1 



72 



NATURE 



[November 17, 1904 



triphenylmethyl and some derivatives of triphenylmethane : 

 Jules Schmidlin. — ^The preparation of iodide of gold by the 

 action of iodine on gold : Fernand Meyer. The iodide Aul 

 can be obtained by the direct action of iodine upon gold at 

 temperatures between 50° and 100°. Below 50°, or above 

 200°, there is no action. In the presence of water in a closed 

 vessel iodine gives with gold the same aurous iodide.— On 

 a vttrium earth near to gadolinium ; G. Urbain. -An 

 attempt to isolate an element characterised by the band 

 X = 488. — On e-bromobutvric acid: M. Lespieau. The 

 amide of this acid is obtained by saturating allyl cyanide 

 with hydrobromic acid in the cold. A crystalline mass 

 separates, which, when dissolved in concentrated hydro- 

 bromic acid solution, deposits white crystals of the amide. — 

 The oxidation of acetol : Andrei Kling.— On the formation 

 of formaldehvde during the combustion of tobacco : A. 

 Trillat. The' experimental results show that aldehydes are 

 formed during the combustion of tobacco, notably form- 

 aldehydes. The toxic effects, however, are modified by the 

 fact that these aldehvdes immediately combine with the 

 nitrogenous bases given off at the same time.— On the 

 germ'ination of the spores of AUic^^um undidatiim and 

 Hypiuim velutinum, and on their nutrition in sterilised 

 liquid media : Paul Becquerel.— On the development of 

 the kidney and Levdig's gland in the Elasmobranchs : 

 I. Borcea. The liidnev of the Elasmobranchs has the 

 same value as that of the higher vertebrates.— The influence 

 of the feeding on the length of the intestine of the larvae 

 of Rana esculenta : Eniile Yung-.— On an infectious disease 

 of horses, with alterations in the bones, observed at 

 Madagascar : MM. Charon and Thiroux.— On the general 

 structure of the Tyrolese .-Mps west of the Brenner Railway : 

 Pierre Termier.^Modifications undergone by the nutritive 

 exchanges in skin disease : A. Desgrez and J. Ayrignac. 



New South Wales. 



Royal Society, September 7.— Mr. C. O. Burge, president, 

 in the chair. — Notes on the theory and practice of concrete- 

 iron constructions : F. M. Gummow. The author outlined 

 the theory from the present standpoint of scientific research, 

 and after reviewing the principal applications, concluded 

 his paper by giving particulars of a test of concrete-iron 

 plate beams, carried out on a large scale. — Further experi- 

 ments on the strength and elasticity of reinforced concrete : 

 Prof. \V. H. Warren. The author stated that the paper 

 consisted of an experimental investigation of the physical 

 properties of Portland cement mortars and concrete when 

 reinforced with steel. 



Linnean Society, September 28. — Dr. T. Slorie Dixson, 

 president, in the chair. — Monograph of the .Australian 

 Cicadidse : Dr. F. \V. Coding and W. W. Froggatt. 



Descriptions of all the Cicadidae attributed to .Australia, 

 amounting to 115 species, comprised in 21 genera, are 

 given. In connection with the geographical distribution 

 of the species it may be mentioned that though many are 

 strictly confined to the coastal forests of eastern .Australia, 

 others are found sporadically over a very large area, re- 

 appearing in widely separated districts if the suitable class 

 of country presents itself. For example, Tibicen willsi, 

 Dist., described from Rockhampton, ranges up the Queens- 

 land coast to Townsville, occurs also at Bourke, N.S.W., and 

 reappears at King's Sound, N.W..A. Indo-Malayan affinity 

 is indicated by the occurrence of the genera Gseana and 

 Huechys. — Notes on Neuroptera, with descriptions of new^ 

 species : W. W. Froggatt. — Xgarrabul and other aboriginal 

 tribes, part ii., distribution of the tribes : J. MacPherson. 

 The distribution of twenty-four tribes in north-east New 

 South Wales and South Queensland, in accordance with the 

 languages spoken and as gleaned from Ngarrabul sources 

 of information, is discussed and mapped. — Notes on the 

 native flora of New South Wales, part i., the Tumbarumba 

 and Tumut districts : R. H. Cambage. These notes 

 comprise observations on the conspicuous vegetation of the 

 country between Wagga, Tumbarumba, Tumut, and 

 Gundagai during the drought of 1903, and serve to show 

 the striking differences between the flora of the low country 

 round Wagga (600 feet above sea-level) and that of Laurel 

 Hill or Bago, near Tumbarumba (about 3300 feet), where 

 the vegetation presents a recognisable Tasmanian facies. 



NO. 1829, VOL. 71] 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, November 17. 



RovAL Society, at 4.30— Air Resistance Encountered by Projectiles at 

 Velocities up to 4500 Feet per Second: A. Mallock, F.R.S.— Theory of 

 Amphoteric Electrolytes. Part II. : Prof. J. Walker, F.R.S.— Enhanced 

 Lines of Titanium, Iron, and Chromium in the Fraunhoferic Spectrum: 

 Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S., and F. E. Baxandall.— On the 

 Group IV. Lines of Silicium : Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S., 

 and F. E. Baxandall.— The Electrical Conductivity and other Properties 

 of Sodium Hydroxide in Aqueous Solution, as Elucidating the Mechan- 

 ism of Conduction: W. R. Bou«field, K.C., M.P., and Dr. T. Martin 

 Lowrj-.— On the Wetting of Cotton by Water and by Water Vapour : 

 Prof. D. Orme Masson, F.RS. 



Linnean Society, at 8.— On the Structure of the Stems of Plants : Loid 

 Aveburv, F.R.S.— Observations on Undescribed or Little Known Species 

 of Membracidx : G. B. Buckton, F.R.S. 



FRIDAV. November r8. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8.— Impact Tests on the 

 Wrought Steels of Commerce : .\- E. Seaton and A. Jude. 



Epidemiological Society, at 8.30. — The Tnauguralory Address on the 

 Epidemiological .\spects of Industrial Diseases : the President, Dr. 

 Whitelegge, C.B. 



TUESDA y, November 22. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Distribution of Electrical 

 Energy : J. F. C. Snell. 



WEDNESDAY, November 23. 



Geological Society, at S.— On an Ossiferous Cavern of Pleistocene Age 

 at Hoe Grange Quarry, LongclifTe, near Brassington, Derbyshire : 

 H. H. Arnold-Bemrose and E. T. Newton, F.R S.— The Superficial 

 Deposits and Pre-Glacial Valleys of the Northumberland and Durham 

 Coalfield : D. Woolacott. 



Faraday Society, at 8. — Recent Investigations Bearing on the Theory 

 of Electrolytic Dissociation ■ Prof. L. Kahlenberg.— The Potential of 

 ihe Hydrog-n-Oxygen Cell : F. J. Brislee. 



Society of Arts, at S.— The Systematic Promotion of British Trade ; 

 Ben. H. Morgan. 



THURSDAY, November 24. 



Royal Scciety, at 4.30. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Theory of Continuous Groups. By H. F. B. . 49 



Technological Chemistry. By C. Simmonds .... 50 



The Transpiration of Plants. By F. D 51 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Miall : "House, Garden, and Field; a Collection of 



Short Nature Studies."— R. L 52 



Hand :" Ideals of Science and Faith " 52 



Beth : " Die oiientalische Christenheit der Mittelmeer- 



lande" 53 



" Tales of Sutton Town and Chase, with other Tales 



and some Sketches " 53 



Dewar :" The Glamour of the Earth " 53 



Stark : " Jahrbuch der Radioaktivitat und Elektronik" 53 

 Letters to the Editor :— 



What is Brandy?— Dr. V. H. Veley, F.R.S. : Dr. 



S. Arch. Vasey 53 



The Origin of Life.— Dr. F. J. Allen 54 



Change in the Colour of Moss Agates. — C. Simmonds . 54 



Chemical Analysis for Beginners. — F. Southerden . 54 



Misuse of Words and Phrases. — T. B. S ^4 



Reason in Dogs.— Arthur J. Hawkes 54 



Occurrence of a Tropical Form of Stick-Insect in 



Devonshire. — Prof. Robert O. Cunningham . . 55 



A Probable Variable of the .Algol Type.— J. E. Gore 55 



The Previous Examination at Cambridge 55 



The Exploration of the Transvaal. {Illustrated.) By 



Prof. Grenville A. J. Cole 55 



Our Museums. (Illustrated.) By R. F. S 57 



Dr. Frank McCIean, F.R.S. By W. J. S. L 58 



Notes 59 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Encke's Comet (1904 (^) 63 



Deslandres's Formula for the Lines in the Oxygen 



Band Series . 63 



Annual Report of the Cape Observatory 63 



The Transition from Primary to Secondary Spectra . . 63 

 New Buildings of the University of Liverpool. (Illus- 

 trated.) 63 



Prof. Mendeleeff on the Chemical Elements ... 65 



Welsh Conference on the Training of Teachers ... 65 



Therapeutic Bacterial Inoculation. By B 67 



Palaeozoic Seed Plants. By E. A. N. Arber .... 68 



Anthropological Notes 68 



University and Educational Intelligence 69 



Societies and Academies 70 



Diary of Societies 72 



