June 5, 1890] 



NATURE 



"i^^l 



suddenly became most numerous in 1883, and disappeared in 

 1884 ; even in 1883 its caterpillars could hardly be found on the 

 plants they usually feed upon. Some hostile influence had pre- 

 vented its further multiplication. Similar facts have been ob- 

 served in the case of Mammalia as well. The Spermofhilus 

 citillus is usually met with about Sarepta ; but sixty years ago 

 it suddenly disappeared in the course of one summer — probably 

 succumbing to some contagious disease. During the following 

 years it could hardly be found, but [by and by it multi- 

 plied again to such an extent that each inhabitant of Sarepta 

 had to undertake to kill every year a certain number of the 

 Spermopliilus. Their numbers were diminished, but still they 

 are very numerous in the steppes, thus illustrating the small 

 importance of even a systematic attempt at extermination, as 

 compared with the importance of natural checks. Many birds 

 suddenly appear in great numbers, and as suddenly disappear. 

 The Mertila rosea for several years nested in very great numbers at 

 Sarepta. Mr. Becker also mentions interesting facts as to a yellow 

 dust which spread over Saratoff in April 1864, and must have 

 been brought from Central Asia. Under microscopical ex- 

 amination, it was found to contain a great number of germs and 

 Infusoria. The seeds of Typha stenophylla, which formerly was 

 never found at Sarepta, must have been imported quite recently 

 by wind, either from Caucasia or Siberia. In the course of one 

 summer this pretty plant became numerous in a pond in the 

 Ergheni Hills, but it disappeared next year. As a rule, a de- 

 crease of all kinds of insects is noticed about Sarepta, and it 

 can be explained only by the general conditions of weather 

 resulting in indifferent crops, and a general diminution of hay- 

 crops in the surrounding steppes. 



A COMPREHENSIVE paper upon the simpler derivatives of 

 hydroxylamine, NHoOH, by Drs. Behrend and Leuchs, will be 

 found in the current number of Liehigs Annalen (p, 203). The 

 great interest with which hydroxylamine derivatives have recently 

 been invested by the discovery among them of geometrical 

 isomers, and the considerable importance of hydroxylamine as a 

 reagent for investigating the constitution of organic compounds, 

 rendered it very desirable that something more definite should 

 be ascertained regarding the compounds obtained by replacing 

 the hydrogen of hydroxylamine by simple organic radicles, than 

 the few isolated facts hitherto acquired. There are five types of 

 derivatives possible, which are classified as follows, R repre- 

 senting a monad radicle : HgN — OR a-monalkyl, RHN — OH 

 )3-monalkyl, RHN— OR a-dialkyl, RgN— OH 3-dialkyl, and 

 RoN — OR trialkyl hydroxylamine. In the case of the radicle 

 benzyl, CgH., — CH^, — , a complete series of such compounds have 

 been prepared and fully investigated. The first member of the 

 series, a-benzylhydroxylamine, HjN — OC7H7, was prepared 

 some time ago by Janny, and Drs. Behrend and Leuchs utilized 

 Janny's reaction, improved very considerably in its details, in 

 order to prepare this substance in quantity. The reaction con- 

 sists in warming hydrochloric acid with the benzyl derivative of 

 the well-known acetone compound of hydroxylamine, acetoxin, 

 {CH3)2C::_NOH. Its course may be represented by the equation 

 (CH3)2C-NOC7H7 -f- IICl + H2O = HjN— OC7H7 . HCl -h 

 (0113)200. The hydrochloride thus obtained crystallizes in 

 large, flexible, lustrous plates, which sublime at 230°- 260° C. 

 without fusion. The free base itself, a-benzylhydroxylamine, 

 HjN — OC7H7, is a liquid which cannot be distilled at the 

 ordinary pressure without decomposition, but at a pressure of 

 30 mm. distils unchanged at Ii8°-ii9°. It may also be safely 

 distilled in steam. o-dibenzylhydroxylamine, H(C7H-.)N — 

 0(C7H7), is readily obtained from the mono-compound just 

 described by the limited action of benzyl chloride. It is also 

 liquid at the ordinary temperature, and more difficultly volatiliz- 

 able even in steam than the mono-compound. Its hydrochloride 

 crystallizes well from alcohol in glittering needles. The di- 

 NO. TO75, VOL. 42] 



compound is readily transformed by further action of benzyl- 

 chloride into tribenzylhydroxylamine, (C7H7)2N— OC7H7. The 

 tri-compound is likewise a liquid, and is not volatile without 

 decomposition even in vacuo. Its hydrochloride is readily and 

 completely decomposed by water. The j3-mono-compound, 

 (C7H7)HN — OH, is obtained by boiling the o-di-compound with 

 concentrated hydrochloric acid, or heating the two together in a 

 sealed tube to 130°. (C7H7)HN— 0(C7H7) . HCl -f HCl = 

 C7H7HN— OH . HCl 4- C7H7CI. The free base, which is 

 liberated as an oil upon addition of sodium carbonate solution 

 to the concentrated solution of the hydrochloride, crystallizes 

 on standing, and gives well-developed crystals on recrystalliza- 

 tion from petroleum-ether. It also reduces Fehling's solution, 

 in these two points differing markedly from the liquid a-mono- 

 compound. The i8-di-compound is best obtained by boiling 

 hydroxylamine hydrochloride, benzyl chloride, and soda crystals 

 with alcohol for an hour, using a reflux condenser. On cooling, 

 crystals of the solid base are deposited, which melt at 123'. The 

 preparation of this complete series shows in a very striking 

 manner the different effects of substituting alkyl radicles for the 

 hydrogen attached to nitrogen or for the hydroxylic hydrogen. 

 The a-com pounds are both liquids, while the ^-derivatives are 

 solids. The alkyl radicle replacing hydroxylic hydrogen is also 

 very much more easily detached by the action of hydrochloric acid 

 than that attached to nitrogen. It is also interesting to note 

 that the basic character of hydroxylamine diminishes with the 

 number of alkyl radicle groups introduced. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Masked Parrakeet (Pyrrhulopsis personatay 

 from the Fiji Islands, presented by Mr. Geo. Lawson ; a Lanner 

 Falcon {Falco lanarius), European, presented by Miss Marjorie 

 Barnard ; three Common Vipers ( Vipera berus), British, pre- 

 sented by Mr. A. W. Cotton ; two Andaman Starlings {Sttirnia 

 andatnatiensts) from the Andaman Islands, three Ceylon Fish- 

 Owls {Ketupa ceylonensis) from Ceylon, six Tufted Ducks 

 {Fziligtila cristata 3 cJ 3 ? ), European, purchased ; a Great 

 Bustard {Otis tarda ? ), European, received in exchange ; two 

 Japanese Deer {Cervus sika 6 6), two Barbary Wild Sheep 

 {Ovis tragelaphus (5 ? ), a Burrhel Wild Sheep {Ovis bu7-rhel 6 )' 

 born in the Gardens. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



Objects for the Spectroscope. 



Sidereal Time at Greenwich at 10 p.m. on June 5 

 I4h. 5 7 m. 6s. 



fi)G.C. 4045 - 

 (2)G.C. 4058 - 



(3) 342 Birm. 



(4) VI Serpentis ... 



(5) V. Virginis 



(6) R Ursa: Majoris 



Mag. 



4"5 

 5 



R.A. 1890. Decl. 1890. 



Reddish-yellow. 



Reddish-yellow. 



Whitish-yellow. 



Reddish. 



h. m. s. 

 IS o 54 

 15 3 24 



14 55 50 



15 20 41 

 14 37 18 

 10 36 51 



-f 2 2 

 + 56 II 

 4-66 2a 

 + 15 49 

 - 4 49 

 -1-69 21 



Remarks. 



(i) The spectrum of this nebula has not been recorded. In 

 the General Catalogue it is described as : " Very bright ; pretty 

 large ; round ; pretty suddenly much brighter in the middle to 

 a nucleus ; following of two." The companion is apparently 

 very faint. 



(2) This is a bright oval nebula under the body of Draco. 

 Smyth states that it is " rather faint at the edges, but not so as 

 to obscure the form." The General Catalogue description is 

 "Very bright; considerably large; pretty much extended m 

 the direction 146" ; gradually brighter in the middle." In 1848 



