144 
NATURE 
[DECEMBER 10, 1896 
spores, the mycelium remaining white. At the same time that 
the Aspergillus is forced to grow by mycelium, free nitric acid 
appears in the cultivating liquid, and starch is formed in the 
tissue of the fungus.—Application of the Rontgen rays to the 
study of the skeletons of animals not extinct, by M. V. Lemoine. 
—The bacteria of coal, by M. B. Renault. A study of the 
fossil bacteria in coal. Two varieties of a species, named 
Micrococcus carbo, are described, together with a bacillus to 
which the name Bacé//us carbo is given.—Minerals formed from 
lead scorize from Laurium, by M. A. Lacroix. The lead mines 
at Laurium (Greece), worked by the Athenians for lead and 
silver, gave rise to scoriz rich in lead and unreduced galena. 
The sea-water, acting upon these scorie for more than two 
thousand years, has given rise to numerous crystallised minerals, 
among which were recognised laurionite, penfieldite, fiedlerite, 
phosgenite, cerussite, anglesite, matlockite, and hydrocerussite. 
—On the lower Cretaceous beds in valley of Oued Cherf, by 
M. J. Blazac.—On the ascent of the captive balloon at Paris on 
November 14, 1896, by MM. G. Hermite and G. Besancon.— 
Additional note to a preceding communication, on the relations 
existing between the lunar movements and barometric changes, 
by M. A. Poincaré.—On a new practical method of preparing 
acetylene, by M. L. Lechappe.—The microphone and the dis- 
covery of springs, by M. L. Holtz.—Nervopsychosis, by M. 
Boukteieft. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10. 
Royat Society, at 4.30.—On Prof. Hermann’s Theory of the Capillary 
Electrometer: G. J. Burch.—An Attempt to determine the Adiabatic 
Relations of Ethyl Oxide: E. P. Perman, Prof. Ramsay, F.R.S., and 
J. Rose-Innes.—The Chemical and Physiological Reactions of certain 
Synthesised Proteid-like Substances : J. W. Pickering.—An Experimental 
Examination into the Growth of the Blastoderm of the Chick: R. 
Assheton. 
MarTHeEMaTICAL Society, at 8.—A Discovery in the Theory of Compound 
Denumeration: Prof. Sylvester, F.R.S.—On the Stationary Motion of a 
System of Equal Elastic Spheres of Finite Diameter: S. H. Burbury, 
F.R.S.—Concerning the Abstract Groups of Order K! and 4 K! Holo- 
edrically Isomorphic with the Symmetric and the Alternating Substitution 
Groups on K Letters : Prof. E. H. Moore.—On the Influence of Viscosity 
on Waves and Currents: S. S. Hough.—On a Series of Co-trinodal 
Quartics: H. M. Taylor and W. H. Blythe.—The Connection of 
Quadratic Forms: Lieut.-Colonel Cunningham, R.E.—Description of 
Mr. Macfarlane Gray's Multiplying Apparatus: T. I. Dewar and Prof. 
Greenhill, F.R.S. 
InsTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Annual General Meeting. 
Soutu Lonpon EntomoLocicaLt anpD Naturat History Society, at 
8.—Notes on the North American Agrotis subgothica : W. Mansbridge. 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11. 
Puysicat Society, at 5.—The Application of Physics and Mathematics to 
Seismology : Dr. C. Chree.—On Musical Tubes: R J. Rudd. 
Roya AsTRONOMICAL Society, at 8.—Report on the Expedition to Japan 
to observe the Total Solar Eclipse of 1896, August 9 : W. H. M. Christie, 
Captain E. H. Hills, and H. H. Turner.—Report onithe Expedition to 
Norway to observe the Total Solar Eclipse of 1896, Augustg: A. A. 
Common.—Real Paths of ror Meteors observed during the Ten Years 
ending November 1896: W. F. Denning.—Catalogue of Real Paths of 
Large Meteors: G. von Niessl.—Ephemeris for Physical Observations of 
the Moon, 1897: A. Marth.—The Theory of New Stars : W. E. Wilson.— 
Observations of Minor Planets at Windsor, New South Wales: John 
Tebbutt.—Comparison of the Sun's Longitudes for 1901, computed from 
Newcomb's Tables of the Sun, with those computed from Le Verrier’'s 
Tables : A. M. W. Downing.—Approximate Ephemerides of the Leonids 
for the First Four Months of 1897: G. Johnstone Stoney. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12. 
Essex Fievp Crus (at Chingford), at 7.—Note on the Discovery of the 
Male of Prestwichia aquatica in Epping Forest : F. Enock.—The Federa- 
tion Ideal for Natural History Societies, with special reference to the 
Eastern Counties : G. S. Boulger.—On the Diffusion and Local Extinction 
of Molluscs: J. French. 
TUESDAY, DECEMEER 15. 
ZooLocicat Society, at 8.30.—Contributions to our Knowledge of the 
Plankton of the Faéroe Channel: Dr. G. Herbert Fowler.—On the 
Genera of Rodents ; an Attempt to bring up to Date the Current Arrange- 
ment of the Order: Oldfield Thomas.—On Lysechinus, a New Genus of 
Plesiocidaroids from the Tyrolese Trias : Dr. J. W. Gregory. 
INSTITUTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Papers to be further discussed : 
Tipping and Screening Coal : James Rigg.—The Surface Plant at Kirkby 
Colliery: Thos. Gullott.——Paper to be read, time permitting: Steel 
Skeleton Construction in Chicago: E. C. Shankland. 
Royac PHoroGRaPHIC SociETyY, at 8.—Some Probable Causes of Trouble 
in Photo-engraving, with Demonstrations of Methods for their Detection : 
Andrew Wybrandt-Penrose. 
WEDNESDAY, DecemBER 16, 
GroLoGicat Society, at 8.—On the Subdivisions of the Carboniferous 
Series in Great Britain, and the True Position of the Beds mapped as the 
Yoredale Series ; Dr. Wheelton Hind.—Note on Volcanic Bombs in 
the Schalsteins of Nassau: Prof. E, Kayser. 
Royat METEOROLOGICAL SociETyY, at 7.30.—An Attempt to Determine 
Velocity Equivalents of Wind-Forces estimated by Beaufort’s Scale: 
Richard H. Curtis.—The Winter Climate of Egypt: Dr. H. E. Leigh 
Canney. 
Roya Microscoricat Society. at 8. 
I415, VOL. 55] 
vvu4 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17. 
Roya Society, at 4.30. 
LInNEAN Society, at 8.—On the Chalcidide of the Island of Grenada: 
Dr. L. O. Howard.—On the Development of the Ovule of Christisonia, 
a Genus of the Orobanchez : W. C. Worsdell. 
Cuemicat Society, at 8.—On the Experimental Methods employed in the 
Examination of the Products of Starch-hydrolysis; on the Specific 
Rotation of Maltose and of Soluble Starch ; on the Relation of the Specific 
Rotatory and Cupric-reducing Powers of Starch- hydrolysis by Diastase : 
Horace [. Brown, F.R.S., Dr. G. H. Morris, and W. H. Millar. 
Royar STaTisTicaL Society, at 5.30. 
FRIDAY, DecemBeER 18. 
TEED ENTOLOGICAT. Society, at 8. 
INsTiTUTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Wells, and Well-sinking : 
Y John 
W. Kitchen. 
BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 
Booxs.—The Story of the Chemical Elements: M. M. P. Muir 
(Newnes).—The Parasitic Diseases of Poultry ; F. V. Theobald (Gurney).— 
The Story of our Planet: Prof. T. G. Bonney, cheap edition (Cassell). 
List of the Vertebrated Animals now or lately living in the Gardens of the 
Zoological Society of London, oth edition (Longmans).—The Plant-Lore and 
Garden-Craft of Shakespeare : H. N. El!acombe, new edition(Arnold).—The 
Natural History of the Marketable Fishes of the British Islands: J. T. 
Cunningham (Macmillan) — The Tutorial Chemistry. Part 1. Non-Metals: 
Dr. G. H. Bailey (Clive).—Report on the Work of the Horn Scientific 
Expedition to Central Australia, Part 1 and Part 4 (Dulau).—Charles 
Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection: Prof. E. B. Poulton 
(Cassell).—Annuaire pour l’an 1897, publie par Le Bureau des Longitudes 
(Paris, Gauthier-Villars).—Catalogue of the Michigan Mining School, 
1894-96 (Houghton, Michigan). —Zoological Record, 1895: edited by D. 
pharp (Gurney).—Le Déterminisme Biologique et la Personnalité Consciente: 
Dr. Le Dantec (Paris, Alcan).—Grasses of North America: Dr. W. J. 
Beal, “Vol. 2 (New York, Holt). 
PaMPHLETS.—Die Elektrodynamischen Grundgesetze und das Eigentliche 
Elementargesetz: F. Kerntler (Budapest, Pester Lloyd Gesellschaft).— 
Atmospheric Circulation in Tropical Cyclones: H, B. Boyer (Key West, 
Fla.).—Kite Experiments at the Weather Bureau: Prof. C. F. Marvin.— 
Mountain Observatories in America and Europe: E. S. Holden (Washing- 
ton). 
SerraLs.—Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. xviii. No. 1 (Leyden, 
Brill).—Geological Magazine, December (Dulau).—Cassell’s Technical 
Educator, new edition, Part 1 (Cassell).—Geographical Journal, December 
(Stanford).—Fortnightly Review, December (Chapman).—Observatory, 
December, and Companion (Taylor).—Tiibinger Zoologische Arbeiten, 
ii. Band, No. 1 (Leipzig, Engelmann).—Lehrbuch der Allgemeinen Chemie : 
Dr. W. Ostwald, Zweiten Bandes, Zweiter Teil; Erste Liefg., Zweite 
Auflage (Leipzig, Engelmann).—Quarterly Journal of Microscopical 
Science, November (Churchill). 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
Modern Psychology. By W. E. Cg 121 
A Manual of Dairy Work . ; 3 122 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Boulger : ‘‘Elementary Geology”. 123 
«* Annual Report of the Geoloe eal Surv ey of Canada” 124 
* Poems of George John Romanes”. ; . .. .. . 124 
Letters to the Editor :— 
The Pound as a Force, and the Expression of Concrete 
Quantities generally. —Prof. Oliver J. Lodge, 
F.R.S.; Dr. M. J. Jackson; L. Cumming . 124 
Recent Work on the Madreporarian Skeleton.— 
Dr. Maria M. Ogilvie . 126 
British Association.—Toronto ! Meeting, 1: 1897. “Alan 
Macdougall . . 127 
A Case of Abnormal Magnetic Attraction. —Lieut, 
A. G. Froud; Thos. Rogers . . 127 
The Natives of Sarawak and British North ‘Borneo. 
(Zilustrated.) By Prof. Alfred C. Haddon 128 
The Alloys of Cappers and Zinc. (Wustrated. ee: By 
Dr: T. K. Rose 7 
Dr. Benjamin Abthorp Gould. By W. 'E. ps ae re 
Notes. = PRP ER OA Plime ec), ist 
Our Astronomical ‘Column: — : 
Leonid Meteors in America PAP. iS yh 
A New Spectroscopic Binary in Puppis a, te) 
Relative Motion in the Line of Sight . . . . - 137 
Formule for Computing Wave- -lengths ‘ 5S eny, 
The ‘“Lincei” and Experimental Science. By 
Signor Todaro . He the ets) 
The Natural Immunity of Venomous Snakes. » By 
Per Ae Ke: ota pe re EES D) 
University and Educational ‘Intelligence ORR Ciara 1°) 
Scientific Serials . eRe so ks Se eee 
Societies and’ Academies’ 2.0/5 4.0. 6) oe 142 
Diary of Societies . . hs ACG tt 
Books, Pamphlets, and Senals Received |... T44 
