20 
Chloride of ethylidene and ammonia produce collidene. 
Professor Hofmann, in continuance of former researches, has 
transformed methylated and amylated sulpho-ureas into trimethy- 
lated and triamylated melamines by the action of oxide of mercury. 
This reaction however is but secondary, the first products being 
substituted (neutral) cyanamides, which by repeated evaporisa- 
tion become suddenly transformed into alealine melamides. 
The ethylic, and the phenylic sulpho-ureas behave in the same 
manner. The transformation consists in three molecules of 
cyanamide uniting into one of melamine— 
3 C H(C, H,) N = C, H; (C, Hs)5 Ng 
The same chemist, in conjunction with Dr. Olshausen, publishes 
researches on polymeric modifications of cyanetholine, and 
its homologues. These researches are connected with the foregoing 
paper by the following consideration. A certain analogy 
between ethylcyanamide C N (C, H;) H N and cyanetholine— 
CN (C, Hs) O allows us to predict that the latter will 
treble, in the same way that the former does. This has 
been found to be the case. By passing chloride of cyanogen 
into methylate of sodium, the cyanetholine of the methylic 
series (an oil) forms at the same time, with crystals of the 
formula— 
(CN); 
(C Hah $08 
cyanurate of methyl. These crystals fuse at 134° but are 
transformed by distillation into the isomeric compound— 
(COs IN, 
(C Hy) 
fusing at 175°. The former treated with potash yields 
cyanuric acid, and methylic alcohol ; the latter carbonic acid and 
methylamine. The former, treated with ammonia, forms the 
dimethylic ether of amido-cyanuric acid— 
C H; O 
C,N, ;C H,O 
H, N 
The same compound is formed (together with cyanurate of methyl) 
when chloride of cyanogen is passed into methylate of sodium, 
and may be separated from the cyanurate, by the action of ether, in 
which it is insoluble. The circumstance that the corresponding 
ethyl-compound dissolves in ether, renders the investigation of 
the transformation of cyanetholine more difficult. Analogous 
results have been obtained when chloride of cyanogen was 
passed into amylate and phenylate of sodium. 
Professor Rammelsberg, in a paper on the phosphates of 
thallium, stated that isomorphism exists between 
1. H Tl, PO, H, O and H, Na PO, H, O 
2. Hy Tl PO,y and H (NH,) . PO, 
3. H Tl, PO, and Hy (N-Hy) PO, 
This he considers as the first proof of the isomorphism of 
hydrogen with monatomic metals. The same is stated of a 
phosphoborate of magnesium found in the saltlayers of 
Liineburg, and analysed by Nollner, who gives it the formula 
Mg B, Oy. 2 H Mg PO,, De Koninck and Marquardt have 
investigated Bryonicine, one of the two bases contained in the 
roots of Bryonia dioica, and give it the formula C,, H; N O,. 
P. Marquardt described polybromides of tetraethyl ammonium. 
Dr. Coninck described modifications of Bunsen’s sucking appa- 
ratus for filtering, and of Mitscherlich’s potash bulbs for combus- 
tion. M. Ballo recommends the preparation of binitronaphthol by 
oxydising naphthylamin with nitric acid. By the action of mono- 
brominated naphthalin on rosaniline, he has produced a violet 
colouring matter, not yet analysed. W. Doer has prepared 
azonaphthaline by heating nitronaphthaline with zinc powder. 
¥’. Rochleder has found four new colouring substances in madder, 
Cy, Hg Oy, isalizarine; and its homologue, a very similar 
substance, C,; Hj, O,; a third called hydrisalizarin, Cy, H,5 Og, 
and a fourth, homologous with the foregoing, Cyy Hy) Og. 
The proportions in which these substances occur in madder are 
minute. N. Bunge on electrolysis communicates that nitrophe- 
nate of potassium yields to the anode nitrophenol and oxygen. 
Thiacetic acid and thiobenzoic acid yield bisulphide of acetyle, and 
bisulphide of benzoyl. But stilphocyanide of potassium, instead of 
yielding bisulphide of cyanogen, gives pseudo-sulphocyanogen. L. 
Henry has proved the identity of tribromhydrine of glycerine 
with the tribromide of allyle, from which it has hitherto been 
considered to differ. N. Lubarin, in submitting chloraluric acid 
to a renewed investigation, has arrived at the conclusion that it 
is impure parabanic acid mixed with chloride of ammonium. A. 
Ladenburg has found that, in support of Dr. Wanklyn’s opinion, 
acetic ether perectly free from water is not attacked by sodium 
NATURE 
[May 5, 187¢ 
below 100” C., and that inthis reaction no evolution of gas takes 
place. For decomposing the water and alcohol generally con 
tained in what is called pure acetic ether, the chlorides of silicium: 
or of phosphorus were employed. Lastly, M. Vogel reported on 
Camuzet’s experiments on gun-cotton, which differ so entirely, 
from everything hitherto asserted, that they require confirmation, | 
According to Camuzet, water dissolves the greater part of gun= 
cotton, separating at the same time the remaining part into a floc 
culent mass (the explosive ingredient of gun-cotton), and agranu-_ 
lar non-explosive powder, which falls to the bottom of the vessel, 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, May 5 
Rovat Sociery, at 8.30 —On the Pre-Carboniferous Flora of North-Eas ern 
America, and more especially on that o! the Erian (Devonian) Peris 
(Bakerian Lecture): Principal Dawson, I’.R.S. ‘ 
Soctery of ANTIQUARTIES, at 8.30.—On the Date of the Discovery of the 
American Continent, by John and Sebastian Cabot: R. H. Major, 
F.S.A. 
LINNEAN Socrrry, at 8. Cuemicat Sociery, at 8. 
Roya InstirurTion, at 3.—Electricity: Prof. Tyndall. 
FRIDAY, Mayv6. : 
Royat InstiTuTioN, at 8.—Star-grouping ; star-drift; star-mist: R. A, 
Proctor. 
SATURDAY, May 7. 
Rovat InstiTruTron, at 3.—Comets: Prot. Grant. 
MONDAY, May 09. 
ROvAL GEOGRAPHICAL Society, at 8.30. 
Lonpon InstrrvTion, at 4.—Botany: Prof. Bentley. 
TUESDAY, May vo. 
ETHNOLOGICAL Society, at 8.30.—(Special meeting at the Museum of 
Practical Geology). Opening address: Prof. Huxley. On the Influence 
of the Norman Conquest inthe Ethnology of Britain : Rev. Dr. Nichol 
InsTITUTION OF CivIL ENGINEERS, at 8.—Discussion on the Strength of 
Iron and Steel. _ Recent Improvements in Regenerative Hot Ble 
Stoves, for Blast Furnances: E. A. Cowper. 
Roya INSTrTUTIoN, at 3.—On the Principles of Moral and Political Philo= 
sophy : Prof. Blackie. 7 
PuoToGrapruic Socrery, at 8. - 
WEDNESDAY, May 11. 
GEOLOGICAL Society, at 8. 
Roya Microscoricat Soctety, at 8.—On a new form of Binocular and 
Stereoscopic Microscope: Mr. Samuel Holmes. 
ARCHAZOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, at 8. 
THURSDAY, May 12. ~- 
Royat InstrTuTION, at 3.—Electricity: Prof. Tyndall. ;: 
ZoOLoGIcAL Society, at 8.30.—Notes on some points in the anatomy of 
certain Kingfishers: Dr. Cunningham.—On the-taxonomic charact 
afforded by the muscular sheath of the cesophagus in Sauropsida and 
other Vertebrates: Mr. George Gulliver.—Notes on the myology of 
Platydactylus Faponicus: Mr. Alfred Sanders.—On the Hirundinide 
of the Ethiopian region: Mr. R. B. Sharpe. 1 
Lonpon MATHEMATICAL Society, at 8.—On the Mechanical deseription 
of a nodal bicireular Quartic: Prof. Cayley.—Concerning the ovals of 
Des Cartes: Mr. S. Roberts. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
~ EnGitsH.—Choice and Chance: Rev. W. A. Whitworth (Deighton and 
Bell).—Blanford’s Natural History of Abyssinia (Macmillan and Co.),—The 
Lifted and Subsided Rocks of America, by Catlin (Triibner and Co.).—The 
Yosemite Guide-book: J. D. Whitney. 
ForeiGn (through Williams and Norgate).—Ornithologie Nordost Afrikas 
Th. von. Heuglin: Elektrische Untersuchungen, achte Abhandlungen iber 
die thermoelektrischen Eigenschaften des Topases: W. G. Hanke.—Bestim: 
mung der Sonnenparallaxe durch Venus-voriibergange vor der Sonnenscheibe : 
P. A. Hansen.-—La_psychologie anglaise contemporaine: T, H. Ribot.— 
Das Verhalten der Eigenwarme in Krankheiten: D, C. A. Wunderlich. 
Verhandlungen der k. k. Zoologisch-botanischer Gesellschaft in Wien 1869.— 
Berichte iiber die Vorhandlungen Ost Afrika. 
* CONTENTS 
To Our Reavers. By THE Epiror. .... - 
Tue Vetocity of THouGuTt. By Dr. M. Foster. 
Cuotce anp CHance. By Proressor STANLEY JEVONS 
Qur Boor SHELF_= « 5% 6 & 8 Eine & & 5 2 
LETTERS TO THE EpITOR :— 
The Sources of the Nile.—Dr. Cuartes Beke . 
Why is the Sky Blue? panto oi) NN ale * er 
Curious Facts in Molecular Physics—W. H. Harrison 
Str Epwarp Sapinet’s CONVERSAZIONE « eae 3 al 
Recent Accessrons TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SocreTy’s GARDENS 
(With tustrations) By P. L. SCLATER, 4 
Novet_ TELEGRAPHY—ELECTRIFICATION OF AN ISLAND.—PROF. | 
FLEEMING JENKIN, F.R.G. 2... 5 . 4 3 | 
Nomad 6 aco s Bs pean eas ee ae Gas o =e 
Tue GrespAmM LEGTURES. - =. * 2 6 © 4s 6 2 1 Seeete 
SéreTihiC SERIATS. 5 SR ee ee | 
SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. . » . 8 © © «© © © = © © © © & 
Diary AND Books RECEIVED. . . . «© 6 es « i arty 
_bpratum.—By an error of the press, Prof. Duncan’s Table of Madreporaria 
dredged up in the ‘Porcupine’ Expedition(No. 26, p. 660), was designated 
** Madreporaria of the Red Sea,” instead of the ‘“‘ Deep Sea.” : 
The INDEX and CONTENTS for Vol. I., will be published with an 
early number. 
