ur 
is) 
5 
8 NATURE 
[Marcu 28, 1907 
out doubt found in some Passerina, its absence is not 
characteristic of the group, and therefore its presence or 
absence can no longer be used as a basis for classification 
of the Thymelzacce. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, March 18.—M. A. Chauveau in 
the chair.—A property of platinum amalgam: H. Moissan. 
When platinum amalgam is shaken with water, a: semi- 
solid mass of the consistency of butter is formed. This 
appears to be permanent, since the volume does not change 
after keeping for one year, and the mass can be heated to 
100° C. without destroying it. Amalgams of copper, 
silver, or gold do not produce a similar emulsion, but 
separate in precisely the same fashion as pure mercury.— 
The wax from the palm Raphia Ruffia, of Madagascar, 
and on arachic alcohol: A. Haller. An alcohol possessing 
the formula C,,H,,O was isolated from this wax. -This 
is the same formula as that of an alcohol isolated by 
M. Etard from lucerne, but a comparison of the two 
showed that they were not identical. The acetic and 
benzoic esters of the new alcohol were prepared, and also 
a hydrocarbon by treating with anhydrous zine chloride. 
Arachic alcohol was also prepared, and found to be not 
identical with the alcohol under examination.—The exist- 
ence of parameters capable of characterising the magmas 
of a family of eruptive rocks: Michel Lévy. Having a 
set of fifty analyses of rocks of the Mont-Doré series, in 
which particule ar care had been given to the determination 
of the alumina and the separation of the alkalis, the 
author has worked out a set of the various parameters to 
characterise rocks, the most stable of all being that which 
represents the latent acidity, 
ja 
2k + 30 
sal 
where S.., represents the silica of the white elements and 
2k+3n a number sensibly proportional to the sum of the 
atomic weights of the allalis——The modifications intro- 
duced by the pathological state in the immediate destin- 
ations of the nitrogenous elements: A. Chauveau.— 
Observations of the Giacobini comet (1907a) made with 
the large equatorial of the Observatory of Bordeaux: 
Ernest Esclangon., The comet had the appearance of a 
feeble nebulosity with a clearly defined nucleus. The 
apparent positions of the comet and mean positions of the 
comparison stars are given for March 12 and 13.—Obsery- 
ations of the Giacobini comet (1907a) made at the Observ- 
atory of Algiers with the 31-8 cm. coudé equatorial: MM. 
Rambaud and Sy. Similar observations made on March 
11, 13, and 14. The comet appeared to be circular, with 
a diameter of about one minute of arc. The central 
condensation was 5" diameter, with a brightness corre- 
sponding to a star of the 11-5 magnitude.—Elements of 
the Giacobini comet (1907a): Paul Briieck.—Observations 
of the Giacobini comet (1907a) made with the coudé equa- 
torial at the Observatory of Besancon: P. Chofardet. 
Similar observations for March 12, 14, and 16.—The new 
Giacobini comet: M. Giacobini.—Orthogonal systems of 
functions: Frédéric Riesz.—Periodic solutions of linear 
differential equations: T. Laleseo.—The problem _ of 
Dirichlet: H. Lebesgue.—A surface of the sixth order 
related to Abelian functions of the third genus: L. Remy. 
—Helices considered as generators of a surface: G. Barré. 
—The method of isoperimeters: G. Hilleret. An appli- 
cation of the method of isoperimeters to the rapid 
A. Etévé.—Waves of 
approximation of ma.—Aéroplanes 
shock and of spherical combustion: M. Jouguet.—The 
origin of spectra in series: W. Ritz. It is known that the 
frequencies v of the ordinary spectrum of hydrogen and of 
the new spectrum discovered by Pickering in certain stars 
are given very exactly by the formule 
aiftane I if 
v=N(~— - IN = at (ePSsyvl, Gy ool) 9 
iG x) 4 (»—)' (”=3, 4, 5 ) 
2 
where N is a constant. .An outline of a physical system 
is here given which it is shown would give rise to just 
such a system of vibrations.—The ionisation of the 
chromium sulphates: Albert Colson. In the chromium 
NO. 1952, VOL. 75 | 
sulphates the lowering of the freezing point appears to be 
independent of the ionisation as measured by the electrical 
conduetivity.—The alloys of nickel and tin: Em. 
Vigouroux. By directly heating together pure tin and 
nickel, alloys containing respectively 73-6, 83-6, and 92-7 
per cent. of tin have been prepared. All.three alloys are 
non-magnetic, and under the action of, nitric acid leave a 
crystallised metallic residue.—The arsenites. and arsenates 
of rubidium: A. Bouchonnet.—The action of .p-p-tetra- 
methyldiaminobenzylhydrol on some methylene derivatives : 
R. Fosse.—The inequality of the resistance , of, natural 
starch and artificial amylose towards extract of. barley : 
J. Wolff and A. Fernbach. Amylose in its natural form 
is distinguished from artificial amylose by a much greater 
resistance to saccharification by extract -of~ barley. —The 
influence of fertilisation on the characters of figs: Leclerc 
du Sablon. Fertilisation, which is not necessary in the 
varieties cultivated in France, .is possible,, and increases 
both the weight and the yield.—The development of the 
pneumathodes of the palm and on the true nature of these 
organs: C. L. Gatin.—The mode of action of tephrosin : 
M. Hanriot.—Some consequences of the interpolation of 
the principal experiments of M. Chauveau on muscular 
energetics ; Charles Henry.—Morphological changes in the 
nerve cells surviving the transplantation of nerve ganglia : 
G. Marinesco and J. Minea.—Locomotion in the 
Gasteropods : Raphael Dubois and Fred Vies.—A new sub- 
fossil Lemurian of Madagascar: G. Grandidier.—Some 
seismic constants deduced from the earthquake of April 4, 
1904: E. Oddone. 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
Ultramicroscopes. By Thomas H. Blakesley. . . 505 
Ancient and Modern Ships. By W. H.W... . . 506 
Frequency Curves and Correlation. By G. U. Y.. 507 
Caves and Waterways. By Prof. Grenville A. J. 
(Ch) eer At COM ICC AMS Oo cee o els 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Loew : ‘‘ Die chemische Energie der lebenden Zellen” 508 
Mascart: ‘‘ La Découverte de l’Anneau de Saturne 
par) Huygens.7——W..) By. Roy... 3 2) eigen) Ee SOO 
Dow : ‘‘ German Science Reader ” 5 : = eS OD) 
Petit : ‘‘ Céruse et Blane de Zinc ” ; Rigaud : “¢ Prépar- 
ation mécanique des Minerais. Résumé pratique.” 509 
Letters to the Editor: — 
The Ballot-Box.—F. H, Perry-Coste; Dr. Francis 
Galton, F.R.S. :.. - 509 
Ketene.—N. T. M. Wilsmore and A, W. Stewart. 510 
Technical Terminology.—J.T. Richards. .... 510 
Higher Education in the United States. By 
Aw ts: oes Ya eas RCM CRIOMMERE IS: vc 510 
The Asiatic Saciety oe Bengal. - CNoomc on c 511 
Robert Warington, F.R.S. By A.D.H...... 511 
M.-P.) Berthelot. | By2P aij. tlartole) «sss enere 512 
Dl ea Go CSS a 6 4, Bid 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Astronomical Occurrences in April ........ 518 
Cometi1907ai(Giacobini) is). 2 fee) eel ee eS LS 
Observation of Comet 1905 IV... . 1. .... « 518 
Standard Stellar Magnitudes . . . ees 
The Spectrum and Radial Velocity of Mira... 2 58 
Two Rapidly-changing Variable Stars . 518 
A New Astronomical Journal ........ 518 
Modern Views of the Ether. BY Sir Oliver Lodge, 
MOSER 5g 6 6.10 519 
The Institution of Naval Architects: 5A oS 522 
Ticks as Transmitters of Disease. By Pets w. w. 
Stephensi@gar.. ..arcethea ee eee 6 523 
Tropical Botany... . . Mey Bice oa o LS: 
University and Educational’ Totelligencel: Maebio. SN 
Societies and/Academies . - .'. 2 =... . . =) 520 
