FEBRUARY I1, 1904] 
NATURE 
3599 
Linnean Society, January 21.—Prof. S. H. Vines, F.R.S., 
president, in the chair.—Dr. Eric Drabble exhibited a 
lantern-slide showing diagrams of bicarpellary fruits of the 
French bean. The specimens of Phaseolus vulgaris, Savi, 
were obtained from a garden on the Middle Coal-measures 
of north Derbyshire.—The Rev. R. Ashington Bullen ex- 
hibited a finely preserved female specimen of the northern | 
| although the absolute values still continue low when com- 
stone-crab, Lithodes maia (Linn.), from Aberdeen, and 
directed attention to the various organisms securely settled 
upon its carapace.—Biscayan plankton, part i., methods 
and data: Dr. G. H. Fowler. This formed the introduc- 
tion to a series of reports from different hands dealing with 
the collections made by Dr. Fowler in the Bay of Biscay 
during a cruise of H.M.S. Research, and set out the objects 
of the cruise, the gear employed, and the records of weather, 
light, temperature, &c., kept in the naturalist’s log.—The 
Crustacea obtained during the operations described in the 
preceding paper, entitled *‘ Biscayan Plankton Collected on 
H.M.S. Research in July, 1900. Part ii. The Amphipoda 
and Cladocera, with Notes on a Larval Thyrostracan ’’: 
Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing, F.R.S.—Dr. Fowler added some | 
notes on the distribution of these Amphipoda, particularly 
in relation to the special points which the cruise was de- 
signed to study. No species, nor the Hyperiidea as a whole, 
showed any signs of the nocturnal rise and diurnal fall 
alleged to affect the epiplankton. 
to show that Cyphocaris anonyx and Scina borealis were 
Arctic and Subarctic forms, seeking the deep cold water 
of the mesoplankton at the lower latitudes of the Bay of 
Biscay. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, February 1.—M. Mascart in the 
chair.—Presentation of the atlas of solar photography 
carried out at the Observatory of Meudon: J. Janssen. 
‘The accumulation of the material summarised in this work 
has occupied twenty-seven years, upwards of 6000 photo- 
graphs having been taken. The lenses of the telescope, 
made by Prazmowski, were constructed of a flint glass 
specially chosen to give a maximum in the HH’ violet 
region, and the time of exposure was reduced to about 
1/3000 second.—The action of carbon upon quicklime at the 
temperature of molten platinum: Henri Moissan. The 
experiment was carried out in a quartz tube, heated by the 
oxyhydrogen blowpipe, the material being placed in a 
graphite boat. It was found that an intimate mixture of 
finely divided quicklime and sugar charcoal was_ not 
attacked at the temperature of melting platinum, no trace 
of calcium carbide being formed. It was also proved ex- 
perimentally that at its point of fusion calcium carbide is 
at a higher temperature than the melting point of platinum. 
—tThe direct reduction of aromatic halogen derivatives by 
finely divided nickel and hydrogen: Paul Sabatier and 
Alph. Maithe. At a suitable temperature, chlorine deri- 
vatives of benzene are reduced by hydrogen to benzene in 
the presence of finely divided nickel. Thus at 270° C. 
chlorobenzene gives a good yield of benzene, with small 
quantities of diphenyl. Hexachlorobenzene gives a mixture 
containing trichloro-, dichloro-, and monochlorobenzene, 
together with benzene. Bromo-compounds undergo a 
similar reduction, but with. greater difficulty, on account of 
the formation of nickel bromide, which is not readily re- 
duced at the temperature of the experiment. Todo-com- 
pounds behave in a like manner; the reaction stops after a | 
short time on account of the accumulation of nickel iodide, | 
but if a mixture of hydrogen and iodobenzene and pure 
hydrogen are sent alternately over reduced nickel at 270° C. 
a good yield of benzene is obtained.—Observations on the 
preceding note: M. Berthelot. The relation between the 
foregoing experiments and those made by the author in 
1868 by means of hydriodic acid is pointed out, and the pre- 
cautions necessary in the repetition of this work insisted 
on.—On the scapular and pelvic hands of the holocephalous 
fishes and in the Dipneuste : Armand Sabatier.—Observ- 
ations on the sun made at the Observatory of Lyons with 
the 16 cm. Brunner equatorial during the third quarter of 
1903: J. Guillaume. Tables are given showing the 
number of spots, their distribution in latitude, and the dis- 
tribution of the facule in latitude——On the diminution in | 
the intensity of the solar radiation during the years 1902 
and 1903: Ladislas Gorezynski. The variations in the 
NO. 1789, VOL. 69] 
Evidence was adduced | 
| form field. 
intensity of the solar radiation, previously noted at 
Lausanne, Clarens, Heidelberg, and at Washington, are con- 
firmed by the author’s observations at Warsaw. The first 
marked diminution commenced in May, 1902, the lowest 
point being noted in the spring of 1903. Towards the end 
of the year the progress of this diminution of intensity, 
compared with that of 1902, appeared to be arrested, 
pared with the values for rg01._ The eruptions of Martinique 
have been suggested as a possible cause of this diminution, 
but so far positive proof of this is wanting.—On systems of 
two surfaces the lines of curvature of which project on a 
plane following the same curves: M. Guichard.—On entire 
functions: A. Pellet.—On monodrome functions and _ trans- 
cendental numbers: Edmond Maillet.—On the principle of 
construction of an optical apparatus for obtaining very high 
magnifications: C. Chabrié. Instead of obtaining a 
geometrically similar image, as is the case with the usual 
optical systems, the suggestion is put forward that de- 
formed, magnified images may be used, reducing these 
images to their proper shape by a geometrical construction. 
The case of the magnification produced by a transparent 
cone is worked out.—The action of magnetic fields on feebly 
luminous sources: C. Gutton. Whenever phosphorescent 
calcium sulphide is placed in a non-uniform magnetic field 
it becomes more luminous, but there is no action in a uni- 
The bearing of these experiments on work with 
the Blondlot rays is discussed.—On the physiological action 
of the mn-rays and conducted radiations: Augustin 
Charpentier. <A piece of tempered steel, moved about the 
side of the head, the room being in semi-darkness, produces 
a distinct increase in the clearness with which the surround- 
ing objects are seen, and this effect was proved not to be 
due to changes of refraction in the eye.—The emission of 
n-rays by plants maintained in the dark: Edouard Meyer. 
—An attempt at an experimental determination of rational 
clothing: J. Bergonié.—On manganese salts acting as 
oxydases in the presence of a colloid: A. Tritlat. Colloidal 
solutions of manganese obtained in the presence of albumen 
possess the properties of an oxydase, oxidising hydroquinone 
to quinone, pyrogallic acid to purpurogallic acid; the 
oxidising properties are removed by boiling.—On mixtures 
of antimony and its trisulphide: H. Pélabon.—On an 
isomer of borneol, campholenic alcohol, and some campho- 
lenic derivatives: A. Béhal.—Some new dinaphthopyranic 
phenols: R. Fosse.—On the alkyl-allyl-ketones: E. E. 
Blaise. The general method for the preparation of 
ketones by the use of the magnesium alkyl compounds fails 
with allyl iodide, the reaction being abnormal. The author 
has now found that the condensation of nitriles with allyl 
iodide proceeds in a normal manner in the presence of zine, 
and has prepared a number of allyl ketones in this way.— 
Oxyalkyl ethylenic hydrocarbons and acids: Charles 
Moureu. The author has isolated in the pure state a series 
of oxyallcyl ethylenic acids of the type RC(OR) : CH.CO,H 
and of the corresponding hydrocarbons, and has studied the 
modes of decomposition of these compounds.—Researches on 
azo-compounds; the reduction of acetals and nitrobenzoic 
acids: P. Freundier.—The influence of the carbonic acid 
emitted by the soil on vegetation: E. Demoussy. From 
earlier work the author had been led to the conclusion 
that the rapid growth of plants under glass is not only due 
to the high temperature caused by the fermentation of the 
manure, but is largely due to the large amount of carbon 
dioxide given off. In confirmation of this view, further 
experimental evidence of the effect of an excess of carbon 
dioxide is now given.—On the culture of divers species of 
higher plants in the presence of a mixture of algze and 
bacteria: MM. Bouilhac and Giustiniani. Several non- 
leguminous plants may profit by atmospheric nitrogen fixed 
by certain lower organisms, algze and bacteria.—Organisa- 
tion and morphogeny of the Tridacnze: M. Anthony.—On 
the selection of polytaxic characters in the case of Mendelian 
growths: G. Coutagne.—Report on the development of 
the tracheal apparatus and metamorphoses in insects: Jules 
Angias.—The application of the X-rays to the examination 
of fine pearls: Raphael Dubois. It is possible by means 
of the X-rays to examine the living oyster, and, without in 
any way injuring it, to see whether it contains a pearl or not. 
If the pearl is too small, the oyster can be returned alive 
for further growth.—Pollinisation experiments in Poly- 
