2^2 



NATURE 



[July 7, 1898 



a fully-developed member of it. It need hardly be pointed out 

 that authentic records, such as are given in the present paper, 

 of ceremonial rites of aboriginal tribes are of increasing scientific 

 value, even though the significance of the rites is not understood. 

 Among other subjects of papers in the volume of Proceedings 

 referred to above are : — Entropy meters, a method of determining 

 the specific heat of a liquid ; the geology of Coimaidai, with 

 appendices on the marsupial bones of the Coimaidai limestone 

 and the graptolites of the district ; the structure of an Australian 

 land leech {Philceinonpunge, n. s. ) ; and a catalogue of the 

 marine shells of Victoria. 



In the current number of the Berichte, J. H. Aberson 

 describes a very interesting substance, which appears to be a 

 new isomeride of malic acid. This compound occurs in many 

 species of Crassulacere, and has the composition, molecular 

 weight and chemical composition of malic acid, C4Hg05, but 

 differs from this very markedly in its behaviour when heated. 

 Ordinary malic acid under these circumstances yields water and 

 fumaric acid or maleic anydride, whereas the new isomeride is 

 converted into a volatile double anhydride or malide, CgHgOg, 

 formed from two molecules of the acid, small quantities of 

 fumaric and maleic acids and other products being also formed. 

 The new acid is, moreover, more strongly dextro-rotatory than 

 ordinary malic acid, and yields salts which differ from the 

 malates in several important particulars. The author considers 

 that the new compound is geometrically isomeric with ordinary 

 dextro-malic acid, but that in it the free rotation of the two 

 carbon atoms has in some way been arrested, so that the atoms 

 and groups attached to these are not in that * ' most favoured " 

 position, by the aid of which Wislicenus has been able to 

 formulate so clearly the production of fumaric and maleic acids 

 from the ordinary acid. It has not, however, been hitherto 

 found possible to convert the new acid into the better-known 

 modification, although the author promises to describe at an 

 early date a method for its synthetical production. If this new 

 form of the acid really has the configuration assigned to it, 

 further research will no doubt reveal the corresponding Isevo- 

 rotatory and inactive (racemic) acids, the number of isomeric 

 malic acids being thus brought up to six. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Bonnet Monkey [Macacus sinicus, i ) from 

 India, presented by the Lady Tichborne ; a Pig-tailed Monkey 

 {Macacus neviestrimis , 9 ) from Java, presented by Mr. J. 

 Ratillon ; two Rhesus Monkeys (^Macacus rhesus, (J ? ), a 

 Bonnet Monkey {Macacus sinicus, ? ) from India, presented by 

 the Parks Committee, Tynemouth ; a Lioness (Felis leo) from 

 Somaliland, presented by Mr. Henry S. H. Cavendish ; a 

 Mouflon (Ovis musimon, $) from Corsica, presented by Mr. 

 H. Brinsley Brooke ; a Jackal Buzzard {Buteo jacal) from South 

 Africa, presented by Mr. J. E. Matcham ; a Royal Python 

 {Python regitts) from West Africa, presented by Mr. W. G. 

 Woodrow ; a Chimpanzee {Anthropopithecus troglodytes, ? ) 

 from West Africa, a Brush Turkey {Talegalla lathami) from 

 Australia,, a Glaucous Macaw {Anadorhynchtis glauctts) from 

 Paraguay, a Yellow-crowned Penguin ^{Eudyptes antipodum), 

 a Thick-billed Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhytuhus) from New 

 Zealand ; six Argentine Tortoises ( Testudo argentind) from 

 Patagonia, a Nilotic Trionyx (Trionyx triunguis) from North 

 Africa, a White-throated Monitor {Varanus albigularis) from 

 South Africa, four Wagler's Terrapins (Hydraspis wagleri) 

 from Brazil, deposited ; a Lesser Koodoo {Strepsiceros ivi- 

 berbis, <5 ), a Beisa Antelope ( Oryx beisa, i ), two Hagenbeck's 

 Jackals {Canis hagenbecki) from Somaliland, three Japanese 

 Teal {Querquediila formosa, cJ 9 9 ) from North-east Asia, two 

 Black-winged Pea-fowl {Pavo nigripennis) from Cochin China, 

 a Rufous Rat Kangaroo {jEpyrymnus nifescens, i ) from New 



NO, 1497, VOL. 58] 



South Wales, purchased ; two Bennett's Wallabies {Macropus 

 bennetti, <J 9 ), a Brush-tailed Kangaroo {Petrogale penicil- 

 lata, 9 ), a Japanese Deer {Cervus sika, 9 ), born in the Gardens, 

 five Upland Geese {Chloephaga magellanica), bred in the 

 Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



Comet Perrine (June 14).— The following is a continuation 

 of the ephemeris from last week. The comet is rapidly decreas- 

 ing its northern declination and becoming brighter. 



1898. R.A. (app.) Dec), (app.) log r. log A Br. 



h. m. s. o / 



July 7 5 44 14 +48 167 



8 49 48 47 28*6 



9 55 18 46 38-4 9-8958 0-1744 4-02 



10 6 o 45 45 45-8 



11 69 44 51-0 



12 II 30 43 53-9 



13 6 16 49 -f 42 54-5 98435 01585 5-51 

 Latitude Variation in a Rigid Earth.— In an article 



contributed to the Physical Review (vol. vi. No. 3), Prof. 

 Henry Crew discusses the movements of the earth's axis in 

 terms of elementary dynamics, and calls attention to the "beau- 

 tiful, but much neglected, top which Maxwell first spun at 

 Edinburgh some forty years ago." Besides giving an excellent 

 illustration of the top itself. Prof. Crew adds also an account of 

 the adjustments that are necessary for its accurate working, and 

 describes the various phenomena which it will illustrate, such 

 as nutation and precession, statical stability and dynamical in- 

 stability conferred by rotation, variation of latitude, and effect of 

 polar ice-caps. In the mathematical treatment above referred 

 to, Prof. Crew recalls the fine illustration employed by Max- 

 well, that the motion of the earth is practically that of a circular 

 hoop rolling, but not slipping, on a stick of circular cross sec- 

 tion, the word "practically " being used as the earth, in sections 

 parallel to the equator, is not circular but elliptical. The 

 theory here expounded shows that this hoop does represent the 

 motion of a freely rotating rigid solid fixed at its centre of mass. 

 Prof. Davidson's extensive and accurate series of observations 

 {Astr. Journal, No. 323) receive here due attention. 



Conference of Astronomers at Harvard.— In con- 

 sequence of the great success of the conference of the 

 astronomers held last year at the Yerkes Observatory, it is 

 proposed to hold a second meeting this year, and further to 

 continue them annually. As the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science will meet in Boston on August 22, on 

 the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation, it has 

 been decided to hold the conference at the Harvard College 

 Observatory on August 18, 19 and 20. The circular, which we 

 have received from Prof. E. C. Pickering, tells us that the 

 proposed plan will enable visiting astronomers to attend this 

 meeting, and those who are members of the Association can 

 avail themselves of the special rates which have been obtained 

 from hotels and railroads. Those who intend to go are requested 

 to send in their names, and titles of papers if they intend to read 

 any. Besides showing the work of the various departments of 

 the observatory, excursions will be planned to various neigh- 

 bouring scientific institutions, including the Blue Hill Meteor- 

 ological Observatory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 

 the laboratories of Harvard College, &c. 



A Fine Collection of Meteorites. — There has just been 

 published a most interesting and valuable catalogue and guide 

 to the collection of meteorites in the Paris Natural History 

 Museum. Prof. Stanislas Meunier, who occupies the chair of 

 Geology, tells us in his preface that in 1861 they only possessed 

 64 meteorites, and the first published catalogue comprised 86 

 falls. In 1864 ^^ number rose to 160, and in 1889 the list con- 

 sisted of 367 distinct meteorites. Since that date the museum 

 has obtained possession of numerous new additions, and the 

 present catalogue deals with 463 distinct falls. The catalogue 

 itself is very well arranged. We have first a list of the different 

 types which up to the present are known and exhibited in the 

 museum, sections of which are copiously illustrated ; we next 

 come to the arrangement of the individual meteorites, followed 

 by an excellent bibliographical index. The final list is 

 arranged chronologically, and gives the date and locality of fall, 

 type, weight, and other interesting data. 



