NATURE 



September 12. 1 9 1 S 



whicl fortunately is plentiful, as it will not be 



,1, u. receive further supplies of specimens 



from India. I he flora is so clear and well arranged 



to prove of great value in Madras. 



te (Oursc 11) Volumetric Analyst 

 Middle 'i nd Higher Forms of Schools. By 

 VV. T. Boone. Pp. \iiii [64. (London: Blackie 

 Son, Ltd., 1918.) Trice ;.\. 6d. net. 



It is generally recognised that a well-planned 

 course of chemical analysis by volumetric pro- 

 ism's provides good intellectual and manipulative 

 training in scientific methods. Careful thought, 

 clear reasoning, and habits of accuracy are 

 fostered by it. One may hope, indeed, that the 

 time is not far distant when all students in our 

 public schools, whether on the "classical" or on 

 the "modern" side, will receive some such train- 

 ing as a normal part of their education, apart 

 altogether from any question of a contemplated 

 career in chemistry. 



For such a course Mr. Boone's little book sup- 

 plies an excellent basis. It " begins at the begin- 

 ning,'" and leads the student on by easy but 

 educative stages to quite advanced work. The 

 numerous exercises are very well devised, and 

 ample directions and explanations are given. A 

 useful feature is the interspersed questions on 

 points suggested by the experiments : they focus 

 the learner's attention on matters of special im- 

 portance. The experiments include the prepara- 

 tion of indicators and standard solutions, as well 

 analytical exercises; and there is a chapter, 

 short and sufficiently simple, explaining the be- 

 haviour of indicators on the usual theory of ionic 

 dissociation. The book can be confidently recom- 

 mended. C. S. 



The Statesman's Year Book, 1918. Edited by Sir 

 J. Scott Keltie, assisted by Dr. M. Epstein. 

 Pp. xlviii+1488. (London: Maemillan and 

 Co., Ltd., 1918.) ■ Prk-e 185. net. 

 This ever-welcome annual contains the usual 

 ■ miliar features. The bibliographies have been 

 brought, so far as is possible, up to date. Some 

 ol this statistical material "cannot be given," 

 other parts are "provisional," for obvious rea- 

 sons; but an effort has been made to cope with 

 the abnormal conditions. A notable conspectus 

 of the world's pre-war traffic in foodstuffs is pro- 

 vided in a folding map showing relative exports 

 and imports. From an inset diagram we learn that 

 tin United States food production just equalled 

 the requirements ol the country; only Russia, 

 Canada, and Argentina produced an excess; 

 while the United Kingdom provided for just above 

 half the required quantities of foodstuffs; though 

 Canada is given, Australia omitted. Among the 

 introductory tables we note one dealing with sugar. 

 During the war the world's supply of sugar has 

 :ased by 20 per cent.; the production of sugai 

 from the sugar-beel declined b more than 40 

 nt., that from the cane has gr< rn 1>\ 20 pel 

 the output from Java having eased by 



2550, VOL. I02] 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 



[The Editor does not hold himself responsible for 

 opinions expressed by his correspondents. Neither 

 can he undertake to return, or to correspond with 

 the writers of. manuscripts intended for 



this or any other pari of Nature. No notice is 

 taken of anonymous communications.] 



Auroral Observations in the Antarctic. 

 In Nature for April 11 lasl Dr. Chrei 

 Sir Douglas Mawson's papei on "Auroral Oi> 



lion* .11 the Cape Royds Station, Antarctica," and 

 directed ittention to the impression the observers re- 

 ceived thai thi aurora was sometimes seen in thi 

 lower atmosphere between them and Mount Erebus, 

 A similar statement had appeared in Shackleton's 

 book, " lb' Heart of the Antarctic" (vol. ii.. 

 pp. 360 i'ii. before Scott's expedition left for the 

 South. As iliis subject is of fundamental importance 

 in .ill discussions of the origin and nature of the 

 aurora, 1 arranged with all members ol the expedi- 

 tion that 1 should be called whenevei thej saw, or 

 thought they saw, an aurora in front ol Erebus. 



Observations of this phenomenon were made online, 

 occasions, and luckily 1 was at hand each time. I 

 reproduce here, verbatim, the notes I made imme- 

 diately after each occurrence : — 



"(hi May 21, 1 « 1 1 1 - — This evening there was ., bright 

 aurora, and word came in to me that the aurora beams 

 were clearly visible between here and Erebus. Or» 



going out it appeared For sonic moments that this 

 was so, but en looking closely I came to the con- 

 clusion that the effect was an illusion. The moon 

 was low in lb' south, and only one or two shoulders 

 of Erebus were lit up by il ; these, however, formed 

 more or less clear bands of light from top to bottom 

 of the mountain. When the aurora was bright above 

 the mountain these moonlight bands appeared as con- 

 tinuations ,,l the aurora beams, and it was quite easy 

 to imagim them in motion owing to the bright and 

 rapid motion ol the aurora itself. Dr. Wilson agreed 

 with me in this explanation, but Dr. Atkinson, 

 Wright, and Printing continued to hold firmly that 

 they had rcallv seen the aurora in the lower atmo- 

 sphere this side of the mountain. 



"(/'i June 22, nil 1. At aboui aih. 30m. Meares re- 

 ported an aurora this side of Erebus. On .yning out 

 to examine, I found that the effect had disappeared: 

 iln explanation, however, seemed simple. The top 

 of Erebus was covered with a cloud-cloak, which had 

 an external form almost like that of the mountain. 

 \: .me vjde. however, it was incomplete, and no 



II. .1111 01 I W .Is seen llel w eell ill. . lolld 111 1 I 



and Me mountain. In the dim light (he outlin 

 Ihe cloud was taken to be that of the mountail 



that ill. .mi ira appeared to be in fronl of the moun- 

 tain. 1 1 



"i.i }u\ i .. mi i \t 5 a.m. Meares reported 

 an auroi fronl of Erebus. On going out. thert 



appeared to be a very brighl beam of aurora low- 

 down ..ii in. foothills of the mountain, and obviously 



