June io, 1920] 



NATURE 



475 



• the Department of Agriculture and Technical In- 

 ruction for Ireland from J899 to 1913. These speci- 

 iiH-ns are described externally and anatomically in the 

 paper, and compared with the ei^ht other specimens 

 described by Moseley and Hertwi^. The possibility of 

 all these specimens belonging to one species is sug- 

 gested and discussed, with the conclusion that it is 

 quite likely that the genus contains one variable 

 species only. On the other hand, further material is 

 required for a final decision, and if the three species, 

 C. rigidus, profundus, and ohtecfus, should prove valid, 

 thf Irish specimens would probably require a fourth 

 species. It is further pointed out that the thick and 

 rigid body of the anemones in question set^ms to be 

 correlated with deep-sea life, and that although the 

 genus has .sometimes been regarded as a primitive 

 one, it has a number of characteristics which it would 

 seem can be considered only as specialisations or 

 advanced features. 



P.\KIS. 



Academy of Sciences, May 25.— .\1. Henri Deslandres 

 in the chair. K. tioursat : Some transformations of 

 partial difTerential equations of the second order. — 

 G. Bigourdan : The instruments and work of the 

 Sainte-(ienevieve Observatory. Historical account of 

 the work of Pingre and of I.echevalier done between 

 1755 and 1830.- J. Bossert : Catalogue of the proper 

 motion of 5671 stars, annotated and published bv 

 1.. .Schulhof ."^— J . Baillaud : The method of the scale of 

 tints in photographic photometrv. — C. Guichard : Con- 

 gruences belonging to a linear complex such that the 

 lines of curvature correspond on the two focal sur- 

 faces. — G. Julia : Families of functions of several 

 variables. — M. Janet : .Systems of partial differential 

 ^■guations and systems of algebraic forms. — G. Sagnac : 

 The real relativity of the energy of the elements of 

 radiation and the motion of waves in the aether. — 

 F. VIds : Ultra-violet .spectrophotometry of the nitro- 

 phenols. .Seventeen nitro-derivatives were examined 

 and the soectra foifrid to lx\ in general, constituted 

 <)f three elements : a constant band, due to the NO. 

 group ; a band nlated to the presence of the benzene 

 ring; and a third hand the origin of which is doubt- 

 ful.— M. de Broglie : The fine structure of X-rav 

 spectra. Details of a doublet given bv rhodium, and 

 comparison with the K spectrum of tung^sten. — J. L. 

 Pech : Phenomena of antagonism between various 

 radiations (ultra-violet, visible suectrum. and infra- 

 red). — L. Thielemans : Regulation of cables for the 

 transport of electrical en'^rgv to long distances.— 

 P. Bunet : The transport of energv to great distances. 

 Remarks on a recent communication by M. Rrvlinski 

 on the same subject. — M. Toporescu : The lime and 

 majrnesia carried down bv precipitates of ferric oxide. 

 \'arving weights of ferric oxide were orecipitated in 

 presence of constant quantities of calcium and matr- 

 nesium salts, and tlie proportions of lime and maij- 

 nesia carried down were determined. .\ second pre- 

 cipitation of the ferric oxide is sufficient to remove 

 calcium salts, but this is not the case with magnesia. 

 — L. Guillet and M. Gasnier : The nlafinr^ wHh nickel 

 of aluminium and its allovs. The aluminium or 

 allov is cleaned and rouijhened bv sapd-blasting, and 

 • hen takes a satisfactorv deposit of nickel. The 

 influence of the «ize of th»^ sand grains and thf time 

 ^lapsed between the sand-blasting and the deposit hav^" 

 been examined, and re-^ults are given. — .\. C. Voiir- 

 nazos : A new ceries of complex combinations : tb<> 

 .tPtimonv oxviodides. The mercurv compound mav Ih- 

 taken as .-» tvne of the«e snbsfances; ?t has thf com- 

 position Ht*''ShIO.). — R. Cornubert : The constitution 

 of some dialkvIryZohexanones. .\ studv of fhp 

 ketones obtaine<1 bv treating TA'rZohexanone with 

 -odium and then with alkvl halides.— C. Dufraisse : 

 NO. 2641, VOL. IO5I 



The stereo-isomeric forms of benzoylphenylacetylene 

 di-iodide. The conditions under which either of the 

 two isomers can be isolated are given. — :\. Malihe : 

 The catalytic hydrogenation of the ketazines. — L. 

 Moret : The tectonic of the eastern bank of Lake 

 .\nnecy. — .\. Brives : Some results of a new journey 

 in Morocco. .V completion of geological work com- 

 menced in 1919. — P. Bonnet : The Permo-Triassic 

 limit in the Himalayan-.Xrmenian geosynclinal. — 

 L. Dunoyer and (i. Reboul : The prediction of the 

 weather.- (L TruHaut and H. Bezssonoff : The in- 

 fluence of partial sterilisation on the composition of 

 the microbial flora of th«! soil. — R. Souiges : The 

 embryogeny of the .Solanaceae. Development of the 

 embryo in Hyoscyamus and Atropa. — P. Bertrand : 

 The constitution of the vascular system in ferns, 

 in Pteridosperms, and in all ancient Phanerogams. — 

 L. Blaringhem : The stability .and fertility of the 

 hybrid Geum urbanuvi x G. rivale. From the morpho- 

 logical point of view the descent of this hybrid 

 is uniform and regularly fertile. Its mixed characters 

 are sufficiently distinct from those of its parents to 

 give a precise diagnosis, and as it propagates without 

 variation in the wild state it can be described as a 

 good systematic species. — J. Feytaud : The kings and 

 aueens of Leucoternies lucifugu'i. — A. Mayer, A. 

 Guieysse, and E. Faur^-Fremiet : Pulmonary lesions 

 determined by suffocating gases. — A. Trillat and M. 

 Mallein : Th» projection of micro-organisms into the 

 air. The influence of humiditv. 



Books Received. 



Calcutta University Commission, 19 17-19. Report. 

 Vol. vi. .Appendices and Index. Pp. vii + 341 + plates. 

 (Calcutta : Superintendent, Government Printing, 

 India.) i rupee or is. 6d. 



A Monograph of the British Orthoptera. By W. J. 

 Lucas. Pp. xii + 264 + xxv plates. (London: The Ray 

 Society.) i/. 5s. net. 



The British Charophvta. Bv J. Groves and Canon 

 G. R. Bullock-Webster." Vol. i. Nitelle*. Pp. xi\ + 

 141 -t- .XX plates. (London: The Ray Society.) i/- .S-v. 

 net. 



Ozone. By Prof. E. K. Rideal. Pp. ix+198. 

 (London : Constable and Co., Ltd.) 12.V. net. 



Thomas Henry Huxley. By Dr. L. Huxley. Pp. 

 vii + 120. (London: Watts and Co.) 35. 6d. net. 



.\uguste Comte. By F. J. Gould. Pp. v-l-122. 

 (London : Watts and Co.) 3s. 6d. net. 



Is Spiritualism Ba.sed on Fraud? By J. McCabe. 

 Pp. vii+160. (London: Watts and Co.) 3^-. net. 



The Systematic Treatment of Gonorrhoea in the 

 Male. By N. Lumb. Second edition. Pp. viii+123. 

 (London :' H. K. Lewis and Co., Ltd.) 5.V. net. 



Optical Projection. By Lewis Wright. Fifth edition. 

 Rewritten and brought up to date by R. S. Wright. 

 In two parts. Part i. : The Projection of Lantern- 

 Slides. Pp. viii + 87. (London: Longmans and Co.) 

 4.V. bd net. 



Diary of Societies. 



THURSDAY. June io. 



Institution of Mininc; KNGiNERRs(at Geological Socirly), from ii a.m. to 

 5.— (General Meeting.V-Prof. H Louis: Compen-ation for Subsidences. 

 — W. Maurice: The Fleissner Singing-flame Lamp.— W. Maurice: The 

 Wolf-Pokornv and Wiedc Acetylene Safety-lamps.— G. OiHham : 'I he 

 "Oldham" Cap Type Miner's F.l.-ctric Safety-lamp.— Discussion on 

 First Report of the Committee on " The Control of Atmospheric « onditions 

 in Hot and Drep Mines."- D. S. Newcy: A New Method of Working 

 Thick Seams of Coal ai HaggeridgeColliery.— T. G. Bocking: Protrartors. 



T. G. Rocking: Magnetic Meridian Observations: A Method of 



Utilising the Kew Observatory Records. 



RovAi. Society, at 4.30.— Prof. A. V. Hill and W. Hartree : The T hermo- 

 F.lastic Properties of Muscle.— Sir lames Dohhie and J. J. Fox : The 

 Absorption of Light by Elements in the Stale of Vapour: (i) Selenium and 



