NA TURE 



[November 9, 1S9; 



from 64 to 6 n I c.c. respectively. Very different is, however, 

 til ; bacterial condition of sea-mad, a> many as 245,000 microbes 

 being fojnd in i c.c. of sliiis at a dapth of 164 feet, and 12,500 

 at 1,640 feet, whilst sea-water exaiiined at such depths con- 

 tained 121 and 22 respectively. Russell has been recently ex- 

 tending his observations {Bjtanical Gxzette, vol. xvii. 1892) to 

 the sea-water and mid on the Missachusetts coist. The num- 

 ber of bacteria, both in the water and slime, was very much less 

 in these more northern and cooler waters than in the Mediter- 

 ranean at Naples. The microbes present in the mud from 

 Buzzard's Biy average from 10,000 to 30,000 per c c, being but 

 a very sncil! fraction of the number found in Meiiterranean mud 

 at equal depths. Simples of mad were also obtained about 100 

 miles from the shore at a depth of 100 fathoms, on the edge of 

 the great continental platform skirted by the Gulf Stream. 

 These samples are the farthest from land that have ever been 

 bacteriologically examined, and bacteria were found in large 

 numbers ; moreover, the two prevailing varieties present were 

 identical with those obtained near the Massachusetts coast. As 

 in his earlier researches, Russell also here found but few varieties 

 of bacteria in the mud, mostly two or three, and curiously one 

 form, Cladothrix intn'cata, isolated from Mediterranean mud 

 and frequently met with, was only rarely found in this Atlantic 

 slime. 



Ethyl and methyl derivatives of hydroxylamine, in which 

 the alkyl radicles replace an atom of the hydrogen in the amido 

 group, and are therefore directly linked to nitrogen, have been 

 isolated by Dr. Kjellin, of Heidelberg, and their mode of pre- 

 paration and properties are described in the current number of 

 the Bericlite. They have been obtained by the decomposition 

 with hydrochloric acid of the esters of meta-nitro-benzaldoxim, 

 which oxim was merely 'selected on account of its ready pre- 

 paration in a state of purity. The process consisted in boiling 

 the ester with seven limes its volume of concentrated hydro- 

 chloric acid in a flask to which a reflux condenser was attached, 

 subsequently cooling, saturating the liquid with hydrjchlorio 

 acid gas, and again boiling for a few minutes. A large quantity 

 of meta-nitro-benzaldehyde is deposited and removed by 

 filtration, after which the hydrochloride of the substituted 

 hydroxylamine is obtained by evaporation, first over a water 

 bath, and finally over sulphuric acid. In order to isolate the free 

 bases from the hydrochlorides, the same method was adopted as 

 proved so efficacious in the isolation of hydroxylamine itself, 

 namely, decomposition with sodium alcoholate, and subsequent 

 fractional distillation of the resulting liquid in vacuo. The 

 hydrochloride was dissolved in the minimum quantity of methyl 

 alcohol, and a little less than the calculated quantity of sodium 

 iv.ethylate added, the large evolution of heat being controlled 

 by extraneous cooling. The deposited sodium chloride was 

 removed by filtration through asbestos ; filter paper cannot be 

 employed on account of the strongly corrosive properties of 

 these methyl and ethyl derivatives of hydroxylamine. Upon 

 distillation in vacuo in the case of the methyl compound, after 

 the greater portion of the methyl alcohol has passed over and 

 at a temperature of 35-40"', an alcoholic solution of the base 

 distils, then finally the free base admixed with a small propor- 

 tion of alcohol. Upon submitting this last fraction to redis- 

 tillation, at a temperature of 62° and a pressure of 15 m.m., the 

 pure )3-methyl hydroxylamine, CH3NH.OII, distils as a 

 colourless liquid, which solidifies' to a solid composed of colour- 

 less and odourless prisms upon cooling with ice or agitation of 

 the receiver. The crystals melt sharply at 42°, but do not 

 resolidify until the mach lower temperature of 20° is reached. 

 Upon distillation in vacuo in the case of the ethyl compound, 

 after the methyl alcohol has largely passed over an alcoholic 

 solution of the base distils for a short time, then lastly the ethyl 

 compound itself commences to sublime and condenses in the 



receiver in the form of large leafy crystals, filling the whole 

 receiver. After pressing the crystals on porous plates to remove 

 any superficial oil, pure yS-ethyl hydroxylamine C.,H-NH.OH 

 is obtained ; the crystals are quite colourless and odourless, and 

 exhibit a mother-of-pearl lustre. They melt sharply at 59-60° 

 without decomposition. 



The /3-methyl and /3-ethyl derivatives of hydroxylamine are 

 substances which are readily soluble in water and lower 

 alcohols, but only very slightly in ethe pnd benzene. The 

 crystals of both deliquesce in moist aii. In the case of the 

 methyl compound the deliquesced substance rapidly volatilises ; 

 but in the case of the ethyl compound the deliquescence can 

 only be observed in badly-stoppered bottles, for in the open air 

 the spontaneous volatilisation is so rapid that the substance has 

 not time to deliquesce before it entirely disappears. Both com- 

 pounds react strongly basic, and reduce alkaline copper and 

 silver solutions as energetically as hydroxylamine itself in the 

 cold. They strongly attack organic substances, but do not etch 

 glass, nor do they appear to be explosive substances like free 

 hydroxylamine. Both compounds are rapidly destroyed by 

 halogens with production of halogen acids ; concentrated 

 hydriodic acid converts them to amines. When heated for some 

 time in a sealed tube with concentrated hydrochloric acid, the 

 methyl compound suffers an interesting change, being converted 

 into ammonia and formaldehyde — CH3NH.OH = NH3 -F 

 HCOH. 



Notes from the Marine Biological Station, Plymouth. — Last 

 week's captures include another living specimen of Lima 

 Loscomhii, the Holothurian Tliyone fusus, and the rare Nemer- 

 tines Cai-inella polyinorpha (second specimen), Cei ebratiilus 

 juarginatus (first record), and a large Lineus bilincatus (16 cm. 

 long). The tow-nettings have been of a uniform character. 

 The diatom Coscinodiscus has been present in remarkable pro- 

 fusion for several weeks past. Medusae have been scarce. The 

 most plentiful larva; are those of Polychaetes, of Cirrhipedes, 

 the Mysis stages of several Decapods, and Scyphonaiites. 

 Veligers are present in small numbers ; and isolated specimens 

 o{\\\&\2^cs'stoiCephalothrix, Porcellana and Carcintis {Megaljps) 

 have also been observed. Very few individuals of Crangoti 

 vulgaris are now to be found bearing ova. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during 

 the past week include a Black handed Spider Monkey [Ateles 

 geoffroyi) from Nicaragua, presented by Mr. T. E. M. Rymer- 

 Jones ; a Rhesus Monkey {Macacus rhesus, 9 ) from India, 

 presented by Miss G. A. Gollock ; two Macaque Monkeys 

 (Afacacus cynoinolgus, i i ) from India, presented respectively 

 by Mr. W. Wylde and the Hon. Mrs. E. Yorke ; a Philippine 

 Deer {Cervus philippinus, 9 ) from Manila, presented by Capt. 

 T. E. Saunders ; seven Common Quails {Coturnix coiiununis), 

 two Common Terns {Sterna hirundo), two Common Toads 

 (Bufo vu/garis) European, two Bull Frogs [Kana catesbiana) 

 from North America, a Grey-headed Porphyrio {PorpJiyrio 

 poliocephala) from India, presented by Mrs. Rickards ; a Smooth 

 Snake {Coronella hvvis) British, presented by Mr. A. Green ; a 

 Bay Wood Owl {Phodilus bodius) fron Java, deposited; two 

 Rose-Hill Parrakeets {Platycercus eximius) from Tasmania, a 

 Purple Sandpiper ( Triiiga striata) British, purchased. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



A New Southern Star. — Prof. Krueger has received a 

 telegram from Prof. E. C. Pickeiing to the effect that a new- 

 star was discovered by Mrs. Fleming on October 26. Its Right 

 Ascension is given as 230° 34', and its North Polar Distance 

 = 140° 14'. The magnitude on July 10 =:7'o. No further 

 details have been received, but from the date for which the 

 magnitude is given it is probable that the star was detected by 



NO. 1254, VOL. 49] 



