96 



NATURE 



[May 26, 1892 



by the Club. — Papers were read on the action of light on 

 metallic iodide-;, by Mr. Douglas Berridge ; on the colours 

 of birds, by Mr. F. Finn; and on Caliche, by Mr. P. Elford. 



May 13. — At an open meeting Mr. E. F. im Thurn (Exeter) 

 delivered a lecture on " Primitive Games of the Red Men of 

 Guiana." Prof. Tylor afterwards addressed the Club. — The 

 inaugural "Robert Boyle Lecture" will be given at a con- 

 versazione on May 27. All old memberi of the Club are 

 cordially invited. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, May 16.— M. d'Abbadie in the 

 chair. — Contribution to the history of silico-carbon compounds, 

 t>y M. P. Schutzenberger. The compound, SiC, has been pro- 

 duced by long heating of silicium diluted with silica in carbon 

 crucihles. The friable mass is broken up, heated with potash 

 solution, which dissolves out the silicium, and some silica, and 

 then boiled with moderately concentrated hydrofluoric acid, by 

 which all the silica is taken up and silicium nitride is convened 

 into silicium fluoride and ammonium fluoride. The clear green 

 pulverulent residue of SiC is not attacked by potash or by 

 boiling HF ; it is infusible, and at a white heat forms SiCO. — 

 On the determination of the density of liquefied gases and their 

 saturated vapours ; elements of the critical point of carbonic 

 acid, by M. E H. Amagat. The critical constants for carbonic 

 acid are given as — temp. = 3i°'35 C, pressure = 72'9atmos., 

 density = o'\(i\. — Observation of the partial eclipse of the 

 moon on May 11-12, 1892, by MM. Codde, Guerin, Negre, 

 Zieike, Valette, and Leotard. — On the theory of fonctions 

 fuchsiennes, by M. L. Schlesinger. — On the relations existing 

 between the infinitesimal elements of two reciprocal polar sur- 

 faces, by M. Alphonse Demoulin. — On transformations in 

 mechanics, by M. Paul Painleve. — The physiological scale of 

 distinct vision, applications to photometry and pholo-esthhio- 

 metrit, by M. W. Nicati. — On a method of separation of 

 xylenes, by M. J. M. Crafts. — Calculation of boiling-points of 

 compounds with simple terminal substitution, by M. G. 

 Hinrichs. — Method for the proximate analysis of chlorophyll 

 extracts ; nature of chlorophyllane, by M. A. Etard. — Influence 

 of the nature of the soil on vegetation, by M. J. Raulin. — 

 Presence of fumarine in one of the Papaveracese, by M. J. A. 

 Battandier. — On some muscular anomalies in man, by M. 

 Fernand Delisle. — On the apparently teratological origin of two 

 species of Trie lades, by M. P. Hallez. — On the theory of gills 

 and the parablast, by M. F. Houssay. — The origins of the wing 

 nerve among the Coleoptera, by M. Alfred Binet. — The nervous 

 system of Nerita polita, by M. L. Boutan. — On the origin and 

 formation of the chitinous coat of the larvae oi Libellules, by M. 

 Joannes Chatin. — On the microscopic structure of ooliths from 

 the bathonien and bajocien of Lorraine, by M. Bleicher. — The 

 odoriferous properties of alcohols of the fatty series, by M. 

 Jacques Passy. The odoriferous power, as measured by the 

 inverse of the millionths of a gram present in one litre of air 

 when the odour can be just distinguished, increases regularly 

 with the molecular weight. — On the lack of movement of the 

 deep oceanic waters, by M. J. Thoulet. 



Berlin. 

 Physiological Society, April 27. — Prof, du Bois-Reymond, 

 President, in the chair. — Dr. Boruttau gave an account of 

 experiments made to determine the cause of the difference in 

 latent period observed during the direct and indirect stimulation 

 of muscles, being, as is well-known, greater (with maximal and 

 supra-maximal stimuli) in the latter mode of stimulation. Ac- 

 cording to some observers the difference is due to the resistance 

 offered by the end-plates, whereas some regard it as due rather 

 to a summation of stimuli during direct stimulation. The 

 speaker had satisfied himself by a careful repetition of the 

 experiments under many varying conditions that the difference 

 is due solely to the resistance of the end-plates. In connection 

 with the above, Prof. Gad pointed out the possible important 

 bearing of the results obtained on the processes which go on in 

 other organs. Thus recent anatomical research has shown that 

 in the central nervous system there is no complete continuity 

 between the axis-cylinders and ganglia, hence the existence of 

 some intermediate structure must be assumed, and a portion 

 at least of the slowing which impulses experience in the central 

 nervous system may be due to the resistance offered by this 

 structure. — Prof. Wolff exhibited a patient in whom the larynx 

 had been completely extirpated some seven months previously. 



NO. I I 78, VOL. 46] 



and who was now able, by means of an artificial larynx, to speak 

 quite loud and clearly. Prof. Gad gave an historical account of 

 the construction of artificial larynxes, of the requirements which 

 these instruments must satisfy, and of recent improvements in 

 the cannulse employed by patients. 



Physical Society, May 6. — Prof. Kundt, President, in the 

 chair. — Dr. Gross spoke on the principle of entropy, and criti- 

 cised several formula2 of Clausius and Zeuner. 



[In the reports of the Berlin Scientific Societies, Nature, 

 vol. xlv. p. 599, /^r Schuinbertr^a^/ Schubert, and /or Lammer 

 and Brodhan read Lummcr and Brodhun.] 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. -Genesis I. and Modern Science: Dr. C. B. Warring (New York, 

 Hunt and Eaton). — Analyse ties Vins : Dr. L. Magnier de la Source (Paris, 

 Gauthier-Villars).— Tiroirs et D.stributeurs de Vapeur : A. Madamet 

 (Gauthier-Villars).— Studies ill S uth Anerican Native Languages : Dr. D. G. 

 Brint .n (Philadel.>hia) — Die tiljc in Westpreussen : H. Conwentz (Danzig, 

 Bertling).— Wood- Notes Wild Notat ons of Bird Music: S. P. Cheney 

 (Boston, Lee and Snepard). — Lehrbiich der Bjtanik, Erster Band : Dr. A. 

 B. Frank (Leipzg. Engelmann) — The Theo'y of Substitutions and its 

 Applications to Algebra: Dr. V. Netto, translated by Dr. V. N. Cole (Ann 

 Arbor. Michigan, Register V\MC\i\\\u% Company). — Results of the Meteoro- 

 lugical Observations made at the G ivernment (bservatory, Madras, during 

 the Years i85i-9o, edited by C. M Smith (Madras).— VVatts's Dictionary of 

 Chemistry, vol iii , revised, &c., by H. F. Morley and M. M. P. Muir 

 (Longmans).— Practical Enlar- iig : J. A. Hodges (Iliffe).— The First 

 Principles of Photography: C. I. Leaper (Iliffe). — Smithsonian Report, 

 U.S. National Museum, i88j ■ Washington).— Key to J B. Lock's Ele- 

 mentary Dynamics : G. H. Lock (Macniillaii).— The Anatomy, &c , of the 

 Blow-Fly, Part 3 : B. T. Lowne (P..rter). 



Pamphlets.— On the Organization of Science : A Free Lance (Williams 

 and Norgate).— I he Nitrate Fields of Chile : C. M. Aikman.- Sadducee 

 versus Pnarisee : G. M. McCrie (Bickers). 



Serials. — Quarterly Journal of the Geol'^gical Society, vil. xlviii. Part 2, 

 No. 190 (Longmans).— Engineering Magazine, May ( \ ew York). — Himmel 

 und Erde, May (Berlin, Paetel). — 1 ran.sacti )ns of the Royal Irish Academy, 

 vol. xxix. Part 19 (Wiliiams and Norgate). — Verhandlungen des Natur- 

 historischen Verdnes der Preussischen Kheinlande, &c. — Achtundvierzigster 

 Jahrgang Fiinfte Folge, 8 Jahrg., Zweite Halfte (Bonn, Cohen). — Bulletins 

 de la Societ<5 d' Anthropologic de. Paris, tome 2 (1891). se. Fasc. (Paris, 

 Masson). — Journal of the Chemical Society, May (Gurney and Jackson). — 

 Institute of Jamaica, Bulletin No. i, A Provisional List of the F;shes of 

 Jataaica: T. D. A. Cockerell (Kingston). — Rapport Annuel sur I'Eiat de 

 rObservatoire de Paris, 1891, le Contre-Amiral Mouchez (Paris, Gauthier- 

 Villars). — Indian Museum Notes, vol. ii. No. 5 (Calcutta). — Journal of the 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, No. 98, vol. xxi. (Spon). — M^moires de 

 la Soci6te de Phyique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve, Vol. Suppl6- 

 mentaire, Centenaire de la Fondation de la Societe (Geneve). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Mathematics used in Physics 73 



Phases of Animal Life. By F. E. B 74 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Hurst : " Silk Dyeing, Printing, and Finishing" . , 75 



Murray: " Phyc jlogical Memoirs." — A. W. B. , . . 75 



Wrightson : "Livestock" 76 



Letters to the Editor :— 



Lord Kelvin's Test Case on the Maxwell-Boltzmann 



Law.— Edw. B. Culverwell 76 



Poincare's Thermodynamics. — Prof. Poincare ; P. 



G. T 76 



Land and Freshwater Shells Peculiar to the British 



Isles.— T. D. A. Cockerell 76 



The Former Connection of Southern Continents. — T. 



Mellard Reade 77 



The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.— Albert C. Mott . 77 



The God of the Ethiopians. — W. Hammond Tooke 78 



Aurora Borealis. — Warington Stock 79 



The New Element, Masrium. By A. E. Tutton . . 79 

 On a New Method of viewing Newton's Rings. 



{Illustrated.) By T, C.Porter 80 



Jean Servais Stas 81 



Notes 83 



Our Astronomical Column:— 



Paris Observatory Report 86 



Stars with Remarkable Spectra 86 



Comet 1892 Swift (March 6) 87 



Light Variations of Y Cygni 87 



Nebulae 87 



Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Geographical 



Society 87 



Transformers. By Prof. Perry, F.R.S 90 



Scientific Serials 90 



Societies and Academies 90 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 96 



