January 8, 1914] 
its transformations.—F. Bourion and A. Sénéchal: The 
estimation of chromium by oxidation in alkaline solu- 
tion. The results are exact with chromium alone or 
in presence of iron. The. determinations are inexact 
in presence of nickel, cobalt, and manganese.—Paul 
Gaubert; The modifications of form of crystals of 
some substances artificially coloured during their 
growth.—G,. Friedel: The crystalline symmetries 
shown by the diffraction of the Réntgen rays.—L. 
Blaringhem:; The hereditary transmission of rust in 
the hollyhock.—M. Sauvageau: Fucus of the Straits 
of Gibraltar.—J, Vallot and Raoul Bayeux: Experi- 
ments made at Mont Blanc, in 1913, on spontaneous 
muscular activity at very high altitudes. The daily 
work done by a squirrel at the summit of Mont 
Blane was reduced to one-seventh of the daily work 
done at Chamonix.—M. Piettre and A. Vila: The study 
of the plasmas after sugar dialysis.—Louis Roule : 
The influence exerted by the reproductive function 
on the migrations of salmon in spring and summer. 
There is a definite relation between the ascent of rivers 
by salmon and the condition of their reproductive 
organs,—A, Trillat: The influence of surface tension 
of liquids on the removal of micro-organisms by an 
air current. If air_js bubbled through a liquid con- 
taining micro-organisms in suspension, the latter may 
be carried on with the air current if the droplets of 
liquid produced are sufficiently small, and the size of 
the drops is governed by the surface tension of the 
liquid.—L, Mengaud: The lower Aptian marl ot the 
province of Santander.—G. J. Painvin: New contribu- 
tion to the geology of the region of high plateaux 
situated to the north and north-west of Bou-Denib.— 
René Fourtau : The echinitic fauna of the raised shores 
of the Red Sea.—G, Valsan; Remarks on the terraces 
of the eastern Roumanian plain. 
New Souru WALEs. 
Linnean Society, November 26, 1913.—Mr. W. S. 
Dun, president, in the chair.—W. N. Benson: The 
geology and petrology of the Great Serpentine Belt 
of New South Wales. Part iii., Petrology. A de- 
tailed account of the rocks collected over the whole 
area described in parts iii. The material is classi- 
fied under (A) igneous rocks, twelve divisions; and 
(B) sedimentary rocks : (a) clastic rocks of the Eastern 
Series, the Tamworth Series, cherts and breccias; 
(b) the limestone; (c) Baldwin Agglomerates; (d) 
Barraba, .Burindi, and Rocky Creek Series; (e) 
Permo-Carboniferous sandstone.—F. H. Taylor: A 
revision of the Culicida in the Macleay Museum.— 
Dr. R. Greig-Smith : Contributions to our knowledge 
of soil fertility. Nos. vii-xi. (vii.) When soils are 
heated or treated with volatile disinfectants, the 
bacterial development depends upon the amount of 
fatty matter present. Field soils show little differ- 
ence, while a garden soil produced about ten times 
more bacteria, when treated with chloroform, than 
when heated at 65°. (viii.) The demonstration of 
toxins in soils depends upon obtaining a soil in which 
the toxins preponderate over the nutrients, and in 
using an appropriate dilution in making the extracts. 
Equal parts of soil and water generally yield the 
most toxic extract. (ix.) Rain removes toxin from 
soil, but the toxicity returns with dry weather. Simi- 
larly, a soil originally toxic, becomes non-toxic when 
extracted with water, and the toxicity reappears upon 
incubation in the moist condition. (x.) When nitro- 
genous, organic matter is saturated with wax or 
vaseline, and subsequently treated with chloroform, 
it does not decay any quicker on account of the treat- 
ment. (xi.) Naphthalene induces an increase in the 
number of bacteria in soils.—Dr. J. M Petrie: Note 
on the occurrence of strychnicine. The native 
strychnine-tree, Strychnos psilosperma, contains the 
NO. 2306, VOL. 92] 
NATURE 
547 
alkaloid strychnicine, which was discovered, in 1go2, 
in the leaves of the Nux-yomica. Its properties differ 
from those of strychnine or brucine.—R. J. Tillyard : 
A study of the Odonata of Tasmania, in relation to 
the Bassian Isthmus. Though the dragonflies of 
Tasmania are fairly well known, the number of 
species is small, particularly on rivers; still waters 
support a more abundant fauna. A comparison made 
with the dragonfly fauna of southern Victoria gives 
the following results. Of the forms that breed ex- 
clusively in running water, about 22 per cent. of the 
Victorian fauna are found to have reached Tasmania. 
Of the forms that breed in still water about 80 per 
cent. have reached Tasmania. The 20 per cent. that 
failed to do so, all belong to the most recent genera, 
which have come into Australia from the north. The 
reason suggested for the discrepancy is that, through- 
out a long period, the connection between the island 
and S. Victoria was of such a nature that few per- 
manently running water-courses were formed. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
Lowson’s Text-Book of Botany. Indian edition. 
Adapted by M. Willis, with a preface by Dr. J. C. 
Willis. Pp. xii+602. (London: W. B._ Clive.) 
6s. 6d. 
Annuaire Astronomique et Méteorologique pour 1914. 
By C. Flammarion. Pp. 427. (Paris: E. Flam- 
marion.) 1.50 francs. 
Conseil Permanent International pour 1’Exploration 
de la Mer. Rapports et Procés-Verbaux des Réunions. 
Vol. xix. Procés-Verbaux. Juillet 1912—Juillet 1913. 
Pp. vii+142. (Copenhague: A. F. Host et Fils.) 
La Face de la Terre (Das Antlitz der Erde). By 
| Prof. E. Suess. Translated by E. de Margerie. 
Tome iii. (3° Partie.) Pp. x+957-1360. (Paris: A. 
Colin.) 12 francs. 
Canada. Department of Mines. Mines Branch. 
The Production of Copper, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Silver, 
Zinc, and other Metals in Canada during the Calendar 
Year 1912. By C. T. Cartwright. Pp. 86. (Ottawa: 
Government Printing Bureau.) 
Summary Report of the Mines Branch of the De- 
partment of Mines for the Calendar Year Ending 
December 31, 1912. Pp. ix+174+xvi plates. 
(Ottawa.) 15 cents. 
Records of the Survey of India. Vol. iii., rgr1—12. 
Prepared under the direction of Col. S. G. Burrard. 
Pp. ii+176+12 maps. (Calcutta: Superintendent, 
Government Printing, India.) 6s. 
Smithsonian Institution: Bureau of American 
Ethnology. Bulletin 83. Chippewa Music, ii. By 
F. Densmore. Pp. xxi+341+45 plates. (Washing- 
ton: Government Printing Office. 
Traité Raisonné de la Pisciculture et des Péches. 
By Prof. L.. Roule. Pp. viiit+734. (Paris: J. B. 
Bailliére et Fils.) 
The A.B.C. Guide to Astronomy. By Mrs. H. P. 
Hawkins. Third edition. Pp. 124. (London: Simp- 
kin and Co., Ltd.; Bedford: Beds. Times Publishing 
Co., Ltd.) 1s. 6d. net. 
The Revolving Star Map with Movable Declination 
Scale. By Mrs, H. P. Hawkins. (London: Simpkin 
and Co., Ltd.; Bedford: Beds. Times Publishing Co., 
Ltd.) 1s. net. 
The Star Almanac for 1914. By Mrs. H. P. Haw- 
kins. (London: Simpkin and Co., Ltd.; Bedford: 
Beds. Times Publishing Co., Ltd.) 6d. net. 
Experience Teaches. By I. Trinda. Pp. xiv+ 194. 
(London: Simpkin and Co., Ltd.) Limp leather, 4s. 
net; cloth, 2s. 6d. net. 
