14 



NATURE 



[May 4, 1893 



An interesting note by M. Birkeland appears in the Comptts 

 Kendics for April 17 on the reflection of electrical waves at the 

 extremity of a linear conductor. By an application of Prof 

 Poynting's theorem concerning the movement of the energy in 

 an electromagnetic field to the case of a Hertzian oscillator, 

 he has shown how the damping of the oscillations depends on the 

 nature and position of the conductors in the neighbourhood. 

 He also accounts for the fact that, when the distance between 

 the first stationary node and the end of a wire is determined by 

 means of a secondary circuit, the value found is smaller than 

 that obtained by a direct measurement of the potential along 

 the wire, by showing that the paths along which the magnetic 

 energy travels are extended beyond the end of the wire, so that 

 the wave has, so to speak, to make a detour round the end of 

 the wire, and is thus retarded. 



An important new series of compounds, the thionylamines, 

 in which two new hydrogen atoms of the amido group of the 

 primary amines are replaced by the radicle thionyl SO, have 

 been prepared by Prof. Michaelis, and are described in the cur- 

 rent number of LteHg's Annalen. It has been found that the 

 primary amines of the fatty series when dissolved in ether react 

 with thionyl chloride, SOClo, in a manner which is readily con- 

 trolled by extraneous cooling of the vessel in which the reaction 

 is conducted. The products are the hydrochloride of the amine 

 employed which separates in crystals, and the new liquid 

 thionylamine which remains dissolved in the ether, but can 

 readily be isolated by fractional distillation. Thionyl chloride 

 's incapable of acting upon the hydrochlorides of the amines of 

 the fatty series, hence three molecular equivalents of the amine 

 are required for every equivalent of thionyl chloride, according 

 to the following equation in the case of methylamine : — 

 SOCl2 + 3(CH3.NH2) = CH3.N:SO + 2(CH3NH.,HCl). The 

 thionylamines of this series are colourless fuming liquids which 

 boil without decomposition and emit a most powerful odour. 

 They are decomposed by water into the original amines and 

 sulphur dioxide. The amines of the aromatic series likewise 

 form thionylamines with thionyl chloride ; and the hydro- 

 chlorides, unlike those of the fatty series, react with equal facility 

 in accordance with the equation CgHoNHj.HCl-f SOCIj 

 = C6H5N: S0-H3HC1. It is only necessary to cover the pow- 

 dered hydrochloride of aniline with benzene, add the calculated 

 quantity of thionyl chloride, and warm over a water bath for a 

 short time. The lower members of the aromatic thionylamines 

 are yellow liquids which distil without decomposition ; the 

 higher members may likewise be distilled without loss under 

 diminished pressure. Alkalies convert them into the original 

 amines and a sulphite, CeH^N; SO-I-2 NaOH = CeH5NH2 

 + NaaSOj. 



Thionvl-methylamine, CH^NzSO, the first member of the 

 series, is most conveniently prepared by reacting with methyl- 

 amine upon a solution of thionylaniline in toluene. The latter 

 is first prepared and cooled by a freezing mixture ; the methyl- 

 amine should likewise be maintained at as low a temperature as 

 possible until the moment of adding it to the solution of thionyl- 

 aniline. After agitation and standing for some time the 

 product of the reaction may be distilled, when thionyl- 

 melhylamine is obtained as a colourless fuming liquid boiling at 

 58-59'. Its odour is not unlike that of bleaching powder. 

 Thionylethylamine, CoH.-,N;SO, may be readily obtained by 

 mixing cooled ethereal solutions of thionyl chloride and 

 ethylamine. The reaction even at this low temperature is very 

 violent, occurring with hissing and the evolution of white fumes 

 as each drop of the dilute ethereal solution of thionyl chloride 

 falls into the solution of ethylamine. Ethereal solutions of 

 thionylaniline and ethylamine afford a better yield, and with 

 less admixed impurity. Thionyl-ethylamine boils at 73°, and 

 NO. 1227, VOL. 48] 



in properties closely resembles thionyl-methylamlne. Several 

 of the higher members of this and of the aromatic series have 

 been prepared by Prof. Michaelis, and are fully described in 

 his lengthy memoir. It is interesting that in presence of the 

 moisture of the air, or of a small quantity of added water, the 

 thionylamines are converted into compounds of the amines with 

 sulphur dioxide. Those of the aromatic series usually consist of 

 two molecules of the original amine with one molecule of sulphur 

 dioxide. The first few members of the fatty series form com- 

 pounds consisting of equal molecules of the amine and sulphur 

 dioxide, and the higher members appear capable of forming both 

 classes of compounds. 



During the Easter vacation the Port Erin Biological station 

 has been full. The Liverpool Marine Biological Committee 

 organised a dredging expedition, and the steamer I.ady Loch 

 was hired for some days, during which a trip was made to the 

 deep water lying west of the Isle of Man, and the shallower 

 ground round the Calf Island and off Spanish Head was also 

 explored. On one of the days the calm sea and low tide enabled 

 the wonderful caves near Spanish Head to be visited in a boat 

 from the steamer. The exposed sides, parts of the roof, and as 

 far down as can be seen in the clear water, are closely cove/ed 

 with rounded red ascldians adhering together in masses, bhick 

 and white sponges, and tufts of Tubularia, forming altogether 

 a most striking sight. The sponges are mostly Pachymalisma 

 johnsioni, and the ascldians are Alder's Polycarpa glomerata, a 

 somewhat variable species solitary specimens of which have 

 been sometimes referred to Styela rustica (a species which 

 probably does not occur at all in British seas). Amongst the 

 more noteworthy animals obtained on these recent dredging 

 expeditions were Virgularia mirabilis, Corynactis viridis, 

 Defastrum cyathiforme, Atnphiiira ckiajii, Palmipes placenta, 

 Porania pulvillus, Stichaster roseus, Luidia ciliaris, Brissopsis 

 lyrifera, Thyone fusus and T. raphanus, Hyalincccia tubicoia, 

 Calocaris macandrruicce, Pasiphaa sivado, Xantho tuberculattis, 

 Ebalia tuberosa and E. tumefacta, Hippolyte spinus, a new 

 species of Melopa, Mtinida sp., Isocaidia cor, Lyonsia norvegica, 

 Spirialis retroversus, Fissurella grcsca, Capulus htingaricus, 

 Pleurobranchus pltinmla, Lamellaria perspicua, Dendronotus 

 arborescensy Tritonia hornbergi, Eotis tricolor, JLolis angulaia, 

 Actaonia corrugata, Scaphander lignarius, and a new species 

 of the compound ascidlan Glossophorum, allied to G. humile, 

 Lahille, but differing in the colour of the colony and also In 

 minute structure. Prof. Brady and Mr. Thompson obtained a 

 number of interesting Copepoda, including a new Dactylopus, 

 and a new and very large Lichomolgus, which is found in- 

 habiting Pecten maximus, just as L. agilis inhabits the common 

 cockle. Since the L. M. B. C. Easier dredging party left 

 Port Erin the following have been working at the station : — 

 Prof. M. C. Potter, Prof.^F.-;E. Weiss, Mr. W. J. Beaumont, 

 Mr. E. T. Browne, and Mr. J. H. Vanstone. Another dredging 

 expedition will be organised for the Whitsuntide vacation. 



Notes from the Marine Biological Station, Plymouth. — 

 Last week's captures include the rare Polyclad Prostheceraus 

 vittatus and Macruran Gebia stellata, and a remarkable haul of 

 the Nudibranch Heroformosa whose first capture on our southern 

 coasts was recorded a few weeks ago. The investigation of the 

 floating fauna is much impeded by the continued abundance of 

 gelatinous algte, which clog the meshes of the townets at all 

 depths. The Leptomedusa Irene pelliicida is still fairly common, 

 and the pelagic larva; of Cereanlhus (arachnactis) have now 

 reached a high grade of development. The following animals 

 are now breeding : — The Hydroids Clava multicoriiis, Gono- 

 thyraa Loveni, Sertularia pumila aaA Pluinularia piiinata ; the 

 Nemertine Cephalothrix bioculata ; and the Decapod Crustacea 

 Eupagurus bernhardus and Porlunus ptisillus. 



