DECEMBER 7, 1916| 
NATURE 
283 
paper, and the results are analysed further in two | 
particular cases, corresponding to long waves and to 
short waves. The formule deduced here for the case 
of short waves have been tested numerically for. the 
values given by ka=9 and 10o—that is, for wave-lengths 
one-ninth and one-tenth of the perimeter of the sphere. 
—J. Proudman, A. T. Doodson, and G. Kennedy: 
Numerical results of the theory of the diffraction of a 
plane electromagnetic wave by a perfectly conducting 
sphere. This paper is entirely concerned with the 
computation, from quoted formule, of the electric dis- 
turbance at a great distance from the sphere. The 
length of the incident wave being 27/«x, and the radius 
of the sphere being a, results are obtained for 
ka=1,2,9,10. Tables and curves are given of the 
results and also of the principal stages of the work. 
The methods of carrying out the computations, the 
means of securing accuracy and detecting errors, and 
an analysis of the results are also given. 
Linnean Society, November 16.—Sir David Prain, 
president, in the chair.—A, W. Waters; Some collec- 
tions of the littoral marine fauna of the Cape Verde 
Islands made by Cyril Crossland in the summer of 
1904—Bryozoa. The collection made by. Mr. Cyril 
Crossland consists of forty-five species or varieties, 
of which twenty-five were,already known from the 
Atlantic, fifteen are British, twenty-four Mediter- 
ranean, probably seventeen Australasian. Of the 
forms in this collection seven are considered either 
new species or new varieties. 
Zoological Society, November 21.—Dr. S. F. Harmer, 
vice-president, in the chair.—Dr. Bb, Petronievics and 
Dr. A. Smith Woodward: New parts of the pectoral 
and pelvic arches lately discovered in the London speci- 
men of Archezopteryx. The coracoid bone most closely 
resembles that of the ratite birds and the Cretaceous 
Hesperornis. The pubic bones are twice as long as 
the ischia and meet distally in an extended symphysis, 
gradually tapering to a, point, which seems to have 
been tipped by a mass of imperfectly ossified cartilage. 
—B. I. Cummings: Studies on the Anoplura and 
Mallophaga, being a report upon a collection from the 
mammals and birds in -the  society’s gardens— 
Part II. This paper continues the account of the 
Mallophaga, and contains descriptions of five new 
genera and two new species. Some observations are 
made upon the spermatophores in a genus parasitising 
the ibises, and emphasis is laid on the frequently 
remarkable differences found in the structure of the 
internal organs, especially those of the male repro- 
ductive system,—Lieut.-Col. J. M. Fawcett: A collec- 
tion of Heterocera made by Mr. W. Feather in British 
East Africa. Of the 124 forms dealt with, forty-five are 
described as new, together with seven new genera. 
Geological Society, November 22,—Dr. Alfred Harker, 
president, in the chair.—C, Reid and J. Groves: 
Characee from the Lower Headon Beds. The inves- 
tigations here recorded have been made*at Hordle 
Cliffs (Hampshire), where the strata below the super- 
ficial gravel belong entirely to the Lower Headon 
Beds, and consist of fresh-water and brackish-water 
(more or less calcareous) deposits, laid down apparently 
in wide shallow lakes and lagoons. Such habitats are 
the most favourable to the growth of Characez, and 
several of the beds have yielded numerous remains of 
these plants. 
of Chara found, representing evidently a number of 
species belonging to several ‘different sections or 
genera. Characez are found in still fresh or brackish 
water all over the world under widely different condi- 
tions as regards heat, ete., and may therefore be | 
expected to occur in almost all fresh-water formations. 
For these reasons it is suggested that the fruits of this 
NO. 2458, vor. 98] 
There is a great diversity in the fruits | 
group of plants, when more widely collected, may~ 
prove of considerable: value as zonal fossils for the 
correlation of - lacustrine deposits lying in isolated 
basins. Doubtless, on account of their small size, the 
Characez have in the past often been overlooked. 
: ~ MANCHESTER. 
Literary and Philosophical Society, November 14.—Mr. 
T. A. Coward (vice-president) in the chair.—Dr. J. S. 
Thomson ; The Gorgonacea of the Cape of Good Hope. 
The paper contains descriptions of twenty-nine species . 
of Gorgonacea, of which twelve are new. The new 
species are as follows :—Family Briareidae, Anthotheta. 
parviflora, sp.n.; family Melitodida, Melitodes fauri, 
sp-n., Melitodes grandis, sp.n., Mopsella singularis, 
sp.n., Wrightella trilineata, sp.n., Wrightella fragilis, 
sp.n., Wrightella furcata, sp.n.; family Primnoide, 
Stachyodes capensis, sp.n.; family Gorgoniida, Lepto- 
gorgia africana, sp.n., Leptogorgia aurata, sp.n., Lu- 
gorgia lineata, sp.n., Stenogorgia ‘capensis, sp.n.— 
Prof, F. E, Weiss: The manufacture of manure from 
peat. In 1815 a Scottish landowner described a’ 
method which consisted of spreading alternate layers, 
about 6 in, deep, of peat and fairly fresh dung, until 
a heap of about 4 or 5 ft. was constructed, which was 
then left for some months, The peat was trans- 
formed into a perfect compost as effective, weight for 
weight, as farmyard manure. Peat and seaweed have 
been similarly combined, and it was found unneces- 
sary to add lime in the preparation of this manure, 
the acidity of the peat becoming neutralised by the 
ammonia contained in the dung, while decay-producing 
bacteria may percolate into the peat, in addition to 
those normally contained in it, but the activity of 
which is inhibited by the presence of humic acid. 
Dachowski’s experiments with bog-water were dealt 
with. The method of preparation of ‘“bacterised 
peat”? (humogen) was also explained, and various 
experiments made to test the value of this manure 
were discussed.—J. Barnes: Sugar and starch in the 
banana (Musa paradisiaea). 
New Sourn WaALEs, 
Linnean Society, September 27.—Mr. A. G. Hamilton, 
president, in the chair.—E. F. Hallmann; Revision of 
the genera with Microscleres included, or provisionally 
included, in the family Axinellidae (Porifera); with 
descriptions of some Australian species. Part 11.—The 
Australian species hitherto comprised in the genus 
Axinella have been re-examined, and have been found 
to belong to four distinct genera, Allantophora, Sig- 
maxinella (s.str.), and two others proposed as new. 
Reasons for the inclusion of the genera Tylodesma and 
Biemna in the family Axinellida are adduced.—T. 
Whitelegge : Preliminary note on the gametophyte of 
Psilotum triquetrum, Swartz. Spores were success- 
fully grown on the rhizomes of Davallia pyxidata, 
but better results were obtained from spores germinated 
in ‘the synangia.—F. H. Taylor: Contributions to a 
knowledge of Australian Culicids (Diptera). No. IIT. 
—Five species are described as new, and notes on 
synonymy and additional records for known species are 
given.—Dr. V. H, Brotherus: Some new species of 
Australian mosses. Thirty-seven species are described 
as new.—T. G. Sloane; New species of Australian 
Carabidz belonging to the tribe Scaritini (Coleoptera). 
Twenty-three species and one genus are proposed as 
new; these include some interesting forms from’ the 
Murchison district of West Australia, 
CaLcurTra, 
Asiatic Society of Bengal, November 1.—Sir G. 
Grierson: Ormuri or Bargista Janguage; an account 
of -a little-known Iranian dialect. . The Ormurs or 
Baraki are a tribe living in Afghanistan in the midst 
of Afghans, but do not speak the, Pastu language. 
