512 



NA TURE 



[September i8, 1890 



The lecture theatre which forms a part of this magnificent 

 institution, is fitted with every convenience and provided with a 

 lantern having a light of 6000 candle-power for the projection of 

 views on a screen. The lectures that are delivered are not all, 

 however, devoted to astronomy, but cover the other subjects 

 within the scope of the institution. 



The Physical Department is even better supplied with appa- 

 ratus than the Astronomical, and it is so arranged that visitors, 

 by pressing different buttons, may view the spectra of various 

 substances, the phenomena of polarization, and many electrical 

 effects. The recent presentation of two complete phonographs 

 by Mr. Edison gives the science collection of this Department a 

 still higher value. A Microscopical Department is also included, 

 and affords instruction to many. 



An exceedingly well-illustrated journal, Himniel unci Erdc, 

 has been published monthly since the foundation of the institu- 

 tion, and is issued free to all the members. From the recently- 

 published Report, it appears that the cost of production of this 

 journal considerably exceeds the receipts from subscribers, but 

 we are glad to know that the Urania Institution is too firmly 

 established to need its discontinuance. The number of visitors 

 during the 268 days on which the doors of the institution have 

 been opened is 95,000. Three hundred and thirteen lectures of 

 about ninety minutes long have been delivered, and five hundred 

 and eighty-two of thirty minutes duration. 



Prof. Holden points out that the Lick Observatory, like the 

 •Urania Institution, is devoted to the advance of scientific know- 

 ledge, and we hope with him that the success of the latter may 

 lead to the establishment of similar institutions in Europe and 

 America. The opening of observatories would be much appre- 

 ciated by the general public, for doubtless the Urania Gesell- 

 schaft owes much of its popularity to this step in the right 

 direction that its directors have taken. 



Washburn Observatory.— Mr. G. C. Comstock has 

 issued the sixth volume of the " Publications of the Washburn 

 Observatory," of which establishment he has been director 

 since 1887. The first part contains observations with the meri- 

 dian circle by Miss A. M. Lamb and Mr. Milton Updegraff. 

 The second part is devoted to observations of double stars, by 

 Mr. Comstock, and includes the measurement of double stars 

 discovered at this observatory, and described in vols. i. and ii. 

 of its Publications. The instrument employed for all of the 

 measures was the I5|-inch Clark equatorial telescope. As soon 

 as the necessary apparatus is ready, a determination of the 

 constant of aberration will be made by Loewy's method. 



New Asteroids ^97) and (aas). — Two new minor planets 

 ■were discovered on the 9th inst. by M. Charlois of Nice 

 Observatory. One of them may prove to be Aschera ^14). 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 

 Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, September 8.— M. Duchartre in the 

 ■chair, — On a sulphocarbide of platinum, by M. P. Schutzen- 

 berger. By passing a current of dry nitrogen charged with the 

 vapour of carbon bisulphide over spongy platinum contained in 

 a glass tube heated to about 400° C, the carbon bisulphide was 

 entirely absorbed, and the platinum converted into a finely 

 divided black powder. An examination of the product showed 

 that it had the composition PtgSaC,' which may be graphically 

 represented thus : — 



^^Pt = S 



\pt = s* 



The powder is very dense, and appears entirely homogeneous 

 when microscopically examined. Neither hydrochloric nor 

 nitric acid have any action upon it, and even with aqua regia 

 there is very little action. When heated to redness in dry oxy- 

 gen the powder burns, with the formation of carbon dioxide, 

 and sulphur monoxide and dioxide, leaving a residue of pure 

 platinum. — New researches on the gadoline of M. de Marignac, 

 by M, Lecoq de Boisbaudran. The results of a spectroscopic 

 examination of gadoline are given. The substance is shown to 

 have a characteristic spectrum, thus confirming the view held by 

 M. de Marignac, viz. that it is a new element. — On a property 

 of certain systems of forces, by M. L. Lecornu.— On the soluble 



ferment of urea, by M, P, Miguel. From various considera- 

 tions the author has been led to believe that in ammoniacal 

 fermentation, the microphytes always act on the urea by means 

 of the soluble ferment discovered by M. Musculus (Annales de 

 Micrographie, vols, i and 2), and that it is not necessary to 

 adopt the hypothesis of the destruction of urea by an act of 

 nutrition, in order to explain the alkaline fermentation of urine. 

 —Post-embryonic development of the kidney of the Ammocete by 

 M. L. Vialleton.— On modifications of ophitic rocks of Modon 

 (Province de Seville) by M. Salvador Calderon.— On a carboni- 

 ferous bed discovered at Quenon in Saint- Aubin-d'Aubigne by 

 M. Bezier. — Revival of the activity of Vesuvius, by M. Wiet, 

 Consul at Naples. This is an extract of a letter to the Foreign 

 Minister, giving an account of the actual state of Vesuvius. 

 Lava has been issuing from an opening formed last year, and is 

 slowly descending the central cone. Prof. Maiorano has ob- 

 served that the volcanic activity of the fumaroles has ceased, 

 and that only a small column of smoke ascends from them. It 

 is also noted that the smoke issuing from the various openings 

 has a different appearance from the steam and vapour generally 

 visible. — Additional note on the extension to Switzerland of the 

 storm of August 19, by M. Bourgeat. 



Brussels. 



Academy of Sciences, July 5.— M. Stas in the chair,— 

 The following communications were made : — On the ten-monthly 

 astronomical period, by M. F. Folie. — On the characteristic 

 property of the common surface of two liquids, by M. G. 

 van der Mensbrugghe. The author has previously studied the 

 properties of the common surface of two liquids which do not 

 mix, and now gives the results of a similar study of liquids 

 having an affinity for each other, e.g. water and ether or 

 alcohol. — On new observations of the canals of Mars, and on 

 their duplication, by M. F, Terby, — Some observations made 

 by Mr. Stanley Williams during April and May 1890 are shown 

 to support Schiaparelli's conclusions with respect to the nature 

 of the surface of Mars. A plate is given containing eight views 

 of Mars made this year by the two above-named observers. — A 

 coronula from the gulf of St. Lawrence, by M. P. J. Van 

 Beneden. — The Actinozoa specimens obtained by Prof. Hensen 

 in his Plankton expedition, by Edouard Van Beneden. A 

 larva related to that found by Semper in 1867, by the 

 same author. — On the constitution of benzopinacoline /3, by 

 M. Maurice Delacre, — On primary co-variants, by M. Jacques 

 Deruyts. — On the biographical notice of G. A. Hirn, recently 

 inserted in the Bulletin de f Academie, by Prof. Dwelshauvers- 

 Dery. — Contributions to the study of the Nebenkern, by Dr, E. 

 Leclercq. 



CONTENTS. PAGR 



The Aborigines of Tasmania, By Prof. F. Max 



Miiller 489 



Letters to the Editor : — 



British Association Procedure. — Prof, Oliver J, 



Lodge, F.R.S 491 



The Mode of Observing the Phenomena of Earth- 

 quakes. — Harold G. Dixon 491 



The British Association : — 



Section F (Economic Science and Statistics) — Opening 

 Address by Prof. Alfred Marshall, M.A., F.S.S., 



President of the Section 491 



Section G (Mechanical Science) — Opening Address by 

 Captain Noble, C.B., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., 

 F.C.S., M.Inst.C.E., President of the Section . 499 

 Section H (Anthropology)— Opening Address by John 

 Evans, D.C.L., LL,D„ D.Sc, Treas.R.S., 

 Pres.S.A., F,L,S,, F.G,S., President of the 



Section 507 



Notes 510 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Objects for the Spectroscope. — A. Fowler 511 



The Urania Gesellschaft 511 



Washburn Observatory 512 



New Asteroids ^r) and (ass) 512 



Societies and Academies ^12 



NO, 1090, VOL. 42] 



