i8o 



NATURE 



[April 7, 1910 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, March 29. — M. H. Poincare in the 

 chair. — Paul Sabatier and A. Maiihe : The mechanism 

 of the dehydration of alcohols by the catalytic action of 

 various metallic oxides. The action of sulphuric acid and 

 of metallic oxides upon alcohols at various temperatures is 

 compared, and the possibility of the formation of a com- 

 pound of the oxide and alcohol analogous to ethylsulphuric 

 acid considered. — M. Carpentier : A description of a new 

 electrical measuring instrument, the logometer. — Charles 

 Nordmann : Remarks on a preceding communication. — 

 G. Denigffts : The detection of methyl alcohol in general, 

 and especially in the presence of ethyl alcohol. The 

 method, full details of which are given, is based on oxida- 

 tion by potassium permanganate in dilute sulphuric acid 

 solution. Formaldehyde is produced, and is detected by 

 fuchsine decolorised by sulphurous acid. — P. Ywon : 

 Aniline arsenyl tartrate. Details of the preparation and 

 physical properties. — A. Guilliermond : New observations 

 on the cytology of yeasts. The results of the experiments 

 given are entirely opposed to the views put forward by 

 Wager and Peniston. — M. Dugrast : The presence of boron 

 in Algerian wines. All the Algerian wines examined, of 

 known origin and purity, were found to contain boron. — 

 E. Chuard : A new method of treating for mildew by 

 oxychloride of copper. The substitution of the oxychloride 

 of copper for the mixtures of copper sulphate and lime 

 reduces the amount of copper used to one-half. — Maurice 

 Gigrnoux : The classification of the Pliocene and the 

 Quaternary in southern Italy. — Jules Welsch : The forma- 

 tion of the Poitevin Marais and the separation of the 

 " islands " of R^ and Oleron. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, April 7. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Himalayan Region : Dr. Tom G. 

 Longstaff. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — Elm-seedlings showing Mendelian Results: 

 A. Henry. — On the Foraminifera and Ostracoda from Soundings, chiefly 

 deep-water, collected round Funafuti by H.M.S. Penguin : F. Chapman. 



R5NTGEN Society, at 8.15. — Some methods of using the Alternating 

 Current Mains for Rontgen Ray Work : Dr. G. B. Batten. — Treatment 

 of X-Ray Dermatitis by Radium : Mackenzie Davidson. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — The Progress of Electric 

 Braking on the Glasgow Corporation Tramways : A. Gerrard. 



FRIDAY, April 8. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Lowell Observatory : Photographs of the 

 Planets : Prof. Percival Lowell. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The Reconstruction and Ex- 

 tension of Egremont Ferry Pier : G. H. Hodgson and H. M. Gell. 



Physical Society, at 8. — An Experimental Demonstration of the Loading 

 of Artificial Telephone Cables : B. S. Cohen. — Further Tests of Brittle 

 Materials : W. A. Scoble. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5. — Note to Paper on Star Colours 

 and Spectral Types : W. S. Franks. — Probable Papers : Investigations 

 relating to the Spectra of Comets : A. Fowler. — Places of Halley's 

 Comet, 1909-19 to, deduced from Photographs taken at the Radcliffe 

 Observatory, f)xford: A. A. Rambaut. — Proper Motions: Astronomer 

 Royal for Scotland. 



.9^ TURD A Y, April 9. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Bells, Carillons and Chimes : W. W. .Starmer. 



MONDAY, April ii. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30. — Across Africa from the Niger 

 to the Nile : Dr. Karl Kumm. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 8. — Modern Methods of Brick-making : 

 Dr. A. B. Searle. 



TUESDAY, April 12. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Modern Development of the Problem of 

 Alcoholic Fermentation : Dr. A. Harden, F.R.S. 



Royal Anthropological Institute, at 8.15. — Charcoal Burning in 

 Epping Forest : S. Hazzledine Warren. — Additional Notes on the British 

 Camp at Wallington : H. C. Collyer and N. F. Roberts. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The New Clyde Bridge of the 

 Caledonian Railway at Glasgow : D. A. Matheson. — The Queen 

 Alexandra Bridge over the River Wear, Sunderland : F. C. Buscarlet 

 and A. Hunter. 



WEDNESDAY, April 13. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 8. — The Port of Dover : A. T. Walmlsley. 

 Geological Society, at 8. — The Volcano of Matavanu in Savaii : Dr. 



Temjjest Anderson. — Notes on the Geology of the District around 

 Llansawel (Carmarthenshire): Miss Helen Drew and Miss Ida L. Slater. 



THURSDAY, April 14. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable Papers : On the Viscous Flow in Metals 

 and Allied Phenomena: E. N. da C. Andrade. — The Refraction and 

 Dispersion of Argon and Redeterminations of the Dispersion of Helium, 

 Neon, Krypton and Xenon : C. and M. Cuthbertson. — The Action of the 

 Radiation from Radium Bromide upon the Skin of the Ear of the Rabbit : 

 J. O. W. Barratt.— And others. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Himalayan Region : Dr. Tom G. 

 Longstaff. 



FRIDAY, April 15. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — The Chemical Significance of Crystal Struc- 

 ture : Prof. W. J. Pope, F.R.S. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8. 



SATURDAY, April 16. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — Bells, Carillons and Chimes : W. W. Starmer 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



NO. 2 no, VOL. 83] 



Crystallography by a Physicist. By Dr. A. E. H. 



Tutton, F.R.S 



The Origin of the Diamond. By J. W. J 



Differential Geometry. By G. B. M 



The Inspection of Food 



A New Catalogue of Hemiptera. By W. F. K. . 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Henslow : "British Wild Flowers in their Natural 



Colours and Form" 



Johns : " Flowers of the Field " 



Franklin and Esty : '* Dynamo Laboratory Manual 



for Colleges and Technical Schools " ..... 



Lewin : " Mona's Records of the Earth's Changes." — 



G. A. J. C 



Turrell: " Ancient Angling Authors " 



Letters to the Editor :— 



The Term "Radian" in Trigonometry.— Dr. Thos. 



Muir, C.M.G., F.R.S. ... 



The Fertilising Influence of Sunlight.— F. Fletcher 

 Transcaspian Archaeology. (^Illustrated.) By L, W. 



King 



Soured Milk : its Nature, Preparation, and Uses. 



By Prof. R. T. Hewlett 



Classics and Science in Education. By A. E. 



Crawley 



The Census of 1911 



Alexander Agassiz, For.Mem.R.S. By Prof. 



John W.Judd, C.B., F.R.S 



Notes. {Illustrated.) 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Occultation of Mars, April 13 



Comet igictz and Halley's Comet 



Sun-spots and Faculse in 1909 



The Nature of Comets' Tails 



Periodic Errors in Right Ascension of Standard Star 



Catalogues 



Observations of Southern Double Stars 



The " Gazette Astronomique " 



Auroral Displays 



The Public Health of the Metropolis ...... 



Problems of the South-western Highlands. By 



Prof. J. W. Gregory, F.R.S 



The Etiology of Leprosy 



Helium in Air and Minerals 



The Sugar Industry in Hawaii 



Natural Science in Bengal 



The Development of Electrical Power at Niagara 



Falls. {Illustrated.) By C. W. Jordan 



Scientific Work of the Smithsonian Institution . 



University and Educational Intelligence 



Societies and Academies 



Diary of Societies 



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