484 
ture does not affect the dielectric constant by more 
than 10 per cent. is shown to be erroneous. In the 
absence of more accurate data for ordinary tempera- 
tures, the author prefers to assume a value for the 
dielectric constant of water vapour obtained by extra- 
polating the results secured by Baedeker for higher 
temperatures. It is shown that the lowest layers of 
the atmosphere refract electromagnetic waves towards 
the earth, so that the greater part of the space waves 
will reach the receiver, contrary to the conclusion of 
Kiebitz. 
Challenger Society, January 31.—Dr. S. F. Harmer 
in the chair.—G. H. Fowler : (i) The currents of the 
United States Atlantic coast, illustrated by the drift 
of the Nantucket Shoals buoy, 1915-16. The buoy 
was at large for twenty months; it drifted down the 
Labrador current to off Cape Hatteras, was drawn into 
the Gulf Stream, went east, and was thrown out 
southward; this occurred three times, the buoy being 
returned to the Gulf Stream twice by the Bahama 
branch of the N. Atlantic Drift and once by towage. 
(ii) A graphic method of finding the density of sea-water 
hs the salinity and temperature based on Knudsen ’s 
tables. 
BOOKS RECEIVED. 
Mathematical Papers for Admission into the Royal 
Military Academy and the Royal Military College, 
September—November, 1916. By R. M. Milne. Pp. a2 
(London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) 1s. net, 
A Bibliography of British Ornithology. By W. H. 
Mullens and H. Kirke Swann. Part v. (London : 
Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) 6s. net. 
High-speed Internal Combustion Engines. By 
A. W. Judge. Pp. ix+350. (London: Whittaker and 
Co.) 15s. net. 
A Practical Manual 
Acetylene). By 
Translated by 
Pp. xxv+244. 
5S. net. 
The Study of Animal Life. 
son. Revised edition. Pp. 
Murray.) 6s. net. 
Plants, Seeds, and Currents in the West Indies and 
Azores. By H. B. Guppy. Pp. Xi+531+3 maps. 
(London: Williams and Norgate.) 25s. net. 
A Text-book of Thermochemistry and Thermo- 
dynamics. By Prof. O. Sackur. Translated and re- 
vised by Dr. G. E. Gibson. Pp. xvi+439. (London: 
Macmillan and Co., Ltd.) 12s. net. 
SS Se a ee eee 
DIARY OF SOCIETIES, 
THURSDAY, Fenrvary 15. 
Royat Society, at 4.30.—Structure and Development of the Tubular 
Enamel of tue Sparidz and Labride: Dr. J. H. Mummery.—And other 
papers. 
Roya Institution, at 3-—The Mechanism of Chemical Change: Prof, 
F. G. Donnan. 
Society or Grass Tecuno.ocy, ‘at the University, Western Bank, 
Sheffield, at 4.30.—The Annealing of Glass: F. Twvman. 
Royat Society oF ARTS. at 4-30.—The Indian Silk Industry: Prof. H. 
Maxwell-Lefroy. 
IxsTITUTION OF MINING AND MEVALLURGY, at 5.20.—The Wet Assay 
of Tin Concentrate: H. W. Hutchin.—Hydrautic Tin M ning in Swazi- 
: J. Jervis Garrard. 
N SOCIETY, at 5.—The Home-life of the Sparrow-hawk: J. H. 
Owen. 
FRIDAY, Feervary 16. 
of Autogenous Welding (Oxy- 
R. Granjon and P. Rosemberg. 
D. Richardson. Fourth edition. 
(London: C. Griffin and Co., Ltd.) 
By Prof. J. A. Thom- 
xi+477. (London: J. 
> — ‘ . . . ® 
Rovat Ins TITUTION, at s5.30.—Authors’ Dedications in the Seventeenth 
Century: The Dean of Durham. 
INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, at 6.—Annual General 
Meeting.—Alternating Stress Experiments : Dr. W. Mason. 
GEOLOGICAL SociE TY, at 3.—Annual General Meeting. 
z. , SATURDAY, Fesruary 17. 
OVAL INSTITUTION, at 3.—The Mystery of Counterpoint: Dr. H, 
Walford Davies. “ 
MONDAY, Feorvary 19. 
Roya Sociery or ARTS, at 4.30.—The History and Practice of Town 
Planning and Civic Architecture. Le cture iv, : 
NO. 2468, vot. 98] 
NATURE 
Prof. A. Beresford Pite, 
[FEBRUARY 15, 1917 
/ 
Rovat GerocrarHicat Society, at 5:30—The Baghdad Railway and 
its Tributaries : H. Charles Woods. 4 
ARISTOTELIAN Society, at 8.—The Nature of Knowledge as conceived by 
Malebranche: Morris Ginsberg. ; 
Vicrorta Instrrure, at 4.30.—Fiom World Dominion to Subjection; the 
Story of the Fall of Babylon: Dr. T. G. Pinches. = 
TUESDAY, Fesrvary 20, 
Roya Institution, at 
Sherrington. G : 
Zoo.ocicat Sociery, at 5.30.—(1) Notes from the Caird Insect House, with 
Exhibition of Specimens and Lantern-slides : (2) The Coleoptera of the 
Family Cissidz found in Britain, with Descriptions of Two New ies. 
A New Species of the Coleopteran Genus Cryptorrhynchus, Illiger: 
C. J. C. Pool.—Heude’s Collection of Pigs, Sika, Serows, and 
in the Sikawei Museum, Shanghai: A. de C. Sowerby.—The Lizards of 
the Genus Philochortus, Matschie: G. A. Boulenger. 
Roya STaTIsTICAL Sociery, at 5.15. 
ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING Socirty, at 5.—The Effect on the Eye of r 
Varying Degrees of Brightness and Contrast : Dr. James Kerr. 
Iystirurion oF PeTRoLEUM TECHNOLOGISTS, at 8.—Liquid Fuel andits 
Combustion : Prof. J. S. S. Brame, 
WEDNESDAY, Feprvary 2t. 
Rovat MicroscoricaL Society, at 8.—Parasitology of Pyorrhoea : Dr. 
A. H. Drew and Dr. Una Griffin. yy 
Roya. Society or Arts, at 4.30.—The Training of Educated Women for 
Secretarial and Commercial Work, and their Permanent Employment : 
Mrs. C. Hoster. 
Royat Mereorotocicat Society, at 5.—The Heat Balance of the 
Atmosphere ; W. H. Dines.—Continentality and Temperature : C. E. P, 
Brooks. 
THURSDAY, Fesrvary 22, 7 
Rovat Society, at _4.30.—Prvbable Papers: The Fossil Human Skul! 
found at Talgai, Queensland: S. A. Smith.—The Magnetic Storm of 
August 22, 1916: Dr. C. Chree.—The Ordinary Convergence of 
Restricted Fourier Series: Prof. W. H. Young. ce 
Roya InstiTuTIon, at 3.—Memorial Art in History: Prof. E. S. Prior 
Roya GroGrapuicat Society, at 5.—The Origin and Growth of the 
Dry Lakes in Western Australia : J.T. Jutson. 
FRIDAY, Frervary 23. b mld 
Roya Instrrution, at 5-30.—Some Guarantees of Liberty: H. Wickham 
Steed. : F 
SATURDAY, ¥esruary 24. 
Rovat Institution, at 3.—The Pronunciation of Languages in General: 
Daniel Jones. : 
, 
CONTENTS. . PAGE 
Aeronautical Theories. By Prof, G. H. Bryan, _ 
Milk and the Public Health . PE 
Our Bookshelf.) 250. 2 a ee 468 
Letters to the Editor:— 
Frederick Soddy,,F: RS... -)oyp cee 
The Bursting of Bubbles.—A. A, Campbell Swinton, 
-R.S.; Evelyn Beale — 1 > 303 469 
A Plea for a Scientific Quadruple Entente.—Prof, A. 
Mee ete ee epee Sy 469 
Science in Education.—Rev. Canon James M. 
Wilson ; The Writer of the Article , . ns aes 
“Frost Thistles.”—Ji ‘H.. Coste...) eee 470 
The Nation’s Food. ; + le ss 9 Je Ue rr 
The New Canadian Observatory at Victoria, B.C. 
(ilustrated.) By Prof.C, A. Chant . . «oleh, inept ae 
Notes SEC A ghee peck eee 8” ao tah 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
A Great Sun-spot . roast ene + 2. «ee 
Parallaxes of Procyon and Altair. ....... - 479 
Densities of Visual Binary Stars .... . «te ene 
Experiments on Ascaris Infection in Hong Kong. 
By W.C.M, . elk oe 
Sex-limited Factors in Heredity, ByG. H.C... 479 
Recent Work in Palzontology. By G. A, J.C) 2 eee 
University and Educational Intelligence 
Societies and Academies... ......... : . 482 
Books Received wl S 0 eS. ee a 
Diary of Societies jsiielee siete Wee 
Editorial and Publishing Offices: 
MACMILLAN & CO., Ltp., 
ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON, W.C. 
Advertisements and business letters to be addressed to the 
Publishers. 
Editorial Communications to the Editor. 
Telegraphic Address: Puusis, Lonpon. 
Telephone Number: GERRARD 8830. 
3-—Pain and its Nervous Basis: Prof, C. S, : 
‘ 
a 
