DECEMBER 10, 1903] 
NATURE 137, 
fact that radiuu: gives rise to rays charged with negative 
electricity. Our researches upon the new _ radio-active 
bodies have given rise to a scientific movement, and have 
been the starting point vf numerous researches in connection 
with new radio-active substances, and with the investigation 
of the radiation of the known radio-active bodies.”’ 
Tue additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during 
the past week include two Black-eared Marmosets (Hapale 
penicillata) from South-east Brazil, presented by Mr. J. 
Arthur Turner; a Short-toed Eagle (Circaétus gallicus) 
captured at sea, presented by Lieut. W. H. Colegrave, 
R.N.R.; four Chameleons (Chamaeleon vulgaris) from 
North Africa, presented by Mr. Thomas Yates; a Vervet 
Monkey (Cercopithecus lalandii) from South Africa, two 
Slender Loris (Loris gracilis) from Ceylon, a Blue-fronted 
Amazon (Chrysotis aestiva), a  Rough-eyed Cayman 
(Caiman sclerops), five Black-pointed Teguexins (Tupi- 
nambis nigropunctatus) from South America, a _ Red- 
billed Toucan (Ramphastos erythrorhynchus) from Cayenne, 
two Red-handed Tamarins (Midas rufimanus) from Surinam, 
a One-bearded Greaved Tortoise (Podicnemis unifilis) from 
the Upper Amazons, deposited. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
OBSERVATIONS OF SOLAR PHENOMENA.—In a paper pre- 
sented to the Paris Académie des Sciences, M. Deslandres 
discusses the various theories concerning the inter-relation of 
solar and magnetic phenomena which have been brought 
into prominence by the exceptional magnetic storm of 
October 31. He points out that, whereas the magnetic 
phenomena are recorded continuously at many widely 
separated observatories, the solar observations, which con- 
stitute the other side of the problem under discussion, are 
only made during short intervals each day and at fewer 
stations ; therefore he strongly urges that solar observatories 
should be more widely disseminated in order that a con- 
tinuous record may be obtained. Again, he points out that, 
at present, at least ninety-nine out of every hundred observers 
of the sun only record the forms, and not the movements, or 
velocities, of the solar disturbances, whereas in his opinion 
the records of the latter would prove much more effective 
in bringing us to a solution of the vexed questions. 
M. Deslandres suggested in 1893, and in the present paper 
he strongly emphasises the fact, that it is essential, in order 
that our knowledge of solar disturbances may be rendered 
less defective, to obtain a continuous record of :—(1) The 
surface of the photosphere as photographed by the ordinary 
process; (2) the forms of the disturbances in the lower, 
mean, and higher chromosphere as obtained with the 
spectroheliograph ; and (3) the radial velocities of these 
chromospheric disturbances as shown on _ photographs 
obtained with the spectroheliograph especially arranged to 
register these velocities. He states that the present instru- 
ments are perfect enough to ensure success, and estimates 
the annual expense of such observations (at Meudon) as 
twenty thousand francs (about 800l.) (Comptes rendus, No. 
21, November 23). 
Tue Spectrum oF LicuTninc.—Mr. Phillip Fox, of the 
Yerkes Observatory, has recently succeeded in obtaining 
several spectra of lightning flashes which were taken with 
an objective-prism spectroscope consisting of a 30° flint 
glass prism mounted in front of a camera of 35 mm. aper- 
ture and 274 mm. focal length. Proceeding on the lines 
suggested by the visual observations of Vogel, Lohse, and 
Schuster, he compared his spectra with a spark spectrum 
of air obtained with the same instrument, and found that 
a striking agreement existed between the two. 
Similar results were arrived at by Dr. W. J. S. Lockyer, 
who, in a recent number of the Illustrated Scientific News 
(No. 15, vol. ii.), described an extremely simple method 
whereby photographs of lightning flashes and their spectra 
can be obtained by using an ordinary camera having one 
of Thorpe’s transmission gratings fixed in front of the lens. 
NO. 1780, VOL. 69] 
The spectra thus obtained by Dr. Lockyer in May of this 
year are shown to differ from those obtained by Prof. Picker- 
ing at Harvard in r1go1, and a spectrum recently obtained 
by the latter is again different from either of the other two; 
all, however, bear a striking resemblance, in general 
appearance, to the air spark spectrum, the chief nitrogen 
lines being especially prominent. 
In Mr. Fox’s spectra it is seen that the various lines 
differ in intensity from one part of the flash to another, and, 
as this apparently indicates a variation of the spectrum with 
the atmospheric conditions, it seems probable that the differ- 
ences existing between the several spectra may be thus 
explained. 
Mr. Fox’s article is illustrated by reproductions of the 
spectra obtained by him, and a comparison of the air and 
lightning spectra, and is published in No. 4, vol. xviii., of 
the Astrophysical Journal. 
Tue Line SPECTRA OF THE ALKALINE Metats.—In No. 27 
of the Physikalische Zeitschrift Herren H. Konen and A. 
Hagenbach record the results of some observations made by 
them with the object of discovering additional lines in the 
secondary series of the spectra of lithium, potassium, 
cxsium, and rubidium. 
In the spectrum of iithium four new lines were observed, 
but their diffuse character renders the determined wave- 
lengths (6240-8, 4636-14, 4149-1, and 3934) rather untrust- 
worthy, and for this reason it is difficult to determine finally 
whether they belong to a definite series or not, although it 
seems likely, from their character and their analogy to the 
lines in the sodium series, that they are really pairs, and 
belong to the first secondary series. No new lines were dis- 
covered in the potassium spectrum. In the spectrum of 
rubidium three new lines were discovered, and fourteen of 
the fifteen lines observed by Mr. Hugh Ramage in the flame 
spectrum were seen, although these observers were unable 
to find, either in the arc or the flame, the line at A 5037 
recorded by Mr. Ramage. ‘These new lines fill up gaps in 
the first secondary series as calculated from Kayser and 
Runge’s formula. 
All the lines recorded by Mr. Ramage below A 5750 in the 
cesium spectrum were observed, together with an additional 
line at A 5209. 
PATAGONIAN “ DIPROTODONT ** MAMMALS.} 
SENOR AMEGHINO appears to be firmly convinced that 
the ancestors of a large number of groups of mammals 
are to be met with among the remains from the Santa 
Cruz and associated beds of Patagonia. Last year, in the 
journal quoted below, he attempted to prove the descent 
of the modern elephant, through Pyrotherium and certain 
other forms, from a primitive opossum (Proteodidelphys). 
Now he essays to demonstrate that the rodents have origin- 
ated from another type of Patagonian “‘ diprotodonts,”’ 
namely, the Garzoniide, which is itself traced back to a 
still earlier group, the Microbiotheriide. Apart from zoo- 
logical considerations, the possibility of such phylogenies 
depends entirely on the age assigned to the Santa Cruz and 
subjacent strata. If, with Dr. Ameghino, we regard them 
as of early Eocene, Cretaceous, and possibly Upper Jurassic 
age, then, from this point of view, there is nothing im- 
possible in such pedigrees. If, on the other hand, we 
accept the view of the great majority of palzontologists 
that these strata are of Miocene age, the very foundations 
of Dr. Ameghino’s elaborate phylogenies are at once 
destroyed. 
Putting, however, this consideration on one side, we may 
refer briefly to some of the zoological features in the paper 
before us. Briefly stated, Dr. Ameghino’s views, so far as 
we can follow them, appear to be as follows. In the Upper 
Jurassic of Patagonia there existed a primitive group of 
““diprotodonts ’’ (that is to say, mammals furnished with 
a single pair of chisel-like incisors in the lower jaw), the 
Microbiotheriida. On the one hand, as we learn from the 
earlier paper, these gave rise to the Proboscidea, while on 
the other they culminated in the modern rodents, the dipro- 
todont marsupials of Australia, and certain extinct forms, 
1 F. Ameghino, ‘‘ Los Diprotodontes del ordren des los Plagiaulacoideos 
y el Origen de los Roedores y de los Polymastodontes” (A. Mus. Nac. 
Buenos Aires, vol. ix., pp. 81-192 ) 
