500 



NATURE 



[August 21, 19 19 



phate at Oued Zem (western Morocco). — G. Reboul 

 and L. Dunoyer : The utilisation of temperature for 

 the prediction of barometric variations. — L. 

 Blaringhem : Floral variations in the large mar- 

 guerite, Leucantheinum vulgare. — Mme. E. Bloch : 

 Anatomical modificatrons of roots by mechanical 

 action. Compression causes important local modi- 

 fications, but the general development of the plant is 

 uninfluenced, flowers and fruit remaining normal. — 

 H. Bierry : Food ration. The minimum requirements 

 of sugar and of fat. — L. Vialleton : The epiphyses and 

 cartilage of conjugation in mammals. — A. Paillot : 

 The cytology of the blood of the caterpillars of the 

 Macrolepidoptera. ' 



Calcutta. 

 Asiatic Society of Bengal, July 2.— G. R. Kaye : 

 Hindu astronomical deities. This paper deals primarily 

 with the navagraha or nine planets and the planetary 

 cult as it obtains in India. It also refers to a separate 

 solar worship which is traced back to Vedic influences, 

 while it is indicated that the planetary cult proper is 

 possibly of exotic origin. Details of planetary icono- 

 graphy are given which are traced to Pauranic teach- 

 ing, and are illustrated by photographs of ancient 

 sculptures of the navagraha, and extracts from early 

 texts and inscriptions ; and these details are con- 

 trasted with 'the modern practice as exhibited in 

 paddhatis and paficha-^gas.— H. B. Hannay : Note on 

 ancient Romic chronology. The paper indicates the 

 nature of the sothic cycle, starting from zero at the 

 autumnal equinox as understood by the ancient 

 Egyptians ; also the nature, length, and practical 

 significance of the Sed and Hunti Hebs, or festivals, 

 as based on that cycle; it shows that all official and 

 other data from monuments, etc., regarding sothic 

 risings, hebs, etc., are placeable in the cycle. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Board of Agriculture and Fisheries: Guides to 

 Smallholders. No. 2 : Dairy Farming under Small- 

 holding Conditions. (London : Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries, 1919.) 2d. 



Experimental Researches carried out in the 

 Department of Glass Technology, University of 

 Sheffield. (Reprinted from the Journal of the Societv 

 of Glass Technology.) Pp. iii+iyS. (SheflTield : The 

 University, n.d.) 



The Stars Night by Night: 'Being the Journal of 

 a Star Gazer. By J. H. Elgie. First published as 

 "Night Skies of a Year," 1910. Pp. xiv+247. 

 (London: C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd., 1919.) is. 6d. 

 net. 



Problems of Fertilisation. By Prof. F. R. Lillie. 

 (University of Chicago Science Series.) Pp. xii+278. 

 (Chicago : University of Chicago Press ; London : 

 Cambridge University Press.) 1.75 dollars. 



A Source Book of Biological Nature-Studv. By 

 E. R. Downing. (University of Chicago Nature- 

 Study Series.) Pp. xxi+503. (Chicago : University 

 of Chicago Press ; London : Cambridge University 

 Press, 1919.) 3 dollars. 



Mining and Manufacture of Fertilising Materials 

 and their Relation to Soils. Bv S. E. Llovd. 

 Pp. vi-t-153. (New York: D. Van Nostrand Co.; 

 London : Crosby Lockwood and Son, 1919.) 95. net. 

 • Mathematics for Collegiate Students of Agriculture 

 and General Science. By Profs. A. M. Kenvon and 

 W. V. Lovitt. Revised edition. Pp. vii+337.' (New 

 York: The Macmillan Co.; London: Macmillan and 

 Co., Ltd., 1918.) los. 6d. net. 



NO. 2599, VOL. 103] 



The Whole Truth about Alcohol. By G. E. Flint. 

 With an introduction by Dr. A, Jacobi. Pp. xii+294. 

 (New York : The Macmillan Co, ; London : Macmillan 

 and Co., Ltd., 1919.) 65. net. 



Lectures on the Principle of Symmetry and its 

 Applications in all Natural Sciences. By Prof. F. M. 

 Jaeger. Pp. xii-h333. (Amsterdam: "Elsevier" Pub- 

 lishing Co. ; London : Cambridge University Press, 

 1917.) 205. net. 



Medicine and Nursing. By Sir William. Osier. 

 (Essays on Vocation.) Pp. 12. (London : Humphrey 

 Milford; Oxford University Press, 1919.) 6d. net. 



Annual Reports of the New York State College of 

 Agriculture at Cornell University and the Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, established under the direction 

 of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Vol. i., 

 1914. Pp. clxxxii4-ii40+i3. Vol. i., 1915. Pp. 

 Ixxxix-f- 996+8. Vol. i., 1916. Pp. lxxxvii+827-(-7. 

 Vol. i., 1917. Pp. xc+1183 + 8. (Ithaca: Published 

 by the University, 1915-18.) 



House of Representatives: Library of Congress. 

 Report of the Librarian of Congress and Report of 

 the Superintendent of the Library Building and 

 Grounds for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, IQ18. 

 Pp. 191. (Washington : Government Printing Oflfice, 

 1918.) 45 cents. ' 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Navigation and Nautical Astronomy, By H. B. G. 481 



Beverages. By C. Simmonds 482 



Our Bookshelf 482 



Letters to the Editor:— 



The Magnetic Storm of August 11-12, 1919.— Rev. 



A. L. Cortie, S.J 483 



Wild Birds and Distasteful Insect Larva.— Dr. 



Walter E. Collinge 483 



Notes on Stellar Classification. {With Curves.) By 



Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S 484 



The Supply of Drugs during the War 486 



Ernst Haeckel 487 



Notes ... 488 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Kopff's Comet 1906 IV. = 1919a: 492 



Occultation of Small Stars by Jupiter 492 



A Magnetic Storm 492 



The Recent Solar Eclipse 492 



Industrial Fatigue 493 



Mean Sea-Level. {With Maps.) By Prof. D'Arcy 



W. Thompson, C.B., F.R.S. 493 



Energy Distribution in Spectra. By Prof. J. W. 



Nicholson, F.R.S 495 



University and Educational Intelligence . ... 498 



Societies and Academies ... 499 



Books Received .... ... . • 5°° 



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Advertisements and business letters to 

 Publishers. 



addressed to tht 



Editorial Communications to the Editor. 

 Telegraphic Address : Phusis, London. 

 Telephone Number : Gerrard 8830. 



