NALORE, 
[ APRIL 25, 1907 
624 
hypothesis of Calmette, ._Wansteenberghe, and. Grisez.— 
Researches on ammonium: Ilenri Moissan. The contents 
deposited November 5, 1906. ‘The 
presence of water is not’ necessary to the production of 
ammonium amalgam, since it can be produced by the 
interaction of sodium on the chloride or iodide of 
ammonium in liquid ammonia at —40° C. This reaction 
is, however, only possible in the presence of an excess of 
sodium. If the excess of sodium be removed by repeated 
washings with a solution of an ammonium salt in liquid 
ammonia, the so-called ammonium amalgam no _ longer 
exists. An account is also given of the product obtained 
by the electrolysis of the double iodide of mercury and 
ammonia in liquid ammonia.—Prof. Witz was elected a 
correspondant for the section of mechanics in the place 
of the late Prof. L. Boltzmann.—The form of the. geoid in 
the neighbourhood of Sahel, Algiers: MM. Bourgeois 
and Noirel.—A new method of regulating X-ray tubes: 
G. Berlemont. The arrangement proposed consists of an 
aluminium tube which can be connected at will to either 
the anode or kathode. The tube can be made either hard 
or soft in a few minutes.—The determination of the limits 
of inflammability of explosive mixtures of ether vapour 
and air: Jean Meunier. The lower limit of inflamma- 
bility is about 75 milligrams of ether per litre of air; the 
upper limit is about 200 milligrams of ether per litre.— 
The reduction of magnesia by carbon: Paul Lebeau. 
Magnesia is reduced by carbon at the temperature of the 
electric furnace with the production of magnesium and 
magnesium carbide. Both products are in great part 
destroyed by the action of the furnace gases which diffuse 
through the carbon tubes. This gas contains much carbon 
monoxide, and it is known that magnesium reduces this 
gas with great facility.—Sulphide of aluminium and _ its 
combinations with manganese and iron sulphides: Marcel 
Houdard. Sulphide of aluminium, which is irreducible 
at the high temperatures of the electric furnace, forms 
with sulphide of manganese and suiphide of iron two 
double compounds, Al,S,Mn and A1,S,Fe, a description 
of the properties of these two substances being given.—A 
new chloride of tantalum: C. Chabrié. The new chloride 
is obtained by the reduction of tantalum pentachloride 
with sodium amalgam. Its composition is given by the 
formula TaCl,,2H,O, and an account is given of its 
chemical behaviour.—A method of synthesis of non-substi- 
tuted 6-ketonic amides: Ch. Moureu and I. Lazennec. 
The acetylenic amides, heated in alcoholic solution with 
a secondary amine, best with piperidine, give good yields 
of the corresponding ketonic amides.—The migration of 
compounds possessing smell in the plant: Eug. Charabot 
and G. Laloue. The migration of these products from 
the leaves during inflorescence is proved.—The Lutetian 
in the Soudan and the Sahara: R. Chudeau. ° 
of a sealed letter 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, APRIL 25. 
Rovat Society, at 4.30.—Croonian Lecture.—On the Essential 
Constituents of the Nucleus and their Relation to the Organisation of the 
Individual : Prof. J. B. Farmer, F.R.S. 
INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Address by 
President : T. Hurry Riches. 
INsTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS at 8.—Depreciation Provision 
on Electricity Supply Undertakings: R. Hammond. 
FRIDAY, Apri 26. 
Roya INstTriTuTION, at 9.—New II]uminants: James Swinburne, F.RS 
Puysicat Society, at 5.—Electrical Conduction produced by Heating 
Salts: A, E. Garrett.—The Influence of Pressure upon Convection 
Currents, and a Criticism of J. Stark's Relation betweén Cathode Fall of 
Potential and Temperatur-: W. S. Tucker.—Solenoids which are turned 
by the Earth's Magnetic Field: W. B. Croft.—Simple Apparatus for 
mechanically illustrating the Tangent and Sine Laws: J. A. Tomkins. 
SATURDAY, Aprit 27. 
Rovat INnstiTuTION, at 3.—Stucies in Magnetism: Prof. Silvanus P. 
Thompson, F.R.S. 
MONDAY, Arr. 209. 
Society oF Arts, at 8.—Detergents and Bleaching 
dry Work: Prof. Herbert Jackson. 
the 
Agents used in Laun- 
Rovat GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30.—Polar Problems : Dr. Fridtjof 
Nansen, G.C.V.O. ‘ 
INSTITUTE OF ACTUARIES, at 5.—On Extra Premiums: H. E. W. Lutt. 
TUESDAY, ArRit 30. 
Rovac InsTitTuTION, at 3.—Stimulation, Lumirous and Chemical ; 
William Stirling. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—Lustre Pottery: Williem Burton. 
NO. 1956, VOL. 75] 
Prof. 
(|) 
' Yo1@ 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, at 8.15.—Lantern Demonstration of Two 
eons Types of North American Indians: Dr. A. C, Haddon, 
InstiruTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Annual General Meeting. 
WRFDNES DAY, May «. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—The Defence of the Sea Coast from Erosion: 
Alfred E. Carey. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8. 
Geotocicat Society, at 8.—On the Xerophytic Character of Coal- 
Plants and a Suggested Origin of Coal-Beds: Prof. G. Hens!ow.—Petro- 
logical Notes on the Igneous Rocks lying to the South-East of Dartmoor: 
H. J. Lowe. 
THURSDAY, May 2. 
Roya Society, at 4.—Election of-Fellows.—At 4.30.—The Spontaneous 
Crystallisation of Binary Mixtures. Experiments on Salol and Betol : 
Prof. H. A. Miers, F.R.S., and Miss F. Isaac —On the Variation of 
the Pres:ure developed during the &xplosion of Cordite in Closed Vessels : 
Prof. C. H. Lees, F.R.S., and J. E: Petavel.—Space described ina Given 
Time by a Projectile moving in Air: A. Mallock, F.R.S. 
Society oF ARTs, at 4.30.—The Applicability to India of Italian 
Mcthods of Utilizing Silt: Sir Edward C. Buck, K.C.S.J. 
LINNEAN Society, at 8.—The Fauna and Flora of Abyssinia compared 
with Those of West Africa: Prof. E. B. Poulton, F.K.S.—(1) Report on 
the Marine Biology of the Sudanese Red Sea (Communicated with an 
Introduction by the President); (2) Formation of the Shone Cliff near 
Alexandria ; (2) Recent History of the Coral Reefs of the North-West 
Shores of the Red Sea: Cyril Crossland.—Polyplacophora collected by 
Mr. Cyril Crossland: E. R. Svkes.—On Chelonethi (Pseudoscorpions) 
from Asia and Australia: C. J. With.—Note on the Function of the 
Spiracle in certain Elasmobranchs: A. D. Darbishire.—Axhzbits : (1) 
Probate of the Will of Richard Anthony Salisbury; (2) Manuscripts 
of Dr. W. J. Burchell, F-L.S., Presented to the University of Oxford by 
Francis A. Burchell, Esq., Rhodes University College, Grahamstown, 
Grand-nephew of the Great Naturalist and Explorer : Prof. E. B, Poulton. 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.30.—(1) The Chemical Action of Exradio, 
Part I., Action cn Distilled Water; (2) The Chemical Action of 
Exradio, Part II, Action on Copper Salts in Solution. Preliminary 
Note : Sir W. Ramsay.—Freezing Point Curves of the Menthyl 
Mandelates: A. Findlay and E. M. Hickmans.—The Constitution of 
Homo-eriodictyol. A Crys‘alline Substance from Eriodictyon Leaves : 
F. B. Power and F. Tutin.—The Relation between Valency and Heats 
of Combustion. Preliminary note: G. Le Bas. 
INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—The Use of Wooden 
Poles for Overhead Power Transmission : C. Wade. 
FRIDAY, May 3. 
Rovat INSTITUTION, at 9.—Dexterity and the Bend Sinister ; 
Crichton-Browne, F.R.S. 
Geo.ocists’ AssociaTION, at 8.—The Igneous Rocks of the Bristol 
District: Prof. S. H. Reynolds. —The Carboniferoas Limestone Sections 
of Burrington Combe and Cheddar: T. F. Sibly—Recent Researches in 
the Lower Carboniferous Rocks: Dr. A. Vaughan. 
SATURDAY, May, 4. 
Royat InstTITUTION, at 3.—Scientific Work in the Sea-Fisheries: Prof. 
W.C. McIntosh. 
Sir James 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
The Development of Chemical TBSOAY: ey W.R. 601 
Niger Delta Negroes. ByH. H. J. a ae 602 
Practical Plant-Physiology. By F. D. Bee A 3 ab oy 
Some Recent Mathematical Wiorie! By G. H.B.. 603 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Bussard and Duval: ‘‘ Arboriculture Fruitiere” . . 605 
Sommerfeldt : ‘‘ Physikalische Kristallographie vom 
Standpunkt der Strukturtheorie”’—H. H. . . . . 605 
Letters to the Editor:— 
Electrical Method of Extracting Soot from Air in 
Flues. —George W. Walker... . 606 
Paradoxes and Principles. —Dr. W. Hampson ; ‘The 
Reviewer . 606 
Erosion at Niagara. ‘(Ulustrated.) By G. A. in Cre 607 
A Year's Work of the Carnegie Institution... . . €07 
Aérodynamical Experiments and Observations in 
Rivssias «(Udlust-aied.)) sae ee 609 
The Mexican Earthquake ; oi” Aa CROLO. 
Tuberculosis Research and Vivisection . ee i els) 
Notes! yaa: aMua 40 !'=) dy ORO eS OL 
Our Astronomical Column: — 
Comet 1907/ (Mellish). . . ons hoy Oe 615 
A New Variable or Nova, 156. 1906 1, Os qyeeeeene 615 
The Albedoes of the Superior Planets. 615 
The Second Globular Cluster in Hercules, Messier 92. 616 
Halley’s Comet . . = Een ODO) 
Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites, 1$78- 1903 sh tee LG 
Rainfall in German South-West Africa. .... . 616 
The River Pilcomayo. . . «  icieiea seg ate ean ROT 
Cretaceous Ferns. By A. cis! 617 
Problems of Applied Chemistry. By Prof. - George 
Lunge . . aot cist 
University and Educational ‘Intelligence «ye. eles ee ROR! 
Societies,and) Academies |) 2) 6).) +, >)» i) uunanepnOau 
Diary of Societies: =). 2) fir. yin aite on utnmOceE 
