May 1 6, 1895] 



NA TURE 



61 



coinniittce to promote the investigation of the marine zoology 

 of the Vorkshirc Coast ; a micro-zoology and micro-botany 

 committee ; a conmiittee to consider proposals for the legislative 

 .protection of wild birds' eggs ; and a committee having for its 

 object the investigation of the mycological flora of Vorkshire. 

 Upon each of the committees we notice the names of numerous 

 well-known scientific workers ; and, as the committees co-operate, 

 when possible, with British Association committees, the Union 

 fbrms the connecting link between the local societies and the 

 Association. This kind of organisation seems to be the one 

 <alculated to produce the greatest amount of useful work. 

 While referring to natural history societies, we may mention that 

 the West Kent Natural History, Microscopical, and Photographic 

 Society has sent us their report for 1894-95. The report 

 contains an address by the President, Mr. H. J. Adams, on 

 "Colour Photography," and a paper on "The Birds of Black- 

 heath," by Mr. H. F. Witherby. 



H. MoiSSAN has attempted to produce argon compounds by 

 acting on argon, under various conditions, with some of the rarer 

 elements which unite more or less readily with nitroge". (Cof/iptfs 

 reuduSy May 6). 100 c.c. of the new gas were jilacedat his dis- 

 posal by Prof. Ramsay. In a part of this, titanium, boron, and 

 lithium were strongly heated without apparent change. Similarly, 

 uranium (containing 3^ per cent, of carbon) did not absorb an 

 appreciable amount of the gas when heated with it for twenty 

 minutes. A quantity of the gas was conducted into a platinum 

 tube of special construction, and there exposed to the action 

 of pure fluorine, Ijoth at the ordinary temperature and in 

 presence of induction sparks ; in neither case couUl any reaction 

 be observed whatever the proportion of argon present. The 

 <IiHiculty of manipulating fluorine has not allowed of the effect 

 of long-continued sparking being observed. The results were 

 entirely negative ; under the conditions of these experiments, no 

 com|x>unds of argon have been produced. 



By saturating an ethereal solution of ferric chloride with nitric 

 oxide, and concentrating the product at the ordinary ten)perature 

 in the vacutim desiccator, W Thomas has succeeded in ob- 

 taining crystals of the composition FeCU.NO.alljO. (Bull. 

 So{. Chim. [3], xiii.-xiv. No. 8). The anhydrous com- 

 pound may be obtained in smaller yellow crystals by crjs- 

 talliisation at 60' on a porcelain plate. Peligot found that 

 nitric oxide dissolved in ferrous chloride solution in the proportion 

 required to form a compound 2F'eCl2.NO, and this solution lost 

 all its gas on healing. It is interesting and significant that the 

 new crystalline product dissolves completely in cold water 

 without evolution of gas to form a pale yellow solution, and that 

 the solid compound is quite stable in vacuo at the ordinary 

 temperature. Of considerable interest also is the observation by 

 the same author, that nitric oxide gives abundant crystalline 

 precipitates when passed through solutions of antimony tribromide 

 or antimony trichloride. 



A NEW series of iron nitrosocompounds have been discovered, 

 by K. A. Hofmaim and O. F. Wiede, w hich possess interest 

 both from the point of view of the gas-analyst and in consequence 

 of the example they afl'ord of the synthetical production of com- 

 plex inorganic substances. .\ current of nitric oxiile is jiassed 

 through a concentrated solution of 200 grams ferrous sulphate 

 and 300 grams of i>otassium thiosulphate. A compound is pre- 

 cipitated in red-brown leaflets, which has the composition 

 l'"e (NO).jS2()3K.HjO. This substance may be dried in the 

 vacuum desiccator without change. Il is difficultly soluble in 

 water, and dissolves in concenlraled sulphuric acid without de- 

 composition, giving an intensely greenish yellow coloured 

 solution. Ammonium and sodium salts of similar composition 

 and |)roperties have also been prepared. The formation of the 

 cw .acid, dinitrosoferrothiosulphuric acid, of which these salts 

 NO. 1333, VOL. 52] 



are derivatives, is facilitated by the presence of an excess of ferrous 

 salt. It may be considered that the essential reaction in its 

 formation consists of a re|>lacement of the group (KS2O3) by NO 

 in ferrous potassium thiosulphate, viewing the latter as 

 KOjSj. Fe. S jOjK. The displaced radical probably forms po- 

 tassium tetrathionate which does not react further. Cobalt 

 compounds, in which the cobalt replaces the iron in this series, 

 can be obtained, though with much greater difllculty. The 

 connection of these new substances with the tetra- and hepta- 

 nitroso compounds of Pawcl and Marchlewski and Sachs is 

 yet under investigation. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include two Arabian Baboons (Cynocephalus haina- 

 dryas, S 9 ) from Somaliland, presented respectively by Mr. 

 Francis G. Gunnis and Mrs. E. Lort Phillips ; a Japanese Ape 

 (Macacus speciosus, i ) from Japan, presented by Dr. G. L. 

 Johnston ; a Rhesus Monkey (Mataciis rhesus, { ) from India, pre- 

 sented by Messrs. A. S. and K. Boatfield ; a Naked-footed Owlet 

 {Athene iioc/iia), European, presented by Mr. Walter Chamber- 

 lain : a Black Tanager {Tathyhonus vtelaleucus) from Brazil, 

 presented by Mr. Edward Hawkins ; a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes 

 vulgaris), British, presented by Mr. H. G. Devas ; two 

 Common Peafowl (Pavo cristatus, S 9 ) from India, presented by 

 Mr. L. G. Whatman ; two Pyrenean Newts [Molge aspera) 

 from Lac d. Oncet, Pyrenes, presented by Dr. Jacques de 

 Bedriaga ; two Indian Pythons (Python molurus) from India, 

 presented by Mr. G. Stephen ; a Koodoo (Strepsiceros kudu, 9 ) 

 from Somaliland, a Kinkajou (Cercokptes caudivolvulus, 9 ), a 

 Ring-tailed-Coati (N'asua ru/a) from Brazil, a Dusky Bulbul 

 (Pyciionotus obscurus) from Morocco, deposited ; two Ruddy 

 Sheldrakes { Tadorna casarca, 6 9), European, a Red-fronted 

 Amnion (Chrysalis znitala) from Porto Rico, a Yellow-fronted 

 Amazon (Chrysalis achroeephala) from Guiana, purchased; a 

 Large Red Flying Squirrel (Pteramys inoriialus) from India, 

 received in exchange ; two Jajianese Deer (Cerznis sika, (J 5 ), a 

 Barbary Sheep (Oi'is Iragelaphus, i ), born in the Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



.Vi.GOL. — The periodic variations in the intervals between the 

 minima of Algol have been explained by Dr. Chandler by sup- 

 ])osing that the bright star, with its eclipsing companion, re- 

 volves round a distant centre of gravity determined by its 

 relation to another dark body. .M. Tisserand, however, con- 

 siders that the phenomena may be produced by the changes in 

 the line of apsides due to a polar compression of .Mgol (NATLrRE, 

 vol. li. p. 328). The latter hypothesis requires that con.sidcr- 

 able variations in the duration of the minima should be observed ; 

 while, on Dr. Chandler's hypothesis, there should be a periodic 

 inequality of the proper motion of Algol. Prof. Lewis Boss 

 has recently discussed the question from the point of view of 

 the proper motion of the star ; but since the coefiicient is 

 probably less than o"*7, the investigatiim is a very delicate one. 

 Taking the result of his computation, aimrt from any considera- 

 tions of the behaviour of Algol as a variable star. Prof. Boss is 

 of opinion that there is a preixjnderance of prolability in 

 favour of the real existence of a periotlic element in the proper 

 motion, such as is required by Dr. Chandler's hyfiothesis. Sup- 

 posing them to be real, they indicate that the apixirenl motion 

 is in an ellipse, the semi-axis major of which is o"'522 + o"i03 

 and the semi-axis minor o""224 ; the position angle of the 

 northern end of the major axis is 34', and the inclination of the 

 real orbit to our line of sight is 23'. The computation further 

 indicates that the star passed the major axis of the apparent 

 orbit within three or four years of the most probable date 

 derived from the observaled light-changes. Prof. Boss considers 

 the evidence in favour of Dr. Chandler's hypothesis to lie suffi- 

 cient to justify a very thorough investigation of the meridian 

 observations, as well .is continued determinations of (xi'sition. 

 (Astroiiomieal Journal, No. 343. ) 



I'ARAi.i.AX AND ORBIT OK j) CASsiorELi?. - -Twenty-.seven 

 photographs of the region round this st.ar, taken by Dr. Rutherford 



