264 



NA TURE 



[January ii, 1900 



Chemical Society,Deceinber2i,i899.— Prof. Thorpe, Presi- 

 dent, in the chair. — The following papers were read : — On the 

 refractive and magnetic rotatory powers of some aromatic hydro- 

 carbons, and on the refractive powers of mixtures, by W. H. 

 Perkin, senr. The replacement of hydrogen in an aromatic 

 nucleus by methyl is accompanied by a greater increase in 

 molecular refraction, and a smaller increase in magnetic rota- 

 tion, than is the replacement of hydrogen in a side chain by a 

 methyl group. — Formation of o- and &- acrose from glycollic 

 aldehyde, by H. Jackson. Tetrosazone and a- and S- acrosazone 

 are obtained from the condensation product formed by the action 

 of soda on a dilute glycollic aldehyde solution at o° ; on pro- 

 longed condensation at o°, the quantity of tetrosazone obtainable 

 decreases. — The interaction of mercurous nitrite and ethyl 

 iodide, by P. C. Ray. Mercurous nitrite and ethylic iodide 

 react to form nitroethane and ethylic nitrite. — On mercurous 

 nitrite, by P. C. Ray.— The action of alkyl iodides on the mer- 

 curic iodide sulphides of the fatty series, by S. Smiles. The 

 alkylic sulphides combine with mercuric iodide to form com- 

 pounds of the type RjSHglj containing tetrad sulphur ; these 

 substances when treated with methylic iodide yield compounds 

 of the type RjSIHgla which possibly contain hexad sulphur. — 

 On brasilin and hsematoxylin. Part III., by A. W. Gilbody and 

 W. H. Perkin, junr. The acid CigHigOg previously obtained 

 from brasalin yields metahemipinic acid on oxidation ; the latter 

 acid is also formed during the oxidation of tetramethylhsema- 

 toxylin. It is shown that brasilin is a derivative of resorcinol 

 and catechol, whilst h?ematoxylin is a derivative of pyrogallol 

 and catechol— The action of alcoholic potash on monobromo- 

 glutaric ester, by N. E. Bowtell and W. H. Perkin, junr. 

 Monobromoglutaric ester is converted by alcoholic potash into 

 transtrimethylenedicarboxylic acid. — Luteolin, III., by A. G. 

 Perkin.— The action of chloroform and potassium hydroxide 

 on orthoamidobenzoic acid, by W. J. Elliott. Orthoamidohen- 

 zoic acid yields an aldehydoorthoamidobenzoic acid on treatment 

 with chloroform and potash. — Azo- and hydrazone compounds 

 differentiated by bromine, by H. E. Armstrong. 



Linnean Society, Dec. 21, 1899.— Dr. A. Giinther, F.R.S., 

 President, in the chair. — Mr. W. G. Freeman exhibited a tree 

 of Hevea brasiliensis (Para Rubber), showing the method of 

 tapping adopted in Ceylon. — Dr. R. Braithwaite exhibited 

 specimens of Hypmim Hochsielleri, Schimp., collected by him 

 on the Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides, the only known locality 

 for it in Europe, though found in the Azores and Canary Islands.— 

 The Zoological Secretary communicated a paper, by Prof. T. 

 W. Bridge, on the air-bladder and its connections with the 

 auditory organs in the Notopteridae. The anatomy of the air- 

 bladder, auditory organ, and associated parts was described 

 in detail in Notopleriis horneensis, it being shown that their 

 condition was essentially the same for that species and N. Pal- 

 lasii, and that Cuvier and Valenciennes had erred in regard to 

 the latter by confusing the auditory caeca-containing and cranial 

 cavities. Comparison was instituted with other Teleosteans in 

 which the air-bladder enters into relationship with the occipital 

 region of the skull, and the physiological significance of the 

 facts was discussed. — Mr. F. Chapman read a paper on some 

 new and interesting Foraminifera from the Funafuti Atoll, EUice 

 Islands. The specimens described, and illustrated by means of 

 lantern-slides, comprised the larger forms found at Funafuti and 

 on coral-reefs generally, together with a new gQn\xs {Hapioca(enia) 

 and eight new species. 



and 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, January 11. 



Mathematical Society, at 8.— A Problem in Pesonance, illustrative of 

 the Mechanical Theory of Selective Absorption of Light : Prof. Lamb, 

 F.R.S.— Elementary Distributions of Plane Stress : J. H. Michell. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Report of the Institu- 

 tion's Visit to Switzerland. The Report will be taken as read, and the 

 discussion will be opened by Mr. Crorapton by a Comparison between 

 British and Continental Practice in Electrical Engineering. 

 iS-7?/i?^F, January 12. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 8. — Note on the Variable Star r; 

 Argus : Colonel E. E. Markwick. — Observations of Meteors, November, 

 1899 : Royal Alfred Observatory, Mauritius. — Tables for Facilitat- 

 ing the Calculation of the Radius Vector and True Anomaly for Orbits of 

 any Eccentricities : W. S. Aldis — Note on the Physical Constitution of 

 the ■ Lunar Surface : George Forbes. — The Determination of Seleno- 

 graphic Positions and the Measurement of Lunar Photographs : S. A. 



Saunder. Probable Paper: On the Unpublished Observations made 



with the Transit Instrument and Quadrants at the Radcliffe Observatory, 

 Oxford, between the Years 1774 and 1838 : Prof. A. A. Rambaut. 



Institution of CivilEngineers, at 8.— The Theory of Str 

 Strength of Materials : Prof. T. Claxton Fidler. 



Malacological Society, at 8.— On some Recent Gastropods referred 

 to the Family 'J'urritellidae and their Supposed Relationship to the 

 Murchisoniidae : Miss Jane Donald— On the Anatomy of Tnrritella 

 communis: W. Randies. — Note on Strotnbtts belutschiensis, Melvill : E. 

 A. Smith. — Descriptions of New Land Shells from Costa Rica, South 

 and Central America : S. I. DaCosta.— On some Forms of Cypraea : 

 Mrs. A. F. Kenyon. 



MONDAY, January 15. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30.— Notes on Oriental Congress, Rome, 1899 

 Theophilus G. Pinches. 



TUESDAY, January t6. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Structure and Classification of Fishes ; Prof 

 E. Ray Lankester,. F.R.S. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at Z.— Papers to be further discussed : 

 The Purification of Water after its Use in Manufactories : Reginald A. 

 Tatton. — Experiments on the Purification of Waste Water from Factories: 



W. O. E. Meade-King. And, time permitting, tPaper to be read : 



Swing-Bridges over the River Weaver at Northwich : J. A. Saner. 



Royal Statistical Society, at 5. 



Royal Photographic Society, at 8. — Screen Gears for Half Tone: 

 W. Gamble. 



WEDNESDAY, January 17. 



Society of Arts, at 8. — Ventilation without Draughts : Arthur Rigg. 



Royal Meteorological Society, at 7.45. — Annual General Meeting. 

 — Address on " A New Discussion of the Greenwich Meteorological Ob- 

 servations, 1848-1898" : F. Campbell Bayard. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 8. — Annual Address by the President. 



Entomological Society, at 8 — Annual Meeting. — Address by the 

 President, Mr. George Henry Verrall. 



r//i/i?.S'Z?/JK, January t8. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable Papers: Upon the Development of 

 the Enamel in certain ^Osseous Fish: C. S. Tomes, F.R.S. —Further 

 Observations , on "Nitragin" and on the N:iture and Functions of the 

 Nodules of Leguminous Plants : Miss Maria Dawson.— On the Innerva- 

 tion of Antagonist jc Muscles, Sixth Note: Prof. Sherrington, F.R.S. — 

 On the Behaviour of the Becquerel and Rontgen Rays in a Magnetic 

 Field: Hon. R. J. Strutt. — On an Experimental Investigation of the 

 Thermo-dynamical Properties of Superheated Steam by Prof. Osborne 

 Reynolds' Method : J. H. Grindley. 



Royal Institution, at 3.^1 he Senses of Primitive Man : Dr. W. H. R. 

 Rivers. 



Society of Arts (Indian Section), at 4.30.— Our Woikin India in the 

 Nineteenth Century: Sir William Lee-Warner, K. C.S.I. 



Linnean Society, at 8. — On the Existence of Nasal Secretory Sacs 

 and of a Nasopharyngeal Communication in the Teleostei : H. M. 

 Kyle. — On the Origin of the Basidiomycetes : George Massee. 



Chemical Society, at 8. — Nitrogen Halogen Compounds: Julius 

 Steiglitz and E. E. Slosson. — Chlorine Derivatives of Pyridine. Part V. 

 Synthesis of aa'-Dichlorpyridine and Constitution of Citrazinic Acid : W. 

 J. Sell and F. W. Dootson.— Action of Fuming Nitric Acid on a-Dibro- 

 mocamphor : Dr. A. Lapworth and E. M. Chapman.— Electrolysis of 

 Nitrogen Hydrides and of Hydroxylamine : Dr. E. C. Szarvasy. 

 /'RID AY, January 19. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Flight : Lord Rayleigh. 



EpidemiologicalSociety, at 8.30. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Astronomical and Optical Instruments 241 



Wireless Telegraphy. By D. K. M. 243 



Work and Thought at Wood's Holl, U.S.A. By 



G. B. H 244 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Baumhauer : " Darstellung der 32 moglichen Krystall- 



klassen " 245 



"The Essex Naturalist: the Journal of the Essex 



Field Club."— E. B. P . .245 



Erdmann : " Anleitung zur Darstellung chemischer 

 Praparate " 246 



Smith': " The Boyhood of a Naturahst " 

 Letters to the Editor:- 



The New Zealand Zoological Region.— H. Farquhar 



The Resistance of the Air.— C. A. ; Prof. G. H. 

 Bryan, F.R.S. . . 



Grey's Rock Paintings.— H. Ling Roth . . 



Evidence of Upheaval in Vanua Levu, Fiji. — Dr. 



H. B. Guppy 



The Eclipse Expedition at Viziadurg. II. {Illus- 

 trated.) By Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S. 



The Yangtze Valley. {Illuslrated.) , 



The Relation between Science and Medicine . 

 Sir James Paget, Bart., F.R.S. By Dr. F. W. 



Tunnicliffe 



Notes 256 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Central Star of Ring Nebula in Lyra 260 



The Indian University of Research 260 



University and Educational Intelligence 261 



Scientific Serials 262 



Societies and Academies. {Illustrated.) 262 



Diary of Societies 264 



246 



246 



248 

 248 



248 



249 

 252 



254 



256 



NO. 1576, VOL. 61] 



