



Books Received. 



Invertebrate Palaeontology. By H. L. Hawkins. 

 I'p. xix + 226 + xvi plates. (London : Methuen and Co., 

 Ltd.) 6s. 6d. net. 



Chemical Fertilizers and Parasiticides. By S. H. 

 Collins. Pp. xii + 273. (London: Baillifere, Tindall, 

 and Cox.) los. bd. net. 



The Coolidge Tube : Its Scientific Applications, 

 Medical and Industrial. By H. Pi.lon. Translated. 

 Pp. v+95. (London: Bailli^re, Tindall, and Cox.) 

 ys. 6d. net. 



Lad : A Dog. By A. P. Terhune. Pp. 309. 

 (London : J. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd.) 6s. net. 



Industrial Administration. By A. E. Berriman and 

 others. Pp. vii + 203. (Manchester: At the Univer- 

 sity Press ; London : Longmans and Co.) ys. 6d. net. 



Scientific Management in the Home : Household 

 Engineering. By Mrs. C. Frederick. Pp. 527. 

 (London: G. Routledge and Sons, Ltd.) 125. 6d. net. 



Bibliography of Industrial Efficiency and Factory 

 Management. By H. G. T. Cannons. Pp. viii+167. 

 (London : G. Routledge and Sons, Ltd.) los. 6d. net. 



The House-fly : Its Life-History and Practical 

 Measures for its Suppression. By Major E. E. Austen. 

 Pp. 52. (London : British Museum (Natural History).) 

 15. 6d. net. 



A National System of Education. Pp. 78. (Man- 

 chester : At the University Press ; London : Longmans 

 and Co.) is. net. 



Physiography. By Prof. R. D. Salisbury. Third 

 edition. Pp. xv+676 + 26 plates. (New York: Henry 

 Holt and Co.) 



Early English Magic and Medicine. By Dr. C. 

 Singer. Pp. 34. (Londdn : Oxford University Press.) 

 45. net. 



Committee of the Institution of Civil Engineers 

 appointed to Investigate the Deterioration of Struc- 

 tures of Timber, Metal, and Concrete exposed to the 

 NO. 2636, VOL. 105] 



Action of Sea-water. First Report of the Committee- 

 Edited by P. M. Crosthwaite and G. R. Redgrave. 

 Pp. 301 + 33 plates. (London: Institution of Civil 

 Engineers). 30s. net. 



The Columbian Tradition on the Discovery of 

 America and of the Part Played Therein by the 

 Astronomer Toscanelli. By H. Vignaud. Pp. 62. 

 (Oxford : At the Clarendon Press.) 3s. 6d. net. 



Silver : Its Intimate Association with the Daily Life 

 of Man. By B. White. Pp. xi+144. (London: Sir 

 Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd.) 2s. 6d. net. 



Spanish Prose and Poetry : Old and New, with 

 Translated Specimens. By I. Farnell. Pp. 185. 

 (Oxford : At the Clarendon Press.) los. 6d, net. 



Hvdrographical Surveying. By the late Rear- 

 Adm'iral Sir W. J. L. Wharton. Fourth edition, 

 revised and enlarged, by Admiral Sir Mostyn Field. 

 Pp. xii + 570. (London: John Murray.) 30s. net. 



Psychology and Folk-lore. By Dr. R. R. Marett. 

 Pp. ix + 275. (London : Methuen and Co., Ltd.) 

 ys. 6d. net. 



The Atlas Geographies. Part iii. Senior Geo- 

 graphy. No. 2 : Europe. Pp. iv+ 148. (Edinburgh : 

 W. and A. K. Johnston, Ltd. ; London : Macmillan 

 and Co., Ltd.) ys. 6d. net. 



A Handbook of British Mosquitoes. By Dr. W. D. 

 Lang. Pp. vii+i2S + 5 plates. (London: British 

 Museum (Natural History).) 20s. 



Flora of Jamaica. Vol. iv. By W. Fawcett and 

 Dr. A. B. Rendle. Pp. xv + 369. (London: British 

 Museum (Natural History).) 25s. 



Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the 

 British Museum. Supplement. Vol. ii. By_ Sir 

 G. F. Hampson. Pp. xxiii + 619. (London: British 

 Museum (Natural History).) 305. 



Arithmetic. Part 2. By F. W. Dobbs and H. K. 

 Marsden. Pp. xii+163 + xi. (Answers.) (London: 

 George Bell and Sons, Ltd.) 3s. 6d. 



Elementarv Algebra. Part i. By C. V. Durell 

 and G. W. Palmer. Pp. viii + 256+viii. (Answers.) 

 (London : George Bell and Sons, Ltd.) 3-"^- 6d. ^ 



Le Pare National Suisse. Bv S. Brunies. Traduit 

 par S. Aubert. Pp. 274. (BMe : B. Schwabe et Cie.) 

 12 francs. , « . d 



Die Gliederung der Australischen Sprachen. by 

 P. W. Schmidt. Pp. xvi + 2Q9. (St. Gabriel- 

 Modling, bei Wien : " Anthropos.") 



An Introduction to Sociology. Bv Prof- J; .'■ 

 Findlav. Pp. xi + 304. (Manchester: At the Univer- 

 sitv Press; London: Longmans and Co.) 6s. net. 



Diary of Societies. 



THURSDAY, Mav 6. 



Iron anu Steel Institute (at Institution of Civil Engineers) (General 

 Meeting), at lo a.m.— Dr. J. E. Stead : Inaugural Address.-fc. H. 

 Lewis: Iron Portland Cement.— At 2 30.— F. Clements : British Blast- 

 Furnace Practice.— H. E. Wright : Chemical and Thermal Cond-tions in 

 Blast-Furnace Practice.— C. H. Ridsdale : The Valuation of Ores and 

 Iron-makinp Material.— J. A. Heskett : The Utilisation of Titaniferous 

 Iron Ore in New Zealand. . 



RovAi. Society ok Medicine (Obstetrics and Gynsecology Section, con- 

 jointly with the North of England and Midland Obstetrical and Gyna- 

 cological Societies), at 10.30 a.m.- Dr. H.Tweedy and Others : Discussion 

 on The Treatment of Antepartum Haemorrhage.-At 2. — Dr. t.. Holland 

 and Others : Discussion on Rupture of Caesarean Section Scar in Subse- 

 quent Pregnancy or Labour. . „ .r-i- 



RovAL Institution of Great Britain, at 3.— R. Campbell Thompson . 

 The Legends of the Babylonians. ^ »r « r 1 a 



Royal Society, at 4.30.-R. H. Fowler, E. C. Gallop, C.N. H. Lock, and 

 H W. Richmond: The .\erodynamics of a Spinning Shell.— Prof. W. K. 

 Dalby : Researches on the Elastic Properties and the Plastic Kxtensioa 

 of Metals.— C. T. R. Wilson : Investigations on Lightning Discharges 

 and on the Electric Field of Thunderstorms. -L. F. Richardson: l^he 

 Supply of Energy to Atmo.spheric Eddies. 



LiNNKAN Society op London, at 5.— Dr. G. P. Hidder: Notes on the 

 Physiology of Sponges. Pandorina sfiongiarum, a New Species of Alga 

 found in a Sponge.-E. J. Bedford : The British Marsh Orchids and their 

 Varieties, Illustrated by Coloured Drawings and Lantern Slides. 



