72 



NATURE 



[November i6, 1899 



Stickoxydul und Sauerstoff" ; (2) on behalf of Dr. W. van 

 Bemmelen, a paper on spasms in the earth's magnetic force. 

 Dr. Van der Stok, correspondent of the Section, showed 

 some seismograms and magnetograms illustrating Mr. Van 

 Bemmelen's paper. Magnetical curves, obtained by means of 

 a self-registering instrument, exhibit oscillations of the same 

 kind as those observed on photographic lines produced by 

 seismographs of various patterns, which oscillations are known 

 as earthquake motions, pulsations and tremors. Seismographs 

 have been in actual use for a few years only, while magnetical 

 curves have been known for a period of about twenty years ; the 

 latter may, therefore, be considered more sufficient data for an 

 investigation into these oscillations by statistical methods than 

 the former. Dr. Van Bemmelen has investigated those move- 

 ments of short duration, which he calls " spasms," and also the 

 oscillations of a well-defined zigzaggy description and longer 

 duration, viz. pulsations. In both phenomena the author has 

 found well-marked diurnal and annual variations, but no connec- 

 tion between their frequency and cosmical causes can be traced. 

 Dr. Van Bemmelen has also tried to investigate these move- 

 ments by means of a very sensitive bifilar, which inquiry takes 

 a great deal of time and trouble, because it is not possible to 

 runake this instrument self- registering, owing to the enlarged 

 •time scale and the lack of sensitiveness of the photographic 

 -paper. This inquiry by ocular observation has hitherto not 

 -yielded any definite results.— (f) By Prof Hubrecht, on behalf 

 -of Dr. J. F. van Bemmelen, a paper entitled " Results of a 

 . comparative inquiry into the palatine orbital and the temporal 

 region of the skull of the monotremata."— (^ By Prof. V. A. 

 Julius, on behalf of Dr. A. Smits, a paper entitled " On de- 

 creases in the tension of solution vapours at o°." The previous 

 experiments with the micromanometer on solutions of NaCI, 

 KOH and sugar were repeated, and it was again found that 

 the molecular decrease of vapour tension increased with the 

 concentration. The inquiry was then extended to II2SO4, 

 -€uS04 and KNO3. In the case of H.,S04 and CuSOj the 

 molecular decrease of vapour tension increased with the con- 

 •centration ; while, on the contrary, in the case of KNO3 the 

 decrease of vapour tension became smaller on the concentration 

 becoming greater. — {e) By Prof. Cardinaal, on behalf of Mr. 

 "K. Bes, a communication concerning the formation of the 

 ultimate equation.— (/) By Prof. Zaayer, on behalf of Prof. W. 

 Einthoven, a paper on the theory of the capillary electrometer. 

 The mechanical friction in the capillary tube and the resistance 

 of the circuit influence both time relations of the capillary 

 •electrometer. The amount of either of these influences has 

 ^been measured. The experiments show that in many capillary 

 electrometers the influence of the resistance of the circuit is far 

 surpassed by that of the mechanical friction. Hermann's theory 

 of the capillary electrometer is rejected.— (^) By Prof. Van der 

 'Waals, on behalf of Mr. E. H. J. Cunaeus, a paper entitled 

 " Refractivity determination as a method of inquiry into the 

 , composition of the coexisting phases in the case of mixtures of 

 acetone and ether." The inquiry comprises, besides the deter- 

 mination, by Lord Rayleigh's method, of the refractivity of 

 - some mixtures of H2 and COg, also the determination of the 

 refractivity of the vapour above various mixtures of acetone and 

 ether, in order to derive therefrom the composition of the co- 

 existing liquid and vapour phases with the appertaining pres- 

 sure. — Prof. Haga showed a negative, obtained by means of 

 Uran-rays, yielded by the "A" preparation from de Haen's 

 v*nanufactory {Wied. Ann., August 1899). 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, November 16. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Note on the E.M.F. of the Organ Shock, and 

 on the Electrical Resistance of the Organ in Malapterurus eUctricns : 

 Prof. F. Gotch, F.R.S , and G. J. Burch.— On the Formation of the 

 Pelvic Plexus, with especial reference to the Nervus Collector in the Genus 

 Mustelus : R. C. Punnett.— On the Least Potential Difference required 



' ito produce Discharge ihrough various Gases : Hon. R. J. Strutt. — 

 Mathematical Contributions to the Theory of Evolution. VII. On 

 certain Formulae in the Theory of Correlation, and their Application to 

 the Inheritance of Characters not capable of Quantitative Measurement : 

 Prof. Karl Pearson, F.R.S —On the Propagation of Earthquake Motion 

 to Great Distances : R D. Oldham. — An Experimental Research on some 

 Standards ot Light : J. E. Petavel. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8.— The Comparative Anatomy of certain Species 

 of Encephalartos, a Genus of the Cycadaceae: W. C. Worsdell.— On a 

 Collection of Brachyura from Torres Straits : W. T. Caiman. 



Institution OF Electrical Engineers, at 8. 



Chemical Society, at 8.— The Chlorine Derivatives of Pyridine. Part 

 IV. Constitution of the Tetrachloropyridines : W. J. Sell and F. W. 

 Dootson. — Contributions to our Knowledge of the Aconite Alkaloids. 

 Part IV. On Japaconite and the Alkaloids of Japanese Aconite : Wynd" 

 ham R. Dunstan, F.R.S., and H. M. Read.— On the Determination of 

 Transition Temperatures : H. M. Dawson and P. Williams. 

 FRIDAY, November 17. 



.\natomical Society, at 4.— A Persistent Left Inferior Vena Cava: 

 Stanley Boyd. — Specimen of Sacculated Qisophagus : Miss Stoney. — 

 Child's Skull, showing Parietal Perforations : Prof. A. M. Paterson.— 

 Note on the Morphology of the Biceps Flexor Cruris: Prof. B. C. 

 Windle, F.R.S., and F. G. Parsons.— Lantern Demonstration of certain 

 Points in the Lymphatic System of the Appendix : C. B. Lockwood. 



Epidemiological Society, at 8.30. — Presidential Address on the Com- 

 parative Mortality of English Districts : Dr. Franklin Parsons. 

 MONDAY, November 20. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— Enamelling upon Metals : H. H. Cunynghame, 

 TUESDAY, November 21. 



Institution ofCivil Engineers, at Z.— Papers to be fnrther discussed : 

 The Waterloo and City Railway : H. H. Dalrymple-Hay.— The Electrical 

 Equipment of the Waterloo and City Railway : Bernard M. Jenkin. 



Anthropological Institute, at 8.30.— The Nature of the Arab Jinn 

 illustrated by the Present Beliefs of the People of Marocco : Dr. E. 

 Westermarck. 



Royal Statistical Society, at 5 —Notes on the Food Supply of the 

 United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Germany : R. F. Crawford. 

 WEDNESDAY, November 22. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— National Fore.stry : D. E. Hutchins. 



Geological Society, at 8. — On some Remarkable Calcisponges from the 

 Eocene Tertiary Strata of Victoria (Australia) : Dr. G. J. Hinde, F.R.S. 

 —The Silurian Sequence of Rhayader : H. Lapworth. 



THURSDAY, November 23. 

 Royal Society, at 4.30. 



Society of Arts, at 4.30.— Old and New Colombo : John Ferguson, 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— The Cost of Steam 



Raising: John Holliday.— Influence of Cheap Fuels on the Cost of 



Electrical Energy : .R. E. Crompton. 



FRIDA Y, November 24- 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8.— Openings for Me- 

 chanical Engineers in China : The Right Hon. Rear-Admiral Lord 

 Charles Beresford, C.B. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Cambridge Natural History. By W. F. H, 



Blandford 49 



A Comprehensive Geography. By Prof, T. G, 



Bonney, F.R.S 5° 



Chemistry for the People. By A. S 51 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Hillyer : " Laboratory Manual " 52 



Jaubert : " L'Industrie des Matieres Colorantes 



Azoiques." — R. M 53 



Castle :" Elementary Practical Mathematics " • • • 53 

 Wake: "The New Education. Manual Training: 



Woodwork "... S3 



Becke and Jeffery : The Naval Pioneers of Australia " 53 

 Dobbin: "Arithmetical Exercises in Chemistry" . . 53 

 Letters to the Editor :- 



Coccospheres and Rhabdospheres.— George Murray 54 

 The Stockholm Fisheries Conference. —E. J. Allen . 54 



Sextant-Telescopes.— W. E. Plummet 54 



Solution of the Quartic— Prof. G. B. Mathews, 



F.R.S 55 



Rural Education. —John C. Medd; Prof. R. 



Meldola, F.R.S. ; C. H. Bothamley . -55 



Birds Capturing Butterflies.— F. Finn ; Oswald H. 



Latter 55 



The Effect of Weather on Everyday Life. By 



W. E. P 56 



Vibrations of Gun Barrels. ^.Illustrated.) By F.J. 



NO. 1568, VOL. 61] 



J-s 



Notes 



Our Astronomical Column:— 



The Andromedes . . 



Holmes' Comet (1899^) 



Occultation of Neptune 



"The Heavens at a Glance" (1900) 



The Conference of German Men of Science at 



Muniih. By W. T. L 



Botany at the British Association 



University and Educational Intelligence 69 



Societies and Academies • • 7° 



Diary of Societies • • • 72 



