480 



NA TURE 



[March 15, 1906 



netic chart of the British Isles: B. Baillaud and E. 

 Mathias. — Observations of the sun made at the Observ- 

 atory of Lyons with the 16 cm. Brunner equatorial during 

 the fourth quarter of 1905 : J. Cuillaume. Observations 

 were possible on thirty-three days during the quarter. The 

 results are given in three tables showing the number of 

 spots, the distribution of the spots in latitude, and the 

 distribution of the faculae in latitude. — The deformation ol 

 quadrics : Luigi Bianchi. — The singularities of solutions 

 to some partial differential equations of the elliptic type : 

 Serge Bernstein. — The measurement of the loss of phasf 

 In reflection : A. Perot. — The phenomena of phosphor 

 escence : A. Debierne. — Contribution to the study ol 

 selenious anhydride : CEchsner do Coninck. — The iodo- 

 mercurates of calcium and strontium : A. Duboin. 

 Crystallised compounds were isolated possessing the com- 

 position CaI2.HgIj.8HjO for the calcium salt, and 

 Sri ...5I [gI,.8H 2 for the corresponding strontium salt. — 

 The nature of the decomposition of an aqueous solution of 

 copper sulphate by some alloys of aluminium : H. 

 Pecheux. In a previous note these reactions have been 

 studied from the qualitative side. The present paper is 

 concerned with the quantitative aspect of the same re- 

 actions. — The estimation of cadmium : H. Baubigny. — 

 The thermochemistry of the hydrazones and the osazones : 

 Ph. Landrieu. — The condensation of benzidine-aniline, 

 diphenyl-bidiazoaminobenzene, and diphenyl-disazoamino- 

 benzene : Leo Vignon. — An antimony tartrate : J. 

 Bougault. It is shown that the use of alcohol in the pre- 

 paration ol antimony tartrate leads to an impure product; 

 similar objections do not apply to acetone. — The chemical 

 study of the seeds known as Java peas: Kmile Kohn- 

 Abrest. Determinations of the amounts of hydrocyanic 

 acid produced by various modes of treating the seeds. — 

 The chemical characters of the wines arising from vines 

 ittacked by mildew: E. Manceau. — The evolution of the 

 Eccrina of Glomeris : L. Leger and O. Duboscq. — A 

 natural mollusc-bearing layer in the Macta, Algeria, and 

 the ■ ffect of the nature of the flow of this river on the 

 growth of the molluscs: J. Bounhiol. — The ferments of 

 the placenta: MM. Charrin and Goupil. — The duration 

 of persistence of the activity of the isolated heart : M. 

 Lambert. — The influence of old age on the arterial 

 pressure : A. Moutier. — A Miocene volcanic chain on the 

 eastern border of the Limagne : Ph. Glangeaud. — The 

 discovery of two Cretacean horizons in Morocco: W. 

 Kilian and L. Gentil. — The grand canon of Verdon, its 

 age and formation : E. A. Martel. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, March 15. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — A Discussion of Atmospheric Electric Potential 

 Results at Kew from Selected Days during the Seven Years r898 to 

 1904: Dr. C. Chree, F.R.S.— On the Specific Heat of. Heat Flow 

 from, and other Phenomena of the Working Fluid in the Cylinder of 

 the Internal Combustion Engine: Dugald Clerk. 



Chemical Society, at 8.30. — The Interaction of well dried Mixtures of 

 Hydrocarbons and Oxygen : W. A. Bone and G. W. Andrew.— The 

 Explosive Combustion of Hydrocarbons : W. A. Bone and J. Drugman. — 

 The Occurrence of Marsh Gas amongst the Decomposition Products of 

 Certain Nitrogenous Bases as a Source of Error in the Determination of 

 Nitrogen by the Absolute Method : P. Haas.— Studies on Comparative 

 Cryoscopy. Part IV. The Hydrocarbons and their Halogen Derivatives 

 in Phenol Solution : P. W. Robertson.— The Displacement of Acid 

 Radicles. I. Displacement of the Chloride and Nitrate Radicles : A. F. 

 Joseph. 



Royal Institution, at 5. — The Physiology of Plants : Francis Darwin, 

 For. Sec. R.S. 



Linnean Society, at 8. — Discussion on the Origin of Gymnosperms : 

 Opened by Prof. F. W. Oliver, F.R.S. 



Society of Arts, at 4.30. — The Languages of India and the Linguistic 

 Survey : Dr. George A. Grierson. 



Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, at 8. — A Record of an 

 Investigation of £artb Temperatures on the Witwatersrand Gold Fields, 

 and their Relation to Deep Level Mining in the Locality: H. F. 

 Marriott.— Note on the Ammonia-Copper-Cyanide Process : E. Le Gay 

 Brereton— The Cyanide Treatment of Cupriferous Tailings by the 

 Sulphuric Acid Process : W. S. Brown. 



FRIDAY, March 16. 



Royal Institution, at 9.— How to Improve Telephony : W. Duddell. 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8. — Continued Discussion : 

 Large Locomotive Boilers. G. J. Churchward.— Probable Paper: Petro- 

 leum Fuel in Locomotives on the Tehuantepec National Railroad of 

 Mexico : L. Greaven. 



Epidemiological Society, at 8.30. — Evolution in Relation to Disease : 

 Dr. J. T. C. Nash. 



NO. 1898, VOL. 73] 



SATURDAY, March 17. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— The Corpuscular Theory of Matter: Prof 

 J. J. Thomson, F.R.S. 



MONDAY, March 19. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— Fire, Fire Risks, and Fire Extinction: Prof 

 Vivian B. Lewes. 



Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30.— The Economic Geography 

 of Australia: Prof. J. W. Gregory, F.R.S. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30.— The Early Celtic Church of Britain and 

 Ireland : Eleanor H. Hull/ 



TUESDA Y. March 20. 



Royal Institution, at 5.— The Influence of Geology on Scenery: Dr. 

 J. E. Marr, F.R.S. 



Zoological Society, at S.30. 



Royal Horticultural Society, Scientific Committee, at 4.— Mendelian 

 Laws of Inheritance : Charles C. Hurst. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— The Outer Barrier, Hodbarrow 

 Iron Mines, Millom, Cumberland : H. Shelford Bidwell. 



Mineralogical Society.— On the Occurrence of Linarite and Caledonite 

 in Co. Wicklow : Arthur Russell. 



WEDNESDAY, March 21. 



Society of Arts, at 8. — Motor Boats : Bernard B. Redwood. 



Geological Society, at 8.— The Chalk and Drift in Muen : Rev. 

 Edwin Hill.— On the Relations of the Chalk and Boulder-clay near 

 Royston (Hertfordshire): Prof. T. G. Bonney, F.R.S. — Brachiopod 

 Homceomorphy : Pygope, Antinomia, Pygites : S. S. Buckman. 



Entomological Society, at 8. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 8.— A Contribution to our Know- 

 ledge of the Rotifera of South Africa : C. F. Rousselet.— On the 

 Resolving Limits for the Telescope and the Microscope : E. M. Nelson. 



Royal MeteorologicalSociety, at 7.30.— South Africa as seen by a 

 Meteorologist : Dr. H. R. Mill. 



THURSDAY, March 22. 



Royal Society, at \:-$o.—Bakerian Lecture'. Recent Advances in 

 Seismology; Prof. J. Milne, F.R.S. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Electrical Equipment of 

 the Aberdare Collieries of the Powell Duffryn Co. : C. P. Sparks.— Elec- 

 tric Winding considered Practically and Commercially : W. C. Mountain. 



Royal Institution, at 5. — Internal Combustion Engines : Prof. B. 

 Hopkinson. 



FRIDA Y, March 23. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Imperial Defence : Lord Roberts. 



Physical Society (University College), at 5.— On Unilateral Electric 

 Conductivity over Damp Surfaces: Prof. F. T. Trouion, F.R.S.- The 

 Construction and Use of Oscillation Valves for Rectifying High Fre- 

 quency Electric Currents : Prof. J. A. Fleming, F.R.S. — On the Use of 

 the Cymometer for the Determination of Resonance Curves : G. B. Dyke. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — Waves: F. K. Stevens. 

 SA TURDA Y, March 24. 



Roval Institution, at 3. — The Corpuscular Theory of Matter : Prof. 

 J. J. Thomson, F.R.S. 



CONTENTS page 



Text-Books on Plain and Reinforced Concrete 



Work 457 



Chemistry for Schools. By W. R H 459 



Certain Modern Views on Pathology. By Prof. 



Wm. St. C. Symmers 460 



Our Book Shell :— 



Rohr : Die optischen Instrumente " 461 



Hart : " Second Year Chemistry, a Handbook for 



Laboratory and Class Work." — A. S 461 



Varigny : " La Nature et la Vie " 462 



Letters to the Editor : - 



A Plea for Absolute Motion. — Prof. Arthur 



Schuster, F.R.S. . 462 



The Diffusion of Solids.— John H. Howell ... 464 



Earth Tremors in India. — Prof. W. Galloway . . 464 



Peculiar Ice Formation. — James Foulds .... 464 

 Cooperation between Scientific Libraries. — Prof. 



Grenville A. J. Cole 464 



Sounding Stones.— O. F. Wheeler Cuffe . 464 



An Inquiry for Books. — G. Hammam 464 



A New County Bird-Book. (Illustrated.) By O. V. 



Aplin 465 



The Adulteration of Butter. By C. Simmonds . . 466 



A Remarkable Discovery in Egypt 468 



Notes. (With Diagram.) 468 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Comet 1905* 473 



Comet 1906(5 474 



Remarkable Variation in the Spectrum of t' Bootis . 474 



A Brilliant Fireball 474 



Observations of Phcebe during 1905 474 



The Leeds Astronomical Society 474 



New Magazines of Biological Chemistry 474 



Forestry in the United States. (Illustrated.) . . . 475 



Forthcoming Books of Science 476 



University and Educational Intelligence 47S 



Societies and Academies 479 



Diary of Societies 480 



