192 



NA TURE 



[December 21, 1893 



spectrura of fluorine, by M. G. Carvallo. — On the diurnal 

 variation of pressure on the summit of Mont Blanc, by 

 M. A. Angot. — On the transformation of iron, by M. G. 

 Charpy. Osmond's investigations of the transformations of 

 iron led him to conclude that this metal exists in two allotropic 

 forms, o and /3, having very different mechanical properties, 

 and, according to him, it is to the transformation of o into yS 

 that we must attribute the greater part of the modification 

 undergone by steel during the process of tempering. M. 

 rharpyhas investigated the matter, and he finds that permanent 

 defoi mation by cooling produces in iron and steel of different 

 qualities an allotropic modification of iron. This transforma- 

 tion can be shown by means of curves of extension-tests. In 

 the case of annealed iron and steel the curve showing the stress 

 and strain has a step in it which does not appear when other 

 varieties are tested. The curves thus furnish a simple method 

 of studying the transformation of iron, its influence on me- 

 chanical properties, and its role in tempering. — On the velocities 

 of etherification of hydrofluoric acid, by M. M. Meslans. 

 — Analysis of butters, by M. C. Viollette. — On the buccal 

 armature and a new digestive gland of Cirripedes, by M. A. 

 Giuvel. — On the localisation of the active principles in resedas, 

 by M. L. Guignard. — On the olivine of MaiUargues, near 

 Ailanche (Cantal), by M. F. Gonnard. — Eruption of the Cal- 

 buco volcano, by M. A. E. Nogues (see Notes).— On Benettiies 

 Morie?-ei, a fossil fruit presenting a new type of gymnosperm 

 inflorescence, by M. O. Lignier. — Employment of artificial 

 cultures of pathogenic microbes in the destruction of trouble- 

 some rodents , by M. J. Dampz. 



Amsterdam. 



Royal Academy of Sciences, November 25. — Prof, 

 van de Sande Bakhuyzen in the chair. — Prof. J. A. C. Oudemans 

 read a paper on the accuracy of the divisions of the altazimuth 

 made by Pistor and Martin, and that by Repsold, for the triangu- 

 lation of Java. In Pistor and Martin's circles, divided into 5', 

 the intervals were alternatively larger and smaller in one instance, 

 the difference in an instrument constructed in 1856 being almost 

 = 6" ; in the other instruments it was much smaller. In 

 Repsold's circles, divided into 4', no difference was found. The 

 discovery of this imperfection led to a severe examination of all 

 the circles, and the result was that, taking into account this dif- 

 ference, and measuring the intervals of seven degrees of each 

 circle from three to five times, it was found that Pistor and 

 Martin's divisions had grown better and better, so that ivithin 

 one degree, the mean error of each line, in the instruments of 

 1S65 and 1867, in linear measure, was only ^/« = TnrrnTTTT of ^n 

 inch. Two altazimuths of Repsold gave ^rV/* — ts Trinnr of an 

 inch. Account was taken of the errors in the measurement of the 

 intervals by the micrometers of the microscopes. The periodic 

 and irregular errors were, of course, larger. — Prof. Zaaijer read 

 a paper on the sutura condylo squamosa of the occipital bone 

 of man and mammalia. For the first time in 1S78 attention 

 was directed to this suture (only part of which remained, and 

 that very rarely, with man) by Dr. W. Dominicus who had 

 found this anomaly on some skulls in the collection of the 

 Anatomical Museum at Leyden. However, this observation 

 remained buried in the dissertation of Dr. Dominicus ("Ontleed 

 kundige aanteekeningen betreffende het achterhoofdsbeen." 

 Leiden, 1878). Last winter Prof. Zaaijer quite accidentally 

 lighted on a human skull (from a grave on the island Disko, 

 Greenland) of which the above-mentioned suture was not 

 obliterated. This induced him to examine the state of the 

 sutura condylo-squamosa of mammalia. By the kindness of 

 the Director of the Museum of Natural History at Leyden, about 

 1900 skulls of mammalia were examined. The chief result of the 

 examination of the skulls of full-grown animals indicated that the 

 suture was found in its entire state with Marsupialia in S'6 per 

 cent, of the examined skulls (35 in number), Rodentia 3*9 per 

 cent. (155), Pachydermaia l6'5 per cent. (85), Ruminantia lO'5 

 per cent. (210), Simire i per cent. (202). With the skulls of 

 the adult anmials from the other classes the suture was never 

 found in its entire state, no more than with man. Before com- 

 municating these results Prof. Zaaijer gave a short description 

 of the normal development of the occipital bone in man. A 

 minute and close investigation of a great number ol human 

 skulls raises the question as to whether the entire obliteration 

 of this suture may not be found more frequently with the so- 

 called lower races. 



NO. 1260, VOL. 49] 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books. — Dynamos. Alternator?, and Transformers: G. Kapp (Biggs). — 

 Electric Traction on Railways and Tramways : A. Reckenzaun (Biggs). — 

 Poriative Electricity: J. l'. Niblett (Biggs). — The Design of Alternate- 

 Current Transformers : R. W. Weekes (Biggs). — Electrical Distribution, its 

 Theory and Pra^ tice, Part i, M H. Kilgour ; Part 2, H. Swan and C. H. 

 W. Biggs (Biggs). — Town Councillor's Hand-book to Electric Lighting : N. 

 S. Russell (Biggs). — First Principles of Electrical Engineering, new edition : 

 C. H W. Biggs (Biggs). — Descriptive Catalogue of the Anatomical and 

 Pathological Specimens in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of 

 Edinburgh, Vol. 1, the Skeleton and Organs of Motion : C W. Cathcart 

 (Edinburgh, Thin). — Romance of the Insect World : L. N. Badenoch (Mac- 

 iiiillan). — tlemeniary Lessons in Steam Machinery and the Marine Steam 

 Engine, new edition: J. Langmaid and H. Gaisfurd (Macmillan). — A Text- 

 book of the Physiological Chemistry of the Animal Body, Vol. 2, the Physio- 

 logical Chemistry of Design : Dr. A. Garagee (Macmillan). — Meteorology: 

 H N. IJickson ( Methuen). — Le Cuivre : P. Weiss (Paris, Baillicre).— Key 

 to Lock's Shilling Arithmetic : H. Carr (Macmillan). — About Orchids : F. 

 Boyle (Chapman and Hall). — Annals of British Geology, 1892 : J. F. Blake 

 (Dulau). — The Flora of the Assyrian Monuments and its Outcomes : Dr. E. 

 Bonavia (Constable). — The Cliff Dwellers of the Mesa Verde, South- Western 

 Colorado : G. Nordenskiold, translated by D. Lloyd Morgan (Stockholm, 

 Norstedtl. — Index Kewensis, Part 2 : J. D Hooker and B. D. Jackson 

 (Oxtord, Clarendon Press).— The Royal Natural History, edited by R. 

 Lydekker, Vol. i. Part 2 (Warne). — Random Recollections of Woodland. 

 Fen, and Hill : J. W. Tutt (Sonnenschein). — Imperial University of Japan, 

 Calendar for the Year 1892-3 (Tokyo). — Les Emules de Darwin, 2 vols. : A. 

 de Quatrefages (Paris, Alcan). 



Pamphlets. — Report of a Conference on Secondary Education in England 

 (Oxford, Clarendon Press).— Official Catalogue of Exhibits and Descriptive 

 Catalogue World's Columbian Exposition, Department M, Anthropological 

 Building (Chicago).— Memoranda of the (Origin, Plan, and Results of the 

 Field and other Experiments at Rothamsted. — Report of an Investigation on 

 the Gases enclosed in Coal and Coal Dust : W. McConnell. 



oERiALS.— Journal of the Chemical Society, December (Gurney and 

 Jackson). — American Meteorological Journal, December (Ginn/. — Bulletin 

 from the Laboratories of Natural History of the State University of Iowa, 

 Vol. 2, No 4 (Iowa). — M6moires de la Soci^t^ de Physique et d'Histoire 

 Naturelle de Geneve, Tome xxxi . Seconde Partie (Geneve). — American 

 Journal of Science, December (New Haven).— Miner logical Magazine, 

 November (Simpkin). — Matt-rials for a Flora of ihe Malayan Peninsula. 

 No. 5, Dr. J. King (Calcutta).— Materials for a Flora of the Malayan 

 Peninsula. Index and Title Page to the Tha'amiflora: (Nos. i to 5 of the 

 Series) : Dr. G. King (Calcutta;.— Johns Hopkins University, Studies in 

 Historical and Political Science, b-leventh Series, xi.-xii. (Baltimore). — 

 Beitriige zur Biologie der Pflanzen, vi. Band, iii. Heft (Williams and 

 Norgate).— Morphologisches Jahrbuch, 20 Band, 4 Heft (Williams and 

 Norgate). 



CONTENTS. PAGF 



The Tombs at Beni Hasan 169 



A Nature Lover's Correspondence 170 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Wallace Stewart : " A Text-book of Heat " .... 171 



Houssay : " The Industries of Animals " 171 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Flame.— G. S. Newth ; Prof. Henry E. Arm- 

 strong, F.R.S .• '71 



The Postal Transmission of Natural History Speci- 

 mens.— R. McLachlan, F. R.S 172 



"Geology in Nubibus" — Mr. Deeley and Dr. Wal- 

 lace.— Sir H. H. Howorth, K.C.I.E., M.P., 



F.R.S ....... 173 



The Viscous Motion of Ice.— John Tennant ... 173 

 Chemistry in Space. — Dr. John Cannell Cain . -'73 

 The Manoeuvring Powt-rs of Steamships and their 

 Practical Applications. {With Diagrams.) By 



Vice-Admiral P. H. Colomb, R.N I74 



The Tunicate, By R. M i79 



Notes 179 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Colour- Aberration of Refracting Telescopes .... 18^ 



Stars with Remarkable Spectra 183 



" Himmel und Erde " for December 184 



A New Variable 184 



Geographical Notes 184 



A New Process for the Preparation of Ethers. By 



A. E. Tutton 184 



The Progress of Technical Education. By R. A. 



Gregory 185 



Scientific Serials 188 



Societies and Academies 189 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 192 



