4S 



NATURE 



[May io, 1894 



Thiselton-Dyer, >rr. Ansiie, Q.C., Prof. Silvanus Thompson, 

 Dr. Allcbin, Sir Philip Magnus, Dr. R. D. Roberts, and Prin- 

 cipal Cave. A resolution was unanimously passed in the 

 following terms — "That this meeting of graduates, while 

 reserving its right to represent ils views before the proposed 

 Statutory Commission, hereby expresses its general approval of 

 the report of the Royal Commission." A second resolution 

 expressed regret that, for the second time, discussion in Con- 

 vocation of the report of the Gresham Commission had been 

 prevented. Further, that an account of the proceedings at this 

 meeting of graduates be prepared by the secretaries, and at once 

 be transmitted to the Senate and to the press. .\ committee of 

 graduates has been formed under the chairmanship of Mr. H. H. 

 Coiens-Hardy, Q.C., M.P., for the purpose of obtaining from 

 the graduates at large an expression of opinion in support of the 

 scheme of reconstruction proposed by the Gresham Commission. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 

 Paris. 



Academy of Sciences, April 30.— M. Lcewy in the chair. 

 — On the equilibrium of oce.in waters, by M. Poincare. A 

 mathematical paper dealing with the theory of tides. — On the 

 soil and climate of the island of Madagascar from an agricultural 

 standpoint, by .M. Grandidier. The author warns intending 

 colonists of the comparative infertility of most of the soils in 

 Madagascar, notwithstanding the apparently vigorous vegetable 

 growth supported thereon, and points out the importance of 

 meteorological conditions, which are peculiarly unfavourable in 

 certain districts. — Digestion without digestive ferments, by M. 

 A. Dasire. Fresh proteids (fibrin, albumin, &c ) undergo the 

 same series of changes when subjected to the prolonged action 

 of 10-15 P*' cent, solutions of ammonium or sodium chloride 

 (or 1-2 per cenl. sodium fluoride), as when acted on by gastric 

 juice. — Observations of Gale's comet made at Nice and at 

 Algiers, by M. Tisserand. — Elliptic elements of Denning's 

 comet, 1894, by M. L. Schulhof. — Observations of the same 

 comet marie at Toulouse Observatory, by MM. E. Cosserat 

 and F. Ro»sard. — A iheorem concerning the areas de- 

 scribed in the movement of a plane figure, by M. G. 

 Kcenigs. If a finite arc AB of any curvature roll upon any arc 

 of equal length successively on the two sides of this arc, the area 

 swept by the radius IM joining the instantaneous centre to a 

 point M on the arc AB is independent of the form of the arc 

 AB. — On the lines of curvature of surfaces cerclics, by M. 

 Leiieuvre. — On the analytical integrals of equations of the form 



g = F(»).FW = S««^^.- + ^-<«, 



by M. Delassus. — A note by M. Bendixon on a theorem by M. 

 Poincaie. — On hysteresis and permanent deformations, by M. 

 P. Duhtm. — On a new nieihod of determining critical 

 tempcraiures by the critical ifidt.x, by M. James Chappuis. 

 The author employs the method of interference Iringes for follow- 

 ing the variation in the index of refraction of the substance 

 examined. The critical temperature of carbon dioxide 

 determined by this meihod is 31 '40°, a number in substantial 

 agreement wih Aniagat's determination 31 '35'. — On a 

 new meihod for the determination of the lowering of the 

 freeiing point of solutions, tiy M. A. Ponsot. The temperature 

 i> reari at which asoluiion i> in equilibrium with a quantity of 

 ice with whiih it is thoroughly agiiated, the exterior radiation 

 being minimised, and the solution is then in part withdrawn and 

 analysed. — On cupric hroiiiide, by M. Paul Sabatier. The 

 anhydrous salt and ihe form Culir,, 4H.,0 arc described. The 

 green cryslaU of tfie latter lose water over sulphuric acid and 

 are converird into black Culir,. — On an uusaturated natural 

 ketone, by MM. I'h. Barbitrr and L. liouvcault. This ketone is 

 obtained fr-m crude essence of lemon grass {Ati{irflpogon 

 cilratut) It hai the composition (Cll,)j : C : CH . CIIj, ClI,, 

 CO, CH,. It has a very agreeable but penetrating odour, 

 and IkiiU at 169-170' under ordinary pressure. — A purely 

 rorchanical action vufTices for Cliona to bore its tunnels 

 in the valve* of oys'er«, by M. Letellicr. — On the glandular 

 «y»iem of ants, by M. Ch.irles J.inct. — Creation of new 

 vaiietiet by grgliing, by M. Lucien iJaniel. Hybridisation by 

 grafting is piivsilile for crrialn herliaceous plants which can be 

 made (o a<quire new abmrniary qualnies by grafting them on 

 plaou superior to them in ihis respect, and afterwards 



NO ? 2^0. vol, 



sowing seed from the graft. The influence on the graft 

 varies, but is particularly marked among the Cruciferce. — 

 On the chemical composition of wavellites and turquoises, 

 by M. Adolphe Carnot. — On the microstructure of 

 melilite, by M. L. Gentil. — New researches on association 

 among bacteria. Augmentation of the virulence of certain 

 microbes. Increase of receptivity : A note by M. V. Galtier in 

 which the following conclusions are given : — (i) Microbes, 

 attenuated till they cannot alone produce a mortal malady, be- 

 come again virulent when two .-ipecies are introduced into the 

 organism. (2) The two species may multiply side by side, bat 



^ generally one tends to disappear, and the other becomes again 

 pathogenous. (3) When two species of microbes are found 

 associated, it is sometimes one and sometimes the other which 

 regains its virulence according to the conditions. (4^ -Vssocia- 



I tion of bacteria is able to be employed in the laboratory to 

 render attenuated microbes again virulent. (5) Not only can 

 the return of certain epidemics be explained by it, but the 

 eftects of vaccination with mild virus may be aggravated by this 

 means. (6) The passage of one microbe, conferring immunity 

 against a given malady, may predispose to the attack of 

 another. — I'roperties of serum from animals protected .tgainst 

 the poisons of difierent species of serpents, by M. A. Calmette. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Rooks. — The Country Month by Month, May; J. A. Owen .and Prof. 

 Boulger (Bli-is). — Die Fauna von Guriacll ; A. Hufmann (Wien). — Die 

 Ceph.tlopodcn der HalKt.^lter K.-ttke : Dr. E. M. E. von Mojsv.'ir. 2 Band, 

 Text and Atlas (Wicn). — La Rectification dc I'Alcool ; E. Sorel {Paris, 

 Ctuthier-Viljars). — Biological Lectures and Addresses: Prof. A. Milnes 

 Marshall (Nutt). 



Pamvhlets. — McGill University, Montreal, EngineerinK and Physics 

 Buildings, Formal l Ipening, February 24. 1893. — Thcophrastus Par.tcelsus : 

 G. W. A. Kahlbaum (B.TSel, Schw.ibc). 



Serials. — Science Progress. May (Scientific Press, Lid.). — Bulletin of 

 the New York Mathematical Society, Vnl. 3, No. 7 (New York. Mac- 

 millan). Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, Vol. L.. Part 2. 

 No. 198 (Longmans). —Fortnightly Review, May (Chapman anti Hall). — 

 Jahrbuch der K. K. Geologischen Keichsanstalt Jahrg. i8j3, xliii. Band, 

 3 and 4 Heft (Wien). — Medical Magazine. May (Southwood). — Bulletin de 

 I'Acadtimie Royale des Sciences, &c.. de Befgique (Bruxclles).— Himmel 

 und Erdc, May (Berlin). 



50] 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



The Study of Animal Variation. By Prof. W. F. 



R. Weldon, F.R.S 



Alpine Geology. By Dr. Maria M. Ogilvie 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Oliver: "The Natural History of Plants" . . . . 



Ilardie : "Notes on some of the more Common 



Diseases in Queensland in relation to Atmospheric 



Conditions, 1887-91 " 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Panmixia. — Dr. George J. Romanes. F.R.S. . . . 



Physiological Psychology and I'sychophysics. — Prof. 



E. B. Titchener ; The Writer of the Note . . 



Some Oriental Reliefs about Bees and Wasps. — Kuma- 



gusu Minakata 



The Mass ot ihe Earth. — The Reviewer 



Icebergs and Weather. — A. Sydney D Atkinson . 

 Early Arrival of Birds.— The Rev. W. Clement Ley 

 The Effect of External Conditions upon Develop- 

 ment. By Prof. August Weismann 



The Planet Saturn. By W. J. L 



Notes 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Moon's Apparent Diameter 



Gale's Comet 



Denning's Comet . . 



Stars having Peculiar Spectra 



The Iron and Steel Institute .... 



The Royal Society's Conversazione . . 



The Relative Sensitivity of Men and Women at the 



Nape of the Neck (by Weber'ts Test). (iVilh Dia- 



i^rami.) liy Francis Gallon, F.R.S. ... 



The Relation of Mathematics to Engineering. {With 



Diaipam'.) liy Dr. John Hopkinson, F.R.S. . . . 



University and Educational Intelligence 



Societies and Academirs 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 



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 30 

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33 



40 



42 

 47 

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 48 



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