328 



NATURE 



[February 2, 1899 



volume. The journal is conducted and published by Dr. L. A. 

 Bauer and Mr. Thomas French, jun., with the assistance of a 

 number of distinguished physicists in various parts of the 

 world. Every issue of the periodical hereafter is to contain at 

 least eight pages af abstracts and reviews, and in every number 

 a half-tone portrait of an eminent magnetician will appear. 



A NfMBKR of valuable physical papers have been recently 

 published in English in the Comiiniiiications from the Physical 

 Laboratory of the University of Leiden. In the parts now 

 before us. Dr. H. Kamerlingh Onnes describes a hydrogen 

 thermometer for the measurement of low temperatures, and a 

 standard open-tube manometer for high pressures, consisting of 

 sixteen partial manometers connected together in series. Mr. 

 Ch. M. A. Hartman gives the results of observations on the 

 composition and volume of the coexisting vapour and Ii<|uid 

 phases of mixtures of methyl-chloride and carbonic acid, and 

 arrives at the result that at the chosen temperature of 95^ the 

 vapour pressure of the liquid phase of the mixture may be ex- 

 pressed in terms of those of its components, with near approx- 

 imation, by the formula^ =/i(' -■>) + t-i^' "" another part. 

 Dr. E. van Evcrdingen, jun., discusses the galvano-niagnetic 

 and thermo-magnetic phenomena in bismuth, and criticises 

 Riecke's theory. 



Prof. E. Vii.i.aki writes in the Atti del Liiuci, vii. 10, on 

 the way in which tubes diminish the electro-dispersive power of 

 Riintgen rays. The experiments all point to the conclusion that 

 the discharge of an electroscope by the action of these rays is due 

 to the air acted on by them. An electroscope placed in the umbra 

 of the rays is discharged by the Ri mtgenised air which passes into 

 the umbra by diffusion. If between the Crookes' tube and the 

 electroscope there be interposed a tube of glass or zinc, which 

 cuts off the lateral divergent rays, the discharge is greatly re- 

 tarded, and the same is the case when the ball of the electroscope 

 is enclosed in a tube turned towards the source of the rays, as 

 this prevents the lateral air from reaching the electroscope- 

 When the electroscope is covered by a tube of zinc, so that 

 charges of opposite signs are developed by electrostatic induction 

 on the inside and outside of the lube, the action of Rontgen rays 

 is in the first place to discharge the outside of the lube, and the 

 electroscope falls several degrees ; subseijuently the electroscope 

 itself is slowly discharged by the Ronlgenised air inside the tube. 

 An exactly analogous effect takes place with a lube of paraffin. 

 Under the action of Rontgen rays, or of a flame, the tube 

 becomes oppositely charged to the electroscope, and the latter 

 is afterwards slowly discharged by the Riintgenised air inside 

 the tube. If there be no air between the tube and the electro- 

 scope, the initial discharge alone takes place. The present ex- 

 periments thus afford an explanation of the phenomena observed 

 with tubes and blocks of paraffin, which were described by Lord 

 Kelvin, but left uninterpreted, some time since, in the columns 

 of Nature. 



We have -.received a copy of the " Hibliography and Index 

 of North American Geology, I'aleontology, Petrology, and 

 Mineralogy for the year 1S96,'' by V. B. Weeks, published as 

 Btilletiii'So. 149, of the United States Geological Survey. This 

 contains reference to 7SS papers, books, maps, &c., with a most 

 excellent classified index. It records works on the geology of 

 the United States, Canada and Mexico, whether published in 

 North America or elsewhere. 



The Cretaceous Koraminifcra of New Jersey are described by 

 Mr. R. M. Bagg, jun., in HiilUtiii No. 8S of the United Slates 

 (jeological Survey, 1898. Some of the prominent species, in- 

 cluding also several new forms, are illustrated in six plates. 

 The l-'oraminifera were collected from the Grecnsand series of 

 the Upi)cr Cretaceous, and Mr. Bagg remarks ihat he has fre- 

 NO. 1527, VOL. 59] 



quently found the tiny shells filled with glauconite : in other 

 cases the grains of glauconite are internal casts of Cristellaria.-, 

 &c. Many of these forms are partially filled with a light brown 

 clay, suggesting the early stage in the formation of the glauconite 

 grain. Mr. Bagg pays a deserved compliment to Mr. C. D. 

 .Sherborn, 4vhose " Bibliography of Foraminifera," and " Index 

 to the Genera and Species of Foraminifera,' have, by their 

 completeness and accuracy, lightened the labours of all workers 

 on the subject. 



We have received a copy of the second edition of Mr. Y. X. 

 Williams's " Provisional and Tentative List of the Orders and 

 Families of British Flowering Plants." 



Prof. R. v. Wettstein reprints, from the Transactions ..1 

 the German Association for Natural Science and Medicine of 

 Bohemia, an interesting paper on the various modes of pro- 

 tection of the flowers of geophilous plants— that is, those whose 

 flowers are more or less completely formed beneath the surface 

 of the soil, a class which includes all our very early spring- 

 flowering herbaceous plants. 



M:;. T. F. Mutt sends us two papers on the origin of or- 

 ganic colour, in which he thus sums up his conclusions ; — 

 That Ihe gradual development of organic colour is a physio- 

 logical necessity ; that brilliant coloration is a mark of the 

 maturity of some organic force-wave, in which the molecular 

 rhythm has reached its maximum simplification : and that the 

 effect of insect selection in the development of coloured flowers 

 is comparatively small. 



In a paper in the number of the Jiiohi^isJies Cc»tralM<itl for 

 January I, 1S99, Prof. J. Wiesner reviews the state of our know- 

 ledge respecting the adaptation of leaves to the intensity i>f 

 light. He classifies leaves under two heads in this respect — 

 " photometric," or those which assume special positions in 

 order to receive as much light as possible, or to avoid too 

 strong a light: and " aphotomelric," those which have no 

 such faculty. The former, again, may be either '' euphoto- 

 metric," when they place themselves in a position to receive 

 the maximum of diffused light ; or " panphotometric," when 

 they are adapted to receive both direct and diffused sunlight, 

 but are protected against an excess of the former. 



Messrs. Di'Lau and Co. have issued a catalogue of books 

 and papers on general geology which they have for sale. , 



With reference to Ihe appeal for additional work on telegony, 

 referred to last week (p. 301), Mr. Gr. B. Bulman asks us to say 

 that communications should be addressed to him at Cullercoats, 

 Whitley, R.S.O., Northumberland. 



An illustrated catalogue of physical apparatus, including 

 drawing, surveying, and engineering instruments, balances and 

 weights, and apparatus required in classes under the Depart- 

 ment of Science and .\rl, has been received from Mr. T. M. F. 

 Tamblyn-Watl.s. 



The following lectures have been arranged lo take place at 

 the Royal \"ictoria Hall, Waterloo Bridge Road, on Tuesdays 

 during February : — February 7, '' About some Worms,'' Prof. 

 Weldon, F.R.S. : February 14, "Some l-'acts about Liquids," 

 Prof. Holland Crompton ; February 21, " India," Mr. R. M. 

 Beachcroft ; February 28, "Volcanoes," Prof. II, G. Seeley, 

 F.R.S. 



The osleometric index calculator, referreil lo liy Mr. David 

 Waterston in Natike of October 20, 1S9S (vol. Iviii. p. 597), 

 is described and illustrated in the foiirnal of .hialoiiiy and 

 Physiology. The instrument provides a ready means of finding 



