40 
of Bacillarie in the high lands of California, in which he noticed 
the occurrence of great beds consisting wholly of Diatomacez 
in various parts of the Californian territory.—M. Weierstrass 
presented amemoir by M. Ketteler on the influence of ponderable 
molecules upon the dispersion of light, and upon the import of 
the constants of the dispersion formule. 
February 17.—The papers read at this meeting were chiefly 
of historical or antiquarian interest, but they included an impor- 
tant contribution to the history of algebra in Germany, by Prof. 
Gerhardt, of Eisleben. 
February 24.—Prof. A. W. Hofmann read a paper on the pre- 
paration of the ethylamines on the large scale. The author finds 
that the most volatile of the subsidiary products of the manufacture 
of chloral, if condensed and digested at 212° F. with a strong 
alcoholic solution of ammonia, furnishes, bya simple subsequent 
treatment described by him, a considerable proportion of hydro- 
chlorates of the amine bases, which may be isolated by the 
addition of concentrated solution of soda. Professor Hofmann 
also read some supplementary remarks upon the products of the 
desulphurisation of diphenylosulphocarbamide. 
German Chemical Society, April 11.—Two papers by 
L. Carius were communicated. The first describes a new 
method of preparing dibrominated acetic ether, by the action 
of bromine on acetic ether. The second announced new 
syntheses of maleic and phenaconic acids, by the use of 
disodic acetic ether, C H Na, C O O C, H; on_bibro- 
moacetic ether, and on bibromosuccinic ether. — Messrs. 
Schneider and Erlenmeyer have investigated normal iodopro- 
pionic acid. Treated with acetate of silver, this acid yields 
acetoxypropionic acid. —L. Fleury publishes researches on new 
derivations of allyle, viz.: C; H,; Cl, N O,, C; H; 1 Cl, and 
C, H; OH H Cl O.—A. Ladenburg has discovered a distannic 
ethide, Sn, (C, H;)s. The vapour density serving to establish 
the formula of this compound was taken by Hofinann’s method, 
the constant temperature being produced by distillation of oil of 
cloves. Chlorine and iodine separate the molecule producing 
Sn (C, H;)3 Cl, or Sn (C, H,); I. 
C. Liebermann reported on an easier method patented by 
himself, in conjunction with Messrs. Graebe and Caro, for pre- 
paring artificial alizarine. Instead of brominating anthracene 
they treat it with sulphuric acid. According to the quantities 
employed, either one, two, or three atoms of hydrogen are 
replaced by the group HSO,. C,, Hg (SO3H), fused with 
potash yields C,, H, (OH), and this is oxydised into alizarine 
C,, H, (HO), O,. Or they transform anthracene C,, Hy, first 
into anthrachinone C,, Hg {O,, and treat this substance with 
sulphuric acid. The compound C,, H,O, (HSO,), may then 
be transformed by fusion with potash into C,, H,O, (OH),. 
The compound C,, H; O, (HSO,), is transformed by this 
process into purpurine. A process lately patented by Bronner 
and Gubzkow for preparing alizarine was then severely criticised 
by Mr. Liebermann ; this process, consisting in fusing anthra- 
chinone with potash, yields only a trace of a blue colouring 
matter, butno alizarine. He intends to return to this subject.— 
Professor Rammelsberg reported on the action of periodic acid 
onthe oxides of thallium. Protoxide of thallium treated with 
periodic acid is partly converted into the iodate, and partly into 
peroxide of thallium. Sesquioxide of thallium, on the contrary, 
combines with periodic acid.—V. Meyer has continued his re- 
searches on the synthesis of organic acids, by treating sulpho-salts 
with formiates. Sulphonaphthalate of potassium, when fused with 
formiate of sodium, produces acid sulphite of potassium and naph- 
talinecarbonate of sodium. Chlorosalylate of potassium treated in 
the same way, however, yields chloride of potassium and ben- 
zoate of sodium. 
April 25.—Messrs. Kramer and Pinner have continued their 
researches on aldehyde by submitting it to the action 
of chlorine-gas. Conducted in this way, the reaction takes 
place in a different manner from that described by Wurtz, 
who, pouring an excess of aldehyde into large vessels 
filled with chlorine, obtained chloride of acetyle and its com- 
pound with aldehyde. Neither of these substances has been 
obtained by Messrs. Kramer and Pinner. Nor is ordinary 
chloral obtained by this reaction, the aldehyde being entirely 
converted into the chloral of the condensed aldehyde, C,H,O, 
known as crotonic aldehyde. Crotonic chloral is a liquid, boiling 
at 165°, and forming with water, but not with alcohol, a crystal- 
line compound, By oxydation it forms trichlorocrotonic acid. 
Caustic potash transforms it into the corresponding chloroform 
C, H,Cl, and its derivative C, H, Cl, (bichlorinated allylene ?) 
NATURE 
boiling at 78°. —C. Martius has studied the combinations of 
chloral with alcohols. Amylic alcohol forms with it a beautifully 
crystallised compound, Mercaptans also combine with chloral. 
—F. Riidorff communicated a method of determining with great 
exactness the quantities of pure glacial contained in acetic acid 
of different degrees of concentration. 
melting-points of pure acetic acid (16°°7 C.) and its mixtures with 
water. Commercial glacial acetic acid contains often as much as 
IO per cent. of water, and then melts at 103 C., oreven 15 per 
cent., and then melts at—o” ‘2. 
| 
DIARY 
THURSDAY, May 12. 
Royat Society, at 8.30.—On the Results of the method of investiesstaa the — 
Nervous System, more especially as applied to the elucidation of the 
Functions of the Pneumogastric and Sympathetic Nerves in Man: Dr. A. © 
Waller (Croonian Lecture). 
Beery oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30,—On recent Discoveries at Rome: J. H 
arker. 
MATHEMATICAL SocieTy, at 8.—Mechanical description of a nodal bicircu- 
lar Quartic : Prof. Cayley. 
ZooLoGiIcaL Society, at 8.30.—Notes on some points in the Anatomy of 
certain Kingfishers: Dr. Cunningham.—On the taxonomic characters 
afforded by the muscular sheath of the cesophagus in Sauropsida and 
other Vertebrates: Mr. George Gulliver—Notes on tne myology of 
Platydactylus Yaponicus: Mr. Alfred Sanders.—On the Hirundinids 
of the Ethiopian region: Mr. R. B. Sharpe. 
Royat InsriruTion, at 3.—Electricity; Prof. Tyndall. 
FRIDAY, May 13. 
Roya InstITuTION, at 8.—Descent of Glaciers: Rev. Canon Moseley. 
Roya. ASTRONOMICAL SocIETY, at 8. 
Quexkett Microscopicat Society, at 8. 
SATURDAY, May 14. 
Roya InstTiTuTrI0N, at 3.—Comets: Prof. Grant. 
MONDAY, May 16. 
Lonpon INsTITUTION, at 4.—Botany: Prof. Bentley. 
TUESDAY, May 17. 
InstiTuTION oF Civic ENGINEERS, at 8.—Discussion upon Mr. Briggs 
paper on Rotary Fans.—On Recent Improvements in Regenerative Hot 
Blast Stoves for Blast Furnaces: Mr. E. A. Cowper. 
Roya InstrTuTION, at 3.—Moral Philosophy : Prof. Blackie. 
ANTHROPOLOGICAL Society, at 8.—Music considered as a Racial Character- 
istic: Mr. H. F. Chorley. 
SraTisTIcAL Society, at 8.—On the incidence of Local Taxation in the 
United Kingdom: Prof. Thorold Rogers. 
THURSDAY, May 109. 
Royvat Society, at 8.30. 
Society oF ANTIQUARIES, at 8.30. 
Roya InstiTuTIoN, at 3.—Electricity : Prof. Tyndall. 
Cuemicac Society, at 8.—On some Bromine Derivatives of Coumarine: 
W. H. Perkins, F.R.S 
BOOKS RECEIVED 
ENGLIsH.—Other Worlds than ours: R. A. Proctor (Longmans.)—A 
New Manual of Logarithms ; Dr. Bruhns (Williams and Norgate.)—Donkin’s 
Acoustics (Macmillan.)—Thorell on European Spiders, Part 1 (Williams 
and Norgate.) 
ForeiGn (through Williams and_Norgate).—Baron Von der Decken's 
Reisen in Ost-Afrika; 4'** Band, Die Voeel Ost-Afrikas —Beitrage zur 
vergleichenden Anatomie und Histologie der Ohrtrompete :_ Prof. Ridinger. 
—Die Reinigung und Erwasserung der Stadt Heidelperg: Prof. Friedreich. 
—Deutsche Vierteljahrsschrift fiir offentliche Gesundheitspflege ; 2°‘ Band, 
1t©s Heft.—Baillon’s Histoire des plantes, Papilionacées: Zeitschrift fiir 
Parasitenkunde, Vol. 1.—Untersuchungen aus dem Institute fiir Physiologie 
und Histologie in Graz: A. Rollett.—Etude préhistorique sur la Savoie: 
A. Perrin.—Die Fische Deutschlands und Schweiz: J. C. Weber.—Grundriss 
der Physiologie des Menchen; Dr, L. Hermann.—Annalen der Oenologie 
Se Mi * und 3S Heft.—Beitrage zur Anatomie und Physiologie : 
. Eckkard. 
CONTENTS Pace 
A BuILpDING For THE LEARNED SOCIETIES ...... +. + + Qt 
Fess: Oysters. By JAW. PLowgR 5) 5) pe & © = se) eee 
Qur Book SHELF . Jaye is © 2 pope ls ©) Se ces 
LETTERS TO THE EpiItor —— 
The late Captain Brome.—Prof. G. Busk, F.R.S. . . . . . + 24 
Relations of the State to Scientific Research, Il. . . . . . + + 2 
Tails of Comets.—J. J. Murpuy ,. Wi bby Sua ae teas 
Left-handedness.—Dr. A. B. MRYER . . . . . «© «1 «© « «© + 25 
Strange Noises heard at Sea—CHarLes DENNEHY . . . . « + 25 
The Newly discovered Sources of the Nile—W.D.C. . . . . . 26 
Apparent Size of the Moon.—Dr.C. M. Inctepy. . . . . « + 2 
Cross-Fertilisation, -CHRISTOPHER J. HayDEN . . . .. «+ 2 
Chamounig. . - -c est) oyu sss oo Soe 
Puysicav ScleNcE AT CAMBRIDGE. By SepLey Taytor. . . . + 28 
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS AND THE ANTARCTIC REGIONS. . « + + + 29 
ee ee History OF THE ABYSSINIAN ExpepiTion (with idlustra- 
ONS) “Gus s + oR Goes Gwe 9) ius ea 
Notes ek | MINAS ee ets) eg eee 
THE Puysrcat ConsTiITUTION OF THE SUN. By Dr.Goutp .. + 34 
BSIENTIVIC SBRIALS. © Riles a) vi bes 2 0) acs een oy 
SOCIBTIES AND ACADEMIES. «-. © 2 2 » «+ es se 8 « « * BS 
DriaRV AND BOOws RECSIVED . . s 2. 0 2 2 2 owt wl 8 8 AO 
[May 12, 1870. 
It is founded on the 
