ig2 



NATURE 



[December 26, 1895 



exhibited models,manufacturedbyhimself,to illustrate themanner 

 in which various types of cubic symmetry can be constructed 

 from units composed of any material distributed in the least 

 symmetrical manner compatible with the requirements of that 

 system. The models were hollow cubes, each containing three 

 small hands affixed to one diagonal, right hands in some cubes 

 and left hands in others. The author insisted upon the 

 desirability of regarding the problem as one of the homogeneous 

 distribution of matter without any limitation as to the form of 

 the units, herein placing himself in opposition to the recently 

 expressed views of Fedorow, who regards parallelohedra as the 

 basis of all crystalline structures. — Prof. A. S. I lerschel exhibited 

 a number of intricate coloured models, made by himself, to illus- 

 trate the symmetrical partitioning of space, and indicated the 

 various ways in which they may be viewed as interpenetrating 

 or juxtaposed compartments. In the discussion which followed, 

 Mr. Tutton agreed with Mr. Barlow's conclusion that the space- 

 units should not necessarily be endowed with the same symmetry 

 as the whole solid, and suggested an analogy between the author's 

 conception of a growth of the hands whereby they might meet 

 and fill the space with close-packed units, and the growth in 

 volume which may occur when one metal in a salt is replaced by 

 a heavier one of the same series. The President observed that 

 such space-partitioning surfaces are purely imaginary ; their form 

 and dimensions must vary with temperature-changes, &c. The 

 morphology of crystals has had nothing to learn from the geometrj' 

 of crystal tactics ; on the other hand, it has corrected and guided 

 the course of those geometrical inquiries. The future working- 

 out of the relations of stereo-chemistry to morphology and to 

 actics will give significance to the stereohedra and parallelohedra 

 of Fedorow, and will perhaps explain the existence of planes of 

 symmetry, a principle which underlies any true theory of crystal- 

 structure. 



Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, December i6. — M. Marey in the 

 chair. — On a theorem in geometry, by M. J. Bertrand, — The 

 composition of flour and other products of roller milling. This 

 is an attempt to place the operation of milling upon a scientific 

 basis. The products of the fining were separately weighed and 

 analysed, and samples of bread made from each. — ^Observations 

 on Brooks' comet (1895, November 21) made at the Paris Observ- 

 atory, by M. G. Bigourdan. — Observation of a meteor, by M. G. 

 Bigourdan. A very brilliant meteor seen 7h. 4m. 50s. p.m., 

 December 15. It appeared to be moving very nearly horizon- 

 tally at a height of 45° in the direction from east to west. — A 

 new explanation of the phenomenon of the solar prominences, 

 by M. J. Fenyi. — The equation to derived partials with constant 

 coefficients, and on non-analytical functions, by M. E. Borel. — 

 On the rolling of two surfaces on each other, by M. E. Cosserat. 

 — Measurement ofthe force acting on a non-electrified dielectric, 

 placed in an electric field, by M. H. Pellat. An experimental 

 proof of a theorem established in a previous note. — The direct 

 combination of nitrogen with metals, by M. A. Rossel. It has 

 been found that if an intimate mixture of finely-powdered calcium 

 carbide with magnesium powder is heated with free access of air, 

 the metal is almost completely transformed into the nitride. 

 Finely divided aluminium, zinc, iron, and copper act similarly. 

 — On the preparation and properties of crystallised chromous 

 sulphide, by M. A. Mourlot. Metallic chromium was heated to a 

 high temperature in a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen. The 

 product proved to be the protosulphide, which on strongly 

 heating was obtained in the crystalline state. A study of its 

 behaviour towards a number of reagents showed that it is a 

 compound of considerable stability. — On lithium subchloride, 

 by M. Guntz. This is prepared by heating lithium and the 

 ordinary chloride together to a red heat. The product decom- 

 poses water with the liberation of hydrogen. — On some new 

 saffranines, by M. G. F. Jaubert. — Study on Aspergillus orizce, 

 by M. E. Sorel. It is shown that if cultures of the conidia in 

 malt-wort are subjected to certain temperatures, and in pre- 

 sence of hydrofluoric acid, the mycelium first produced breaks 

 down into a yeast-like form capable of isolation by repeated 

 cultivation in malt-wort. This yeast is active, and whilst fer- 

 menting an ordinary malt solution produces no mycelium. T he 

 latter, however, can be reproduced again under special conditions, 

 thus completing the life cycle. — Functional "assimilation, by 

 M. F. Le Dantec. — On the process of development in the Fili- 

 granes and Salmacynes, by M. A. Malaquin. — On the influence 

 of electricity on the development of the embryo of the chicken, 



NO. 1365, VOL. 53] 



by M. C. Dareste.— Study of the effect of the colour of light 

 upon vegetation, by M. C. Flammarion. — On some vegetable 

 impressions in the coal-measures of Southern Brazil, by M. R. 

 Zeiller. — A new disease in the leaves of the larch, by M. E. 

 Mer. 



New South Wales. 

 Linnean Society, October 30. — Mr. Henry Deane, Presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — On the occurrence of diatomaceous earth at 

 the Warrumbungle Mountains, N.S.W., by Prof. T. W. 

 Edgeworth David. — ^Jottings from the Biological Laboratory, 

 Sydney University, No. 18. — On certain points in the structure 

 of the pearly nautilus, by Prof. W. A. Haswell. — The grey gum 

 of the North Coast districts {Eucalyptus propinqtia, sp. nov. ), 

 by Henry Deane and J. H. Maiden. This grey gum has for 

 many years held an uncertain botanical position, having been 

 ranked, at different times, by botanists under E. punctata, 

 E. saligna, and even E. viminalis. The authors believed that 

 it but perpetuates the confusion to place it under any existing 

 species. Its bark and timber considerably resemble those of 

 E. punctata. From this species E. propinqua differs in the 

 smaller size of the flower-buds and fruits ; and in the narrow 

 lanceolate leaves which also have more parallel and less promi- 

 nent lateral veins than E. punctata. The calyx-tube and also 

 the operculum of E. propinqita are more distinctly hemispherical,, 

 and its flowers more pedicellate. The fruit of E. punctata, 

 though variable in size, is always larger and more cylindrical 

 than that of E. propinqua. E. propinqua was fully described, 

 and its affinities and differences from other species were further 

 given in some detail. The species is found from the Hawkesbury 

 River to the Tweed River, and probably will be. found to 

 extend to South Queensland. — On new localities for Peripatus, 

 by Edgar R. Waite. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Evolution of Art. By E. Sidney Hartland . . 169 

 The Flora of Bourbon. By W. Dotting Hemsley, 



F.R.S 170 



Technical Education. ByN.J. L 171 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Loudon and McLennan : "A Laboratory Course in 



Experimental Physics." — W. G, Rhodes .... 172 

 Buckton : "The Natural History of Eristalis tenax, 



or the Drone-fly." — L. CM 172 



T. and T. G. Jones : " Working Models for Engineer- 

 ing Students. Engine Slide- Valves" 172 



" Macmillan's Geography Readers " 172 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Bury St. Edmunds Human Skull Fragment. 



(///Mj/'ra/^ar.)—WorthingtonG. Smith 173 



The Coronal Rays of Passion-flowers. — ^John H. 



Wilson 173 



Colours of Mother-o'-Pearl.— Ernest H. L. 



Schwarz; F. A. Bather 174 



Northerly Wind in Winter Seasons. ( With Diagram. ) 



—A. B. M. . . . . , 174 



" Perlites." — Prof. Grenville A. J. Cole 175 



The Discovery of the Anti-Toxin of Snake-Poison. — 



Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S 175, 



MaleofApus. — Dr. W. B. Benham 175. 



The Merjelen Lake. — Percy F. Kendall 175. 



The Paris Academy of Sciences and the Royal 



Society . ... 175 



The Habits of the Cuckoo 176 



The Yorkshire Gypsey- Springs. By Harwood 



Brierley 177 



Notes 177 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Orbits and Origin of Comets l8o- 



Comet Brooks, 1895 . . . \Zo 



The Movements of Horizontal Pendulums. By 



John Milne, F.R.S ... 180 



The Antwerp Meteorological Congress 182 



The Huxley Memorial 185 



Relations of the Weather Bureau to the Science 

 and Industry ofthe United States. By Prof. W. S. 



Moore . 187 



University and Educational Intelligence 189 



Scientific Serials 190 



Societies and Academies 190 



