48 
from the peripheral cracking of Mt. Dore, by M. E. Bonjean. 
Eleven analyses are given of phonolites, trachytes, tephrites, 
and ‘basalts. —On a crystallised double carbonate of cerium 
peroxide, by M. André Job. The salt has the composition 
Ce,O3.(COs)3.4KsCO3.12H,0, and arises from the action of 
hydrogen peroxide upon cerium salts, and also by spontaneous 
oxidation.—On a fluorine compound supposed to be contained 
in certain mineral waters, by M. F. Parmentier. The effects 
produced upon glass, hitherto supposed to have been produced 
by fluorides in certain mineral waters, are shown to be due to a 
deposit of silica. No trace of fluorine has been detected 
in numerous analyses of mineral waters.—On the oxidising 
power of the alkaline periodates, by M. E. Péchard. The 
salt NalO, behaves as an oxidising agent towards ferrous salts 
and potassium iodide.—Displacement of mercury by hydrogen, 
by M. Albert Colson. Mercuric oxide is slowly reduced 
by hydrogen at 100°, the amount of mercury formed being pro- 
portional to the weight of oxide actually present. The yellow 
and red oxides are reduced at different rates, the red being the 
slower of the two, Mercurous oxide is not attacked by hydrogen 
at 100.—Luminous phenomena produced by the action of 
certain ammoniacal salts upon fused potassium nitrite, by M. D. 
Tommasi.—Morphine and its salts, by M. Emile Leroy. A 
study of the heats of combustion and formation of various salts 
of morphine.—On the production of the racemoid forms of 
camphor, by M. A. Debierne.—On the unsymmetrical tetra- 
methyl derivative of diamido-diphenylethane, by M. A. Trillat. 
—On the sugar from maize stems, by MM. C. Istrati and G. 
Oettinger.—On the absorption of iodine by the skin and its 
localisation in certain organs, by M. F. Gollard.—Detection 
and colorimetric estimation of minute quantities of iodine in 
organic substances, by M. Paul Bourcet.—The electrical treat- 
ment of gout, by M. Th. Guilloz.—On the structure of the 
anal glands in Dystzcus and the supposed defensive 7é/e of 
these glands, by M. Fr. Dierckx.—Sporozoa in the digestive 
tube of the blind-worm, by M. Louis Léger.—On the quan- 
titative variations of the plankton in the Lake of Geneva, by 
M. Emile Yung.—Fall of a meteorite recently observed in 
Finland, by M. Stanislas Meunier.—On a new mercury pump, 
by M. E. U. Chatelain. 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 
THURSDAY, May 11. 
(MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY, at 8.—The Zeroes of a Spherical Harmonic 
P,’"(4) considered as a Function of x: H. M. Macdonald.—On the 
Statistical Rejection of Extreme Variations, Single or Correlated 
(Normal Variation and Normal Correlation): W. F. Sheppard. 
FRIDAY, May 12. 
Roya InstTiTuTION, at 9.—Magnetic Perturbations of the Spectral 
Lines : Prof. Thomas Preston, F.R.S. 
Royvat AsTRONOMICAL SoOcIETY, at 8.—Observations of Swift's Comet 
1899, made at Grahamstown, South Africa: L. A. Eddie.—Observations 
of Mars made at Mr. Crossley’s Observatory, Bermerside, Halifax, 
during the Opposition 1898-99 : Joseph Gledhill.—Note on the Spectra 
of y Cassiopeia and o Ceti: Rev. W. Sidgreaves.—Longitude from 
Moon Culminations : D. A. Pio. Probable Papers: Note on an Elbow 
Form of Reflecting Telescope: Dr. A. A. Common, F.R.S.—Observ- 
ations of tke Satellite of Neptune from Photographs taken with the 26- 
inch Refractor of the Thompson Equatorial : Royal Observatory, Green- 
wich. 
Puysicat Society, at 5.—Noteon the Vapour Pressure of Solutions of 
Volatile Substances. Dr. R. A. Lehfeldt.—Note on the Discussion of 
their Paper on the Criterion for an Oscillatory Discharge of a Condenser : 
Prof. W. B. Morton and Dr. Barton.—Exhibition of a Quadrant Elec- 
trometer: G. L. Addenbrooke. 
MaLaco.ocicaL Society, at 8.—On Planispira (Cristigibsa) Buruensis 
and Omphalotropis hercules, New Species from Buru: J. H. Ponsonby 
and E. R. Sykes.—Note on the Nervous System of Amfxudlaria urceus : 
R. H. Burne.—Notes on some Marine Shells from North-West Australia, 
with Description of New Species: E. A. Smith.—Descriptions of 
Sigaretus Drewi, n.sp. (Fossil) and Czrsonella neozelanica, n.sp. from 
New Zealand: R. Murdoch.—Notes on some New Zealand Land Mol- 
lusca : R. Murdoch. 
SATURDAY, May 133. 
‘GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION (Liverpool Street, G.E.R.), at 2.—Excursion to 
Ilford. 
MONDAY, May 1s. 
Vicroria INSTITUTE, at 4.30.—The Physical and Mental Attributes of 
the Sexes: Dr. A. T. Schofield. 
TUESDAY, May 16. 
Roya. INnsTiTuTION, at 3.—Recent Advances in Geology: 
Sollas, F.R.S. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 8.30. 
RovAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY, at 5.—Life Tables: their Construction and 
Practical Uses: T. E. Hayward. 
Royal PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, at 8.—Specimensof Work with Irregular 
Grained Screens, &c. 
NO. 1541, VOL. 60] 
Prof. W. J. 
NATURE 
[May 11, 1899 
WEDNESDAY, May 17. 
Royat METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, at 4.30.—The Mean Temperature of 
the Surface Waters of the Sea round the British Isles, and its Relation to 
that of the Air: H. N. Dickson.—Some Phenomena connected with the 
Vertical Circulation of the Atmosphere : Major-General H. Schaw, C.B. 
Roya MicroscoricaL Society, at 7.30.—Exhibition cf Pond Life. 
THURSDAY, May 18. 
Roya Society, at 4.30 —Bakerian Lecture : The Crystalline Structure of 
Metals : Prof. Ewing, F.R.S., and W. Rosenhain.— Probable Papers : 
The Yellow Coloring Matters accompanying Chlorophyll and their 
Spectroscopic Relations: C. A. Schunck, F.R.S.—The Diffusion of 
Ions into Gases: J. S. Townsend.—The Diurnal Range of Rain at the 
Seven Observatories in connection with the Meteorological Office, 1871- 
1890: Dr. R. H. Scott, F.R.S. 
INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Electric Locomotives in 
Practice and Tractive Resistance in Tunnels, with Notes on Electric 
Locomotive Design: P. V. McMahon. 
CHEMICAL Society, at 8.—Corydaline, Part VI.: Dr. J. J. Dobbie and 
A. Lauder.—Oxidation of Furfural by Hydrogen Peroxide : C. F. Cross, 
E. J. Bevan, and T. Freiberg. 
FRIDAY, May to. | 
RovaLINsTITUTION, at 9.—Runic and Ogam Characters and Inscriptions 
in the British Isles: The Lord Bishop of Bristol. 
BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 
Booxs.—Zur Anthropologie der Badener : O. Ammon (Jena, Fischer).— 
A Class-Book of (Elementary) Practical Physiology: Dr. de B. Birch 
(Churchill).—Geometrical Drawing: E. C. Plant, Vol. 1, Practical Plane 
Geometry (Macmillan).— Medical Missions in their Relation to Oxford: 
Sir H. W. Acland, 2nd edition (Frowde).—The Hygiene of the Mouth: R. 
D. Pedley (Segg).—Die Physikalischen Erscheinungen und Krafte ihre 
Erkenntnis und Verwertung im Praktischen Leben: Prof. L. Grunmach 
(Leipzig, Spamer).—Outlines of Physical Chemistry: Prof. A. Reychler, 
translated by Dr. J. McCrae (Whittaker).—L’Eclairage a Incandescence 
par le Gaz et les Liquides Gazéifiés: P. Truchot (Paris, Carré).—Trans- 
actions of the American Pediatric Society, Vol. x. (New York).—Elements 
of Quaternions : Sir W. R. Hamilton, 2nd edition, Vol. 1 (Longmans).— 
Mechanics applied to Engineering: Prof. J. Goodman (Longmans) —Text- 
Book of Practical Solid Geometry: Captain E. H. de V. Atkinson (Spon). 
—Steinbruchindustrie und Steinbruchgeologie ; Dr. O. Hermann (Berlin, 
Borntraeger).—The Naval Pioneers of Australia: L. Becke and W. Jeffery 
(Murray).—Applied Geology: J. V. Elsden, Part 2 (‘‘ Quarry" Publishing 
Company).—A Guide to Recent Large Scale Maps (London). 
PaMmpPHLeTs.—Mines and Quarries, General Report, &c., for 1898, Part 1 
(London).—The Geology of the Country around Carlisle: T. V. Holmes 
(London). 
Sertats.—Travaux de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de 
St. Pétersbourg, Vol. xxvii. livr. 5 (St. Pétersbourg).—Sunday Magazine, 
May (Isbister).—Good Words, May (Isbister).—Chambers's Journal, 
May (Chambers).—National Review, May (Arnold).—Contemporary 
Review, May (Isbister).—Pearson’s Magazine, May (Pearson).—Century 
Magazine, May (Macmillan) —Proceedings of the American Philosophical 
Society, December (Philadelphia).—Humanitarian, May (Duckworth). 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
The National Physical Laboratory ........ 25 
Chemical Technology eByelge) 2 =. -) ements 
Volcanoes Byaly Viney iiten ay eo) 12!) cent, 
Our Book Shelf :— 
Dufét : ‘* Recueil de données numériques publié par la 
Société frangaise de Physique, Optique’ .... . 28 
Smith : ‘* The Natural Mineral Waters of Harrogate” 28 
Letters to the Editor :— ‘ 
A Measure of the Intensity of Hereditary Transmission. 
—Francis Galton, F.R.S. ...... ee 22) 
Triboluminescence.—Prof. A. S. Herschel, F.R.S. 29 
The New Zealand Godwit (Zzmosa novae-zelandiae).— 
Taylor Wihite;2 2 seta =. 4) _<. = One 
The Indian Musk-Shrew.—W. F. Sinclair... . 30 
Mammalian Longevity.—Ernest D. Bell .... . 30 
‘* Primitive Constellations.”—R. Brown, Jun. ... 3f 
The Royal Society Selected Candidates .... . 31 
Work of the Smithsonian Institution in 1897-8. 
WILT SS Some Ge eb OMe (Siow emo - so Sh! 
INOtES 6c ck, pemIRPcie aeT nr caiee cs.” so) fe ame 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Comet t8oora)(Swift)mereemenic carci. «, ieee nS 
Tempel’s| Comet (wS7a9U) wa oo: ees 
Progress in the Iron and Steel Industries. (W2zth 
Diasvams.) By Sir W. C. Roberts-Austen, K.C.B., 
F.RS oo Boe 
heron and!SteelInstitutem a) uss, cae AS 
The Royal Society’s Conversazione .... Bete ot 4 
University and EducationalIntelligence ..... 44 
Scientific’ Serials; Saeeenm neste Aaa 5 agape) 
Societiesiand’Academiesm wi.) el ee 
Diary of Societies. . fro SOC onoee ote: 0 Ondromet) 
Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received ..... 48 
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