202 



NA TURE 



[June 28, 1900 



We have received a number of papers by different officers of 

 the Observatory of Catania. Most of these we have noticed on 

 their first appearance. Among the others, we may mention a 

 valuable memoir, by Mr. S. Arcidiacono, on the eruptive period 

 of Etna from July 19 to August 5, 1899, in which he points out 

 the approximate coincidence of the great explosion on the former 

 day with the total cessation of the flow of lava in Vesuvius and 

 a strong earthquake in Latium, and also an interesting account 

 of the history of the observatories of Catania and Etna. 



The Mittheilungen aus dem Roemer-Musetim, Hildesheim 

 '(No. II, April 19), includes a paper, by Mr. A. R. Grote, on 

 the phylogeny of the families of butterflies, with a genealogical 

 tree. It is a continuation and amplification of previous papers 

 on the same subject, published by the author in Germany 

 and America, and is mainly based on neuration. Like many 

 authors, Mr. Grote divides the butterflies into two main super- 

 families, Papilionides and Hesperiades ; but it will surprise 

 many entomologists to find that all the butterflies except the 

 true Papilionidre are referred to the Hesperiades. 



A NEW journal has been started in Berlin, the first number of 

 which bears the title " Laboratorium et Museum," while in the 

 second number the words " et Clinicum " are added. The 

 journal is to be of an international character, and includes 

 articles and notes in English, French and German. The title of 

 the journal is sufficiently suggestive in itself of the contents, 

 which comprise descriptions of new apparatus and reagents, 

 methods of preparation, notices of new books, obituary notices, 

 and lists of trade catalogues, of which the publishers will send 

 copies on application. 



Dr. Francesco Fossati has published in the Memorie 

 del R. Istituto Lombardo a bibliography of the writings of 

 Volta. Several such lis ts have already been published : one in 

 1813 by Prof. Configliachi, containing the titles of forty-four 

 works ; one in 1877 by Prof. Pietro Riccardi, containing sixty 

 titles; while the collection procured by Antinori in 1816 con- 

 tained sixty-seven writings. The present bibliography is partly 

 the outcome of a suggestion made by Prof. Alessandro Volta, 

 junr., at the Como Electrical Congress last year, and it contains 

 the titles of 231 writings. 



In the current number of the Berichte (p. 1569) Baeyer and 

 Villiger describe some of the properties of the new hydride of 

 ber.zoylsuperoxide, CgHjCO O.OII. The substance is obtained 

 by the action of sodium ethylate upon benzoylsuperoxide, 

 CfllljCO. O. O. CO. C«H., + NaOC ^Hg = CeHgCO. O. ONa + 

 CeHgCO.OCoHg. 

 The sodium salt of the new compound is formed together with 

 ethyl benzoate. The ethyl benzoate is removed with ether, and 

 the hydride of benzylsuperoxide separated by acidifying and 

 extracting with chloroform. On distilling the chloroform, the 

 hydride remains as a colourless crystalline mass, which 

 melts at 41-43°. It is very soluble in the ordinary solvents, 

 with the exception of benzene. The smell is penetrating and 

 pungent, resembling, in the dilute state, hypochlorous acid, 

 but not ozone. In its oxidising action on potassium iodide or 

 aniline, and in its reducing action on permanganate, it stands 

 midway between hydrogen peroxide and Caro's reagent (potass- 

 ium persulphate dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid). 

 With benzoyl chloride it forms benzoylsuperoxide ; with acetic 

 anhydride, benzoylacetylsuperoxide. The oxidation of benzalde- 

 hyde to benzoic acid by exposure to air is shown to be due to 

 he agency of this new compound, 



C6H5COH4-02 = C6H5CO.O.OH 

 CgHsCO O.OH-hC6H3COH = 2CfiIl5.COOH, 

 which is formed as an intermediate product. 

 NO. I 600, VOL. 62J 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Smooth-headed Capuchin [Cebus monachus) 

 from South-east Brazil, presented by Mr. F. Wallace ; an Indian 

 Desert Fox [Canis leucopus) from Persia, presented by Captain 

 D. J. Leiper ; a Small Hill Mynah {Gracula reli^iosa) horn 

 India, presented by Captain R. York Heriz, R.N. ; two Yellow- 

 bellied Liothrix {Liothrix licteus) from India, presented by 

 Miss Petrocochino ; a Cockateel {Calopsitlacus novae hollandiae) 

 from Australia, presented by Mrs. Harry Blades ; four Ring- 

 necked Parrakeets (Palaeornis torqtiatus) from India, presented 

 by Mr. J. M. G. Bate; three Chaplain Crows {Corvus capel- 

 lanus) from Southern Persia, presented by Mr. B. T. Ffinch ; 

 two Green Lizards {Lacerta viridis), four Viperine Snakes 

 {Tropidonotus vipevinus), a Smooth Snake {Coronella aiistriaca), 

 two Marbled Newts (Molge marinorata), European, presented 

 by the Rev. F- W. Haines ; an Ourang-outang {Simia 



satyrits, i ) from Borneo, five Mole Rats {Spalax sp. inc.) 



from East Africa, a Grey Parrot {Psitlacus erithacus) from West 

 Africa, a Yellow-cheeked Amazon {Chrysotis autumnalis) from 

 Honduras, nine Mountain Witch Ground Doves {Geotrygon 

 cristata) from Jamaica, a Hocheur Monkey {Cercopiihectis 

 nictitans) from West Africa, seven Brazilian Tortoises {Tesludo 

 tabulata) from South America, five American Box Tortoises 

 {Cistudo Carolina) from North America, deposited; two Peba 

 Armadillos {Tatusia peba) from South America ; three Spotted 

 Owls (Athene braina) from Madras ; three White-throated 

 Finches [Spennophila albogtdaris) from Brazil, a Thick- billed 

 Seed Finch (Oryzoborus crassiroslris) from South America, a 

 White-eared Conure {Pyrrhura lencotis) from Brazil, a Logger- 

 head Turtle {Thalassochelys caretta) from the Tropical Seas, 

 purchased; two Burrhel Wild Sheep {Ovis burrhel), a Thar 

 {Heini/ragus enlaicus), born in the Gardens ; two Pied Mynahs 

 {Sturnopaslor contra), bred in the Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



Astronomical Occurrences in July. 

 July 3. 8h. om. to 9h. iim. B.A.C. 4006 (mag. 57) occulted 

 by the moon. 



4. ih. Mercury at greatest elongation (26^ 2' east). 



5. Jupiter in conjunction with ti Scorpii. 



8. iih. 24m. to iih. 54m. S Scorpii (mag. 2'5) occulted 

 by the moon. 



8. I3h. Jupiter 1° 35' north of the moon. 



9. loh. 50m. toi2h. 2m. 24 Ophiuchi (mag. 5 6) occulted 



by the moon. 

 9. Pallas in opposition to the sun. 



ID. loh. i8m. to iih. lom. 33 Sagittarii (mag. 6'0) 

 occulted by the moon. 



ID. I2h. 19m. to I3h. i8m. ^- Sagittarii (mag. 3'5) oc- 

 culted by the moon. 



10. i6h. Saturn 0° 48' south of the moon. 



14. 9h. 43m. to loh. 17m. c^ Capricorni (mag. 5*2) oc- 



culted by the moon. 



15. Venus. Illuminated portion of disc, = 0"0i8. Mars 



= 0948. 

 15. 8h. 29m. to 9h. 2im. k Aquarii (mag. 55) occulted 

 by the moon. 



15. loh. iim. Minimum of Algol (/3 Persei). 



16. iih. 3m. iih. 42m. 16 Piscium (mag. 5-6) occulted 



by the moon. 

 21. I3h. 2m. to I3h. 52m. 53 Tauri (mag. 5-5) occulted 



by the moon. 

 21. I4h. 53m. to I5h. 12m. D.M. -f 20", 751 (mag. 5-9) 



occulted by the moon. 

 25. Giacobini's comet situated close to a Cygni. 

 28. Epoch of the Aquarid meteoric shower (Radiant 



340° - 12°). 

 31. Ceres in opposition to the sun. 

 The Next Total Eclipse of the Sun.— We have re- 

 cently received Nautical Almanac Circular No. 18, issued 

 under the superintendence of Dr. Downing. This pamphlet 



