I20 



NA TURE 



[June 4, 1903 



oxide, by M. V. Grigrnard. The experiments of M. Blaise 

 have been repeated under slightly different conditions, the 

 ether being- distilled off before water is added. Good yields 

 of primary alcohols are thus obtained, ethyl magnesium 

 bromide and ethylene oxide giving b2 per cent, of the 

 theoretical yield of normal butyl alcohol. — On acetones 

 containing acetylene linkages. A new synthesis of the 

 pyrazols, by MM. Ch. Moureu and M. Brachin. Ketones 

 of the type R — C=C— Co — R', which can be prepared by 

 the action of acid chlorides or anhydrides upon the sodium 

 derivatives of substituted acetylenes, react with hydrazines 

 to form pyrazols. The constitution of pyrazols prepared 

 from unsymmetrical ;8-diketones can thus be fixed with 

 certainty. — On some addition products of vinyl-acetic acid, 

 by M. R. Lespieau. — The electrolytic separation of 

 manganese and iron, of aluminium from iron or nickel, 

 and of zinc from iron, by MM. Hollard and Bertiaux. 

 The separations are simplified by the reduction of 'the iron 

 to the ferrous state by means of sulphur dioxide before 

 proceeding to the electrolysis. — On a reaction of methyl 

 violet in presence of sulphurous acid, by M. H. Causse. 

 — On the determination of the respiratory exchanges in 

 aquatic media, by MM. J. P. Bounhiol and A. Foix. 

 — The mandibular glands of the larvae of the Lepidoptera, 

 by M. L. Bordas. — On Degeeria funebris, a parasite of 

 Haltica atnpelophaga, by MM. C. Vaney and A. Conte. — 

 On the browning of the vine, by MM. L. Ravaz and 

 L. Sicard. — On the start of a lateral branch inserted on 

 the axis after the division of the embryo, by M. P. Ledoux. 

 — On the specialisation of parasitism in Erysiphe graminis, 

 by M. Em. Marchal. — Sexuality in the genus Monascus, 

 by M. P. A. Dang^eard. — Contribution to the cytological 

 study of chlorphyllian bodies containing metachromatic 

 corpuscles, by M. Jules Villard. — On the presence of 

 cadaverine in the products of the hydrolysis of muscle, by 

 MM. A. Etard and A. Vila. Cadaverine was isolated in 

 notable quantities from the products of the hydrolysis of 

 muscle in a slightly decomposed state. The occurrence of 

 (■onsiderable quantities of this alkaloid in slightly -decom- 

 posed meat would appear to exclude the hypothesis of micro- 

 bial formation. — The arrangement of the scales in Meso- 

 saurus tenuidens, by M. L^on Vaillant. — Retinal inertia 

 relating to the sense of form ; its variation according to the 

 criterium adopted. The formation of a wave of sensibility 

 on the retina, by MM. Andr^ Broca and D. Sulxer.— The 

 destruction of termites, by M. A. Loir. The ravages of 

 these ants at Bulawayo were so great that special attempts 

 were made to destroy them on the large scale. The use 

 of gaseous sulphur dioxide proved very effectual. — On the 

 artificial culture of the truffle, by M. Raphael Dubois. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, June 4. 

 Royal Institution, ai 5.— Electric Resonance and Wireless Tele- 

 graphy : Prof. J. A. Fleming, F.R.S. 

 Chemical Society, at 8.— Imino-ethers corresponding to Orthosubstituted 

 Benzenoid Amines : G. D. Lander and F. T. Jewson.— (i) Formation of 

 an Anhydride of Camphoryloxime ; (2) The Mutarolation of Glucose as 

 influenced by Acids, Bases and Salts ; (3J The Solubility of Dynamic 

 Isomerides : T. M. Lowry. -(i) Isomeric Partially Racemic Salts con- 

 taining Quinquevalent Nitrogen. Part X. The Four Isomeric Hydrind- 

 amine ^-Chlorocamphorsulphonates NR]N2H3 ; (2) Isomeric Com- 

 pounds of the Type NRjR.oHg: F. S. Kipping.— The Hydrolysis of 

 Ethyl Mandelate by the Fat Splitting Enzyme, Lipase : H. D. Dakin. 

 RoNTGEN Society, at 8.^0.— On the Electric Field surrounding the 



X-Ray Tube : Rev. P. Mulholland. 

 LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — Anatomy and Development of Comys in/e/ix, 

 Embleton, a Hymenopterous Parasite of Lecaniutn hejnisj>>iaericnm : 

 Miss Alice L. Embleton. — Notes on the Transition of Opposite Leaves 

 into the Alternate Arrangement ; a New Factor in Morphologic Observa- 

 tion : Percy Groom. 



/^i?//>y<I'. Junes. 

 Royal Institution, at 9.— The New Star in Gemini: Prof. H. H. 



Turner, F.R.S. 

 Physical Society, at 5.— Special Meeting at University College.— 



Radio-active Processes : Prof. Rutherford. 

 Gf.ologists' AssociATion, at 8. — The Geology of Lower Tweedside, with 

 Special Reference to the Long Excursion : J. G. Goodchild. 

 SATURDAY, June 6. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— The " De Magnete " and its Author : Prof. 

 S. P. Thompson, F.R.S. 



MONDAY, June 8. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30.— Journeys in Mongolia : C. W. 



Campbell. 

 Institute of Actuaries, at 5. — Annual General Meeting. 



WEDNESDAY, June 10. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30.— The First Year's Work of the 

 National Antarctic Expedition : The President. 



THURSDAY, June ii. 



Royal Society, at 4. — Election of Fellows.— At 4.30. — Probable papers : 

 The Bending of Electric Waves round a Conducting Obstacle ; Amended 

 Result : H. M. Macdonald, F.R S. — On the Propagation of Tremors 

 along the Surface of an Elastic Solid : Prof. H. Lamb, F.R.S.— The 

 Diffusion of Salts in Aqueous Solutions : J C. Graham. — On the Structure 

 of Gold Leaf, and the Absorption Spectrum of Gold : Prof. J. W. Mallet, 

 F.R.S. — On Reptilian Remains from the Trias of Elgin : G. A. Boulenger, 

 F.R.S. — A Method for the Investigation of Fossils by Serial Sections: 

 Prof. W. J. .Sollas, F.R.S.— An Account of the Devonian Fish, Palaeo- 

 spoiidylus Gunni, Traquair : Prof. W. J. Sollas, r'.R.S., and Miss Igerna 

 B. J. Sollas. — The Measurements of Tissue Fluid in Man ; Preliminary 

 Note : Dr. G. Oliver. 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30. — Quaternions : Major P. A. MaclMahon. 

 — Automorphic Functions and the General Theory of Algebraic Curves : 

 Mr. H. W. Richmond — Jacobi's Construction for Quadric Surfaces : 

 Prof. G. B. Mathews. 



FRIDAY, June 12. 



Physical Society, at s- — Some Experiments on Shadows in an Astigmatic 

 Beam of Light : Prof. S. P. Thompson. — The Positive lonisation produced 

 by Hot Platinum in Air at Low Pressures : O. W. Richardson — On a 

 Method of Determining the Viscosity of Pitch-like Solids : Prof. F. T. 

 Trouton and E. S Andrews. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5. 



Malacological Society, at 8.— A List of Species of Molluscafrom South 

 Africa, forming an Appendix to G. B. Sowerby's " Marine Shells of South 

 Africa": E. A. Smith. — On a New Genus, Planorbia, Moore, from the 

 Albert Edward and Albert Nyanzas : J. E. S. Moore.— Notes on Some 

 Jurassic Shells from Borneo, including a New Species of Trigonia : 

 R. Bullen Newton.— Description o^ Marginella lateritia, n.sp., from the 

 Andaman Islands: J. C. Melvill and E. R. Sykes.— New Mollusca fron\ 

 New Zealand : Rev. W. H. Web.ster. 



NO. 1753, VOL. 68] 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Infinite Series. By G. B. M 97 



A Plea for Interaction. By G. S. B 9g 



The New Encyclopaedia 9 



Bio-Chemistry. By A. McK 99 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Howe: "Metallurgical Laboratory Notes." — 



T. K. R. 100 



Gillies and Hall : '* Nature Studies in Australia." — 



r! L. ..... . ... 100 



Petrilli : '* ConsideVazioni agrarie sul Piano di Capi- 



tanata" 100 



Gore : " The Stellar Heavens " 101 



Stebbing : " Departmental Notes on Insects that 



Affect Forestry " 101 



Treadwell: "Analytical Chemistry."— J. B. C. . . . 101 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Coleridge's Theory of Life. — Sir Samuel Wilks, 



Bart., F.R.S 102 



Psychophysical Interaction.— Oliver Heaviside, 



F.R.S.; {With Diagram.) G. W. Hemming. 102 

 Atmospheric Electricity. By C. T. R. Wilson, 



F.R.S 102 



Rainfall and River Flow in the Thames Basin. By 



Dr. Hugh Robert Mill 104 



J. V. Laborde (1830-1903). By Dr. J. Deniker . . io> 



Notes 106 



Our Astronomical Column :— 



A Reported Projection on Mars ... 1 1 1 



Report of The Oxford University Observatory . . . in 



Periodicities of the Tidal Forces and Earthquake.'-^ . . 1 1 f 

 Mishongnovi Antelope-Snake Ceremonies. (/////.- 



trated.) By George A. Dorsey m 



Were the Fern-Cycads Seed-bearing Plants? . . 113 

 "Tabloid" Preparations for Photography . . . .114 



A New Index of Applied Science. By G. W. de T. 114 



Triassic Cephalopods 115 



University and Educational Intelligence 115 



Societies and Academies 116 



Diary of Societies 120. 



