370 



NATURE 



[August i6, 1S94. 



takes the nrst place. It is known that Lord Rayleigh 

 has been for many years engaged upon the determination 

 of the densities of various gases. We have learnt that 

 he found in the case of nitrogen different densities 

 amounting to about one half per cent, according as the 

 gas was obtained from chemical compounds and the so- 

 called nitrogen of the atmosphere. This and other 

 points have recently occupied the attention of both Lord 

 Rayleigh and Prof. Ramsay, and they have succeeded in 

 isolating from this so-called atmospheric nitrogen, and 

 by two distinct processes, a second inert ingredient 

 ■denser than true nitrogen. The first method employed 

 was that used by Cavendish in his demonstration of the 

 composition of nitric acid. Air mixed with oxygen is 

 submitted to electric sparks in presence of alkali until 

 no further contraction takes place. The excess of oxygen 

 is then absorbed by pyrogallol. That the residual gas is 

 not nitrogen is inferred from the manner of preparation, 

 and from the appearance of its spectrum. A second 

 method giving much larger quantities of the new gas de- 

 pends upon the removal of nitrogen from deoxygenated 

 air by passing it over heated magnesium. When this 

 process was allowed to continue, the density gradually 

 rose to I4'8S, i6i, and finally to 1909. At this stage 

 the absorption appeared to have reached its limit, in- 

 dicating that the new gas amounts to about i per cent, 

 of the nitrogen of the atmosphere. When the gas thus 

 prepared was sparked with oxygen there was little or no 

 contraction. Lord Rayleigh and Prof. Ramsay have 

 already found that no liquefaction occurs when the gas is 

 compressed at atmospheric temperatures. 



Sir Henry Roscoe said that the communication was one 

 of the greatest possible interest and importance, and the 

 Section as well as the distinguished authors were greatly 

 to be congratulated on the announcement of the discovery 

 of what would in all probability turn out to be a new ele- 

 mentary body existing in the atmosphere. The discovery 

 appeared to him to be of special significance, as being 

 one brought about by the application of exact quantita- 

 tive experiment to the elucidation of the problem of the 

 chemical constitution of our planet. 



There were many other communications of a most 

 interesting nature, including a discussion on the action 

 of moisture in promoting chemical changes, a problem 

 which has occupied the attention of several Oxford 

 chemists of late years. Mr. Miers read a paper of great 

 interest to crystallographers in Section C, and Mr. 

 Culverwell's criticism of CroH's views on the Ice Age 

 «xcited much interest. 



It was thought by many that the division of Section 

 D into two very distinct departments of Zoology 

 and IJotany, and into a third and completely separate 

 department of Physiology, might weaken the proceed- 

 ings of each ; but the fear has proved to be entirely 

 groundless, for there has been almost a superlliiity of 

 interesting material, and the attendance in each Section 

 or department has been as good as was usually the case 

 in the undivided Section. One is glad to note, however, 

 that the division is permissive, and that the three sub- 

 jects may reunite under the common denomination of 

 Biology in any meetings at which such a galaxy of talent 

 as has been brought together on this occasion is not to 

 be expected. Section E (Geography) has had one of 

 the most successful years in its experience, and has been 

 attended daily by large audiences, which were very well 

 accommodated in the great North Writing .School. 

 Economic Science has been hardly less successful, and 

 G and H have at various times been densely crowded, 

 the accommodation in the Anatomical Department 

 having proved sometimes to be altogether inadequate 

 for the large audiences which assembled to hear Mr. 

 Arthur ICvans, Prof. Macalister, M. Emile Cartailhac, 

 and Dr. Louis Robinson. 



i\ further feature of the Oxford meeting may be men- 



NO. 1294, VOL. 50] 



tioned. Several of the colleges dispensed a magnificent 

 hospitality, and the reunions of foreign and English men 

 of science in Magdalen and Merton will long be remem- 

 bered by those who were fortunate enough to take a 

 part in them. New College was not behindhand, since 

 it entertained the Sectional Secretaries during their stay 

 in Oxford ; whilst Brasenose, Merton, Corpus Christi, 

 Lincoln. Jesus, and Balliol vied with one another in 

 hospitable efforts. Pembroke College was prepared to 

 have done as much, but its intentions were frustrated by 

 a sad event which happened just before the meeting. 

 During the month of August Oxford is usually depleted 

 (most of the University residents are away on their 

 holidays), but for this occasion many returned and 

 showed that the old traditions of University hospitality 

 have not been forgotten since the Universities Acts 

 came into force. The sixty-fourth meeting has alto- 

 gether been a magnificent one, and well worthy of the 

 town in which it was held. 



The following is a synopsis of "grants appropriated to 

 scientific purposes by the General Committee : — 



Electrical Standards 25 



Photographs of Meteorological Phenomena 10 1 



Earth Tremors ... ... ... 75 11 



Abstracts of Physical Papers ... ... 100 



Reduction of Magnetic Observations made at Fal- 

 mouth Observatory 50 



Comparison of Magnetic Standards ... 25 



Calculation of certain Integrals ... 15 



Meteorological Observations on Ben Nevis ... ... 50 



Uniformity of Size of Pages of Transactions, &C. ... 5 



Wave-length Tables of the Spectra of the Elements ... 10 



Action of Light upon Dyed Colours ... 5 



Formation of Haloids from Pure Materials 20 



Isomeric Naphthalene Derivatives ... 30 



Electrolytic Quantitative Analysis 40 



Erratic Blocks 10 



Palaeozoic Phyllopoda 5 



Photographs of Geological Interest (renewed) ... 10 



Shell-bearing Deposits at Clava, &c 10 



Eurypterids of the Pentland Hills 3 



New Sections of Stonesfield Slate 50 



Exploration of Calf Hole Cave 10 



Investigation of a Coral Reef by Boring and Sounding 10 



Nature and Probable Age of High-level Flint-drifts ... 10 

 Examination of the Locality where the Cetiosaurus in 



the Oxford Museum was found ... ... ... 20 



Table at the Zoological Station, N.aples 100 



Table at the Biological Laboratory, Plymouth 



(renewed) 20 



Zoology, Botany, and Geology of the Irish Sea (partly 



renewed) 4° 



Zoology and Botany of the West India Islands ... 50 



Index of Genera and Species of Animals S° 



Climatology of Tropical Africa 5 



Exploration of Hadramout 5° 



Calibration and Comparison of Measuring Instruments S° 

 Anthropometric Measurements in Schools ... ... S 



Lake Village at Glastonbury .. 3° 



Exploration of a Kitchen-midden at Hastings ... 10 



Ethnographical Survey 3° 



Physiological .\pplic.ations of the Phonograph ... 25 



Corresponding Societies 3° 



Mathematical Tables (unexpended balance) 



;f'093 



