360 
gonum Fagopyrum: Pierre Paul Rieher.—On the growth 
in weight of plants: Mlle. M. Stefanowska.—On the 
culture of black rot: P. Viala and P. Pacottet.—On the 
véle of phosphorus in mineral layers: L. De Launay.—On 
the presence of the Oligocene in Madagascar : Paul 
Lemoine.—On the earthquakes felt in Portugal during 
1903 : Paul Choffat. Slight earthquake shocks are frequent 
in Portugal, but on August 9 and September 14, 1903, that 
country was visited with two shocks of unusual force. The 
first of these affected nearly the whole of Portugal; the 
second was more limited in range, and it is shown that the 
seismic centres of both these earthquakes were in deep sea. 
New Sourit WALES. 
Royal Society, December 2, 1903.—Mr. F. B. Guthrie, 
president, in the chair.—A comparison of the periods of the 
electrical vibrations associated with simple circuits: J. A. 
Pollock, with an appendix by J. C. Close. The periods 
of the electrical vibrations connected with narrow rect- 
angular closed circuits have been compared with those of 
the oscillations associated with straight wires, with open 
and closed circles, and with closed ellipses. Definite 
numerical results have been obtained for circuits varying in 
length from 3 to 9 metres.—A contribution to the study of 
the dielectric constant of water at low temperatures: O. U. 
Vonwiller. The object of the experiments was to ascertain 
whether the dielectric constant of water had a maximum 
value at 4° C. or not. First an air condenser was used, 
readings being taken as its capacity was given different 
known values, and then a condenser having water as its 
dielectric, readings being taken as the temperature rose 
from 0° C, The capacity of the water condenser invariably 
decreased as the temperature rose, there being no indication 
whatever of a critical value at 4° C. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11. 
Roya Society, at 4.30.—On the Compressibilities of Oxygen, Hydrogen, 
Nitrogen, and. Carbonic Oxide between One Atmosphere and Half an 
Atmosphere of Pressure; and on the Atomic Weights of the Elements 
concerned. Preliminary Notice: Lord Rayleigh, o M., F.R.S.—A 
New Method of Detecting Electrical Oscillations : Tp A. Ewing, 
F.R.S., and L. H, Walter.—On the High- Tee iue Standards of the 
National Physical Laboratory. An Account of a Comparison of Platinum 
Thermometers and Thermojunctions with the Gas-thermometer: Dr. 
J. A. Harker.—Constant Standard Silver Trial-Plates : Edward Matthey. 
—On Certain Properties of the Alloys of Silver and Cadmium: Dr. 
Kirke Rose.—Sun-spot Variation in Latitude, 1861-1902: Dr. W. J. S 
Lockyer. 
Roya InstTiTuTION, at 5.—Recent Research in Agriculture: A. D. Hall. 
SocteTy oF Arts, at 4.30.—Our Commercial Relations with Afghanistan: 
Ccl. Sir Thomas H. Holdich, K.C.M.G., K.C.1I.E. 
Le es Society, at 5.30.—On the Roots of the Equation 
im ae =c: G. H. Hardy.—On a Certain Double 
x I 
A. C. Dixon.—On an Appropriate Form of Conductor for a Moving 
Point-Singularity : Prof. A. W. Conway.—On Group-Velocity : Prof. H. 
Lamb.—On Point-Wise Discontinuous Functions of a Real Variable: 
Dr. E. W. Hobson.—Some Extensions of Abel’s Theorem on Power 
Series on the Circle of Convergence : G. H. Hardy. 
InsTiTUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8 —Transatlantic 
eering Schools and Engineering: Prof. R. M. Walmsley. 
FRIDAY, Fesruary 12. 
Roya. INSTITUTION, at 9.—Some Aspects of Modern Weather Forecast- 
ing: W. N Shaw, F.R.S. 
Puysicat Society, at 8.—Annual General Meeting. Address by the 
president, Dr. R. T. Glazebrook, F.R.S., on the Theories of Micro- 
scopic Vision. 
Rovat ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, at 5.—Anniversary Meeting. 
INsTiTuTION oF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—The Electricity 
Destructor Station at Plumstead : T. S. Nash. 
MALACOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—Annual Meeting : 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13. 
Roya Institution, at 3.—Culture and Sculpture: Dr. C. Waldstein. 
Essex Frie_p Cus, at 6.30(Essex Museum of Natural History, Stratford).— 
Nature’s Protection of Insect Life, with Natural-colour Photographs : 
Mr. F. Enock. 
Integral : 
and 
President’s Address. 
MONDAY, Fesruary 15. 
Society oF Arts, at 8.—Oils and Fats—their Uses and Applications : 
Dr. J. Lewkowitsch. (Cantor Lectures, IV.). 
TUESDAY, Fresruary 16. 
Rovat InsTITUTION, at 5.—The Development of Animals: 
Miall, F.R.S. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30.—(1) On the Marine Fauna of Zanzibar and 
British East Africa—Polycheta, Part iii.; (2) The Polychaeta of the 
Ma aldive Archipelago from the Collections made by J. Stanley Gardiner 
Prof.) Lin. 
in 1899: Cyril Crossland.—On some Nudibranchs from Zanzibar and 
East Africa—No. IV. Doridid@ Cryptobranchiate : Sir Charles Eliot, 
K.C.M.G. 
NO. 1789, VOL. 69] 
NATURE 
Engin- | 
Ane |) 
Prof. | 
[ FEBRUARY II, 1904 
Roya Sraristicat Society, at 5.—Trade Union Expenditure on Un- 
employed Benefit : E. L. Hartley. 
INSTITUTION OF Civic ENGINEERS, at 8.—The Forms of Turbines most 
Suitable for Low Falls : A. Steiger. 
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—Garden Cities in their Relation to Industries and 
Agriculture: A. R, Sennett. 
Roya Microscoricat Society, at 8.—On the Vertical Illuminator; 
the Influence of the Antipoint on the Microscopic Image shown Graphi- 
cally: E. M. Nelson.—A Microscope with Geometric Slides: Keith 
Lucas.—Mr. C. L. Curties will exhibit Specimens of Marine Objects 
mounted by Mr. H. J. Waddington. 
RovaL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 7.30.—Report on the Phenological 
Observations for 1903: E. Mawley.—Observations by Means of Kites at 
Crinan in the Summer of 1903: W. H. Dines. 
CHEMICAL Society, at 5.39 —Observations on some Continuous Intra- 
molecular and at First Reversible Changes extending over Prolonged 
Periods of Time: R. J. Friswell.—The Esterification of »-Mandelic Acid 
by Menthol and Borneol : A. McKenzie. 
THURSDAY, Fesruary 18. 
Royat Society, at 4.39.—Probable Papers : Further Researches on the 
Temperature Classification of Stars: Sir J. Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., 
F.R.S.—Theory of Amphoteric Electrolytes: Prof. James Walker, 
F.R.S.—Note on the Formation of Solids at Low Temperatures, particu- 
larly with regard to Solid Hydrogen : Prof. Morris W. Travers.—Atmo- 
spherical Radio-activity in High Latitudes: George C. StnpeOr 
Roya. INsti1TUTION, at 5.—Recent Research in Agriculture : D. Hall. 
LinnEAN Society, at 8.—Mendel’s Laws as Tinea by Wheat 
Hybrids: R. H. Biffen.—Heredity and Variation as seen in Primula 
sinensis: W. Bateson, F.R.S.—Formation of Secondary Wood in 
Psilotum: L. A. Boodle. 
FRIDAY, Fepsruary 19. 
Rovat InsTITUTION, at 9.—Condensation Nuclei: 
F.R.S. 
GEOLOGICAL SociEty, at 8.—Anniversary Meeting. 
INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Annual General 
Meeting; followed by Discussion on Heat Treatment of Steel.—The 
Motion of Gases in Pipes, and the Use of Gauges to Determine the 
Delivery: R. Threlfall, F.R.S. 
Dr. Myer 
C. T. R. Wilson, 
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SocieTy, at 8.30.—The Etiology of Scurvy : 
Coplans. 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20. 
Rovat InstTITUTION, at 3.—The Life and Work of Stokes: Lord Rayleigh. 
CONTENTS. 
Early Civilisation in Babylonia. .... 
Biology and Archeology of Central America sie, hee 338 
Frictionin) Machinery. By T.H.B. 3 25 sesso 
The Flora ofthe Swiss Alps .... + 340 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Russell: ‘‘The Planning and Fitting-up of Chemical 
and Physical Laboratories.” —R. S. H. 341 
Lipskiy : ‘‘ The Highlands of Bukhara.”—P. A. ’K. 341 
‘* The British Journal Photographic Almanac,” 1904 341 
Nippoldt : ‘* Erdmagnetismus, Erdstrom und 
Polarlichtea lnc < cies mene 341 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Science at Oxford and Cambridge.—Prof. G. H. - 
Bryan, F.R.S. 342 
The Radiation from an Electron moving in an Elliptic, 
or any other Orbit.—Oliver Heaviside, F.R.S. 342 
Corrections in Nomenclature : Orang Outang ; Ca’‘ing 
Whale.—Dr. Henry O. Forbes... ... . . 343 
Strange Winter Scenes connected with Lough 
Neagh.—W. S. Smith... 2 peas 
The a Rays of Radium. =i T. Nance; - Frederick 
Soddy firs 343 
Coloured Haze around the Moon. Angus Rankin 344 
The New Education Authority for London . . 344 
Sleeping Sickness. (J//ustrated.) By Dr. J. W. w. 
Stephens . =) Goh aeed oc 345 
Radio-Tellurium. By Frederick Soddy on ety/ 
| Notes: a(2iesixated.) ye i 82 = 12) pian) eee Ea 
| Our Astronomical Column :— 
Report of the Harvard College Observatory 350 
The Direct and Retrograde Rotations of the Planets. 
(With Diagram.).. . 
The ‘Invariable Plane ” of the Planetary System 2 351 
Simultaneous Solar and Terrestrial Changes. By 
Sir J. Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S. . 351 
University and Educational Intelligence . . . . . 357 
SocietiesiandwAtcademies, 21) fa. ee ee) eee SS 
| Diary of Societies 360 
