624 



NA TURE 



[April 7^, 



need not necessarily be alternations of transparency and opacity in ; 

 order to produce the desired eflfect. Very close contact between j 

 the film and the gralintj is essential. — On atmospheric polarisa- \ 

 tion, by M. A. Hurion. — Researches on the, higher alcohols | 

 and other impurities in vinic alcohol, by M. Emile Gossart. — 

 On the general relations which exist between the coefficients in j 

 the fundamental laws of electricity and magnetism, by M. E. 

 Mercadier. — On the reflection of electric waves at the end of 

 a linear conductor, by M. Birkeland. — Multiplication of the 

 number of periods of sinusoidal currents, by M. Desire Korda. — 

 On the hygroscopic properties of several textile fabrics, by M. Th, 

 Schloesing fils. — Contribution to the study of the Leclanche cell, 

 by M. A, Ditte. — Attempt at a general method of chemical syn- 

 thesis ; formation of nitrogen compounds, by M. Raoul Pictet. 

 — On the stereochemistry of the malic compounds, and the 

 variation of the rotatory power of liquids, by M. Albert Colson. 

 — On a chlorobromide of iron, by M. Lenormand. — On the 

 saccharates of lime, by M. Petit. — On a new soluble ferment 

 doubling trehalose into glucose, by M. Em. Bourquelot. — On 

 the circulatory apparatus of My gale Ccementaria, Walck, by M. 

 Marcel Causard. — Influence of the pressure of gases upon the 

 development of vegetables, by M. Paul Jaccard. — On the 

 ammonite layers of the inferior Malm in the county of Monte- 

 junta, Portugal ; little known phases in the development of the 

 mollusca, by M. Paul Choffat. — On the mode of reproduction 

 of the parasites of cancer, by MM. Armand Ruff"er and H. G. 

 Plimmer. — M. Lippmann presented to the Academy, in the 

 names of MM. Auguste and Louis Lumiere, coloured photo- 

 graphs obtained by the interference method. 



Berlin. 

 Physical Society, March lo.— Prof. Kundt, President, in 

 the chair. — The President gave an account of some researches ] 

 undertaken as an introduction to the study of Hall's phenomenon. 

 As is well known, this is directly proportional to the intensity of i 

 the primary current, but inversely proportional to the pressure j 

 of the plates ; on the other hand, it is not strictly proportional j 

 to the magnetising current in the case of the several metals so i 

 far examined, and it appeared probable that it might more pos- j 

 sibly be proportional rather to the magnetisation of the plate. 

 Prof. Kundt wished to test this possibility ia the case of iron, 

 nickel, and cobalt, employing transparent metallic films of these 

 metals magnetised to 28,000 units, whose magnetisation could 

 be tested directly by means of their rotatory power. It was 

 found that the Hall effect increased hand in hand with the in- 

 crease of rotatory power, and therefore proportionally to the 

 magnetisation of the plates. The effect was, as Hall had already 

 shown, positive in the case of iron and cobalt, negative in that 

 of nickel. Bismuth deposited electrolytically in a transparent 

 film gave very feeble or no results, whereas, when drawn out 

 into a thin plate the effect was considerable. — Dr. Wren spoke 

 on Maxwell's proposition that waves of light exert pressure in 

 the direction of their transmission, as proved in a certain case 

 by Boltzmann. He deduced, under certain assumptions, a 

 formula for the calculation of temperature based upon a deter- 

 mination of maximal energy. 



Amsterdam. 

 Royal Academy of Sciences, March 25. — Prof, van de 

 Sande Bakhuysen in the chair. — Mr. Pekelharing spoke of the 

 peptone of Kiihne. Some years ago he argued there was not a 

 real difference between the substances called peptone, and the 

 substance called propeptone or hemialbumose. The researches 

 of Kuhne and his disciples afterwards proved that what was 

 called peptone by Schmidt-MUlheim and by Salkowski, con- 

 tained almmose. But it was not proved by Kiihne that the 

 substance called by himself peptone was really free from albu- 

 mose. Out of a solution of Kiihne's peptone, saturated 

 with ammoniumsulphate, there can be precipitated by meta- 

 phosphoric acid, and more fully by trichloracetic acid, a sub- 

 stance which has the properties of albumose. It gives the 

 biuretreacdon, it is precipitated, the reaction may be acid, 

 neutral, or alkaline, by ammoniumsulphate, it is precipitated by 

 picrinic acid, and, in acid solution, by saturation with natrium- 

 chlorid. So it is clear that there is no ground for believing 

 with Kiihne that the substance called by him peptone is a sub- 

 stance sui generis, and not an impure albumose. — Mr. Bakhuis 

 Roozeboom dealt with the cryoKydrates in systems of two salts. 

 Three cases are to be considered. The first is that the two salts 

 may exist without comiunation. Then there is a cryohydratic 

 point in which 'the two salts A and B exist with ice next the 



NO. 1226, VOL. 47] 



solution. This point is a minimum temperature. Besides, 

 there are two ciyohydratic lines, representing the series of solu- 

 tions which may exist with ice and A or ice and B as solids. In 

 the other cases when A and B form a double salt D, there are two 

 cryohydratic points, one for the solution in equilibrium with 

 ice -^ D -f A, the other for ice + D -J- B ; and three cryo- 

 hydratic lines for the solutions in equilibrium with ice + D, 

 ice + A, ice + B. When the double salt is soluble without 

 decomposition, the two cryohydratic points are both minimum 

 temperatures, and therefore there must exist a maximum tempe- 

 rature on the line for ice + D ; this maximum relates to the 

 solution which presents the same relation A/B as in the double 

 salt. All these conclusions may be deduced from thermoe 

 dynamical rules ; they were confirmed in experimental research 

 by Mr. Schreinemakers. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books.— Carlsbad, a Med'co-Practical Guide : Dr. E. Kleen (Putnam).— 

 Louis Agassiz, his Life and Work : Dr. Holder (Putnam). — Die Natiirliche 

 Auslese beim Menschen : O. Amraon (Jena, Fischer). — Public Health 

 Laboratory Work : H. R. Kenwood (Lewis). — Annual Statement of Works 

 carried out by Public Works Department (Sydney, Potter).— The Principles 

 of Agriculture; G.Fletcher (Derby, Central Educational Company). - Science 

 et Religion: T. H. Huxley (Pans, Bailllere).— Au Bord de la Mer : Dr. 

 E. L. Trouessart (Paris, Bailliere).— Conf(Jiences Scientifiques et Allocu- 

 tions—Constitution de la Matiere : Lord Kelvin. Traduites et AnnotiJes 

 sur la Deuxieme Edition : P. Lugol and M. Brillouin (Paris, Gauthier. 

 Villars). — Premiers Principes d'Electricite Industrielle : P. Janet (Paris, 

 Gauthier-Villars).— The Gieat Barrier Reef of Australia: W. Saville-Kent 

 (W. H. Allen). 



Pamphlets. — Meteorological Results deduced from Observations taken 

 at the Liverpool Observatory during the Years 1889, 1890. 1891 (Liverpool). 

 -On the Effects cf Urban Fog uponCi Itivated Plants : Prof. F. W. Oliver 

 (Spottiswoode). — The Fundamental Hypoiheses of Abstract Dynamics: 

 Prot. J. G. MacGregor. — IlClima di Torino: G. B Rizzo( Torino, Clausen). — 

 On the Application <f Interference Methods to Spectroscopic Measure- 

 ments: A. A. Michelson (Washington, Smithsonian Institution). — Recrea- 

 tion : W. Odell (Torquay, Ireriale). 



Serials. — Journal of the Chemical Society, April (Gurney and Jackson). 

 Annalen des k. k. Naturhisionschen Hofmuseums, Band viii No. t (Wien, 

 Holder). — Timehri, No. xxii. (Stanford) — Notes from the Leyden Mu^euin, 

 vol. XV. No. 2 (Leyden, Brill). — L'Anthropologie, tome iv. No. i (Paris, 

 Masson).— Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, April (Williams 

 and Norgaie).— The Asclepiad, No. 37, vol. x. (Longmans).— Records of 

 the Geological Survey of India, vol. xxvi. Part i (Calcutta). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Dynamics in Nubibus 601 



Vertebrate Biology. By V7. N. P 605 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Marilaun: "Pflanzenleben."— D. H. S 605 



Giacosa: " Bibliografia Medica Italiana " 606 



Balfour: " The Evolution of Decorative Art " . , . 606 

 Letters to the Editor :— 



Palxontological Discovery in Australia. — Prof. Alfred 



Newton, F.R.S 606 



An International Zoological Record,— Dr. Herbert 



H, Field 606 



Lion tiger and Tiger-lion Hybrids — Dr. V. Ball, 



F.R.S 607 



Soot- figures on Ceilings. {Illustrated.)—^. B. Poul- 



ton, F.R.S.; Prof. Oliver Lodge, F.R.S. . . 608 

 The Use of Ants to Aphides and Coccidas,— T. D. A. 



Cockerell 608 



Blind Animals in Caves.— G. A. Boulenger .... 608 

 Observations in the West Indies. By Prof. A. 



Agassiz . 608 



Artionyx— a Clawed Artiodactyle. ( With Diagrams.) 



By Prof. Henry S. Osborn . . 610 



The Hodgkins Fund Prizes. By Prof. S. P. Langley 611 



The Solar Eclipse 611 



Notes 612 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



Large Telescopes 6x6 



Spectrum of )3 Lyrte • 616 



Societe Astronomique de France 616 



Wolsingham Circular, No. 34 616 



Astronomical Journal ?nzts 6x6 



Geographical Notes 6x7 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers 6x7 



Coniters. By G. N. 619 



The Earthquakes in Zante 62c 



Scientific Serials ... 62< 



Societies and Academies 62 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 624 



