556 



NA TURE 



[Oct. 2, 1884 



Petrcmshevky. It allows the amount of light received by books, 

 paper, &c, on the desks of scholars, to he rapidly and accurately 

 measured. — On the volume of a liquid considered as a function 

 of temperature under a constant pressure, by K. Jouk. Diethyl- 

 amine and ethyl chloride both agree with Prof. Avenarius's 

 formula : v ~ a + b log (t - t), — On the relation between pres- 

 sure and the density of rarefied gases ; preliminary communica- 

 tion by K. Kraevitch. — Notes on the structure of the atmosphere, 

 by MM. Stankevitch and Rogovsky. 



Annalen der Physik and Chemie, No. 7, June 15.— On the elec- 

 tric discharge in gases, by O. Lehmann (2 sheets of figures). — 

 Contribution to the investigation of the origin of thermo-electric 

 streams in a continuous homogeneous conductor, by Rudolph 

 Overbeck (10 figures). — On the changes which the molecular 

 structure of iron undergoes by heating and cooling, by Carl 

 Frounne (2 tables). — On the appearance of electricity witli the 

 development of gases, by W. Hankel. — On a constant battery 

 for electrical measurements, by W. von Beetz. — On the position 

 of the pole, the induction and temperature coefficient of a m ignet, 

 and on the determination of the magnetic moment by bifilar sus- 

 pension, by F. Kohlrausch. — On the dispersive power oi a 

 diamond, by A. Schrauf. — Researches on radiant heat, by Heinr. 

 Schneebeli. — On the construction of Bohnenberger's reversible 

 pendulum for the determination of the length of a pendulum for 

 observing the period of oscillation in relation to a given length 

 of mass, by Wilhelm Weber. — On the equilibriums of floating 

 elastic plates, by H. Hertz. — The electricity of flame; reply by 

 T. Kollert. — On a new position for the measuring wire in the 

 Wheatstone-Kirchoff bridge combination, by Hugo Meyer (2 

 figures). — Wheatstone's rheostat and mercury contact, by J. 

 Bodynski (2 figures). 



Journal de Physique thiorique et applique?, July. — On the 

 analytical expression of absolute temperature and Carnot's func- 

 tion, by G. Lippmann. — On the electro-chemical equivalent of 

 silver, by M. Mascart. — On the phenomenon of crystalline over- 

 heating of sulphur and the rapidity of transformation of octa- 

 hedral to prismatic sulphur, by I). Gernez. — Study of the dis- 

 tribution of potential in conductors of two or three dimensions 

 traversed by continuous currents, by A. Chervet. — On an 

 static standard of potential, by Messrs. Crova and Garbe. — On the 

 variation of the capillary constant at water-ether and w.n 

 bisulphide surfaces under the action of an electromotive Ion, by 

 M. Kronchkoll and Lord Rayleigh.— On the electro-chemical 

 equivalent of silver, and on the absolute electromotive force of 

 Clark cells, by B. C. Damien. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



Paris 

 Academy of Sciences, September 22. — M. Rolland, Pre^ 

 sident, in the chair. — On algebraic equations: part third, 

 on irrational equations, by M. de Jonquieres. The author 

 arrives at the somewhat unexpected conclusion that all alge- 

 braic equations, whether rational or not, which belong to 

 the same "species," possess the same maximum number of 

 real roots, whatever be their respective degrees. — Observa- 

 tions on the corona now visible round the sun ; variations 

 in its form and colour ; a method of increasing its luminosity ; 

 polariscopic observations ; polarimetric and photometric observa- 

 tions, by M. A. Coinu. The author is still disposed to connect 

 this phenomenon with the Krakatoa eruption. The facts adduced 

 are regarded as numerous enough to support the natural hypo- 

 thesis of a cloud of particles with a nearly constant mean dia- 

 meter, projected by the volcano and held in suspension in the 

 higher regions of the atmosphere. — On the general evolution of 

 the vegetable functions in annual plants: the Amaranthaeea. by 

 MM. Berthelot and Andre. — On the movement of Hyperion, 

 by Prof. S. Newcomb. The author concludes that all the con- 

 junctions of Hyperion with Titan take place near the aposalurn 

 of the latter satellite. The point of conjunction oscillates 

 about 180° on either side of the aposaturn during the period of 

 revolution of the perisaturn of Hyperion in relation to that of 

 Titan. — On the completion of the new method for resolving the 

 most general linear equation into quaternions, by Prof. Sylvester. 

 — Remarks on the third instalment of the new topographical 

 map of Algeria presented to the Academy by Col. Perrier. 

 This section consists of six sheets, comprising Miliana (province 

 of Algiers), Saint Denis-du-Sig (province of Oran), Herbillon, 

 Cap-de-Fer, Cap-de-Garde, Bugeaud (province of Constantine). 

 The surveys are executed on a scale of 1 : 40,000, and the map, 



ei. graved on zinc, is issued at the scale of 1 : 50,000. Each 

 sheet comprises stven plates, the relief being figured geometri- 

 cally by equidistant curves of 10 m. in 10 m. , and the plastic 

 disposition of the surface being obtained by means of a dubbed 

 drawing with lithographic crayon, based on the zenithal light 

 and heightened by a slight touch of oblique light. The map 

 marks a great improvement in the cartographic art. — On a de- 

 velopment in a continuous fraction, by M. Stieltjes. — Note on 

 the antiseptic properties of the sulphuret of carbon, by M. 

 Ckiandi-Bey. From numerous experiments carried on for 

 several years, the author finds that this sulphuret, which is 

 soluble in water, arrests all fermentation, kills all microbes, 

 is a most powerful antiseptic, and is, moreover, endowed 

 with considerable penetrative power. Hence he strongly 

 recommends it as a most efficacious remedy for cholera, 

 typhus, diptheria, phthisis, and all diseases traceable to living 

 germs. — Contributions to the study of the Cretaceous flora of 

 the west of France, by M. L. Crie. — The Perpetual Secretary 

 announced to the Academy that the International Committee of 

 Weights and Measures representing the high contracting 

 parties to the Convention for the Metre signed at Paris on May 

 20, 1S75, has received the adhesion of England, which had 

 hitherto taken no part in the Convention. With the further 

 accession of Roumania and Servia the Committee now repre- 

 sents an aggregate population of 421,440,396, distributed over 

 Germany, England, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, the Argentine 

 f'epublic, Denmark, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, 

 Peru, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Servia, Sweden, Norway, 

 Switzerland, Turkey, and Venezuela. — The photolithographic 

 facsimile of a letter addressed by Gauss to Olbers on Sep- 

 tember 5, 1805, was presented to the Academy by Prince 

 Boncompagni. 



CONTENTS P AGE 



The -'Challenger" Reports 533 



The English Flower Garden 534 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Kerry-NichohVs " King Country ; or, Explorations 



in New Zealand " . 535 



Brown's " Forests and Forestry of Northern Russia 



and Lands beyond " 535 



Letters to the Editor : — 



M. Thollon's Views of "Great B" in the Solar 



Spectrum. — Prof. C. Piazzi-Smyth 535 



Shifting of the Earth's Axis.— W. H. M. Christie, 



F.R.S 536 



The Sky-Glows.— Prof. A. S. Herschel ; Miss 



T. M. Browne 536 



September Stream of Krakatoa Smoke at Strong's 



Island. — S. E. Bishop 537 



Biology z>. Botany. — Rev. George Henslow . . . 537 

 Animal Intelligence. — R. J. Harvey Gibson ; 



Thomas Harrison 538 



Meteors. — Consul E. L. Layard 538 



The Milleporidoe. — John J. Quelch 539 



To Find the Cube of any Number by Construction. — 



R. Tucker 539 



The Failure of the Parsley Crop.— W. H. C. B. . 539 



Wasps as Fly Killers.— George Lawson 539 



George Bentham 539 



A Model Lens for Use in Class Derr onstrations. 



By John B. Haycraft. (Illustrated*) 543 



The Electrical Exhibitkn at Philadelphia .... 543 



A New Application of India-rubber. (Illustrated) . 544 



Notes 545 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Comet 1884/' (Barnard, July 16) 547 



Comet 1884 c 548 



The Lunar Eclipse on October 4 548 



Hydroxylamine and the Assimilation of Nitrogen 



by Plants 348 



The British Association : — 



Reports 548 



Section B — Chemistry 549 



Section C — Geology 553 



Section G — Mechanical Science 554 



Section II — Anthropology 554 



Scientific Serials 555 



Societies and Academies 556 



