552 



NA TURE 



[April 9. 1903 



temperature of warm blooded animals. The permanence of 

 the processes producing heat of combustion, by M. A. 

 Chauver ;. In searching for a means of explanation of the 

 constancy of temperature of an animal when placed in a 

 medium at a higher temperature than the normal, the 

 ■ Lions of Lord Kelvin are subjected to an experimental 

 examination ; it was found that under the experimental con- 

 ditions of Crawford, venous blood is neither poorer in car- 

 acid nor richer in oxygen; the expired air under the 

 same conditions contains practically the normal amounts ol 

 oxygen and carbonic acid. There is thus no reason to 

 suppose the existence of endothermic reactions in animals 

 placed in a medium warmer than their normal temperature. 

 Remarks by M. Edmond Perrier on a work on embryo- 

 genie acceleration. — Prof. Ray Lankester communicated i<> 

 ithe Academy two drawings of the head of a gigantic 

 mammal recently discovered in the Upper Eocene Sands at 

 Fayum, Egypt. — M. de Forcrand was nominated a cor- 

 respondant in the section of chemistry in the place of the 

 late M. Reboul. — On an eruption of the volcano at St. 

 Vincent, by M. A. Lacroix. — On a mechanical calculator 

 called the arithmograph, by M. Troncet. — On the absolute 

 temperature deduced from the normal thermometer, by 

 M. H. Pellat. As a first approximation, it is shown that 

 the usual formula for the absolute temperature gives results 

 about 011° C. too low. — The action of hydrogen on the 

 sulphides of arsenic in presence of antimony, and on the tri- 

 sulphide of antimony in the presence of arsenic, by M. H. 

 Pelabon. Antimony completely displaces arsenic in its 

 sulphides if the two bodies are in the liquid state. Hydrogen 

 gas, heated in presence of sulphide of antimony and a mix- 

 ture of arsenic and antimony, forms hydrogen sulphide, 

 the proportion of which increases with that of the arsenic in 

 the mixture. — On pyrophosphorous acid, by M. V. Auger. 

 Crystals of pyrophosphorous acid can be obtained by shaking 

 together for some time a mixture of phosphorous acid with 

 an excess of phosphorus trichloride. — On the action of phos- 

 gene on the organo-magnesium compounds, by M. V. 

 Grignard. Either a symmetrical ketone or a tertiary 

 alcohol can be obtained, according to the experimental con- 

 ditions. — New researches on the decomposition of organic 

 acids, by MM. Oechsner de Coninck and Raynaud. 

 Various organic acids have been heated with strong sul- 

 phuric acid and with glycerol, and the conditions under 

 which carbon monoxide and dioxide are given off have been 

 determined. — The constitution of the nitrocelluloses, by M. 

 Leo Vignon. The nitrocelluloses, reduced in acid solution 

 by ferrous chloride, give oxycellulose. This reaction clearly 

 differentiates cellulose from mannite and other polyatomic 

 alcohols which have been previously studied from the point 

 of view of nitration. — On the nitrogen compounds contained 

 in arable earth, by M. G. Andre. — Remarks on the general 

 morphology of the muscles, by M. J. Chaine. — On the 

 fishes of the family of Atherina in Western Europe, and on 

 the connection between their species, by M. Louis Route. — 

 The structure of the rootlets in Trapa nutans, by M. C. 

 Queva. — On the problematic bodies and the Alga; of the 

 Trias in Lorraine, by M. P. Fliche. — The defence of the 

 organism in the newly-born, by MM. A. Charrin and G. 

 Delamare, — On the influence of the chemical state under 

 which an element is presented to an organism on the rapidity 

 of the passage of this element through the blood, by M. A. 

 Mouneyrat. — On a law of decrease of effort as given by 

 the ergograph, by M. Charles Henry and Mdlle. J. 

 Joteyko. — Biot's hypothesis on the height of the atmo- 

 sphere, by W. de Fonvielle. From the consideration of 

 the l.dl of temperature as the distance from the surface of 

 the earth is increased, there would appear to be a sharp 

 limit to the possible height of the truly gaseous atmosphere. 



Gottingen. 



Royal Society of Sciences. — The Nachrichten (physico- 

 mathematical section), No. 6 for 1902, and No. j for 1903, 

 contain the following memoirs communicated to the 

 Society : — 



November 29, 1902. — C. Jacob) : On the pharmacological 

 action of the cyclic isoximes. 



July 26. — V. Cuomo : Measurements of electric dissipa- 

 tion in the open air at Capri (March-September). 



January 24, 1903. — E. Riecke : Contributions to the 



NO. 1745, VOL. 67] 



theory of atmospheric electricity. (1) On the dissipation of 

 electricity in enclosed spaces. 



January 10. — W. Voigt : On the magnetic induction of 

 regular crystals. —A. Schoenflies : On the proof of a funda- 

 mental theorem in the theory of point-aggregates. 



February 6. — E. Riecke : Contributions to the theory of 

 atmospheric electricity. (2) On the dissipation of electricity 

 in uniformly moving air. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



U'EDNESDA Y, April 15. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at S. — On a New Method of Using 

 the Electric Arc in Photomicrography : E. B. Stringer. — An Exhibition 

 of Mounted Rotifers of the genus Brachionus : C. F. Rousselet. 



Royal Meteorological Society, at 7.30. — The Prevalence of Gales 

 on the Coasts of the British Islands, 1871-1900: F. J. Brodie. — The 

 Duration of Rainfall : J. Baxendell. 



THURSDAY, April r6. 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30. — Exhibition of the Logo-Losarithmic 

 Slide-rule : C. S. Jackson. —On the Deduction of Schlnmilch's Series 

 from a Fourier Series, and its Development into a Definite Integral: 

 R. F. Gwyther. — On those Functions which are Defined by Definite 

 Integrals with not more than Two Singularities : E. T. Whittaker. — 

 Note on Exact Solutions of the Problem of the Bending of an Elastic 

 Plate under Pressure : Prof. A. E. H. Love. 



Linnean Society, at 8. — On some Points in Connection with the Ordinary 

 Development of Vaucheria Resting Spores : Dr. H. Charlton Kastian, 

 F.R.S. — The Labial and Maxillary Palpi in Diptera : W. Wesche. — 

 On Freshwater Rhizopods and iheir Classification : Prof. G. S. West. 

 SATURDAY, April 18 



Geologists' Association. — Excursion in Conj unction with the 

 Geological Section of the Croydon Natural History Society. Directors: 

 N. F. Robarts and W. Whitaker, F.R S. Members meet at New Cross 

 Station (L. B. & S. C. R., down platform), at 3.21 p.m. Object : To see 

 the Reopening of the Cutting S. of the Station, showing the Junction of 

 the London Clay with the Beds below. 



CONTENTS. page 



The Correspondence of Charles Darwin. By Prof. 



T. G. Bonney, F.R.S 529 



Can These Bones Live? By Prof. Grenville A. J. 



Cole 530 



Curiosa Mathematica. By G. B. M 531 



Astronomy for Explorers. By Major C. F. Close . 532 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Stewart : " The Tutorial Physics" 533 



Wiedersheim : " Vergleichende Anatomie der Wirbel- 



thiere" 533 



Dugmore : " Nature and the Camera" 534 



Heath: "The Twentieth Century Atlas of Popular 



Astronomy." — W. E. R 534 



" Official Report of the Nature Study Exhibition and 



Conferences, August, 1902 " 534 



Schiele : " Friedrich Schleiermacher's Monologen — 

 Ktitische Ausgabe — Mit Einleitung, Bibliographie 



und Index." — R G. N 534 



Goad by : "The Mycology of the Mouth."— R. T. H. 534 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



The Ouadrantids, 1903 — A Coincidence. — W. H. 



Milligan ; Prof. A.S. Herschel, F.R.S. . . . 535 

 Analogue to the Action of Radium. — Prof. J. D. 



Everett, F.R.S 535 



Measurement of an Arcof Meridian in Spitsbergen. 



[Illustrated.) By Sir Martin Conway 536 



Seismometry and Geite. By Prof. J. Milne, F.R.S. 538 

 The Southern Cross Antarctic Expedition .... 539 



Notes 540 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Comet 1902 d 544 



Comet 1903 a 544 



Variation of Solar Radiation Received on the Earth's 



Surface 545 



Annals of the Royal University Observatory of Vienna 545 

 A Variable, or Temporary, Star in Lyra . . . 545 



The Formation of Definite Figures by the Deposi- 

 tion of Dust. (Illustrated.) By Dr, W. J. Russell, 



F.R.S 545 



On the Formation of Barrier Reefs and of the 

 Different Types of Atolls. By Dr. A. Agassiz, 



For. Mem. R.S -547 



Underground Waters. (Illustrated.) By H. B. W. . 547 



London Fog Inquiry. (Willi Diagram.) 548 



University and Educational Intelligence 549 



Scientific Serial 550 



Societies and Academies 55° 



Diary of Societies 55 2 



