1 68 



NA TURE 



[December 15, 1898 



of Mont Blanc, at Chamonix ami ai Mcudon, by M. 

 Hansky. — On clifierc-ntial equations of the second order 

 with fixed critical points, by M. Paul Painleve. — On 

 the singular points of a function defined by a Taylor's 

 Series, by M. Le Roy. — On the reduction of multiple integrals, 

 by M. Ch. J. de la \'allce Poussin — On a new phenomenon 

 exhibited by light in traversing certain metallic vapours in a 

 magnetic field, by MM. D. Macaluso and M. aO. Corbino. 

 A discussion of the theory advanced by M. Henri Becquerel. — 

 Remarks by M. Becquerel on the preceding paper. — ^Absorp- 

 tion in a magnetic field, by M. A. Cotton. — Comparative 

 study of the Hertzian field in air and in water, by M. Albert 

 Turpain. — The Blondel-Carpenlier hysteresimeter and its 

 application to the statical measurement of hysteresis, by M. 

 A. Blondel. The paper is accompanied by diagrams of the 

 app.iratus. Measurements made by the ballistic method were 

 in close agreement v^ith the readings of the instrument. — On 

 the transmission of sound by a wire capable of conducting 

 electricity, by M. Dussaud. — Displacement of metals by 

 hydrogen, by M. Albert Colson. Dry phosphate of silver 

 absorbs hydrogen in the dark and at 12° C. with production of 

 free silver and phosphoric acid. This change goes on more 

 rapidly when the temperature is raised. Silver pyrophosphate, 

 sulphate, and oxide behave similarly. — On the combination of 

 acetone with mercuric sulphate, by G. Deniges. The com- 

 pound formed has a very high molecular weight, and contains 

 only one-seventeenth of its weight of acetone. Hence 

 it is a suitable means of detecting and estimating small quantities 

 of acetone. — -Action of hydrocyanic acid upon epichlorhydrin, 

 by M. R. Lespieau. — On the development of the dilator muscle 

 of the pupil in the rabbit, by M. Ed. Grynfellt. — On the diges- 

 tion of starch in plants, by M. Leclerc du Sablon.— Elective 

 absorption of some mineral elements by plants, by M. E. 

 Demoussy. If nitrates and chlorides are simultaneously at the 

 disposal of a plant, nitric nitrogen is absorbed in preference to 

 chlorine. — Chlorophyll assimilation in terrestrial orchids, and 

 in particular in Limodonim ahortivitiit, by M. Ed. Griffon. 

 Terrestrial orchids, considered from the point of view of carbon 

 assimilation, are intermediate between pK-ints such as Epipaclis, 

 in which carbon is taken from the air, and colourless species 

 like Neollia and Corallorhi-.a, which are entirely saprophytic. 

 In Limodonim, in spite of its richness in chlorophyll, its respir- 

 ation of carbon dioxide is always greater than its assimilation. — 

 On the toxic powers of chromium compounds with respect to 

 the higher plants, by M. Henri Coupin.— On a new cupric 

 broth, specially designed to combat the black rot, by M. Joseph 

 I'erraud. The addition of colophane imparts to the mixture 

 great adhesive power and resistance to washing off by rain. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDA y, December 15. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.— (i) .^pfjlication of Liquid Hydrogen to the Pro- 

 duction of High Vacua, and their Spectroscopic Examination ; (2) The 

 Boiling Point of Liquid Hydrogen under Reduced Pressure : Prof. 

 Dewar, F.R.S.— Ionic Velocities : Prof. O iMasson.— Note on the 

 Densities of .\tmospheric Nitrogen, Pure Nitrogen, and .\rgon : Prof. 

 Ramsay, F. R.S. — The Preparation and some of the Properties of 

 Pure Argon : Prof. Ramsay, F.R.S., and Ur. Travers.— Observations on 

 the .\natomy, Physiology-, and Degenerations of llic Nervous System of 

 the Bird : Prof. Rubcrt Boyce and Dr. W. B. Warrinston.— The .\ction 

 of Magnetised Electrodes upon Electrical Discharge Phenomena in Rare- 

 fied Gases. Preliminary Note : C. E. S. Phillips.— On the Reciprocal 

 Innervation of Antagonistic Muscles. Fifth Note : Prof Sherrington, 

 F.R.S. 



Li.s-.NEAN Society, at 8.— Sketch of the Zoology and Bot.-iny of the Altai 

 Mountains: H.J. Elwes, F.R.S.— .\ Description of some Marine and 

 Freshwater Crustacea from Franz Josef Land, collected by W. S. Bruce, 

 of the Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition : Thos. Scott. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. 



CHE.MICAL Society, ai 8.— The Interaciion of Ethylic Sodiomalonate 



and .Mesityl Oxide : Dr. .V. W, Crossley— Derivatives of Camphoric 



Acid, Part III.: Dr. F. S. Kipping, F.R.S.— Sj-nthesis of a33 Tri- 



methylglutaric Acid : H. Perkin.jun., F.R.S., .and Dr. J. F. Thorpe. 



FRIDA 1 , Dece.mber 16. 



Institution oi» Civil Engineers, at 8.— The Kentish Town Widening, 

 Midland Railway : Walter Il..nicl. 



QuBKBTT Microscopical Clvu. ai 8. 



TUESDA y. Decemher 30. 



Institution op CiviLENciNEERs.ai 8.— Paper to be further discussed: 



The Ventilation of Tunnels and Buildings : Francis Fox. And, lime 



permitting, Paper to be read with a view 10 discussion : High-Speed 

 Engines : John Handsley Dales. 



IVBUNESDAV, Dkcemi-.er 31. 



Gkolocical Society, at 8 —On a Megalosauroid Jaw from Rhxiic Beds 

 n r.ar Bridgend, Glamorganshire : E. T. Newton, F. R.S. —The Torsion- 

 .-Mructure of the Dolomites: Dr. M. -M. Ogilvie [Mrs. Gordon]. —The 

 Oceanic Deposits of Trinidad. W.I. : Prof. J. B. Harrison and A. J. 

 Jukes- Browne. 



NO. 1520, VOL. 59] 



RovAL Meteorological Society, ai 7.3o.-The West Indian Hurri- 

 cane, September iSoS : Captain A. C^rpenler. R N — The Connection 

 between the Winter Temperature and the Height of the Barometer in 

 North-Western Europe : W. H. Dines. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 7.30. — Exhibition of Binocular 

 Microscopes. 



THURSDAY. December 22. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Telegraphy by Mag- 

 netic Induction : S. Evershed. — The Discussion on Dr. I>odgc's Paper 

 (Improvements in Magnetic Space Telegraphy, and on Mr. bvershed's 

 Paper, will be opened by Dr. Fleming and Mr. Preece, with Experimental 

 Demonstrations. 



BOOKS and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books.— Wild Life at Home: R Kearton (Cassell).— The Way the 

 World went then : I. Barclay (Stanford).— Preliminary Report of an In- 

 vestigation of Rivers, .tc., of Ohio (Cleveland, Ohio).— The Witwaters- 

 rand Goldfields Banket, and Mining Practice: S. } Truscott (Macmillan). 

 — Zoological Record, Vol. xxxiv. (Zoological Society). — Lecture Notes on 

 the Theory of Electrical Measurements : Prof. W. A. .Anthony (Chapman). 

 — Elements of .Sanitary Engineering : Pref. M. Merriman (Chapman). — 

 Manual of Determinative Mineralogy: G. J. Brush, isth edition (Chap- 

 m.in).— The Annals of Mont Blanc: C. E. M.ithews (Unwin).-Michael 

 Far.aday : Prof. S. P. Thompson (CassellV— The Life Story of the late Sir 

 Charles Tilston Bright : E. B. and C. Bright. 2 Vols. (Constable).— An 

 Experimental Course of Chemistry for Agricultural Students : T. S. Dy- 

 mond (Arnold) — .-\nnalen der Slernwarte in Leiden, Sicbenter Band 

 (Haag, Nijhoffl.- A Cotswold Village : J A. Gibbs (Murray) —Earlh 

 Sculpture: Prof. J. Geikie (Murray).— Marine Boilers: L. E. Berlin, 

 translated and edited by L. S. Robertson (Murray).— Who's Who, 1899 

 (Black).— Band of .Mercy,-Vol. xx. (Partridge).— .\nimal World, Vol. xxix. 

 (Partridge). — Annuaire, 1899 ' par le Bureau des Longitudes(Paris, Gauthier- 

 Villars).— The Purification of Sewage : Dr. S. Barwise (Lockwood).— 

 British Journal Photographic Almanac, 1809 (Greenwood).— An Atlas of 

 Bacteriology : C. Slater and E. J. Spitta (Scientific Press). — Flashlights 

 on Nature: Grant Allen (Newnes).— Knowledge, Vol. xxi. (High 

 Holborn). 



Serials. —Journal of Botany, December (West). — Geographical Journal, 

 December (Stanfor^'.).—Zeitschrift fur Wissenschaftlichc Zoologie, Ixv. Bd. 

 I Heft (Leipzig). — Catalogus Mammalium : Dr. E. L. Troucssart, no\-a 

 editio, fasc. 4 and 5 (Berlin, Friedlander). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Hindu Manners and Customs. By Dr. M. Winternitz 145 



Fossil Plants. By J. S. G 146 



Infinitesimal Calculus. By G. B. M 147 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Righi : " Die Optik der elektrischen Schwingungen." 



— J. Z 148 



Eidler : "Calculations in Hydraulic Engineering." 



— G 148 



Duncan: "Birds of the British Isles.'— R. L. . . . 148 



I'igg : Railway "Block" Signalling 14S 



Jacobs: " The Story of Geographical Discovery " . . 149 

 Hoffman: " The Sphere of Science" . . . • . . 149 

 Bell : " Chloroform : its .\bsolutely Safe Administra- 

 tion " . . . . 149 



Briggs and Bryan : "A Middle Algebra " 1 49 



Sutherland: " Primer of Geometry " 149 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Syrian !■ ishes with .-Abnormal Eyes. — -Saleem 



Makarius .... 149 



Birds and Poisonous Fruit. — E. M. Langley ; 



Howard Fox 149 



Periodic Tides. — W. H. Wheeler 150 



CristatcUa miicedo. — Henry Scherren 150 



The Invention of the Gimbal. — Kumagusu Mina- 



kata .150 



The Value of Exercise. By Dr. F. W. Tunnicliffe 150 

 The Zoological Exploration of the Great African 



Lakes 152 



University College and the University of London 153 



Notes 153 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Geininitls 157 



Comet Chase 157 



The Total Solar Eclipse of January I.T, 1S9S .... 157 



November Meteors 1 57 



Astronomical Congress at Budapest. By Prof. 



Francesco Porro 15S 



Recent Progress in Ornithology. By Dr. P. L. 



Sclater, F.R.S. . . 159 



The Economic Effects of Ship Canals 160 



Anthropology at the British Association 161 



University and Educational Intelligence 165 



Scientific Serials 166 



Societies and Academies 166 



Diary of Societies l6!S 



Books and Serials Received 16S 



