ApRIL 28, 1904] 
NATURE 
619 
Partially dried salt areas are to be observed, with glitter- 
ing incrustations of salt, and sand-dunes likewise diversify 
the scene. The authors give details of the stratigraphy 
and paleontology. They note that the Danian is overlain 
unconformably by the Eocene, between which disturbances 
with faulting and denudation took place. In post-Eocene 
times there were further earth movements accompanied by 
the igneous intrusions. It is not clear, however, whether 
these disturbances were prior or subsequent to the deposi- 
tion of the ferruginous quartzites. These latter were formed 
in a slight depression of the Eocene and Cretaceous rocks 
before the great erosion of the oasis. The authors remark 
that the agent of denudation cannot be stated with certainty. 
The effects of the disturbances had weakened the rocks, and 
the main erosion was carried out in the moist climate which 
existed in Egypt in Pliocene and early Pleistocene times, 
and is being continued to-day by the powerful agency of 
the desert wind-borne sand and changes of temperature. 
A rirtH edition of Mr. W. Jerome Harrison’s ‘‘ Text- 
book .of Geology ’’ has been published by Messrs. Blackie 
and Son, Ltd. The book has been revised and brought up 
to date, and many new illustrations have been used to 
embellish its pages. 
Messrs. WHITTAKER AND Co. have published the School 
Calendar for 1904. It is a convenient and useful guide to 
the scholarships offered by the universities, public schools, 
and other educational institutions. Full particulars of the 
public examinations to be held during the current year are 
also given. 
Tue April number of Cassell’s Magazine opens with a 
well illustrated description of the Royal Botanic Gardens 
at Kew, written by Mr. Richard Davey. An _ illustrated 
article on radium and its possibilities, by Dr. Louis Elkind, 
is also included in the same issue. 
Mr. J. W. Jarvis, St. Mark’s College, Chelsea, S.W., 
has undertaken the duties of secretary and treasurer of the 
London Geological Field Class. The excursions this season 
are to Merstham on April 30, and to Purley, Henley, 
Wimbledon, Aylesford, Leighton, Bedford, and Chislehurst 
on succeeding Saturdays. 
Tue Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction 
for Ireland has published the second Bulletin in its science 
and art:series.. The pamphlet deals with the spectrometer : 
its construction, adjustments, and uses, and is written by 
Mr. W. J. Lyons, of the Royal College of Science for 
Ireland. 
We have received a copy of the Chemisch Weekblad, a 
new weekly publication of the Dutch Chemical Society, 
under the editorship of Dr. L. T. Reicher and Dr. W. P. 
Jorissen. 
A prize of 1200 marks is offered by Prof. J. H. van ’t Hoff 
for the collection and systematic arrangement of all the 
literature bearing upon catalytic phenomena. Competitors 
for the prize are required to send in their manuscripts before 
June 30, 1905, to the Redaktion der Zeitschrift fiir 
physikalische Chemie, Leipzig, Linnéstrasse 2. The award 
will be decided by Profs. van ’t Hoff, Arrhenius and 
Ostwald. 
In the Journal of Physical Chemistry Miss Clara C. 
Benson directs attention to an interesting reaction, the rate 
of which is diminished by raising the temperature. The 
no. 1800, vou. 69] 
reaction in question is the liberation of iodine from potassium 
iodide by chromic acid in presence of ferrous sulphate. The 
only reactions previously studied which have a negative 
temperature coefficient appear to be those in which a 
colloidal catalytic agent is involved, and the decrease of 
velocity with rise of temperature is in these cases probably 
due to the coagulation of the colloid. 
Tur mode of action of the oxides of nitrogen in the 
oxidation of sulphur dioxide in the lead chamber process 
is discussed in a detailed manner and from a_ physico- 
chemical standpoint by Dr. Trautz in the current number 
of the Zeitschyift fiir physikalische Chemie. It is pointed 
out that although the theories of Lunge and of Raschig 
throw considerable light on the reactions involved, yet the 
problem can by no means be regarded as solved. Accord- 
ing to the author’s experiments the essential reactions in- 
volved in the lead chamber process all take place with such 
large velocities that their nature cannot be determined with 
the aid of modern criteria. 
In the Zeitschrift fiir Farben- und Textil-Chemie, vol. iii. 
p- 97, Prof. A. G. Green discusses the question of the con- 
stitution of cellulose. It is pointed out that the grounds 
for the assumption that cellulose must have a large mole- 
cular weight are insufficient, and the simple formula 
C,H,,O, seems more probable. As representing the con- 
stitution of this important body, the formula 
CH(OH)--CH—CH(OH) 
is 
CH(OH)—CH—CH, 
is suggested. According to this, cellulose is an inner 
anhydride of glycose, and the formation of the latter on 
hydrolysis is thus easily explained. The formula, more- 
over, accounts for all the principal reactions, for the form- 
ation of the trinitrate and triacetate, for the production of 
w-bromo-methylfurfurol by action of hydrobromic acid, and 
also explains its latent aldehyde character. 
Tue additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during 
the past week include two Cheetahs (Cynaelurus jubatus) 
from Africa, presented by Colonel B. Mahon, CBs DES.Os; 
a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus), European; a 
Royal Python (Python regius) from West Africa, presented 
by Mr. E. W. Wildeblood ; a Goshawk (Astur palumbarius), 
European, presented by Major-General Kinloch; two 
Roseate Cockatoos (Cacatua roseicapilla) from Australia, 
presented by Mr. T. J. Kynnersley; a Western Slender- 
billed Cockatoo (Licmetis pastinator) from Western 
Australia, presented by Miss Newbold ; four Moorish Geckos 
(Tarentola mauritanica) from North Africa, five European 
Tree Frogs (Hyla arborea), a Common Toad (Bufo 
vulgaris), European, presented by: Mr. F. M. Davis; four 
Common Vipers (Vipera berus), European, presented by 
Mr. G. E. Bon Bernais; a Suricate (Suricata tetradactyla) 
from South Africa, four Crowned Cranes 
pavonina) from West Africa, a Greater Sulphur-crested 
Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) from Australia, three Mada- 
gascar Porphyrios (Porphyrio from 
Madagascar, two Antarctic Skuas (Stercorarius antarcticus) 
from Antarctic Seas, two Yellow-vented Parrakeets 
(Psephotus xanthorrhous) from Australia, deposited; two 
Natal Duikers (Cephalophus natalensis) from South-east 
Africa, five Rose-coloured Pastors (Pastor rvoseus) from 
India, purchased ; five Fat-tailed Desert Mice (Pachuromys 
depresi), born in the Gardens. 
(Balearica 
madagascariensis) 
