4o8 



NATURE 



[February 23, 1905 



ing a variety of ebony wood : Henri Jumelle. — On tlie 

 biology of tire Saprolegnia : Paul Dop.— The utilisation of 

 the essential oils in the etiolated plant : Eug. Charabot 

 and Alex. Hebert. It is shown that in the absence of 

 light the plant is capable of consuming the essential oil 

 which it contains, especially the terpcnic compounds. — The 

 relations between Boiigainvillia friiticosa and Bougam- 

 villia ramosa : Paul Hallez. The author regards these as 

 one and the same species, the one belonging to calm 

 water, the other to rough water, the slight difference be- 

 tween the two being due to this difference in the surround- 

 ings. — Experimental researches on the relations between 

 arterial pressure and the amounts of chloroform absorbed : 

 J. Tissot. In the case of subjects under chloroform the 

 examination of the arterial pressure gives indications of 

 approaching trouble earlier than the respiratory modi- 

 fications, the latter only appearing when the dangerous 

 condition is already set up.— A comparative study of the 

 auto-conducting cage and the condensing couch in the 

 treatment of arterial hypertension by d'Arsonvalisation : A. 

 Moutier and A. Challamel. The results obtained with 

 the solenoid are better than with the couch, the commonly 

 accepted view that the two are equivalent being erroneous. 

 — The action of radium on the torpedo fish : Maurice 

 Mendelssohn. — On the tectonic of the region north of the 

 Montagne Noire : Jules BergBron. — The daily variation of 

 temperature in the upper regions of the atmosphere : L. 

 Teisserenc de Bort. 



THURSDA y, March 2. 



Royal Society, at 4,30.— /'roMW^ Papers: Further Researches on the 

 Temperature Classification of stars. No. 2: Sir Norman l.ockyer, 

 K.C.E., F.R.S.— On [he Radioactive Minerals: Hon. R J. Strut!.— 

 Atmospheric Electricity in High Latitudts: G. C. Simpson.— On the 

 Spectrum of Silicon, with a Note on the Spectrum of Fluorine : J. Lunt. 

 —On the Electiic Resistance to the Motion of a Charged Sphere in 

 Free Space or in a Field of F-rce ; G. W Walker. 



Cmemical Societv, at 8.— The Latent Heat of Evaporation uf Benzene 

 and some other Compounds : J. Campbell Brown.— The Relation between 

 Natural and Synihetic Glycerylphosphoric Acids: F. B Power and 

 F. Tutin.— The Reduction of Isophtbalic Acid : W. H. Perkin. jun., and 

 S. S. Pickles.— The Transmutation of Geometrical Isomers: A. W. 

 Stewart. 



Royal Institution, at 5.— Recent Aslroncmical Progress: Prof. H. H. 

 Turner, K.R.S. 



R.iNTGtN Society, at 8,15.— A discussion en " The Necessity of Accurate 

 Measurement in X-ray and High Frequency Work," opened by Dr. 

 W. i). Butcher. 



Civil and Mechanical Engineers' Society, at 8.— Engineering Expert 

 Evidence : J. F. Reade. . , ^ , 



LtNNEAN Society, at 8.— Zoological Nomenclature ; International Rules 

 and Others (to be followed by a discussion) : Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing, 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY. February 23. 

 Royal Society, at 4.30 —On some New Species of Lagenostoma; a Type 

 of Pleridospermous Seed from the Coal-measures : E. A. Newell Arber.— 

 On a New Rhabdosphere : G. Murray. FR.S— Two Cases of Tri- 

 chromic Vision: Dr. F. W. Edridge-Green — On Changes observable 

 in the Liver Cells during Digestion, and their Relation to Hepatic 

 Secretion: Prof. E. Wace Carlier.— The Colour-Physiology of the 

 Higher Crustacea Part III.: F. Keeble and Dr. F. W. Gamble.— 

 Phosphorescence ciused by the Bela and Gamma Rays of Radium. 

 Part II. -G. T. Beilby. 

 RnvAL Institution, at 5.— Recent Work of the Geological Survey: Prof. 



J. J. H.Teall, FR.S. 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at ^.—Coiititination of Dis- 

 cussion :— The Value of Overhead Mains for Electric Distribution in the 

 United Kingdom : G. L. Addenbrooke. 



FRIDAY. February =4 

 Royal Institution, at q.— Fungi : Prof- H. Marshall Ward, F.R.S. 

 Physical Society, at 5.- On the Curvature Method of teaching 

 Geometrical Optics: Dr. C. V. Drysdale.- Exhibition of Dr. Meisling's 

 Colour Patch .\pparatus : R. J. Sowter— .\ Method of illustrating the 

 Laws of the Simple Pendulum, and an E.vhibition of String Models of 

 Optical Systems : J. Schofield. 

 Institution OF Civil Engineers, at 8, — Morecambe Sewerage : Method 

 of laying a ij-inch Cast-iron Sewer under the London and North- 

 western Railway: F. D. Flint.-The Reconstruction of Bow Bridge 

 over the River Lea : H. M. Roolham. 



SATURDAY, Fedkuakv 25. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— Archa;ology : D. G. Hogarih. 

 The Essex Field Club, at 6. 30 (at the Essex Museum of Natural Histoiy, 

 Stratford).— Straw Plait; a Lost Essex Industry, I. : ChaUlev Gould.- 

 Family and Life of Gilberd, of Colchester : Prof Silvanus P. Thompson, 

 F.R.S.— Revised List of the Hymenomycetal Furgi of Essex : Dr. 

 M. C. Cooke and George Massee. 



MONDAY, February 27. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30.— The Scientilic Results of the 



National Antarctic Expedition : Capt. R. F. Scott, C. V.O., R N. 

 Society of Arts, at 8.— Internal Combu'iicn Engines: Dugald Clerk. 

 Institute of Actuaries, at 5. — Changes in Pure Premium Policy- 

 Values consequent upon Variations in the Rate of Interest or the Rate of 

 Mortality, or upon the Introduction of the Rate of Discontinuance : 

 G. J. Lidstone. 



TUESDA Y. February 28. 

 RovAL Institution, at 5.— Some Recent Biometric Studies : Prof. K. 



Pearson, F.R.S. 

 Society of Arts, at 4.30.— The Manufactures of Greater Britain. I. 



Canada : C. F. Just. „,■■„, 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Surface-Condensing Plants, 

 and the Value of the Vacuum produced: R. W. Allen. 

 IVEDNESDAY, March i 

 Society of Public Analysts, at 8.— The Esti 

 Copper: S. Dickson.— (i) Some C " 

 of Brandies ; (2) The Determinati. 

 Dr. Philip Schidrnwitz and V. Kay. 

 Entomological Society, at 8. — New Species of Diurnal Lepidoptera 

 from Northern Rhodesia: Herbert Druce and Hamillon H. Druce.— 

 On Three Remarkable New Geneia of Microlcpidoptera : Sir George F. 

 Hampson, Bart. 

 Critical Si.ciety ok University College (Gower Street, W.C.). at i. 

 — Evoluuon and Speculation : Sir Freilerick Pollock, Bart. Visitors 

 invited. 



Ltion of Oxygen ii 

 ng the Ether Valu, 

 1 of Higher Alcohols in Spirits. I. 



NO. 1843, ^'OL. 71I 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Recent English History 385 



Stereochemistry. By A. McK 3S6 



A Traveller's Guide to India. By R. L 387 



Our Book Shelf :— 



Newman; "Bacteriology and the Public Health." — 



Dr. A. C. Houston • .... 388 



" Die bisherige Tiitigkeit der Physikalisch-technischen 

 Reichsanstalt ; " "Die TatigUeit der Physikalisch- 

 technischen Reichsanstalt." — J. A. H 388 



Ostwald : " The Principles of Inorganic Chemisuy." — 



W. R 38S 



Letters to the Editor :- 



A Conlemplated Magnetic Survey of the North Pacific 

 Ocean by the Carnegie Institution. — Dr. L. A. 



Bauer ... 389 



Recently Observed Satellites. — Prof. William H. 



Pickering 390 



Compulsory Gretk at Cambridge. — R. Vere 

 Laurence, H. Rackham, A. C. Seward, 



F.R.S. ; W. Bateson, F.R.S 390 



Secondary Radiation. — Prof. J. A. McClelland . . 390 

 Tenacity to Life of a Grass-snake. — E. V. Windsor 390 

 Notes on Stonehenge. IV. The Earliest Circles 

 (continued). (liluslraled.) By Sir Norman Lockyer, 



K.C.B., F.R.S 391 



The Approaching Total Solar Eclipse of August 



30. (Willi Maps.) By Dr. William J. S. Lockyer . 393 

 The Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. (Illusiyated.) By 



W. P. P 395 



Notes. (Illustrated.) 397 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Ephemeris for Comet 1904 e 400 



Revised Elements for Borrelly's Comet (1904 r) . . . 400 



The Sun's Rotation 401 



Secondary Shadow on Saturn's Rings 401 



Observations of the Zodiacal Light 401 



Permanent Numbers fur the Minor Planets discovered 



during 1904 401 



Studies in Eugenics 401 



The Absorption of Light by the Atmosphere . . . 402 

 John Hunter and his Influence on Scientific 



Progress. By John Tweedy 403 



University and Educational Intelligence . . . 406 



Societies and Academies 406 



Diary of Societies 408 



