404 



NATURE 



[February 22, 1894 



Davies, Mr. Vaughan Jennings, and Dr. G. J. Hinde took 

 part. The author briefly replied. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences. February 12. — M. Lcewy in the 

 chair. — On a theorem connecting the theory of synchronisation 

 with the theory of resonances, by M. A. Cornu. A demon- 

 stration is given leading to the theorem : "A verysmall periodic 

 I'orre, varying wiih the time according to any law capable of 

 development by Fourier's series, is equivalent in its action on 

 a vibralii'g system, damping slowly and of almost the same 

 period, to the simple pendular force represented by the terms 

 of the first order of the series." The general character of 

 synchronisation is pointed out, and the necessity of considering 

 it where resonance i'^ an important property is insisted on. — 

 New experiments on the production of artificial diamonds, by 

 M. Henri Moissan. — On interior pressure in gases, by M . E. H, 



Amagat. The author defines interior pressure asir= (T-^-/! 



and traces its value for carbon dioxide, ethylene, oxygen, 

 nitrogen, air, and hydrogen. With the more perfect gases, ir 

 as the volume decreases first increases to a maximum, and then 

 decreases ; the maximum for hydrogen is reached at a couipara- 

 tively low pressure, and tt for this gas continues decreasing 

 through zero to a negative value. With ethylene and carbon 

 dioxide the maximum has not been reached. — On the time of 

 departure for the Iceland fishery, by M. Jean Sicard. — Note on 

 the solar observations made at the Lyons Ol)servatory (B runner 

 equatorial) during the second quarter of 1893, by M. J. 

 Guillaume. — On rectilinear congruences and on Ribancour's 

 problem, by M. E. Cosserat. — On a characteristic propeity of 

 the linear element of spiral surfaces, by M. Alphonse Demoulin. 

 — On some points in the theory of functions, by M. Emile 

 Borel.^ — On a theorem concerning harmonic functions of several 

 real variables, by M. G. D. d'Anme. — Researches on the mode 

 of combustion of balli-iic explosives, by M. Paul Vieille. The 

 author has studied the character of explosions under pressure, and 

 will publish the results in a coming [>aper.- — On the conductibiliiy 

 of discontinuous conducting substances, by M. Edouard Branly. 

 Two hypotheses appear to explain the experimental results : — 

 (i) The insulator interposed between the conducting particles 

 becomes a conductor by the passage of a current of high 

 potential, ai d the observed phenomena characierise the Ci<n- 

 ductibility of the insulating substance. (2) It may be regarded 

 as demonstrated that it is not necessary for the particles of a 

 conductor to lie in contact to allow the passage of even a feeble 

 electric current ; the distance for which the conductibility per- 

 sists depends on the energy of ihe anterior electrical effects. In 

 this case, the insulator serves chiefly to maintain a certain 

 interval between the particles. — On the fubibiliiy of isomor- 

 phous saline mixtures, by M. H. Le Chatclier. Tables and 

 curves are given showing the temperatures of crystallisaiion of 

 varying mixtures of pairs of isomorphous salts, - K^COs • 

 KaoCDj, - Na.,S04 : K.,S< ^4, - KXrO^ : K.SO4, - Na".,M04 : 

 NaXOj, - KXO3 : K3SO4. - NaCi : KCi, - KI : KCl.— 

 On the assimilauon 01 gaseous aimosplieric nitrogen by 

 microbes, by jNI. S. \Vin<)grad>ky. — On the aniituxic property 

 of the t)l<>od of animals vaccina ed against viper pmson, f)y 

 MM. C. Phi^alix and G. Bcrtrand. If viper poison be mixed 

 with certain proportions of the detibrina ed blood (if an inocu- 

 lated animal it fails to pnison on injection. — Researches on the 

 anaiomv and development of the fe.uale genital armaiature in 

 lepidop'erous insects, by M. A. Peyt-ureau. — Observations on 

 h)permetamorphosis or hypnodia among the cantharuiise. The 

 stage called pseudo-chr\>alis, ciin>idered a> a ptienomenon of 

 encystment, by M. J. Kiiickel d'Herculais. — Salivary glands of 

 hymenoptera of the faaiily of the Crabronidae, by \1. Bur 'as. — 

 On some parasites of the Lepidudendra ol Culm, by M. B. 

 Rrnauli.- — Observations on the character of the relation-hip 

 between platinum and its mother- rock, 17 M Stanislas Mcunier. 

 The autbor points Mut the agreemt- nt between the views ol M. 

 Inosiraiizeff (C R. January 29) and his o*n previously published 

 ob-ervations. The metallic platinum must have been deposited 

 in the inter>tices of leridotic masses by the interaciiun 01 

 hydrogrn and platinic chloride vapours at a red heat, much 

 below ihe temperature of fusion of tlie r^ck. — On a be.i of 

 apophylliie in the environ-i of Collu (Algeria), by M. L. Gcntil. 

 — Eru|itu>n of the volcano C-tlbuco, by M. A. F. Nogues — 

 Rtmaikson the earthquakes in the island of Zante during 1893, 

 by M. A. Issel. 



NO. 1269, VOL. 49] 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED, 



Books. — The Student's Introductory Handtiook of Systematic Botany: 

 J. W. Oliver (Blackie). —A School Course m Heat ;th eduim : VV. Larden 

 (S. Low). — Rematkable Comets. .;nd edition: W. I". Lynn (Stanford). — 

 Celestial Motio is. 8ih edition: W. T. Lynn (Stanford). — The Voices of the 

 Siars: J. E. Walker (Stock). The Universal f.lectrical Directory. 1894 

 (Alabaster). — B 'urne"s Handy Assurance Directory, 1894 ; W. Schooling 

 (London). — Social Kvolution : B. Kidd (MacmiUan). — Manures and the 

 Principles of Manuring: C. ^^ Aikman (Biackw od). — SociiSt^ d'Encou- 

 ragemeni pour I'lndustrie National Annuaire pour I'.Ann^e 1894 (Pans). — A 

 Memorial \V .rk, chitfly on Botany and Zoology, in Conimemoratiun of the 

 Ninetieth anniversary of Kei>.uke Ito, 2 vols. T. Ito(Nngoya, Japan. 



Pamphi F.TS — Imitaiion : a Chapter in the Natural History of Conscious- 

 ness : Prof. J. M. Baldwin. — Stonyhurst College ' ib'-ervatory. Results of 

 MeieoroloKical and M ignetical Observations, 1893 (Clitheroe) — Erinnerung 

 an Eilhard Mitscherlich. 1794-1863 (Berlin). — Guide to the Examinations 

 in Elementary Agriculture and Answers to Questions, Elemcniary Mage, 

 1884-93 (Blackie) — The Internal Work of ihe Wind : S. P Langiey (Wash- 

 ington — Revision ofthe Japanese Species of Pedicularis, L. : T. lto(Vagoya, 

 Japan). — Note on the Burmanniacee of Japan: T. Ito (Nagoya, Japan). — 

 The Development of the Skeleton of the Limbs of the Horse: Prof. J. C 

 Ewart. 



Serials. — Journal of the Chemical Society, F«bruary (Gurney and lack 

 son). —M'-moirs an<i Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philoso- 

 phical .Society, 1893-4. Vol. viii. No. i (Manchester) — Bitanische 

 Jahrbiicher fur Sysiemat k, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzenge graphie, 

 Achizehiiter Band, i and 2 Heft (Williams and Norgate) Bain, part 64 

 (Macm Man). — linyineering Magazine, February (New York). — Medical 

 Magazine, February (Sonthsvood). — Verhandlungen der GeselKchaft fiir 

 Erdkunde zu Be>lin, Band x.\. No. 10 (Berlin) American Journal of 

 Mathematics, Vol. xvi. No i (Baltimore). — Proceedings of the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh Session 1892-3. Vol. xx. pp. 97-160 (Edinburgh). — 

 Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. xxxvii. p.irts i and 2 

 (Edinhurgh). — Himmel und Erde, February (Berlin). B Uettino della 

 Societa Geografica Italiana, Serie 3, V'^l. 6, fasc. 10 and 11 (Koma). — 

 Indian Museum Nfntes, Vol. vii. No. 7 (Calcutta). — J. urnal ot ihe Asiatic 

 Society of Bengal, Vol Ixii. part 2. No. 3 (Calcutta). — Journal of the 

 Anthropolo ical Insiitute, February (K. Paul). — Harvard University Bulle- 

 tin, January. — American Meteotol gical Journal, February (Ginn). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Boltzmann on Maxwell 381 



The Story of the Sun. By A. Fowler 382 



The Lepidopiera of the Atlantic Islands, By W. 



F. Kirby . 384 



The Active Principles of Plants 385 



Our Book Shelf - 



Zacharias : " Forschungsberichte aus der Biolo- 



gi-chen Station zu Pion." — F. W. G 385 



Hiller : " Biology as it is applied against Dogma and 



Freewill, and for Weismannism." — P. C. M. 386 



Gla^cbrook : " Heat : an Elementary Text- Book, 

 Theoretical and Practical, for Colleges and 



Schools ' . . 386 



Bonney : " Electrical Experiments " 386 



Letters to 'he Koiioi : 



On M. Mercadier's Test of the Relative Validity of 

 the Electrostatic and Elect lOmaj^jnetic Systems of 

 Dimensions. — Prof. Arthur W. Riicker, F.R.S. 387 

 The Cloudy Condensation ol Steam. — Shelford Bid- 

 well, F.R.S 388 



On the Cardinal Points of the Tusayan Villagers. — ^J. 



Walter Fcwkes 388 



The -icamiinavian Ice-sheet. — Prof. T. G. Bonney, 



F.R.S 388 



The Niimenclature of Radiant Energy. — Prof. A. N. 

 Pearson . 389 



The Fecundations of Dynamics. By Prof. A, Gray . 389 

 An Incident in the Cholera Epidemic at Altona. 



By Prof. Percy Frankland, F.R.S 392 



Notes 392 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Sun-spots and Magnetic Disturbances 397, 



S'onyhurst College Observatory 397' 



The " Annuaire " of the Buieau des Longitudes . . 397 



I he S[ieetium of Nova Nutmse 397 



The Smithsonian Institutio.i Report . . . 397 



The Giccniand Expedition of the Berlin Geo- 



graphical Society 399! 



The sun-spot Period and the West Indian Rain- 

 fall. By iVlaxwell Hall ... -399 



On Prepan.f; iiie Way for Trchnical Instruction. 



B> Sir Pnilip Magnua . 40° 



University dno Eauc-itional Intelligence 40' 



Scientific SeriaiS . ... 40^1 



Societies 4nii Acaderait-s .... . • 4^^ i 

 Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 4°"' 



1 



