168 
NATURE 
[DECEMBER 17, 1903 
eyanic acid upon aldehyde-ammonia and analogous com- 
jpounds, by M. Marcel Delépine. The results of the ex- 
periments described show that the ordinary equations for | 
expressing this reaction require some modification.—A new 
reaction of hydroxylamine, by M. L. J. Simon.—A new 
method for the preparation of aldehydes, by M. L. 
Bouveault. Disubstituted formaldehydes of the type | 
H.CO.NR.R’ react with magnesium alkyl derivatives to 
form compounds which, on subsequent treatment with water 
and dilute sulphuric acid, yield aldehydes. The yields are 
good, and the method would appear to be of general appli- 
cation.—On the migration of the phenyl group, by M. 
Mare Tiffeneau.—On the esters of isopyromucic acid, by 
M. G, Chavanne, The methyl and ethyl esters of pyro- 
Wucic acid cannot be obtained by the usual methods, but 
can be readily isolated by the use of ethyl and methyl 
sulphates.—On the hydrates of ethyl alcohol, by MM. E. 
Varenne and L. Godefroy. From the determination of 
the viscosity of alcohol-water mixtures, the existence of five 
hydrates of the alcohol is inferred.—The production and 
distribution of some organic substances in Citrus 
madurensis, by MM. Eug. Charabot and G. Laloue.—On 
the chemical characters of wine arising from vines which 
are attacked by mildew, by M. Emile Manceau. = Such 
wines are distinguished from ordinary wines by several 
chemical differences, the most important being the increased 
proportion of albumenoid matters.—On the determination 
of the primitive form of crystals, by M. F. Wallerant.— 
The revision of the free marine Nematods of the region of 
Cette, by M. Etienne de Rouville.—A parasitic sporozoa 
of the mussel and other Lamellibranchs, by M. Louis Léger. 
—On the filosity of potatoes, by M. G. Delacroix. A 
study of the cause of the tendency to develop buds which 
lengthen considerably and remain thin.—On the Permian 
system in the French and Spanish Pyrenees, by M. J. 
Caralp.—Observations relating to the Tectonic in the 
mountain valley of Jalomita, Roumania, by M. J. 
Bergeron. 
New SoutH WALEs. 
Linnean Society, September 30.—Mr. Henry Deane, 
vice-president, in the chair.—The botany of Norfolk Island, 
by Mr. J. H. Maiden. No new species is described, but 
45 Phanerogams (Dicotyledons 24, Monocotyledons 21) and 
17 Cryptogams (ferns 6, lichens 10, fungus 1) are recorded 
for the first time as indigenous to the island. Of the Alge 
gathered from the shores, all (with one exception) are new 
records for this particular locality. The paper contains a 
careful list of introduced plants. Section ii. of the paper 
deals with early general accounts of the vegetation, biblio- 
graphy, Ferdinand Bauer and Norfolk Island, early Govern- 
ment gardens on the island, and Phillip Island. An almost 
complete collection of the Norfolk Island flora is now in 
the National Herbarium, Sydney.—The slime of Dematium 
pullulans, De Bary, by Dr. R. Greig Smith. A race of 
Dematium pullulans was found with Bact. acaciae in the 
gum-flux of the peach and almond. From cultures upon 
solid and in fluid media a slime was obtained, which proved 
to be a pararabin.—The physical geography of the Blue 
Mountains and the Sydney district, by Mr. E. C. Andrews. 
Repeated elevation of subaérially carved and successively 
formed plains or almost plains (peneplains) is the key to 
the history of the Blue Mountain and Sydney areas in late 
geological time. These plains, developed near sea-level, 
were successively raised to heights of 700-3000 feet above 
the same base. The elevations imposed a dome-shaped 
surface upon the area, the axis of the dome being drawn 
out in a meridional direction. The growth of the present 
rivers shows the revival of stream activities after a late 
Tertiary uplift, when the cycle of erosion immediately pre- 
ceding the present one had advanced to the stage of com- 
pletion. 
October 28.—Prof. T. W. Edgeworth David, F.R.S., 
vice-president, in the chair.—The geology of the 
Glass House Mountains and district, Queensland, by 
Harald I. Jensen.—On a new species of Callitris from 
New South Wales, by R. T. Baker. This pine attains a 
height of about 20-30 feet, and a diameter of from 1-2 feet. 
The branchlets are slender, with a drooping habit, giving 
it.a facies different from: the other Australian species; the 
NO. 1781, VOL. 69] 
fruit cones are almost identical with those of C. Muelleri, 
whilst the terete branchlets are similar to those of 
C. robusta, R.Br. It appears to be a very local species, for 
after a botanical survey of the pines of this State it has so 
far never been found except on the top of the Gowie Ranges, 
north of Rylstone. The name C. gracilis is proposed for it 
in reference to the slender branchlets.—The effect of the 
Bassian Isthmus upon the existing marine fauna: a study 
in ancient geography, by C. Hedley. The union of 
Tasmania and Australia has been exhaustively dealt with 
by Mr. A. W. Howitt, and Prof. Spencer has shown how 
Tasmanian animals entered Victoria by this vanished land- 
bridge. The present memoir discusses the barrier such an 
isthmus would oppose to migration of the marine fauna. 
—The gum and byproducts of Bacterium sacchari, by Dr. 
R. Greig Smith. The gum has been identified as a 
galactan. The byproducts in the fermentation of saccharose 
are carbon dioxide, ethyl alcohol, succinic, lauric, palmitic, 
acetic and formic acids. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17. 
LINNEAN Society, at 8.—On the Docoglossa; a Study in Evolution: 
H. J. Fleure. 
InsTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—The City and South 
London Railway ; Working Results of the Three Wire System applied 
to Traction: P. V. McMahon. 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18. 
INsTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—An Inquiry into the 
Working of various Water-Softeners : C. E. Stromeyer and W. B. Baron. 
INSTITUTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—The Action of the Sea upcn 
the Foreshore : C. B. Case.—The Causes of the Loss of Beaches: F. W. 
Cable. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBBR 109. 
Essex Fietp Ciup, at 6.30 (Essex Museum of Natural History, Strat- 
ford).—Report on Protection of Birds in Essex : F. Dent.—Some Pictures 
of Bird Life at Home and Abroad: R. B. Lodge. 
MONDAY, DECEMBER 21. 
InsTITUTE OF ACTUARIES, at 5.—The Income Tax as affecting Life 
Offices, with Special Reference to some Recent Decisions: J. E. Faulks. 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22. 
INsTITUTION OF CivIL ENGINEERS, at_8.—On the Resistance of Plane 
Surfaces in a Uniform Current of Air: Dr. T. E. Stanton. 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
Geikie’s Geology . oe a : = 14g) 
New Text-Books of Geometry _. . F 146 
A Cambridge Text-Book of Physics . 148 
Prof, Johannsen on Heredity . 149 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Roth : ‘* Die europaischen Laubmoose” . . . . . . 150 
Millikan : ‘‘ Mechanics, Molecular Physics and Ieat” 150 
‘* Ostwald’s Klassiker der exakten Wissenschaften” . 150 
Maggi : ‘‘ Principii di Stereodinamica.”—G. H. B. . 151 
Duclaux : ‘‘ The Fields of France. Little Essays in 
Descriptive! Soclologyaam i -men ane meena I51 
Letters to the Editor :— 
The Velocity of a Nervous Impulse. (With 
Diagrams.).—Dr. A. D, Waller, F.R.S. . . . 151 
A Useful Empirical Formula.—Prof. J, D. Everett, 
BIRSS. sw ccna epee cos © +) 6s eG 
The Masked Tawareks. (J//ustrated.) ....... 152 
Sierra Leone. (///ustrated.) By J. W. W.S. . .. 153 
The lonisation of Atmospheric Air Bee ceron Jo. ii 
Medical Report of the Local Government Board. 
By Prof. R. T. Hewlett Perera con o 6 HES 
Herbert Spencer ..... ol) cel ed oe LEg 
Notes) fee) as: 6 = 3, ee ee 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
The Total Solar Eclipse of May, 1900 = (s) anes E60 
@loudsionyMars;. © =. 3 5 =) Sodsr) nie sn ec! 
Seismological Notes 5 Alri cacy bec. 6) LES! 
The Gilbert Tercentenary 3 a) eas Gen eee 
Agricultural Notes . rar carp sen Aiass o Hee 
Buddhismipees so. fee Arcee ot 8 
Technical EducationinGermany......... 163 
Societies and Academies ............. IA 
Diary of Societies ... iia) (o. etel (taser Oe 
