2IO 



NATURE 



[April 14, 19 10 



in musts and wines. The process is based on the fractional 

 distillation of the acidified wine, followed by a colour test 

 with albumen, hydrochloric acid, and nitrous acid. The 

 latter is stated to be a specific test for formaldehyde. — 

 P. Vuillemin : Materials for a rational classification of 

 the Fungi imperfecti. — M. Bi^ler-Chatelan : A drainage 

 effect. — H. Bordier and R. Horand : The action of the 

 ultra-violet rays on trypanosomes. The action of the rays 

 has been followed continuously under the microscope. 

 The trypanosomes become rapidly granular, and their 

 bodies, having the same refractive index as the surround- 

 ing medium, cannot be seen. — M. Lecoq : The toxic power 

 of metalloidal arsenic. This is much less than that of 

 corresponding quantities of arsenious oxide. — Emm. Pox«i- 

 Escot : A bird of the runner family, confined to the high 

 summits of the Peruvian Andes. — Charles Nicolle and 

 L. Manceaux : The experimental reproduction of the 

 pustule of the East in the dog. The possibly canine origin 

 of this disease. — F. Di^nert : The search for fluorescent 

 substances in mineral waters. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, April 14. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.-011 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. Cuthhertson. — The Action of the 

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

 T. O. W. Barra't. — A Physiological Effect of an Alternating Magnetic 

 Field: Prof. S. P. Thompson. F.R.S. 



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

 LongstaflT. 



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. — Further discussion : 

 Compounding and Superheating in Horwich Locomotives : G. Hughes. — 

 Probable Paper : A Research on the Hardening of Carbon and Low- 

 tungsten Tool-steels : S. N. Brayshaw. 



SATURDAY, April 16. 



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



MONDAY, April 18. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30.— Glacier Exploration in the 

 Eastern Karakoram : Dr. T. G. LongstaflT. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30. — Plato's Theory of Public Education in 

 Relation to the Christian Doctrine of Human Nature : Rev. H. J. R. 

 Marston. 



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

 Dr. A. B. Searle. 



TUESDAY, April 19. 



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

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



Royal Statistical Society, at 5. 



Zoological Society, at 8.30. — Notes on the Photophores of Decapod 

 Crustacea : Stanley Kemp. — On the Varieties of M71S rattus in Egypt, 

 with General Notes on the Species having reference to Variation and 

 Heredity : J. Lewis Bonhote.^On an Example of Posterior Dichotomy 

 in an Aylesbury Duckling : G. E. BuUen. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The Use of Reinforced Concrete 

 on the Wabash Railroad, U.S.A. : E. R. Matthews and A. O. Cunning- 

 ham. 



WEDNESDAY, April 20. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 8.— (i) Critical Microscopy ; (2) What 

 did our Forefathers see in a Microscope ? E. M. Nelson. 



Royal Meteorological Society, at 7.30. — Line Squalls and Associated 

 Phenomena: R. G. K. Lempfert and R. Corless. — Daily Rainfall at the 

 Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1841-1903: W. C. Nash. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 8. — Industrial England in 1754 (the Date of 

 the Foundation of the Society) : Sir H. Trueman Wood. 



THURSDAY, April 21. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable Papers : The Incidence of Light upon 

 a Transparent Sphere of Dimensions comparable with the Wave-length : 

 Lord Rayleigh, O.M., F. K.S. — On the Improbability of a Random 

 Distribution of the Stars in Space: Prof. Karl Pearson, F.R.S. — The 

 Total lonisation produced in Different Gases by the Kathode Rays ejected 

 by X-Rays : Dr. R. D. Kleeman. 



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

 LongstafT. 



Concrete Institute, at 8. — The Effect of Sewage and Sewage Gases 

 on Portland Cement Concrete : S. H. Chambers. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Hydro-electric Installa- 

 tions of Sweden : A. V. Clayton. 



NO. 2III, VOL. 83] 



Royal Socif.tv op Arts, at 4.30. — The Arts and Crafts of Tibet, and 

 the Eastern Himalayas : J. Claude White. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 4.30. — Dewponds : E. A. Martin. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — The Seedling and Adult Anatomy of Wehvitichia 

 viirabilis : Miss M. G. Sykes. — Anthomyidae auf den Seychellen gesam- 

 melt : Prof. P. Stein. — The Dermaptera of the Seychelles : Dr. Malcolm 

 Burr. — The Pteropoda and Heteropoda collected by the Percy Sladen 

 Trust Expedition in the Indian Ocean : Dr. J. J. Tesch. — Die Pilzmiicken 

 Fauna der Seychellen : Dr. G. Enderlein. 



FRIDAY, April 22. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — The Telegraphy of Photographs, Wireless 

 and by Wire : T. Thome Baker. 



Physical Society, at 5. — Further Tests of Brittle Materials under Com- 

 bined Stress : W. A. Scoble. — The Magnetic Balance of Curie and 

 Cheneveau : C. Cheneveau with X. C. JoUey. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — The History and Present 

 Method of Quay-wall Construction at the Port of Rotterdam: H. C. A. 

 Thieme. 



SATURDAY, April 23. 



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



CONTENTS. PAGB 



The Claims of Long Descent 181 



Utilisation of Peat. By Dr. Hugh Ryan 182 



The Health of the School Child 183 



Modern School Geography. By B. C. W 184 



Electrical Engineering. By Prof. Gisbert Kapp 185 



The Physiological Anatomy of Plants. By F. D. 186 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



"The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and 



Burma" ... 187 



Thorburn : " Longmans' Wall Pictures " ; Longman 

 and Furneaux : " Descriptive Notes for Teachers, 

 for use with Longmans' Natural History Wall 



Pictures" 187 



Watson: "Formation of Character " 187 



Rathbone : " Simple Jewellery " 187 



Eisenmenger : " Le Tremblements de Terre " ... 187 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Colour of Water and Ice.— Prof. H. T. Barnes . . 188 

 Centre of Gravity of Annual Rainfall. —Andrew 



Watt 188 



Certain Reactions of Albino Hair.— Geo. P. Mudge 188 

 The Electrification of Insulating Materials. — Walter 



Jamieson 189 



Effect of Varying Temperatures upon the Colour and 



Growth of Fur.— Prof. A. Campbell Geddes . . 189 



April Meteor Showers.— John R. Henry 189 



The Basuto. {Illustrated.) By Sir H, H. Johnston. 



G.C.M.G., K.C.B 190 



The Oceanographical Museum at Monaco .... 191 

 The Recent Growth of Population in Western 



Europe i93 



Prof. Hans Landolt. By Dr. Alex. McKenzie . . . 194 



Prof. R. Abegg I95 



Sir WiUiam Bousfield i95 



Notes 196 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



April Shooting Stars 201 



Halley's Comet 201 



Comet 1910a 201 



The Galactic System, its Structure and Origin ... 201 



Saturn's Satellites and Rings 201 



The System of e Herculis 201 



The Gazelles of Seistan. Sy R. Lydekker, F.R.S, . 201 



Bournes, or Intermittent Springs. By E. A. M. . 202 

 Stress Lines and Steam Lines. {Illustrated.) By 



G. H. G 203 



Scientific Knowledge and Industrial Development 203 



Aeronautics. {Illustrated.) By C. C. Turner .... 204 

 A National System of Technical Education. By 



Dr. Robert Pohl 206 



University and Educational Intelligence 208 



Societies and Academies 209 



Diary of Societies 210 



