45 
researches on the tubercles of the Leguminosie, by M,C, Naudin, 
After reviewing the theories of previous workers on the fixation 
by free nitrogen by the tubercles in the Leguminose, 
the results of experiments ave given in which plants were 
grown from seed in sterilised earth, In many cases 
the plants germinated five or six days sooner than plants 
grown in ordinary, non-sterilised earth, and were stronger, 
greener, and flowered sooner than the latter, The eonelusion 
is drawn that the germs of the tubercle (bacteria, spores, or 
mycelium) must have been present in the seed or its envelopes. 
Many of the Leguminose, however, are refractory to infection, 
and it is suggested that the fixation of nitrogen may be a 
property of the protoplasm of the plant itself,—Note by M, BE. 
Perrier, accompanying the presentation of the fourth part of his 
“*Traité de Zoologie.”—M, Duclaux submitted a work entitled 
“Pasteur, histoire d'un esprit,”=-On the production of floods, 
by M. Tarry.—The causes of universal attraction; the ether 
and the law of gravitation, by M. A. Baudouin,—Surface 
tension, by M. Langlois.—-Note on the satellites attributed to 
the planet Venus, by M, Triboulet.--Note on storms, by M. 
Bougon,——On the deformation of surfaces, by M. Paul Stacckel. 
Some applications of a theorem, by N, Peterson,.—On the 
theory of partial differential equations of the second order, by 
M. 1%, Goursat.-Linear forms of the divisors of «* + A, by 
M. P, Pepin, —-On the gyroscopic horizon of Admiral Fleuriais, 
by M, A. Schwerer. The results of experiments carried out at 
sea show that the maximum error in the determination of the 
altitude of the sun was 2’, while the mean error was less than 
1’, After more than forty observations no appreciable wear of 
the pivot could be detected, —On the Rontgen phenomena, by M, 
B. Buguet.—On a method of measuring the temperature of incan- 
descent lamps, by M, P. Janet, The method depends upon the 
assumption that the filament is pure carbon, The total heat 
lost by radiation between the maximum temperature attained by 
the filament and that of the air is measured, and the results of 
M. Violle on the specific heat of carbon are applied to this.- 
Measurement of the force acting upon non-electrified dielectric 
liquids placed in an electric held, by M. H. Pellat. Two 
vessels containing the liquid are connected, one being placed 
in the field and the other outside of it, and the alteration 
in the levels measured, The differences observed, which are 
very small (‘06 mm, and under), agree with the calculated figures 
within the limits of experimental error.—-On the heat of forma- 
tion of lithium hydride, by M. Guntz. The heat of formation 
was found to be 21°6 calories, a mi wgnitude in keeping with the 
great stability of the substance, A repetition of the determina. 
tion of the heat of solution of lithium in water, showed the 
number previously obtained by Thomsen (49’08 calories) was 
too low, the correct figure being 53°2 calories. The difference 
is due to the presence of impurities in the metal used by 
Thomsen. At its melting point, 680", the dissociation tension 
of lithium hydride is about 27 mm,, showing a marked difference 
in this respect from the hydrides of sodium and_potassium,— 
The uniformity of distribution of argon in the atmosphere, by 
M, Th, Schleesing. Samples of air from very different sources 
showed a remarkable uniformity in the percentage of argon, the 
average value being 1°184 per cent. of the total volume of 
nitrogen and argon.—On a method of reproduction of double 
silicates of potassium and other bases, by M. André Duboin,— 
On French essence of roses, by MM. J. Dupont and J, Guerlain, 
Whilst samples of French attar of roses of two successive years 
agreed generally in properties, they differed from a Bulgarian 
sample in containing more stearoptine.——Development of 
Lithocystis Schnetdert, a parasite of Lchinocardium cordatun, 
by M. L. Léger. On a viviparous ephemerid, by M. Causard, 
Specimens of Chieopsis déptera lived over three ae after 
being captured, but in spite of their relatively long life, they 
<lo not appear to take more food in the adult state than other 
ephemerids.——Homology of the anterior segments of some 
sedentary annelids, by M, Pierre Fauvel.—The use of the 
X-rays for anatomical researches, by MM, Ch, Remy and G, 
Contremoulins. — By injection of the vascular system with 
metallic bronze powder, it is made opaque to the X-rays, and 
in this way it is possible to study the development of bone and 
teeth with greater certainty and precision than by dissection. — 
On the mode of formation of the Pyrenees, by M. P. W, 
Stuart-Menteath.—On some quaternary deposits near Eyzies, by 
M. Emile Kiviere.—Note on some properties of numbers, by 
M. Delauney.—-On earth tremors, and on the relations which 
exist between cyclones and sunspots, by M, Zenger,—On the 
red colour of vine leaves, by M. Levat, 
NO. 1411, VOL. 55] 
NATURE 
[ NoveMBEer 12, 1896 
BOOKS, PAMPHLETS,and SERIALS RECEIVED, 
The Laughable Stories collected by Mfr Gregory John Bar- 
Hebroeus, edited, with an Wnglish translation, by Dr. BH. A, W. Budge 
(Luzac).—Domestic Science Readers : V. T, Murché, Book iv. (Macmills in). 
Round the Year: Prof. L. C. Miall (Macmillan).—An Intermediate 
Course of Practical Physies + Drs, A. Sehuster and C, HL, Lees (Macmillan), 
Electro. Physio »: Prof, W. Biedermann, Vol, 1 slated by Miss I, 
A. Welby (Macmillan),The Capillary Eleetromete . J. Bureh, Part 1 
(Tucker), =Submarine Cable Laying and Repairing: H. D. Wilkinson 
(electrician Company)."'Lhe Tears of the Heliades, or Amber as a Gem: 
W. A, Bulfum (Low).—Chemical Lecture Experiments: G. S, Newth, 
new edition (Longmans).-1 achrbuc h der Wrdk mace : Dr. W, Ule, ii. Teil 
(Leipzig, Mreytay). Allgemeine Erdkunde : Dr Hann, 1 Abtg. (Wien, 
‘Tempsky), Geological Survey of Canada, Annual kK port, 1894 (Ottawa),— 
Feathered Friends, Old and New: Dr. W, T. Greene (U. Gill),—Uni- 
versity College of North Wales, Calendar for the at ar 1896-97 (Man- 
chester) —A Junior Course of Practical Chemistry: I’. Jones, new edition 
(Maemillan).-A Short History of Aryan Medical ict ience: H.H,. Sir B. 
Sinh Jee, Thakore Saheb of Gondal (Macmillan),—Problems of Biology + 
. Sandeman (Sonnenschein). —The Clue to the Ages: E. J. Page. Part, 
Creation: by Principle (Baptist Tract and Book Society).—A Manual of 
Quantitative Chemical Analysis! Cairns and Waller, 4rd edition (New 
York, Holt),—The Human Body: Dr. H. N, Martin, 7th edition (New 
York, Holt),-General Prine iples of Zoology ; Prof. R. Hartwig, translated 
ed Prof, G. W. Vield (New York, Holt), liversity College, Nottingham, 
Calendar 1896-97 (Nottingham, $; inds).—Fridtiof Nansen: W. C. Brégger 
and N, Rolfsen, translated by W. Archer (Longmans). 
Pamputers. ~ Physical Science and the First Chapter of Genesis : Prof. 
H. EK. Ryle (Macmillan). Knight's Diagramettes, Hygiene (Cha pman)— 
The Whales and Dolphins : Prof. R. J. Anderson, Part » (Belfast, Mayne). 
Swrrars.—Natural Science, November (Page).—Longman's Magazine, 
November (Longmans). Chambers's Journal, November (Chambers).— 
Lloyd's Natural History. Mammals, Parts 1 and 2: R. Lydekker (Lloyd) 
—The History of Mankind: F. Ratzel, Part 13, teanilatedl (Macmillan) — 
Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, October (New York, Mac- 
millan).-Century Magazine, November (Macmillan),-Contemporary Re- 
view, November (Isbister),—National Review, November (Arnold),— 
Portnightly Review, November (Chapman).—Hypnotic Magazine, Septem- 
her (Chicago).—Journal of the Royal Microscopic ul Society, tg 
(Williams),-Académie des Seiences de L'Hmpereur Frangois doseph 1 " 
Bulletin International. Médicine, 1; Sciences Mathématiques et Naturelles, 
I, (Prague), 
Books, 
CONTENTS. 
By Give «cs eae 
PAGE 
Galoisian Algebra. 25 
Our Book Shelf:— 
Sanyal: ‘‘ Hours with Nature.”—R.L., . 2... . 28 
Ball: ‘ Elements of Astronomy” «kh oh ee 
Woollcombe : ‘* Practical Work in Physics Bi 28 
Pridham: ‘‘ Peasblossom, The Story of a Pet Plant” 28 
Letters to the Editor :— 
The Austro-Hungarian Map of Vranz Josef Land.— 
Prof. Ralph Copelandicmsre . . . » cnenn 
The Inheritance of Specific Characters. —F, A, 
Bather ; Prof. R. Meldola, Hao. . 4 29 
Mensurements of Crabs. —H. Thompson ; Prof, Ww. 
F. R. Weldon, F.R.S. . . Bo ct) 
The X-Rays produced by a Wimshurst Machine. —T. 
C, Porter . . . 30 
Extension of the Visible Spectrum. ‘Ai Agi 
Swinton; Prof. Oliver J. Lodge, F.R.S., and 
Benjamin Davies .. 32 
Osmotic Pressure,—Prof. J. ‘H. Poynting, F.R.S. 33 
«Purple Patches.” —A, Pedder . A 33 
Note on /asmodiophora brassice. —Prof. M, C, Potter 33 
Sparrows and Wheat.—F. G. Brook-Fox . . . . 33 
The Newest German Polytechnic. (///us/vated.) By 
Sir Philip Magnus, . Pree e caete aah eon BR 
A Visit to an English Woad Mill, (Ziustrated.) By - 
Francis Darwin, F.R.S., and Prof.R.Meldola, F.R.S. 36 
INGEGR i. 5 se + © e Mep ty RP EDRMOOS 8) 0) oy 0 MERI ION 
Our Astronomical Column:— * 
IVIGISiN ays) « See) AR AM 
Ephemeris for Comet Perrine... ue eee 41 
The Leonids r . | Saiaee” «aa 
Sunspots, Comets, and Climate Variations... . . 42 
The Explosive Properties of Acetylene. By Prof. A. 
Smuthelle ... . OU etre 
The Princeton Sesquicentennial. By Dr. Wm, H. 
UE es 43 
The Opening “Ceremony ‘of the Gatty ‘Marine 
Laboratory, University of St. Andrews... . .. 43 
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers... . . 44 
University and Educational Intelligence... . . . 45 
Scientific Serials ee, See ene 
Societies and Academies. . eodgaty RMI 
Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received . Pb ni) 
