288 



NATURE 



[July 17, 1890 



■case in which the period is so short that the current is confined 

 to an exceedingly thin surface-layer of the core. He has worked 

 out the conditions which obtain with a core and sheath of any 

 forms. The thickness of the layer depends only, other things 

 "being equal, upon the period of alternation — the law being that 

 given by Fourier for the penetration of the annual and diurnal 

 heat-waves into the earth's crust. The distribution of density 

 throughout the layer depends upon the form and relative position 

 of the core and the sheath. — Prof. Crum Brown and Dr. James 

 Walker, in continuation of their research on the formation of 

 dibasic acids by electrolysis, communicated a paper on the 

 synthesis of suberic acid and a new acid (CH2)i2(COOH).2. — 

 Prof. Tait exhibited some graphic records of impact, obtained 

 by the method described in a previous paper. — Dr. James Geikie 

 read a paper by Mr. R. Kidston, on the fossil flora of the Pot- 

 teries coal-field. — The Hon. Lord M'Laren read a paper on the 

 reduction of certain algebraic equations. — Prof. Tait read an 

 account, by Prof. A. C. Mitchell, of a preliminary experiment 

 on the thermal conductivity of aluminium, which he makes out 

 to be almost exactly equal to that of the best copper. — Dr. 

 Ralph Stockman and Mr. D. B. Dott communicated a paper 

 on the pharmacology of morphine and its derivatives. — Dr. 

 W. Somerville made a communication on Larix europcea as a 

 breeding-place for Hylesinus pmiperda. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, July 7. — M. Hermite in the chair. 

 — Photographic stellar spectra obtained by MM. Henry at 

 Paris Observatory, by Admiral Mouchez. (See Our Astro- 

 nomical Column. ) — On the oxidation of the sulphur of organic 

 compounds, by MM. Berthelot, Andre, and Matignon. The 

 authors give a general method for the estimation of sulphur in 

 all organic bodies containing that element, consisting in burning 

 the body either alone or mixed with camphor in an atmosphere 

 of compressed oxygen in the presence of about 10 c.c. of water, 

 with subsequent precipitation of the sulphuric acid in the usual 

 manner. — Heats of combustion of some sulphur compounds, by 

 MM. Berthelot and Matignon. — Heats of combustion of erythrite, 

 arabinose, xylose, raffinose, and inosite, by MM. Berthelot and 

 Matignon. — New experiments on the silent discharge, by 

 M. P. Schutzenberger. — The active elasticity of muscle, 

 and the energy used in its creation in the case of static 

 contraction, by M. A. Chauveau. — Note on the difficulty in 

 recognizing the Cysticerca of Tcenia saginata or inermis in the 

 muscles of the calf and cow, by M. A. Laboulbene. — On the 

 propagation of sound in cylindrical tubes, by M. V. Neyreneuf. 

 — The theory of periodic comets, by M. O. Callandreau. 

 The author finds that the "capture" theory of periodic comets 

 is sufficient to explain the characteristic properties of their orbits 

 and the objections that have been opposed to it. — Oji a photo- 

 graph of the ring nebula in Lyra obtained at Bordeaux Ob- 

 servatory, byM. G. Rayet. (See Our Astronomical Column.) — 

 Partial eclipse of the sun of June 17, by M. J. Leotard. The 

 limes of first and last contact are given. — Occultation of the 

 double star j8 Scorpii by the moon on June 29, by the same 

 author. — On the anomalous propagation of waves, by M. Gouy. 

 — Action in the dry way of different arsenates_of potassium and 

 sodium on the sesquioxides of some metals, by M. C. Lefevre. — 

 On a new method of preparing basic nitrate of copper and 

 some crystallized subnitrates, by M. G. Rousseau. The basic 

 nitrates are obtained in large crystals from the hydrates of corre- 

 sponding neutral salts. — On double bromides of phosphorus and 

 iridium, by M. G. Geisenheimer. — On some chromoiodates, by 

 M. A. Berg. — The artificial production of boracite in the wet 

 way, by M. A. de Gramont. — On the nitroprussides, by 

 M. Prud'homme. — On the cause of the alteration which 

 certain compounds of the aromatic series undergo under 

 the influence of air and light, by M. Andre Bidet. — 

 Transformation of glucose into sorbite, by M. J. Meunier. — 

 On the hydrogenation of sorbine and the oxidation of sorbite, 

 by MM. Camille Vincent and Delachanal. — Syntheses by 

 means of cyanacelic ether : dicyanacetic ethers, by M. A. Haller. 

 — The preparation of certain ethers by means of fermentation, by 

 M. Georges Jacquemin. — On the physiological action of thallium 

 salts, by Mr. J. Blake. — On the pretended circulatory system and 

 genital organs of Neomenidse, by M, G. Pruvot. — On the role of 

 ^he bud-shaped pedicles of sea-urchins, by M. Henri Prouho. — 

 On the histological constitution of some Nematoids of the order 

 Ascaris, by M. Leon Jammes. — On the comparative physiology 

 of the sense of smell, by M. Raphael Dubois. — The basaltic 

 •eruptions of the valley of the Allier, by M. Marcellin Boule. — 



On the mineralogical composition of the volcanic rocks of the 

 islands of Martinique and Saba, by M. A. Lacroix. — On the re- 

 lation between joints and some surface wrinklings near Doullens, 

 by M. Henri Lasne. 



Berlin. 

 Physical Society, June 27, — Prof, von Helmholtz, Presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — Dr. Dubois spoke on magnetic closed cir- 

 cuits, whose theory constitutes, in addition to hysteresis, the 

 most important advance which magnetism has made in recent 

 times. He gave a short historical review of the more important 

 published works on the subject, pointing out that they were at 

 first the result rather of an endeavour to make the requisite cal- 

 culations connected with dynamos for technical purposes, and 

 had only attracted the attention of physicists in a secondary and 

 subordinate degree. The works of Faraday, Maxwell, Sir W. 

 Thomson, Hopkinson, Lord Rayleigh, and the experimental 

 researches of Rowland, were briefly mentioned ; Hopkinson's 

 formulae and Lord Rayleigh's graphic representations were then 

 more fully treated ; and, finally, the formula for the magnetiza- 

 tion of a closed circuit was developed. — Dr. Raps described an 

 arrangement of Topler's mercurial air-pump, by means of which 

 he had made it work automatically ; he further described a 

 compensated air-thermometer which he had constructed, and 

 exhibited both instruments to the Society. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



The International Annual of Authony's Photographic Bulletin, vol. 3, 

 1890-91 (Iliffe).— Reflections on the Motive Power of Heat: N. L. S. Car- 

 not ; edited by R. H. Thurston (Macmillan and Co.). — Hypnotism : A. Moll 

 (W. Scott).— ^Light : E. W. Tarn (Lockwood).— Elementary Mechanics 

 (Blackie). — Timbers, and How to Know 1 hem : Dr. R. Hartig ; translated 

 by W. Somerville (Edinburgh, Douglas). — Introduction to Fresh-water Algae : 

 Dr. M. C Cooke (K. Paul).— Short Logarithmic and other Tables, 4th 

 edition : W. C. Unwin (Spon). — Walks in the Ardennes, new edition : P. 

 Lindley (London).— Tourist Guide to the Continent: P. Lindley (London). 

 — Sectional Map of South Dakota (Chicago, Rand). — Pocket Map, &c., of 

 Michigan (Chicago. Rand). — Confidential Chats with Mothers: Mrs. Bow- 

 dick (Bailliere).— British Cage Birds, Part 3 : R. L. Wallace (L. Gill). - 

 Canary Book, Part 3 : R. L. Wallace (L. Gill). — Mathematical and Physical 

 Papers, vol. 3 : Sir Wm. Thomson (Cambridge University Press). — Electric 

 Light Fitting : J. W. Urquhart (Lockwood).— Catalogue of the Fossil 

 Reptilia and Amphibia in the British Museum (Natural History), Part 4 : 

 R. Lydekker (London).— L'Esprit de Nos Betes : E. Alix (Paris, J. B. 

 Bailliere) — Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, vol. i (third series). 

 Part 2 ; General Index to ditto, second series, (Murray). — Transactions of the 

 Royal Society of Victoria, vol. i. Part 2 (Melbourne). — Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. 16, pp. 385 to 846 ; vol. 17, pp. i to 128 

 (Edinburgh). — Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. 33, 

 Part 3 ; vol. 35, Parts i to 4 (Edinburgh). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Indian Civil Service and the Indian Forest 



Service Competitions 265 



The Volcanoes of Hawaii. ByJ. W. J 266 



A Polyglot Medical Vocabulary. By Prof. Alex. 



Macalister, F.R.S 267 



Masks from New Guinea and the Bismarck Archi- 

 pelago. By A. C. H 268 



Our Book Shelf:— 



St. John : " Larva Collecting and Breeding " . . . . 269 



Rideal : "Practical Chemistry for Medical Students" 269 



Proctor : " Manual of Pharmaceutical Training " . . 270 



Woodbury: " The Encyclopaedia of Photography " . 270 



Lock: " Dynamics for IBeginners " 270 



Letters to the Editor : — 



"The Climates of Past Ages." — Joseph John 



Murphy 270 



The American Meteor. — Rev. G. Henslow .... 271 

 Spontaneous Ignition and Explosions in Coal 



Bunkers. By Prof. Vivian B. Lewes 271 



A Winter Expedition to the Sonnblick. By Dr. J. 



M, Pernter 273 



Bedford College 277 



Notes 277 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Objects for the Spectroscope. — A, Fowler 281 



Photographs and Drawings of the Sun 282 



Observations of the Zodiacal Light 282 



Ring Nebula in Lyra 282 



Photographs of Stellar Spectra 282 



On the Superficial Viscosity of Water. {Illustrated.) 



By Lord Rayleigh, Sec.R.S 282 



Utilization of Niagara Falls 287 



Societies and Academies 287 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 288 



NO. 108 1, VOL. 42] 



