668 



NA TURE 



[October 3 i, 1901 



some of the curves which are accepted as straight lines and on 

 which there is no complication due to magnetic properties. He 

 hoped the author and others would continue working at this 

 subject. Mr. E. P. Harrison, in reply to Dr. Morris, said he 

 thought the number and accuracy of his observations justified 

 him in drawing tangents to form his power and Peltier-effect 

 curves. — A paper on asymmetry of the Zeeman effect, by Mr. 

 G. W. Walker, was read by the secretary. Prof. Voigt pre- 

 dicted an asymmetry of the normal triplet, which has been 

 verified by Zeeman. The author has considered the subject 

 mathematically, and finds that asymmetry may arise as a second 

 order term due to the magnetic field. The asymmetry would 

 be more distinct, the greater the field, which is opposed to the 

 theory of Voigt. By giving numerical i'alues to the symbols it 

 is shown that the effect is extremely small. The author points 

 out that his theory can provide an explanation of why a line 

 may not be resolvable. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, October 21. — M. Bouquet de la 

 Grye in the chair. — The junction of a closed network of tri- 

 angulation, by M. P. Hatt. — Researches on the mummified fishes 

 of ancient Egypt, by MM. Lortet and Hugounenq. A descrip- 

 tion and chemical analyses of mummified specimens of Lales 

 niloticus. The ash consisted largely of common salt and sili- 

 cates. The fish are in a wonderful state of preservation, they 

 appear to have been enclosed in a mixture of clay and sand im- 

 pregnated with a large proportion of alkaline salts, especially 

 sodium chloride. — On a new layer of mammifers of the middle 

 'Eocene at Robiac, near Saint-Mamert, by MM. Ch. Deperet 

 and G. Carriere. .-^n account of the discovery of a rich deposit 

 of Eocene vertebrates at Robiac. The species identified include 

 Lofhiodon rhinocerodes and isseleiisis, Paloplotherium magiumi 

 and liigditnense, Pachynoiophits Duvali^ Anchilophtis Dcsma- 

 resti, and Hyopolamiis Gresslyii. — The limit of chemical 

 reactions and that of the product PV in gases, by M. A Ponsot. 

 — The diameters of Jupiter obtained with the Brunner Equatorial 

 of the Observatory of Lyons. The influence of magnification, 

 by M. J. Guillaume. The value obtained for the apparent 

 diameters of this planet differed slightly according to the mag- 

 nification employed. A comparison of measurements of these 

 diameters taken at different times by various astronomers shows 

 that this effect is general. — On secondary chains, by M. G. 

 Kcenigs. — On groups of substitutions, by M. G. A. Miller. — 

 On linear differential equations of the second order with alge- 

 braical coefficients of the second and third species, by M. Paul 

 J. Suchar. — On two particular classes of congruences of 

 Ribaucour, by M. A. Demoulin. — On the variations of magneti- 

 sation in a cubical crystal, by M, Wallerant. — Action of the 

 -pyridine bases upon the tetrahalogen quinones, by M. Henry 

 Imbert. The action of the pyridine bases upon chloranil and 

 bromanil has been previously described. It is now shown that 

 the resulting compounds still possess the quinonic function, as on 

 reducing with sulphurous acid, hydroquinones are undoubtedly 

 produced. The isolation and properties of the pyridyl com- 

 pound are described. — On the oxidation of the benzene hydro- 

 carbons by means of manganese peroxide and sulphuric acid, by 

 M. H. Fournier. Toluic aldehyde was obtained as the oxida- 

 tion product of ortho-xylene with these reagents. One of the 

 methyl groups in pseudocumene was similarly oxidised to the 

 aldehyde grouping, paracymene behaving similarly. With ethyl- 

 'benzene the chief product was acetophenone, a little benzalde- 

 hyde being also produced. — The action of ammonia on benzyl 

 chloride and on the conditions of formation of benzylamine, by 

 M. Rene Dhommee. A study of the conditions under which the 

 best yield of benzylamine can be obtained. — On the amine 

 derived from the supposed binaphthylene glycol, by M. R. Fosse. 

 — The nitro-derivatives of arabite and rhamnite ; the constitu- 

 tion of certain nitrous esters, by MM. Leo Vignon and F. 

 Gerin. The penta-nitro-derivative of arabite and the penta- 

 nitro-rhamnite both readily reduce an alkaline copper solution. 

 The cause in the differences in reducing power of various nitro- 

 derivatives is accounted for by the authors by supposing a 

 difference in constitution. — On glycerophosphorous acid and the 

 glycerophosphites, by MM. Auguste Lumiere, Louis Lumicre 

 and F. Perrin. A study of the acids and salts resulting from the 

 action of phosphorus trichloride upon glycerine. — On a new 

 niicrosporidium, Pleutopkora inirandcllac, a parasite of the 

 ovary of Atbiirnus miraitdella. by MM. C. Vaney and A. Conte. 

 ■ — Seasonal histolysis, by M. G. Bohn. — On some ferns with 

 helerospores, by M. B. Renault. — The development of the 



NO. 1670, VOL. 64] 



embryo in the ivy (ffedera helix), by M. L. Ducamp. In the 

 formation of the radicular cone the central cylinder remains 

 apart from the suspender. — Retinal inertia relative to the sense 

 of form, by MM. Andre Broca and D. Sulzer. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



; Preliminary Repon 

 -The Frankland Me 



Solar Eclipse of 

 rial Lecture : Prof. 



the Library 



THURSDA y, Oct 

 Royal Society, at 4.30.— Special Joint Meeting with the Royal Astro- 

 nomical Society, to receive " '■ • " 



1901. 

 Chemical Society, at 8.- 



H. E. Armstrong, F.R.S." 



FRIDAY, November i. 

 Geologists' Association, at 8. — A Conversazic 



University CoIIeee, Gower Street. 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8.— Adjourned Discussion 



on the Second G.is-Engine Research Report by Prof. F. W. Burstall. 



MO NBA y, November 4. 



Society of Chemical Industry, at 8. — The Rapid and Approximate 



Estimation of Free Oxygen in Sewage Effluents and Waters ; Prof. W. 



Ramsay, F.R.S. —Phthalic Glyceride : Watson Smith.— Notes on the 



Manufacture of Varnish by the Pressure Process : A. J. Smith. 

 TUESDA y, November 5. 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Address by Mr. Charles 



Hawlvsley, President, and Presentation of Medals and I'rizes awarded by 



the Council. 



IVEDNESDAY, Novembi 

 etv, at 8.— On an Altered Sili^ 



R 6. 



GEOLOGICi 



Frank Rutley— Note on a Submerged and Glaciated Rock-Va 

 recently exposed to view in Caermarthenshire ; T. Codrington. — On the 

 Clarke Collection of Fossil Plants from New South Wales : E. A. 

 Newell Arber. 



Entomological Society, at S. 



THURSDAY. November 7. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8,— On the Life-history of the Black-currant Mite 

 (Phyloptus ribis) : Mr. Warburton and Miss Embleton.— Notes on the 

 types of Species oiCarcx in Boott's Herbarium : C. B. Clarke, F.R.S. 



RoNTGEN Society, at 8.30.— Presidential Address : Herbert Jackson. 



Chemical Society, at 8.— Note on the Non-existence of a Higher Oxide 

 of Hydrogen than the Di-oxide : Prof. W. Ramsay, F.K.S.— The 

 Electrolytic Reduction of Nilrourea; G. W. F. Holroyd.— (i) The Con- 

 stitution of Pilocarpine, III. ; (2) A New Synthesis of o-Ethyl Tricarb- 

 allylic Acid: H. A. D. Jowett.— The Action of Nitric Acid on Methyl 

 Dimethylacetoacetate : Prof. W. H. Perkin, F.R.S.— (i) An Incrustation 

 from the Stone Gallery of St. Paul's [Cathedral ; (2) Note on Asbestos : 

 E. G. Clayton.— Liquid Nitrogen Peroxide as a Solvent : Prof. P. F. 

 Frankland, F.R.S., and R. C. Farmer. 



FRIDAY, November S. 



CONTENTS. PACK 



Pterodactyles. By R. L 645 



Elementary Dynamics 646 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Randall-Maciver : " The Earliest Inhabitants of 



Abydos ; a Craniological Study " 647 



Redway : " The New Basis of Geography. A Manual 



for the Preparation of the Teacher " 648 



Rigaud : " Expertises et Arbitrages " 648 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Note on a Point of Chemical Nomenclature. — 



A. T. de M 648 



Folklore about Stonehenge.— Rev. O. Fisher ... 648 



A Curious Flame. (///;«/ra/fa'.)— L. L. Garbutt . 649 



The London Fog Inquiry. By W. N. Shaw, F.R.S. 649 



Aluminium and its Uses 650 



The October Orionids. By W. F. Denning .... 651 



Armour-clad Whales. By R. L 652 



Tibet and Chinese Turkestan. (Illustrated.) By 



T. H. H 653 



Notes ■ 654 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Astronomical Occurrences in November 659 



Period of Mira (0 Ceti) 659 



The Possible Improvement of the Human Breed 

 under the Existing Conditions of Law and 

 Sentiment. [Willi Diagram.) By Dr. Francis 



Gallon, F.R.S • ... 659 



Ocean Circulation 665 



University and Educational Intelligence 666 



Societies and Academies 667 



Diary of Societies 668 



