636 



NA TURE 



[October 25, 1894 



peoded. The valaes of ^o are corrected to sea- level by means 

 of the densities of subjacent formations taken from the most 

 recent work. 



Paris 



V'alence ... 

 Grenoble... 

 La Bcrarde 

 Marseilles 



9-81013 

 9 S0640 

 9-80603 

 9-80530 

 9-80539 



9-81030 

 9-S0682 

 9-80705 

 9-80682 

 9-80536 



The variation of the observed from the calculated value at La 

 Berarde becomes less when a correction is made for the influence 

 of the mass of the surrounding mountains, g^ is then 980575. — 

 On the infinitesimal transformations of the trajectories of 

 systems, by M. Paul Painlevc. — On the reduction of the 

 structure of a group to its canonic form, by M. E. Cartan. — 

 Experimental researches on the conKelation of sulphuric acid of 

 different degrees of concentration, by .M. Raovil Pictel. Four 

 extensive series of experiments carried out on large volumes of 

 the acid, in different ways and with all the precautions indicated 

 by the study of the laws of crystallisation at low temperatures, 

 yield concurrent curies which include the cases between pure 

 H.jO and pure HoSO^. This curve crosses the line of zero 

 temperature five times (including origin with pure H.,0). On 

 descending parts of the curve the liquid contains a larger pro- 

 portion of acid than the solid, on ascending parts the inverse is 

 the case ; at the summits of the curve the titre of the liquid 

 is the same as that of the solid. The maxima and 

 minima do not, in general, correspond to definite hydrates. — 

 Application of Trouton's law to the saturated alcohols of the 

 fatty series, by M. \V. Longuinine. The author finds that 

 Trouton's constant is constant only for groups of similarly con- 

 stituted substances, and varies from group to group. If M be 

 the molecular weight, r the latent heat of vaporisation, T the 



absolute temperature ol the boiling point, - — = 2634 for 



fatty saturated alcohols. Water gives the value 25-86, ethers 

 21, hydrocarbons about 20. Formic and acetic acids appear to 

 be exceptions giving the values 12-82 and 1303. Acetic acid, 

 however, gives 25 9 if the heat required 10 bring the vapour to 

 the normal condition of C;U40o be added to the latent heat. 

 Probably formic acid is a similar case. — Aciion of chloride of 

 sulphur on the copper derivatives of acetylacctone and benzoyl- 

 acetone, by M. Victor Vaillant. — On estimations of glucose 

 by cupro-alkaline liquids, by M. Fernand Gand. — On pine tar, 

 by M. Adolphe Renard. A new hydrocarbon C|jH.„ is charac- 

 teri.sed ; it is probably a member of the aromatic series. — .\ction 

 of the sands and waters of the Sahara on cements an 1 hydraulic 

 limes, by M. Jules Perret. — On the homarian origin of crabs, 

 by M. E. L. bouvier. — On a disease of .^ilanthus in the parks 

 and promenades of Paris, by M. Louis Mangin. This disease 

 is characterised as fungoidal, but the species of fungus causing 

 it has not yet been determined. 



New South Wales. 

 Linnean Society, August 29. — Prof. David, President, in 

 the chair. — On the Kudilcha shoes of Central Australia, by fi. 

 Etheridge, jun. The remarkable slippers described are in vogue 

 among certain tribes toward the centre of the continent. They 

 are made of human hair, interlaced with emu feathers, with a 

 cementing medium of human blood in the sole. Their variously 

 described functions — their use by the rainmaker, by the 

 authorised agents in obtaining blood-revenge, and to di.«guise 

 tracks when wife-hunting — were summarised and discussed ; 

 and it was pointed out that it is not improbable that their use 

 was not so much to conceal tracks as to disguise the direction 

 in which the wearer was travelling, the heel and toe being 

 alike. — .\ list of exotic trees and shrubs which have become 

 hosts for certain Aurtralian parasitical plants, by Fred Turner. 

 Indigenous membersof the N.O. Lvraiilliaccir, more particularly 

 Loranlliiii (daslroiaes, ,Sieb., L pendiilus, Sieb., and Viscitm 

 articuiitum, Kurm. , were shown to have taken very kindly to cer- 

 tain exotic plants. Twenly-sevcn species, belonging to a dozen 

 natural orders, serving as hosts, had come under the author's 

 notice in New South Wales, the Kosace<r, as compared with 

 other orders, supplying the largest number. — On the fo.mation 

 of a " .Mackerel Sky," by A. II. S. Lucas. A dcscrii)tion of 

 the remarkable sky of this nature seen over Sydney on April 20, 

 1894, was given from the njtes ol Mr. Ru<sell, the Government 

 Astronomer. The author then proceeded to compare the 

 .Trrangement of (he clouds with that of the ridges of sand in 



NO. 1304, VOL. 50] 



ripple-mark, and showed how they are formed similarly, as a 

 result of the wave-motion of layers of the air. He considered 

 the condensation to be produced by rarefaction of the air in 

 the ridges of the waves with consequent fall of temperature. 

 The condensation in'o cloud thus rendered manifest the position 

 of the wave-crests. He then referred to Prof, von Hezold's 

 paper in the February number of '* Himmel und Krde," which 

 advances somewhat similar views as to the orii;in and import- 

 ance of wave-clouds. He concluded by sugtjesting that the 

 wave-cloud, or UnJu/us, should take its place in the classification 

 of clouds by the side of the other elemental forms, Chrtu, 

 Cumulus and Stratus. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED, 



Bo >Ks. — Dissections Illustrated : C. G Brodie. Part 3 (Whiictker). — Lec- 

 tures on Biology : Dr. R. \V Shufeldt (Chicago)- — Chemical Handicraft (J. 

 J, Griffin). — From the Greeks to Darwin : Dr. H. F. Osborn (.MacmilKin).— 

 On Preservation of Health in India; Sir J. Fayrer (Macniitlaii). — Manual 

 of Physico-Chemical Measurements : Prof. \V. Ostwald, translated by Dr. 

 J. Walker (Macmillan)' — lexi-Book of the Diseases of Trees: Prof. R. 

 Hartifi. translated by Dr. \V. Somerville (Macmiltan). — University College, 

 Xoitinffham, Calendar 1S94-05 (NotiinKham, Sands). — Reprint of the 

 North American Zoology : George Ord. Appendix by S. N. Khoads (the 

 Editor, Haddonfield, N.J.)— Peru, a Vols: E. W, Middendorf (Uerlin. 

 Oppcnhcim). — A Manual of Exotic Ferns and SelaEinclla: E. Sandford; 

 cheaper edition (Stock). — University College of North Wales. Calendar 

 iS;j4-95 (Manchester, CTornish). — Lei;ons de Chcmie : H. Gautier and G. 

 Charpy; deux edition (Paris. Gauthicr-Villars). — The Great Ice-.\ge : Dr. 

 James Geikic, 3rd edit. (Stanford). — Electric Light and Power; A. K. Guy 

 (Bifigs). 



P.\MPHLETS. — A Laboratory Guide and Analytical Tables: J. Grant 

 (Manchester, Smith and Wood). — A Discourse on Roses and the Odour of 

 Rose : J. C Sawer (Brighton, Smith). — Report on MeteoroIoRical Observa- 

 tions in British East Africa for 1S93 : E. G. Ravenstcin (Philip). — Brief 

 Notes on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Soils; R. WarinRton 

 I (Chapman).— On the Whirling and Vibration of Shafts (Philosophical 

 i Transactions of the Koyal Society of London, Vol. 1S5 (1S94) A, pp. tj^ 

 j 363; S Dunkerley(K. Paul). — On Derived Crystals in the Basaltic Andesite 

 I of Glasdrumman Port, co. Down (Scientitic Transactions of the Royal 

 j Dublin Society, Vol. v. scries 2 : Prof. G. A. J. Cole (Williams and Nor- 

 I gate).— Twelfth Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland for the 

 Year i?93, Part 2. — Report on Salmon Fisheries (Edinburgh). — The Slide 

 Rule : 0. N. Pickworth (Kmmott). — Geschichte dcr Bibliothek und Natur* 

 aliensammlung der Kaiscrlichen Leopoldioisch-Carolinischen Dcutscheo 

 Akaderaie der Naturforscher : Dr. O- (jrulich (Halle). 



Srkials. — Encyk!o]>,'edic dcr Naturwisscnschaftcn, Drlttc Abthg-, 32aad 

 ! 23 Lief*, Zweite Abthg., 83-S5 I.-icf'^, (Breslaii, Trewendt). — Engineering 

 Magazine, October (Tucker).— American Journal of Science, October (New 

 Haven). — Record of Technical and Secondary Educati-m, October (Mac- 

 millan). — American Meteorological Journal, October (Ginn). — Proceedings 

 of Bristol Naturalists' Society, 1893-94 (Bristol). — American Historical 

 Register, No. 2 (Philadelphia).— Palestine Exploration Fund, tjiiarlcrly 

 Statement) October (London). — Qu;irtcrly Review, (October (Murray). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Two Texl-Books of Botany. Hy Harold Wager . . 613 



Life in Ancient Egypt 615 



Our Book Shelf:— 



(iir.ird : " La Gc Jgraphie littorale." — H. R. M. . . 



Weisbach and Herrmann : " The Mechanics of Hoist- 

 ing Machinery." — N.J. L 



Cotes : " An Elementary Manual of Zoology "... 



Fayrer: " Preservation of Health in India" .... 



black: " First Princii)lcs of Buildijig " 616 



Letters to the Editor: — 



Tlic Inheritance ol .\ciiuircd Characters. — Leonard 

 Hill 



Rhyhchodemus terrestris in Ireland. — -R. T. Scharff 



Dr. Watson's Proof of lioUzmann's Theorem on Per- 

 manence of Dislribulions. — Edwd. P. Culverwell 



The Meteor-Streak of August 26, 1894. — W. F. 

 Denning 



Flight of Oceanic Birds. — Capt. D. Wilson Barker 617 

 A Long Period Meteorograph. {Itlmlratcd.) . . 617 



North American Moths, liy W. F. Kirby .... 619 



Notes 620 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Triangul.tlion of Sixteen .Stars in the I'leiales . . . 623 



The Fifth Satellite of lu|>iicr 624 



The Past Summer. Hy Chas. Harding 624 



On Modern Developments of Harvey's Work. By 



Dr. T. Lauder Brunton, F.R.S. , . ... 



Scientific Method in Board Schools. By Prof. H. E. 



Armstrong, F. R S. 



University and Educational Intelligence 



Scientific Serials 634 



Societies and Academies 6J5 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received tjjt> 



6-5 



616 

 616 

 616 



617 

 617 



617 



617 



62s 



63' 

 634 



