264 



NATURE 



[July 12, 1894 



agaia nitrogen. Phenylhydrazine forms a crystalline hydrate 

 melting at 24°! and having the composition aCsH^N.. . HjO. 

 Thermal data are given for the formation of the hydrate an<l 

 some of the salts of this base. — Impurities of commercial 

 aluminium, by M. Henri Moissan. — Preparation of a crystallised 

 aluminium carbide, by M. Henri Moissan. .X. carbide of 

 aluminium forming fine yellow transparent crystals is de- 

 scribed. It has the composition CsAI^, and slowly decomposes 

 water at the ordinary temperature with the formation of 

 methane. — On the place of production and the mechanism of 

 the murmuringi in tubes through which pass currents of air, by 

 M. .\. Chauveau. The murmurings are the effect of the trans- 

 mission of sounds originated by vibrating fluid veins which 

 form at the orifices or at the entrance of dilatations of the tubes. 

 — The use of the potato for feeding cattle — production of meat, 

 by .M. Aimc Girard. The results of an extended investigation 

 show that the potato is much superior to beetroot as a food- 

 material for cattle and sheep, and can be used economically 

 with remarkable results as a normal meat-producing forage. — A 

 note by M. Armand Gautier accompanying the presentation 

 of his work, "The Chemistry of the Living Cell." — On the 

 geographical distribution of Cyrtandre.ne, by M. E. Drake del 

 Castillo. — On the algebraical integration of differential linear 

 equations, by M. Paul Painleve. — On a class of polynomials 

 decomposable into linear factors. An extract from a letter to 

 M. .\ppell, by M. Moutard. — Experimental researches on the 

 conditions of employment and forms of boats used for haulage, 

 by M. J. B. de Mas. — On the elasticity of torsion of an oscillat- 

 ing wire, by MM. G. Berson and H. Bouasse. — On the 

 calorific radiations comprised in the luminous part of the 

 spectrum, by M. .\ymonnet. — Reception of sounds, by M. 

 Henri Gilbault. — On enharmonic gamuts, by M. A. de Herlhe. 

 -—On an application of cathode rays to the study of variable 

 magnetic fields, by M. .-VIbert Hess. An apparatus is employed 

 in which the cathode rays are generated in a Geissler tube and 

 received on a photographic film. Being given that deviations of 

 the rays are due to modifications of the state of tension of the 

 ether under the influence of the magnetic field, the cathode rays 

 form an index without inertia capable of registering the 

 variations of intensity of a mat;netic field with a speed only 

 limited by the sensitiveness of the photographic film. — 

 Determination of the form of periodic currents as a function of 

 the time by means of the electrochemical inscription method, by ' 

 M. P. Janet. — A transformer of monophase into triphase 

 currents, by M. Desire Korda. — Researches on the action 

 of the acid molybdates of sodium and ammonium on the 

 rotatory power of rhamnose, by M. D. Getnez. Small 

 additions of motybdate determine a relatively great 

 increase of the observed rotation. A maximum 



effect is produced by the addition of — i3 of the molecular 



weight. Greater quantities produce no further appreciable | 

 change. The maximum effect is produced by quantities of the 

 molybdates equal to those found to give maximum effects in the 

 cases of mannitol, sorbitol, and persitol. — On the change of \ 

 sign of the rotatory power, by M. Albert Colson. The author \ 

 concludes that, from the experimental evidence given, (I) there 

 exist compounds having a rotatory power very variable with the 

 temperature, even 10 the extent of changing sign, as in the case 

 of isobutylamyl oxide ; (2) in certain cases these great varia- 

 tions are caused by alterations in the state of chemical 

 I lilibrium. — On the line spectrum of sulphur and on its de- 

 ■• 1 'n in metallic compounds, by M. A. de (iramonl. — New 

 rc»<.Mrchcs on the bromo-boracites, by MM. G. Rousseau and 

 H. Allaire. \ description is given of the preparation and 

 properties of compounds of magnesium, zinc, cadmium, 

 manganese, cobalt, and nickel of the general type 

 6M(J . 8B,0j. MBrj. — Influence of pressure on the combination 

 of hydrogen and selenium, by M. H. Pi-labon. The dissocia- 

 tion theory indicates that the pressure .should have no influence 

 on the ratio of hyrir'^;cn to hydrogen selenide produced, as there 

 is no alleralion of vulnme in the reaction. The experimental 

 numbers obtained sensibly a>;rcc with this conclusion, better as 

 the temperature is higher. The augmentation of pressure in- 

 creases very slightly the quantity of hydrogen selenide produced 

 at a certain temperature, more as the temperature remains 

 lower.— On a reaction of aldehydes. Differentiation of aldoses 

 ;ir ' ' • l!y .MM. A. Villicrsand M. Fayolle. Fuchslne 



! by sulphurous acid miy b: userl to discriminate 

 '■ loses and ketoscs, the former giving when 



NO. 1289, VOL. 50] 



present in sufficient quantity the aldehyde reaction, though 

 less intensely than ordinary aldehyde. — On the substitu- 

 tion of alcoholic radicals combined with carbon or with 

 nitrogen, by >L C. Matignon. A claim for originality 

 as against MM. Stohmann and Langbein. — Remarks on tin; 

 preceding note, by M. Herthelot. — On piceine, a glucoside from 

 the leaves of Piniis fic(a, by M. Tanret. The glucoside has 

 been resolved into glucose and piceol, CjUjC^. The latter sub- 

 stance is described as a monotomic phenol. — On the presence of 

 hydrogen and ethylene in the residual nitrogen from blood, by 

 M. L. de Saint-Martin. — Action of sulphuric .icid oncamphene, 

 by MM. G. Bouchardat and J. Lafont. The products .ire (il 

 the mixed ether of borneol and inactive camphene ; (2) borneol 

 sulphuric acid ; and (3) polymerides of camphene. — On the 

 bromoderivatives of teirachlorcthylene, by M. \. Besson. — On 

 some new organo-metallic combinations, by M. G. Perier. An- 

 hydrous aluminium chloride forms, with ketones and similar 

 bodies, compounds of the type R.j . AI^Cl^. This article demon- 

 strates the existence of similar compounds with amines, amides, 

 and their substitution products. — On the fonnation of succinic 

 acid and glycerine in alcoholic fermentation, by M. J. Effront. 

 — The influence of chlorides on nitrification, by MM. I. 

 Crochetelle and J. Dumont. — .\ new case of commensalism : 

 association of As^'idosiplton with coral polyps and a bivalve 

 mollusc, by M. E. L. Bouvier. — Transformation of the 

 aortic arches in the frog, by M. S. Jourdain. — On the respira- 

 tion of leaves, by M. L. Maquenne. — The mechanism of 

 movements incited in Perbcris, by M. Gustave Chauveaud. — 

 The " brulure" of vine-leaves produced by E.xoi>asiiUum vilis, 

 by MM. Prillieux and Delacroix. — On a new disease of wheal 

 caused by Chytridinece, by M. A. Prunet. — " Brunissure " in 

 Algeria, by M. F. Debray. — On the earthquake of Locrides 

 (Greece) in April 1894, by M. Socrate A. Papavasiliore. — 

 Potatoes as food for milch-coivs, by M. Ch. Coinevin.^The 

 vegetation of vines treated by submersion, by M. .\. Muntz. — 

 On the determination of the agricultural value of several 

 natural phosphates, by M. G. Paturel. — Currents and winds on 

 the coast of the Landes of Gascony, by M. Hautreux. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Catalogue of Scientific Papers 241 



Epigenesis. Uy P. C. M 242 



Agricultural Entomology 243 



Our Book Shelf:— 



"Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical 



Society" 244 



Agnes Giberne : "The Starry Skies. " — W.J. L. . 244 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



New Army Regulations. — Rev. Dr. A. Irving . . 245 

 Erosion of the Muir Gl.icier, .M.iska. — T. Mcllard 



Reade ; Prof G. Frederick Wright 245 



On a Recent Change in the Character of .^pril. 



(iruh Diagram.)— Pl. B. M 246 



The Deposition of Ova by Asleriiia gibbosa. — Henry 



Scherren 246 



Bifilar Pendulum for Measuring Earth-Tilts, [lllus- 



Iraleii.) By C. Davison 246 



The Spectrum of Oxygen in High Temperatures. 



{/l/iiitraleJ.) By Dr. J. Janssen 249 



Photograph of a Landscape in Living and Dead 



Bacteria. (/lluslraUU.) 250 



Notes 250 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Spectrum of the Orion Nebula aS4 



The Nebulous Character of Nova Auriga: 254 



The Apis Period of the Ancient Egyptians 254 



Observations of the Planet Mars ■ 255 



The Jackson-Harmsworth Polar Expedition . . . 255 



Annual Report of the Paris Observatory . . 255 

 The Chemistry of Cleaning. By Prof Vivian 



Lewes 256 



University and Educational Intelligence 260 



Societies and Academies 261 



