^:S 



NA TURE 



[March 28, 1895 



the prolonged action of dilute saline solutions, by M. A. 

 Dastre. — On the variations of terrestrial latitudes, by M. F. 

 GonnessiaL — On the theory of a system of differential equations, 

 by M. A. J. Stodolkievitz. — On a general definition of fric- 

 tion,, by M. Paul Painleve. — On Fourier's problem, by M. Le 

 Roy. — .\bsorption of light in uniaxial crystals, by M. G. 

 Moreau. The symmetry of uniaxial absorption is not so com- 

 plete as the theory of the ellipsoid of absorption indicates. The 

 dissymmetry is greater as the crystal is more birefringent. — 

 On the potential of an electrified surface, by M. Jules 

 .\ndr.-iJe. — .\pparatus imitating the movements executed by 

 certain animal? in turning round without external fulcra, by 

 M. £dm. Fouche. The explanation of the movements of a cat, 

 enabling it lo always fall on its feet, given by M. Guyou, i'i 

 completely borne out by the successful repioduction of the 

 rotatory movement with a strictly mechanical model. — The 

 catoptric and symmetrical objective, by M. Ch. V. Zenger. — On 

 a class of secondar)' batteries, by M. Lucien Poincare. The 

 author describes a secondary battery with mercury for poles and 

 sodium iodide in concentrated solution for electrolyte. The mer- 

 cury iodide formed remains in solution, and the soJium forms 

 an amalgam with the mercury. On discharge the yield is more 

 than 90 per cent, of the theoretical. The battery is not affected 

 by short circuiting or the particular manner of its discharge, but 

 is unlikely to be practically used on account of the expensive 

 nature of the materials, and the necessity of removing the amal- 

 gam from contact with the liquid if the battery is to remain long 

 charged. — On the effect of an alternating electromotive force on 

 the capillary electrometer, by M. Bernard Brunhes. — Thermo- 

 chemical carbon battery, by M. Desire Kordi. By the action of 

 carbon on barium peroxide during the reduction of the latter to 

 monoxide, an E.M.F. of nearly I volt is produced when ar- 

 ranged as a cell. In the case given an internal resistance of 

 13*6 ohms was found. A similar arrangement with cop. 

 per peroxide, the latter being separated from the carbon 

 pole by dry, pure potassium carbonate, gave I'l volt with 

 an internal resistance of 3"2 ohms. — Action of nitrous 

 oxide on metals and metallic oxides, by MM. Paul 

 Sabatier and J. B. Senderens. A table is given showing the 

 comparative reactions of NjO, NO, and NO;, and air on a series 

 of metals and oxides. The deduction is drawn that oxidations 

 by means of N^O are caused by the direct action of this gas 

 without preliminary decomposition into its constituents. — Re- 

 searches on the heats of combination of mercury with the 

 elements, by M. Raoul Varet. — On the isomeric states of the 

 oxides of mercury, by M. Raoul Varet. It is shown that yellow 

 and red oxides dissolve in dilute IICX with liberation of the 

 same amount of heat, and hence the transformation of yellow 

 into red oxide gives no appreciable thermal effect. — On the heat 

 of formation of some compounds of iron, by M. H. Le 

 Chatclicr.— On the chlor-aldehydes, by M. Paul Rivals. A thcr- 

 mochcmical paper. — On a mercuric combination of thiophene, 

 permitting the estimation of the latter in commercial benzene 

 and its extraction therefrom, by M. G. Deniges. .\ very stable 

 combination of mercury and thiophene, having the composition 

 (SO4Hg.Hg0)jSC4H^.H;O, is obtained by treatment of thio- 

 phene with an acid solution of mercuric sulphate (made by dis- 

 solving fifty grams of mercuric oxide in 200 c.c. of pure sulphuric 

 acid diluted with a litre of distilled water). On account of its 

 insolubility and ease of formation, this compound may be used 

 for the detection of traces of thiophene in benzene and for the 

 purificaiion of benzene. — On the amorphous stale of melted 

 substances, by M. C. Tanret. — Derivatives of active a hydro- 

 xybulyric acid; by MM. Ph. A. Guye and Ch. Jordan. A 

 paper K'*'"!? optical rotations and products of a'-ymnielry. — 

 The production of wine and the utilisation of fertilising prin- 

 ciples by the vine, by M. A. Muntz. — On the decortication of 

 wheal, by M. P.alland.— On the parts taken respectively by 

 purely physical and bjr physiological actions in the disengage- 

 ment of carbonic acid by muscles isolated from the body, by 

 M. J. Tissot. — Therapeutic action of currents of high frequency 

 (auloconduction of M. d'Arsonval), by M.M. .'\postoli ami 

 Berlioz. These currents have a powerful influence on the nutri- 

 tive activity of the tissues, and hence are of first importance in 

 the treatment of many functional troubles, caused by deltctive 

 nutrition. — New application of the graphic method to music, by 

 MM. A. Binel and J. Courtier. — Ili-tological researches on the 

 devcl pmcnt of the Mucorini, by M. Maurice Leger. — On the 

 l;eology of Ossola (Atpn l.ipontini), by M. S. Travcrso.— On 

 an application of photography to oceanography, by M. J. 

 Thoulet. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED 



Books. — Bird Mores: late J. M. H.iyward (Longmans).— Statesman's 

 Vear-Biiok, i895(Macmillan). — 0"-'^titati\c Chemical Analysis of Inorganic 

 Substances (American Book Company, New York). — Annals of British 

 Geology, 1893: J. F. Blake(Dulau)— A Handbook of Systematic Botany: 

 Dr. E. Warming, translated and edited by Prof.M.C. Potter(Sonnenschein). 

 — Illustrations of the Zoology of H.M. Indian Marine Surveying Steamer 

 Inrfsti^alor. Part i (t^u.iriich). — Stanlord's Compendium of Geography 

 and Travel (new issue)— Africa, Vol. i ; North .Africa : .A. H Keane 

 (Stanford). — Hygienische Meteorologie : Prol. Dr. W. J. van Bebber 

 (Stuttgart, Enke). — Text-Book of Anatomy and Physiology f'r Nurses: 

 O. C. Kimber (NIacmilUn). — Chemical Analysis of Oils, Fats, Waxes, &c. : 

 Dr. R. Benedikt, revised and enlarged by Dr. J. Lcwkowitscli(Macmillan). 

 Taschenbuch fur Flugtechnikcr und I.uftschiffer: H. W. L. Moedebeck, 

 (Berlin, Kuhl). — Le Piiirole, L'Asphalte et le Bitumc : A. Jaccard (Paris, 

 -Alcan). 



Pa.mphlets.— Madras Government Museum. Bulletin No. 3 : RAm6- 

 varam Island and Fauna of the Gulf of Manaar ; E. Thurston, 2nd edi- 

 tion (Madras) —Die Entwickelung ; Dr. G. Pfeffer (Berlin, Friedlander), 



Serials. — Royal Natural History, Part 17 (Warne). — Proceedings of ihe 

 Koyal Society of Victoria. Vol. vii. new scries (Melbourne). — American 

 Naturalist, March (Philadelphia). — Astrophysical Journal, March (Chi- 

 cago), — Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, No. 115, Vol. 

 xxiv. (Spun). — Economic Journal, March (Macmillan). — Botanische Jahr- 

 bucher, Neunzehnter Band, v. Heft Leipzig, Engelmann). — Transactions 

 of the Astronomical and Physical Society of Toronto for the Year 1894 

 (Toronto, Kowscll). — Zeitschrift fi'ir PhysikalischeChemie, xvi. Band, 3 Heft 

 (Leipzig, Engelmann). — Minnesota Botanical Studies, Bulletin No. 9 

 (.Minneapolis).- Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. xvi. Nos. 3 and 4 

 (Leyden. Brill).— Good Words, April (Isbister).— Sund.iy Mag.-i7ine, April 

 (Nbister). — Longman's Magazine, .^pril (Longmans). — Quarterly Journal of 

 Microscopical Science, No. 147 (Churchill). — Hulletinol the Geographical 

 Club of PhiLidelphia, Vol. i. No. 3 (Philadelphia).— Bulletin of the U.S. 

 Geological Survey, No. 120 (Washington). 



CONTENTS. PA.L 



Orb-Weaving Spiders of the United States. My 



Rev. O. P. Cambridge, F.R.S 505 



The Sea and its Coasts 507 



The Chemistry of Cod-liver Oil. By Jas. Cameron 508 i 

 Our Book Shelf:— ' 



Wislicenus : " Aslronomische Chronologie." — W. 



J. S. L 509 



Hellmann : " Die altesten Karten der Isogonen, Iso- 



clinen, Isodynamen" 5°9 



Briggs : "An Elementary Text-book of Hydro- 

 statics" 5°9 I 



Letters to the Editor: — 



The Statistical Investigation of Evolution.— J. T, 



Cunningham . • ... 510 - 



A True Spectrum Top and a Complementary One. — 



Dr. C. Herbert Hurst 5'° | 



A Koucault Pendulum at Dublin.— W. R. 'Westropp | 



Roberts S«0 1 



Snake Cannibalism.— J. Schonland SII I 



American Freshwater Sponges in Ireland. — Dr. R. j 



Hanitsch 5" ' 



Peripatus in the West Indian Islands.— J. H. Hart , 511 



PLauetary Photography.— C. T. 'Whitmell .... 511 



Cle.ining Tobacco Pipes.— Cecil Carus- Wilson . SIlj 

 The Habits of Limpets. By Prof. J. R. Ainsworth 



Davis S"| 



Terrestrial Helium (?) 5'» j 



Notes S'3j 



Our Astronomical Column : — 1 



The Moon and Atmospheric Waves S'* 



Stellar Photography 5'° 



Stanilard Time in Australia 5'°l 



Nova Auriga: 5'"' 



New Compounds of Hydrazine with Fatty Acids. 



By A. E. Tutton 5' 



The Aurora of March 13 S'7 



The U.S. Units of Electrical Measure ( >KiV/< Diagram) 518 

 On the Nature of Muscular Contraction (Willi 



Dinsnams). liy Prof. Th. W. Engelmann .... 5' 



The Snail Fauna of the Greater Antilles S24 



University and Educational Intelligence 5'.' 



Scientific Serials 5'! 



Societies *nd Academies 5' 



Books, PampQlets, and Serials Received .... 1-' 



NO. 1326, VOL. 5 1] 



