528 



NA TURE 



[April 2, 190; 



emitted by a Rontgen tube ; these rays pass through 

 aluminium, paper, wood, are rectilinearly polarised on their 

 emission, are susceptible of both rotatory and elliptical 

 polarisation, can be reflected and refracted, but produce 

 neither fluorescence nor photographic action. — The cata- 

 lytic decomposition of ethyl alcohol by finely divided metals : 

 the regular formation of aldehyde, by MM. Paul Sabatier 

 and J. B. Senderens. The action of reduced copper, 

 nickel, cobalt, and platinum upon alcohol has been studied 

 at varying temperatures. With copper at about 300 C. 

 the alcohol is split up into hydrogen and aldehyde without 

 any secondary reactions. With the other metals the primary 

 reaction would appear to be the same, but the aldehyde is 

 attacked, methane and carbon monoxide accompanying the 

 hydrogen. — On the spectrum of the comet 1902 b, by M. A. 

 de la Baume-Pluvinel. Owing to the very feeble lumin- 

 osity of the comet a special arrangement of apparatus was 

 required in order to obtain a photograph of the spectrum, 

 but a negative was finally obtained on October 24 sufficiently 

 good for measurements to be taken. The wave-lengths 

 found are referred to the carbon spectrum, hydrocarbon 

 and cyanogen. — Propagation in conducting media, by 

 M. Marcel Brillouin. — On the sub-salts of barium, by 

 M. Guntz, By fusing the haloid salts of barium with 

 sodium, compounds of the formula BaXNaX, where X 

 represents the halogen, were obtained. Heated in a vacuum 

 at 700 C, sodium is volatilised and the ordinary barium 

 salt is left. — On methylmonobromocamphor, bromomethyl- 

 camphor and methylene-camphor, by M. J. Minguin. — On 

 the hydration of the acetylene acids. A new method for the 

 synthesis of non-substituted /3-ketonic esters and acids, by 

 MM. Ch. Moureu and R. Dcianp,c. The ordinary method 

 of adding water to acetylene compounds by means of sul- 

 phuric acid or mercuric salts having given poor results, 

 caustic alkalies yvere used with satisfactory results. A de- 

 scription is given of the preparation and properties of 

 several ketonic acids synthesised in this yvay. — The action of 

 phosphorus trichloride upon glycol, by M. P. Carre. The 

 chief product is a compound P,.(O.CH\,),CL, the decomposi- 

 tion products of which yvith water have been studied. — 1 he 

 action of mixed organo-magnesium compounds on bodies 

 containing nitrogen, by M. Louis Meunier. Ammonia 

 with ethyl-magnesium iodide gives ethane and NLL.Mgl, 

 and aniline, diazoamidobenzene and phenylhydrazine give 

 analogous products. — On the pyrogallol-sulphonic acids, by 

 M. Marcel Delage. — Remarks on the soluble ferments 

 which determine the hydrolysis of polysaccharides, by M. 

 Em. Bourquelot. The number of soluble ferments or 

 enzymes is greater than is usually supposed ; the interven- 

 tion of the enzymes in the natural phenomena of hydrolysis 

 is governed by relatively simple laws. — The existence of 

 glycerine in normal blood, by M. Maurice Nicloux. By 

 applying the method of estimation described in a previous 

 note the author has been able to prove the existence of 

 glycerine in normal blood in very small proportion. — On the 

 mechanism of lipolytic actions, by M. Henri Pottevin. — 

 A contribution to the study of the Diplozoa, by M. P. A. 

 Dangeard. — On the existence and extension of the pith in 

 the petiole of Phanerogams, by M. Bouygues. — On the 

 origin of leaves and on the foliar origin of the stem, by 

 M. Leon Flot. — On the dust which fell on February 22, 

 by M. A. B. Chauveau. The dust probablv came from the 

 Sahara. — Remarks by M. Mascart on the preceding note. 

 — On the physiology of the internal ear, by M. Mai-age. 

 A reply to a note of M. Pierre Bonnier. — Experimental re- 

 searches on the psychophysiology of sleep, by MM. N. 

 Vaschide and CI. Vurpas. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



r/JtmSDAV, April 2. 



Linnean Society, at 8. — List of Marine Alga? collected at the Maldive 

 and Laccadive Islands by J. Stanley Gardiner: Mrs. Gepp (Ethel S. 

 Barton). —The Comparative Anatomy of Cyatheaceas and other Ferns: 

 D. T ( iwynne-Vaughrtn. 



Chemical Society, at 8.— On the Absorption Spectra of Nitric Acid in 

 Various Slates of Concentration : W. N. Hartley. — The Dioximes ot 

 Camphorquinone and Other Derivatives of /scNitrosocamphor : M t >. 

 Forster. — Salts of a Mercaptoid Isomeric Form of '1 hioallophanic Acid, 

 and a New Synthesis of Iminocarbaminethioalkyls : A. E. Dixon. — Dis- 

 coloured Rain: E G. Clayton. — Derivatives of o-Aminobenzophenone 

 and^-Aminobenzophenone : F. D. Chattaway. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 4. — Geographical Education; with 

 Special Reference to Globular Contoured Maps, Globes and Reliefs : 

 Prof. E. Reclus. 



NO. 1744, VOL. 67] 



Rontgen Society, at 8.30.— Some Effects produced by Radiations : 

 J. H. Gardiner. 



FRIDAY, April 3. 



Malacological Society, at 8.— Additions to the genus Streptaxis : 

 G. K Gude. — On a New Species of the genus Xylophaga from the 

 English Coast: E. A. Smith. — Not;s on some New or Little Known 

 Members of the Family Doridiidae : Sir Charles Eliot. — On a New Species 

 of Cerastus from near Aden, with a Note on OtflpoMta cla-.tsum, Shy. : 

 E.R Sykes. — Descriptions of Two Supposed New Species of Cyathopoma : 

 H. B. Preston. — On Shells Floating on the Surface of the Sea : August 

 Krogh. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Drops and Surface Tension : Lord Rayleigh. 



Geologists' Association, at 8. — The Geology of North Staffordshire 

 (with Special Reference to the Whitsuntide Excursion): Dr. Wheelton 

 Hind. — Coal Measures of Noil h Staffordshire: Walcot Gibson. 

 SATURDAY, April 4 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Light: Its Origin and Nature: Lord 

 Rayleigh. 



MONDAY April 6 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30. — Modern Theories concerning the Com- 

 position of Holy Scripture : Rev. John Tuckwell. 



Society of Chemical Industry, at 8. — The Manufacture of Iodine from 

 Nitrate Liquors : Dr. W. Newton. — New Modification of Coffignier's 

 Prussian Blue Reaction, and a possible Application : Watson Smith. — 

 The Explosion of Potassium Chlorate at St. Helen's : Dr. A. Dupre, 



TUESDA Y. April 7. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — American Locomotive Practice : 

 P. J. Cowan. 



U'EDNESDA Y, April 8. 



Royal Astronomical Societv, at 5. — Rotation Period of the Markings 

 on Jupiter: W. F. Denning — Standard Scale for Telescopic Observation : 

 Percival Lowell. — The Madras Observatory and its Work : Prof. Michie 

 Smith. 



Geological Societv at 8.— On the Probable Source of the Pebbles of the 

 Triassic Pebble- Beds of South Devon and of the Midland Counties: 

 O. A. Shrubsole. — Note on the Occurrence of Keisley Limestone-Pebbles 

 in the Red Sandstone-Rocks of Peel (Isle of Man) : E. Leonard Gill. 



CONTENTS. page 



The New Encyclopaedia 505 



The Geology of Central Borneo. By Prof. Grenville 



A. J. Cole . 506 



Proceedings of the German Zoological Society. By 



Prof. J. Arthur Thomson . . 507 



Ancient and Modern Engineering 508 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Schulze : " An Account of the Indian Triaxonia, col- 

 lected by the Royal Indian Marine Survey Ship 



Investigator " 509 



Thomas: "The Ventilation, Heating, and Manage- 

 ment of Churches and Public Buildings." — J. H. V. 510 

 Kobson : " Practical Exercises in Heat." — E. E. . . 510 

 Smith and Lambert : " The ' Amateur Photographer' 



Library," Nos. 25 and 26 510 



Digby : " Natural Law in Terrestrial Phenomena " . 510 

 Studnicka : " Bis art's Ende der Welt !" . . s . . 511 

 Hofmann : "Die radioactiven Stoffe nach dem 

 gegenwartigen ' Stande der wissenschaftlichen 



Erkenntnis." — H. A. W 511 



Poire : " Carnet de Notes d'un Voyageur en France" 511 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



Radium Emission. — Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S. . . 511 

 Radio-activity of Ordinary Materials. — Prof. E. 



Rutherford 511 



Mendel's Principles of Heredity in Mice. — Prof. 



W. F. R. Weldon, F.R.S. 512 



Historical Note in tegard to Determinants. — Dr. 

 Thomas Muir, C.M.G., F.R.S. . . 512 



A Recent Study of Malaria. By Dr. M. H. Gordon 513 

 The Andamans and Nicobars. (Illuslrafrd.) ByJ W. ^14 

 Pulkova Observations ot Nova Persei. By Dr. 



William J. S. Lockyer 515 



The British Antarctic Expedition 516 



Notes 517 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



A New Star in Gemini. (Illustrated.) 522 



The Solar Constant 522 



1' The Magnesium Spectrum Line at A 44S1 . 522 



The Emanations of Radium. By Sir William 



Crookes, F.R.S 522 



The Psychology and Natural Development of 



Geometry 524 



The Eucalypts. By Dr. T. A. Henry 524 



Opposition of Mars. By W. F. Denning 525 



University and Educational Intelligence 526 



Societies and Academies 526 



Diary of Societies 528 



