48 



NA TURE 



[May 12, 1892 



are disengaged when one equivalent of hydrogen is set free 

 in a voltameter included in the circuit. Wiedemann and 

 others have found exceptions to this lawi for in the case of 



some salts, ^ equivalent of the radicle R and one equivalent of 



the other radicle are disengaged. M. Chassy proposes to sub- 

 stitute the following law for those previously enunciated, all 

 cases being included in it : " Lorsqu'on electrolyse une substance 

 quelconque il se degage toujours I'equivalent d'hydrogene ou la 

 quantite correspondante du radical electropositif." — A new case 

 of abnormal solution : siturated solutions, by M. F. Par- 

 mentier. The author finds that the solubility of ethyl bromide 

 in ether decreases rapidly with increase of temperature. — The 

 occurrence of fluorine in different varieties of natural phosphates, 

 by M. Ad. Carnot. From the results of the analyses of a num- 

 ber of sedimentary phosphates it is concluded that in the sedi- 

 mentary phosphates the proportion of fluorine is sensibly equal 

 to that in apatites having an equal percentage of phosphorus. 

 Phosphorites of fibrous, semi-crystalline structure have almost 

 the same composition as crystallized apatites. Earthy or com- 

 pact phosphorites contain a less proportion of fluorine. Con- 

 cretionary, zoned, and mammillated phosphorites contain barely 

 any fluorine. — Estimation of small quantities of carbon monoxide 

 by means of cuprous chloride, by M. L. de Saint-Martin. — 

 Thermal study of the value of the replacement of hydrogen 

 in phenolic hydroxy!, by M. de Forcrand. CgH,;0 sol. -I- 

 Na sol, = CyHg . ONa sol. + H gas .... -1- 39*10 cal. 

 This is practically the mean value for the replacement of H by 



Na in tertiary alcohols and acids, for ' < 52_LZ = + 39-03. 



2 

 — On an ethylnitroketone and an acetylnitroketone derived from 

 camphosulphophenols, by M. P. Cazeneuve. — Determination of 

 the surface of ebullition of normal paraffins, by M. G. Hinrichs. 

 — Action of pyridine bases on certain sulphites, by M. G. 

 Deniges. Compounds of the type SO3M", CsHr.N have been 

 obtained and examined. — Preparation and physical properties of 

 acetyl fluoride, by M. Maurice Meslans. (See Notes). — Diamido- 

 phenyl sulphone and some of its derivatives, by M. Ch. Lauth. 

 — Colouring matters and azo and alkyl compounds derived from 

 chrysaniline, by MM. A. Trillat and De Raczkowski. — On a 

 soluble naphthol derivative, by M. Stackler. — Remarks on some 

 fishes from Upper Tonkin, by M. Leon Vaillant. — On Cerataspis 

 petiti, Guerin, and on the systematic position of the species 

 Cerataspis, Gray {Cryptoptis, Latreille), by MM. A. Giard and 

 J. Bonnier. — On an embryological law for the orders Rhabdo- 

 coelida and Triclada, by M. Paul Hallez. — On the circulation 

 of the blood in young spiders, by M. Marcel Causard. — On the 

 discovery oi Bactryllium in Meurthe-et- Moselle Trias, by MM. 

 Bleicher and P. Fliche. — Applications to normal physiology and 

 pathology of the temporary loss of the activity of tissues by local 

 cocainisation, by M. C. A. Fran9ois-Franck. — Observation of a 

 meteor, by M. L. Simon (extract from a letter to M. Wolf). 

 The meteor was observed on April 24, at iih. 55m. in the 

 evening. It moved from east to west at an altitude of about 70° 

 or 80°. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



London. 



THURSDAY. May 12. 



Royal SociKTY, at 4.30.— Transformers : Prof. Perry, F.R.S.— On the 

 Probable Effect of the Limitation of the Number of Ordinary Fellows 

 elected into the Royal Society, to Fifteen in each Year, on the Eventual 

 Total Number of Fellows : General Strachey, F.R.S.— On the Shoulder- 

 girdle in Ichthyosauria and Sauropterygia : J. W. Hullce, F.R.S. — On 

 the Embryology of Augiopteris evecta (Hoffm.) : J- B. Farmer. — Note 

 on Excretion in Sponges : G. Bidder. —On the Development of the Stig- 

 mata in Ascidians : W. Garstang. 



Mathematical Society, at 8.— On an Operator that produces all the 

 Co-variants and Invariants of any System of Quantics : Dr. W. E. 

 Story,— Applications of a Theory of Permutations in Circular Procession 

 to the Theory of Numbers : Major MacMahon, F.R.S. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Notes on the Light of the 

 Electric Arc ; A. P. Trotter. (Discussion.)— On the Cause of the 

 Changes of Electromotive Force in Secondary Batteries: Dr. J. H. Glad- 

 stone, F.R.S., andW. Hibbert. 



Institution OF Civil Engineers.— Students' Visits to the Beckton Gas 

 Works, the Northern Outfall Sewer, the Victoria and Albert Docks, and 

 the P. and O. s.s. Oceana Leave Fenchurch Street at 9.18 a.m. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— The Chemistry of Gases: Prof. Dewar, 



FRIDAY. May 13. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 8. 



Physical Society, at 5. — An Instrument for Drawing Parabolas : R. 

 Inwards — Some Electrical Instruments: F. H. Nalder. — An Instrument 

 for Measuring Magnetic Fields : E. Edser and H. Stansfield. 



Institution of Civil Engineers.— Students' Visits to Woolwich Arsenal, 

 the Works of the London Electric Supply Corporation at Deptford, and 



the Tower Bridge. Leave Charing Cross at 9.40 a.m. At 7.30. — 



Students' Annual Dinner at the Holborn Restaurant. 



Royal Institution, at 9.— The New Star in Auriga: Dr. William 

 Huggins, F.R.S. 



Amateur Scientific Society, at 7. — Exhibition of Objects of interest. 



At 8.— Recent Additions to Botanical Science : L. A. Boodle.— The 



Copper Production of North America ; W. Semmons. 

 SATURDAY, May 14. 



Royal Botanic Society, at 3.45. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— J. S. Bach's Chamber Music (with many 

 Musical Illustrations) : E. Dannreuther. 



MONDAY, May 16. 



Victoria Institute, at 8.— On Primitive Man : Sir W. Dawson and 

 Rev. J. Mello. 



TUESDAY, May 17. 



Zoological Socibty, at 8.30.— On the Geographical Distribution of the 

 Land-Mo'lusca of the Philippine Islands: Rev. A. H. Cooke.— Resultats 

 des Recherches Ornithologiques faites au Perou par M. Jean Kalinowski : 

 Graf Hans von Berhpsch, C.M.Z.S., and M. Jean Stolzmann.— On 

 Lucioperca marina : G. A. Boulenger. — On the Antelopes of the Genus 

 Cephalophus : Oldfield Thomas. 



Institution OF Civil Enginekrs, at 8.— The Distribution and Measure- 

 ment of Illumination : A. P. Trotter. (Discussion.)— The Measurement 

 of High Temperatures : Prof. W. C. Roberts-Austen, F.R.S. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— Photography in the Colours of Nature; 

 Frederick E. Ives. 



WEDNESDAY, May iS. 



Royal Meteorological Society, at 7.— Results of a Comparison of 

 Richard An^mo-Cin^mographe with the Standard Beckley Anemograph 

 at the Kew Observatory: G. M. Whipple.— Rain-drops : E. J. Lowe, 

 F.R.S.— Levels of the River Vaal at Kimberley, South Africa, with 

 Remarks on the Rainfall of the Watershed: W. B. Tripp. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 8. — On the Organs of Oviposition in 

 certain Cattle Ticks: R. T. Lewis.— The Penetrating Power of the 

 Microscope : E. M. Nelson.— The Rings and Brushes of (Crystals : E. 

 M. Nelson. 



THURSDAY, May 19., 



Royal Society, at 4.30, 



Chemical Society, ai 8.— Magnetic Rotation of some Acetyl Derivatives : 

 W. H. Perkin, F.R.S.— Studies on Isomeric Changes, No. IV. ; Halogen 

 Derivatives of Quinone, Part I. : A. R. Ling — Note on Diastatic 

 Action : E. R. Moritz and T. A. Glendinning. — Formation of the Hydro- 

 carbon CjsHjo from Phenylpropionic Acid : Dr. Kipping. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Chemistry of Gases : Prof. Dewar, 

 F R S 



FRIDAY, May 20. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Electro-Metallurgy : J. Wilson Swan. 

 SA TURD A Y, May 21. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— I. S. Bach's Chamber Music (with many 

 Musical Illustrations) : E. Dannreuther. 



NO, I 1 76, VOL. 46] 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Brachiopods of the Alpine Trias. By F. A. Bather . 25 



A Text-book of Political Economy. By F. Y. E. . 27 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Semple : "Elements of Materia Medica and Thera- 

 peutics" 28 



Tillmann : " Elementary Lessons in Heat " 28 



Letters to the Editor :— 



Aurora. — Dr. M. A. Veeder , 29 



The White Rhinoceros. — W. L. Distant 29 



The Line Spectra of the Elements. — Dr. G. John- 

 stone Stoney, F.R.S 29 



On a Proposition in the Kinetic Theory of Gases. — 



Rev. H.W. Watson, F.R.S 29 



Palaeonictis in the American Lower Eocene. — Henry 



F. Osborn 30 



Waterston's Theory of Gases 30 



Report of the Royal Society's Committee on Colour 



Vision ... 33 



The Great Earthquake in Japan, 1891. {Illustrated.) 



By J. W.J 34 



The Royal Society Selected Candidates 35 



Notes 37 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Photographic and Visual Magnitudes of Stars .... 41 



Photographs of the Lyra Ring Nebula 41 



Determination of the Constant of Aberration 41 



Star Magnitudes 41 



The Institution of Mechanical Engineers 41 



The Royal Society Soiree -44 



The South London Entomological and Natural 



History Society 46 



Imerina, the Central Province of Madagascar ... 47 



Societies and Academies 47 



i Diary of Societies 48 



