260 
Weta fer: 
[JANUARY 14, 1897 
THE formation of organic bases by plants of the orchid family 
appears first to have been investigated by M. de Wildemann, 
who in 1892 observed the presence of an akaloidal product in 
Dendrobium nobile, D, Ainsworthii, and other Orchidacez. 
These researches have now been generalised by Dr. E. de Droog, 
whose investigations are published in the J/émozres of the Royal 
Academy of Belgium. Of the 104 species of orchids examined, 
nine are to be considered as producing alkaloids, some in all 
their parts, the others locally, and the author seems to favour 
the view that the function of these alkaloids is for defensive 
purposes. Dr. de Droog’s paper is illustrated by a hthographed 
plate, in which the alkaloids present in the cells of Dendrobium 
nobile, Catasetum Hookeri, C. macrocarpum, and the root of 
Phalenopsis Luddemanniana are coloured red. 
M. CAMILLE FLAMMARION has sent us his interesting annual 
for the present year, and it is a mine of knowledge, both astro- 
nomical and meteorological. The information is not presented 
in too concentrated a form, but varied in places by explanations 
and summaries, together with excellent illustrations (fifty-six in 
number). Some of the main points which call for especial notice 
may be stated as follows. Under eclipses two clear diagrams 
are given, showing the most favourable points for viewing the 
two annular and only solar eclipses of the year. In addition 
to the ephemeris of each planet, charts are given showing their 
apparent tracts among the stars. For each day of the year the 
most interesting phenomena to be observed are inserted in 
calendar form, and diagrams are added showing the positions 
of the constellations for each month. A list of the minor 
planets, arranged in order of their perihelia distances, forms 
an interesting table. Among the Wotices Sctentifigues may be 
mentioned a chart of the movement of the terrestrial pole from 
1890-95, a note on helium, and a brief reference to the recent 
total solar eclipse, with Dr. Brester’s drawing of the corona. 
Lowell’s chart of Mars on a reduced scale, and some planetary 
drawings, as well as a short summary of the eclipse cycle of fifty- 
four years, are also inserted. 
nomers, this annual should prove a valuable wade-mecum to 
amateurs, as they have at hand all the information for observing, 
at the right time, the most interesting celestial phenomena. 
Besides being serviceable to astro- 
WE have received from the compiler, Mr. Arthur Mee, an 
almanac of moderate size for the use of amateur astronomers. The 
information is arranged in the form of a calendar, and shows the 
observer, at a glance, the sequence of the more important 
phenomena that will occur throughout the year. In addition to 
data referring to the positions of the sun and moon, attention is 
drawn to the most favourable times for viewing the planets, 
variable star and satellite phenomena, besides a selection of 
special clusters and nebule most suitable for small apertures. 
The arrangement of the information is simple and clear, so that 
this card almanac supplies a really serviceable daily reference 
sheet to those for whom it is specially intended. There is also 
a very good reproduction of the moon, taken from a photograph 
made at the Paris Observatory. One cannot help mentioning 
that as the almanac is intended for actual observers, the type of 
both figures and letters will most probably be found too small 
to be read in any but very good light. As amateurs would be 
very likely to consult this sheet when observing, it would not be 
an easy matter to read it by means of the light of an ordinary 
observatory lamp. It seems to us, however, that the utility of 
the sheet would be increased if larger and clearer type were in 
future used. The almanac, nevertheless. contains just that in- 
formation which an amateur wishes to have at hand, and it 
should therefore be found to supply a real want. 
Mr. C. A. BARBER shows, in Scence Progress, that the 
present condition of the sugar industry is peculiarly a matter of 
NO. 1420, VOL. 55] 
British interest. The depressed condition of the British 
colonies engaged in growing the sugar-cane is due to various 
causes ; chief among these are the competition of European- 
grown beet and the various diseases at present attacking the 
canes. In his paper, Mr. Barber deals more especially with the 
first of these causes. The paper on the cell and some of its 
constituent structures, read at the Liverpool meeting of the 
British Association by Prof. J. B. Farmer, is printed in full in 
the same number of Sczence Progress. Dr. John Beddoe con- 
tinues his paper on ‘‘ Selection in Man.” From the facts he 
adduces it seems that dark-complexioned men have a bias 
towards sedentary and indoor employments, while a certain 
number of the blond type prefer the outdoor employments con- 
nected with the land or with the care of animals. The 
statistics he gives support the conclusion that, in this country, 
more criminals than honest men are of dark complexion. 
Other contributions are:—‘‘ The Glossopteris Flora,”’ by Mr. 
A. C. Seward; ‘‘ Condensation and Critical Phenomena,” by 
Prof. J. P. Kuenen; ‘The Origin of Lakes, by Mr. J. E. 
Marr, F.R.S. ; and ‘‘ The Causes of Variation,” by Mr. H. M. 
Vernon. 
FRoM Prof. E. Cosserat, of Toulouse, and M. F. Cosserat, of 
Paris, we have received’ the first part of their memoir ‘‘ Sur la 
Theorie de I’Elasticité,” in which the principles of the subject 
are well put forward. 
By. the publication of Part v. of the ‘‘ Bibliography of 
American Economic Entomology,” the task of bringing together 
the more important writings of Government and State En- 
tomologists, and other contributions to American economic 
entomology, is completed up to the year 1888. Efforts will be 
made to bring the bibliography up to date by publishing occa- 
sional supplements. The work is published by the authority of 
the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and the present part of it has 
been prepared by Mr. S. Henshaw. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Pig-tailed Monkey (J/acacus nemestrinus, 
¢) from Java, presented by Mrs. Baillie ; two Leopards (Fe/is 
pardus, & @) from Ceylon, presented by the Hon. Sir Joseph 
West Ridgeway ; a Moluccan Kestrel (Z?z2unculus mioluc- 
censts) from Triton Bay, New Guinea, presented by the Hon. 
Walter Rothschild ; two Roseate Cockatoos (Cacatua roset- 
capilla) from Australia, presented by Mr. Richard J. L. Price ; 
a Yellow-backed Lory (Lorzws flavo-palliatus) from Batchian, 
presented by Miss A. M. Elwood ; a Derbian Zonure (Zonuwrus 
giganteus), three Angola Frogs (Rana angolensts) from South 
Africa, presented by Mr. J. E. Matcham; seven Common 
Squirrels (Scturus vulgaris), British; two Indian Dial Birds 
(Copsychus saularts) from India, purchased; a Bennett’s 
Wallaby (Zacropus bennett2), a Rufous Rat Kangaroo (@Zpy- 
prymnus rufescens), born in the Gardens. ; 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
THE ALGOL VARIABLE + 17° 4367 W DELPHINI.—Prof. 
E. C. Pickering publishes in the Astrophysical Journal for 
December the ephemeris and light equation of this variable for 
the present year. No modification is made in the formula of 
reduction (JD 2412002°500 + 4°8064 E), although the observa- 
tions indicate a slight change in the period, making the minima 
occur about fifteen minutes before the computed times. Prof. 
Pickering adds, however, that by diminishing the period by 
about two seconds this difference, caused by an inexact know- 
ledge of the light curve when the ephemeris was first computed, 
would disappear. A set of photometric measurements with the 
adjacent star + 17° 4368, exceeding four thousand in number, 
and made by Mr. O. C. Wendell, has given a very accurate 
