600 
VNAaROURE 
[APRIL 22, 1897 
Cahours, and Saintour.—Discussion of the barometric heights 
in the zone 10°—30° N. during 1883, by M A. Poincaré. —An 
internal governor for an aerial boat, by M. F. Lacerer.— 
Photography of Keenig’s flames, by M. Marage.—Experiments 
made on a new kathodic apparatus, by MM. Foveau de Cour- 
melles and G. Seguy. The apparatus consists of two vacuum 
tubes joined to a spherical reservoir. The observations with 
this form show that the interior pressure in a vacuum tube is not 
equal at all points, this unequal distribution of the gas being 
produced during the passage of the current.—On the local 
attractions observed in Fergana, by M. Venukoff.—Heat of 
formation of formaldehyde, gaseous and dissolved, by M. Marcel 
Delépine.—On the formation of ammonium cyanide and its 
manufacture, by M. Denis Lance. Ammonia gas passed over 
carbon at a temperature of about 1000° C. always gives 
ammonium cyanide, the yield being greatest when the ammonia 
is mixed with a considerable proportion of nitrogen and hydro- 
gen, and when the temperature is 1100° C.—Classification of 
the Orthoptera according to the characters drawn from their 
digestive apparatus, by M. L. Bordas.—Researches on the his- 
tology of the nerve cell, with some physiological considerations, 
by M. G. Marinesco.—On the physiological and pathological 
action of the X-rays, by M. Sorel. An account of the serious 
resnlts following the application of the X-rays to the stomach. 
It is regarded as inadvisable, at least in certain subjects, to 
apply the X-rays in the neighbourhood of important organs, 
such as the stomach, heart, or lungs. It has been remarked that 
the body of an animal which has been dead for some time is 
always more opaque to the Rontgen rays than one just dead and 
still warm.—Remarks on the preceding note, by M. Lanne- 
longue.—On the toxicity of the alcohols, by M. Picaud. A 
study of the action of the alcohols upon fishes (Carasszus 
auratus), batrachians (77zton vulearzs), and birds (Carduelis 
elegans). The toxic effect, as with the mammalia, was found to 
increase with the molecular weight.—Animal evolution, a func- 
tion of the cooling of the globe, by M. R. Quinton.— Method 
of vaccination against poisoning by ricin, by M. Ch. Cornevin. 
—The destination of the megalithic monuments, by M. Ch. 
Godey.—A hydro-pneumatic motor, by M. G. Housset.—A 
horizontal barometer with rarefied air without the use of ice, by 
M. Victor Ducla. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, Apri 22. 
INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Recent Developments in 
Electric Traction Appliances: A. K. Baylor. (Continuation of Dis- 
cussion ) 
Camera CLuB, at 8.15.—Peeps into Nature's Secrets: R. Kearton. 
SATURDAY, Apri. 24. 
Royav Boranic Society, at 4. 
TUESDAY, Aprit 27. 
Roya INsTITUTION, at 3.—Volcanoes: Dr. ‘tempest Anderson. 
Society or Arts, at 8.—Delft Ware: Dr. J. W. L. Glaisher, F.R.S. 
INSTITUTION OF CiviL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Annual General Meeting. 
RoyAaL STATISTICAL SOCIETY, at 5.30. 
Royat HorrTicuLTuRAL SOCIETY, at 1.—Winter and Spring Bedding. 
Royvat PuHotocrapnic Society.—Technical Meeting, at §.—A Practical 
Demonstration of Glass-blowing at the Lamp: T. Boias. 
Rovar Victoria Hatt, at 8.30.—The Life of an Egg: Dr. W. B. Ben- 
am. 
WEDNESDAY, Apriv 28. 
Society orf Arts, at 8.—Asbestos and Asbestic : withsome Account of the 
Recent Discovery of the latter at Danville, in Lower Canada: Robert 
H. Jones. 
GEOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—On the Origin of some of the Gneisses of 
Anglesey: Dr. Charles Callaway.—Note on a Portion of the Nubian 
Desert South-east of Korosko: Captain H. G. Lyons, R.E., Miss C. A. 
Raisin, and Miss E. Aston 
BrivTisH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION, at 5. 
THURSDAY, Apri 29 
ZooLocicat Sociery, at 4.—Annual Meeting. 
CHEMICAL Sociery, at 8.—Monochlordiparaconic Acid and some Condensa- 
tions: Dr. H. C. Myers.—On the Decomposition of Iron Pyrites : W. A. 
Caldecott. 
CAMERA Cus, at 8.15.—The Automatic Teiephone : 
FRIDAY, Apri 30. 
Royat InsTITuTION, at 9.—Kathode Rays: Prof. J. J. Thomson, F.R.S. 
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—Some Observations on the Infectivity of 
Diphtheria, and its Relation to School Closure : Dr. Louis Parkes. 
SATURDAY, May 1. 
Roya INsTITUTION, at 5.—Annual Meeting. 
GeoLocists’ AssociaTion.—Excursion to Cookham. Leave Paddington 
1.40 p.m. ; arrive Cookham 2.30 p.m. Director : LI. Treacher. 
Lonpon GeoocicaL Fretp Criass.—Excursion to Leith Hill. 
Greensand. Leave London Bridge, 2; arrive Holmwood, 3.17. 
NO. 1434, VOL. 55] 
S. B. Apostoloft. 
Lower 
BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 
Books.—Le Four Electrique: H. Moissan (Paris, Steinheil).—Meteor- 
ology in Mysore, 1895: J. Cook (Bangalore).—A System of Medicine : 
edited by Dr. T. C. Allbutt, Vol. 2 (Macmillan).—Farm and Garden In- 
sects: Dr. W. Somerville (Macmillan).—Collected Contributions on Diges- 
tion and Diet: Sir W. Roberts, 2nd edition (Smith).—Das Studium der 
Technischen Chemie: Dr. P. Fischer (Braunschweig, Vieweg).—L'Ottica 
delle Oscillazioni Elettriche: Prof. A. Righi (Bologna, N. Zanichelli),— 
Some Unrecognised Laws of Nature : I. Singer and L. H. Berens (Murray). 
—The Ancient Volcanoes of Great Britain: Sir. A. Geikie (Macmillan).— 
Aids to the Study of Bacteriology : T. H. Pearmain and C. G. Moor (Bail- 
ligre).—Geology of North-East Durham: D. Woolacott (Sunderland, 
Hills).—Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society, Vol. xxvii. 
(Hodgson).—Contributions to the Science of Mythology: Prof. F. Max 
Miiller, 2 Vols. (Longmans).—A Guide to the Fossil Invertebrates and 
Plants in the Department of Geology and Palzontology in the British 
Museum (Natural History), S.W. (London).—The Law and Practice of 
Letters Patent for Inventors: Dr. L.’ Edmunds and Dr. T. M. Stevens, 
end edition (Stevens).—With the Dutch in the East: Captain W. Cool, 
translated by E. J. Taylor (Luzac).—The Forcing Book: L. H. Bailey 
(Macmillan).—The Story*of the Mine: C. H. Shinn (Gay).—Problems and 
Questions in Physics: C. P. Matthews and J. Shearer (Macmillan).—Ex- 
perimental Morphology : Dr. C. B. Davenport, Part 1 (Macmillan) —Cyto- 
logische studien aus dem Bonner Botanischen Institut : E. Strasburger and 
others (Berlin, Borntraeger).—Recherches sur les Origines de |’Kgypte: J. 
De Morgan (Paris, Leroux). 
PampPuHLers.—Comité International des Poids et Mesures. Procés-Verbaux 
des Séances de 1895 (Paris, Gauthier-Villars),—Comptes rendus des Séances 
de la Deux Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures, 1895 (Paris, Gauthier- 
Villars).—A Protest against the Modern Development of Unmusical Tone: 
T. C. Lewis (Chiswick Press).—Criticisms on Darwin’s, Wallace’s, and 
Haickel s Evolution Theories (Hodgson).—First Annual Report of the New 
York Zoological Society (New York). 
Seriacs.—Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society, March (New 
York).—Physical Review, ~Vol. iv. No. 5 (Macmillan): Geographical 
Journal, April (Stanford).—Mind, April (Williams).—American Journal of 
Science, April (New Haven).—Notes from the Leyden Museum, October 
1896 (Leiden, Brill).—Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, March 
(Stanferd).—Engineering Magazine, April (Tucker) —Proceedings of the 
American Philosophical Society, November 1896 (Philadelphia).—Annals 
of the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard College, Vol. xl. Part 5; ditto, 
Vol. xxx. Part 4 (Cambridge, Mass.).—Journal of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, March (117 Victoria Street). 
CONTENTS. 
Religious Superstitions of Northern India Pe cy ii 
Primitive Man in Egypt Prey ay 578 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Ebert ‘‘ Magnetic Fields of Force.”—J. S: T. . .-. 579 
Howe: “SA‘ Study ofetheiskyy = £7." ec en ee SO 
Page :, “The (CluetoithesAges 5) Sy) simone 580 
*C Whois Who, L8o7cspmeacins) (ne Lt . 580 
Letters to the Editor:— 
The Caucasus.—Douglas W. Freshfield. . . . . 580 
‘““A Gigantic Geological Fault.”—Prof. Edward 
Hull, PRiSoe Sees «7: Aes ceed oe 
Effects of Electrical Discharge on Photographic Plates. 
—James liAnsongigere c 5. =~) Sieg ee 
Curved Knives. —W. F, Sinclair +) 22Rase Sou 
Electrical Vibrations of Mercury.k—Ernest Braun 581 
Reflector and Portrait Lens in Celestial Photo- 
graphy. (/é/ustrated.) By Dr. Max Wolf. .. . 582 
The Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Foundation — 
of the Naples Zoological Station. By H. M. 
Vernony 4 bine see 1s RE oe ee ae 586 
Edward Drinker Cope. By F. A.B: . .-.; 5387 
Notes!. canner Beis! a ter!) Vo, aS 
Our Astronomical Column:— 
Refraction and the Apparent Diurnal Movements of 
Stars! "sie? <a! Cf) Soy ene 
Bulletin Astronomique de France 
592 
Prof. Eduard. Haerdtl : +. al jess eS 
On Electrical Properties of Fumes proceeding from 
Flames and Burning Charcoal. (/lViih Diagrams.) 
By the Right Hon, Lord Kelvin, G.C.V.O.,F..S., 
and Dr, Magnus Maclean A oe a ene 
Survey of the Tides and Currents in the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence PAO io oes et kde Sse 
Agricultural Experiments in Plots and Pots. By 
R. W. M2 OACS 5 eee eae) - 596 
Colliery Explosions and Coal-Dust 597 
A New Diphtheria Antitoxin By as ae i fe, SOF 
University and Educational Intelligence . .. . . 598 
Scientific Serials See ss Pea he sods els) 
Societies and Academies .. . - . 598 
Diary of Societies . . 5 15 023 One 600 
Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 600 
