4^o 



NA TUKIi 



[March i6, 1899 



Laplace, l>y M. T^iizeica. — On (Ireen's and Cauchy's tlieorems, 

 by M. Chessin. - On a simple relation giving the molecular 

 weight of liquids as a function of their densities and their critical 

 constants, by if. Daniel Berthelot. By combining two laws 

 found experimentally by S. Young and Mathias respectively, 

 the author deduces the expression 



M = i,-4rfT,/>v(2 -'^y 



«here M is the molecular weight, d the density at any tem- 

 perature T, T,, and fc the critical temperature and pressure re- 

 spectively. This formula is applied to a considerable number of 

 substances, and a comparison of the molecular weights deter- 

 mined in this way with those obtained from the gaseous density 

 shows that in general the molecular weights in liquids and gases 

 are iilentical, water, acids, and alcohols being exceptions. The 

 deviations found are probably due to the difficulties of ascertain- 

 ing the correct critical pressures.— On tungsten bisulphide, by 

 M. Ed. Defacqz. Two methods of preparation are described, 

 the action of hydrogen sulphide upon the hexachloride, and 

 that of sulphur upon tungsten trioxide at a high temperature. 

 The physical and chemical properties are given. — Action of 

 formaldehyde upon menthol and borneol, by M. Andre Brochet. 

 — Estimation of copper .and mercury in grapes, wines, lees, and 

 grape skins, by MM. Leo \'ignon and Barrillot. As a con- 

 sequence of the application of salts of various metals for the 

 destruction of parasitic diseases of the vine, it is necessary to 

 examine the fruit products for traces of these metals. 

 .Suitable methods for estimating these minimal quantities 

 .are described, and satisfactory test analyses given.— 

 Contribution to the study of the forms and conditions under 

 which the chlorine of the .soil usually enters into vegetables, by 

 .M. P. Pichatd.— On the fermentation of galactose, by M. 

 Dienert. — On some peculiar deformations of the blood corpuscles 

 of fishes, by MM. J. Kunstler and A. Gruvel. — On the casting 

 of the skin in insects, considered as a means of defence against 

 animal and vegetable parasites. Special functions of the casting 

 of the trachea and intestine, by M. Kiinckel d'Herculais. — 

 Researches on the defensive glands of the Carabides, by M. Fr. 

 Dierckx. — On some new Madagascan fossils, by M. Marcellin 

 Boule. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, March i6. 



Ki.vAL Society, ai 4.30 —The Croonian Leciiire: On the Relation of 

 Motion in Animals and Plants to ihe Electrical Phenomena which arc 

 associated with it : Prof. J. Burdon Sanderson, F.R.S.— E.vperimen(s in 

 .Micro-meL-illurgy: EITccts of Strain: Prof. Ewing, F.R.S., and W. 

 Rosenhain. 



LiNNEAH Society, at 8.— A Further Contiibution to the Freshwater 

 Alga: of the West Indies : W. West and G. S. West.— On So-called 

 "yuintocubitalism" in the WinR of Birds: P. ChalmersMilchcll.— 

 Some F.icts concerning the so-called " Aquintocubilalism" in the Bird's 

 Wing : W. P. Pycraft. 



Chemical Society, at 8. — Influence of Substilution on Specific Rotation 



m the Bornylamine Scries : Dr. .M. O. Forster— Rotatory Power of 



Optically Active Methoxy- and Elhoxy propionic Acids prepared from 



Active Lactic Acid : Prof. Thomas Purdie, F.K.S., and jamesC. Irvine. 



FRIDAY, March 17. 



KovAL Institution, at 9.— The Electric Fish of the Nile: Prof. F. 

 Gotch, F.R.S. 



Epidemiological Society, at 8. 30.— B.ickw.iler or Ha;inoglobinuric 

 Fever : Dr. W. H. Crosse. 



QuEKETT Microscopical Club, at 8. 



SATURDAY, March 18. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— .Mechanical Properties of Bodies: Lord 

 Riyleigh, F.R.S. , 



MONDA V, March 20. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.3o.-Marks of Mind in Nature : Prof. Duns. 

 TUESDAY. March 21. 



Royal Institution, at 3. -The Morphology of the MoUusca : Prof. E. 

 Ray Lankester, F.R S. 



Society ok Arts, at 4.30.— The Commercial Development of Germany : 

 C. Rozenraad. 



ZuoLooiCAL Society, at 8.30.— Contributions to the Osteology of Birds. 

 Part III. Tubinares : W. P. Pycraft— On the Marine Copepoda of New 

 Z.r.iland: G. Stcwardson Br.idy.- On the Breeding of the Weka Rail 

 ;iiid Snow-Goose in Captivity : F. E. Blaauw. 



Institution or Civil Engi neebs. at 8.— Papers to be further discussed : 

 Water-Tube Boilers for Marine Engines: J. T. Milton.-Recenl Trials 

 of the M.ichlnery of W.irShips : Sir. John Durslon, K.C.B., and 



H.J Oram, R.N. P.-iper to be re.id, time permitting : Alloys of Iron 



and Nickel : Robert Abbott Hadfield. s > ™ 



KovAi. Statistical Society, at 5.— Ciujes of Clianges in Pauperism in 



Kngland, chiefly during the last Two Intercensal Decades; G. Udny 



'*"ij*i';i'^"°'^"°''*''""= Society, at 8.— Automatic Adjustment of the 

 lialt-lone .Screen : W. Gambli 



WBDNESnAY, March 11. 

 Society of Arts, at 8. — Electric Traction : Philip Dawson. 

 Geolooical Society, at 8.— Relations of the Chalk and Drift in MOen 

 and Riigcn : Prof. T. G. Bonney, F.R.S., and Rev. Edwin Hill.— A 

 Critical Junction in the County 01 Tyrone : Prof. Grenville A. J. Cole. 

 THURSDAy, March 23 

 Society of .Arts, at 8 —London Water Supply : \V.iltcr Hunter. 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, ai 8. — The Hissing of the 

 Efc:clric .\rc : Mrs. Ayrton. (Illustrated by Experiments.) 

 FRIDA Y, March 24. 

 Royal Institution, at 9.— Transparency and Opacity : Lord Raylcigh, 



F.R.S. 

 Physical Society, at 5. — On the Criterion for ihe O.scillaiory Discharge 

 of a Condenser: Dr. Barton and Prof. Morton. — The Minor Variations ' 

 of the Clark Cell : A. P. Trotter. 



SA TURDA Y, March 25. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — The Mechanical Properties of Matter : Lord 

 Rayleigh, F.R.S. 



BOOKS, PAMPHLET, and SERIALS RECEIVED 



Books. — The Principles of Bacteriology' : Dr. F. Hoeppe, translated by 

 Dr. E. O. Jordan (Paul).— Electricity in Town and Country Houses : P. 

 E. Scrullon(Con-.table).— Lectures on the Evolution of Plants: Dr. D. 

 H. Campbell (Macmillan).— Measurement and Weighing: E. Edser 

 (Chapman).— Les Plantes Utiles du SfaiSgal : K. P. A. Sebire (Paris, 

 Bailliire).— Naturalists Directory, 1899 (U. Gill).— Iron-making in Ala- 

 bama : Dr W. B. Phillips, 2nd edition (Montgomery, Ala).- The Re- 

 sources of the Sea: Prof. W. C. Mcintosh (Clay).— Experimental 

 Morphology : Dr. C. B. Davenport, tart 2 (M.icmillan).- .\ History of 

 Physics : Prof. F. Cajori (Macmillan).— Unites Electriqnes Absolues : G. 

 Lippmann (Paris, Carre). — Th6orie du Potentiel Newtonian; N. Poincari? 

 (Paris, Carre).— Observations taken at Dumraon, Behar, India, during 

 the Eclipse of January 22, 1898: Rev. V. de C. Campigneulles (Long- 

 mans).— LoupGaiou ! : E. Phillpotts (Sands).— Bergens .Museums .\arbog 

 for 1898 (Bergen).— Universal Electrical Directory, 1899 (.\labaster). — 

 Handbook of Physiology : Prof. W. D. Halliburton, 15th edition (Murray). 

 —The Wild Fowl of the United States, &c. : D. C. Elliot (Suckling).- 

 The Internal Wiring of Buildings: H. M. Leaf (Constable).- .An Intro- 

 duction to Stellar .Astronomy : W. H. S. Monck (Hutchinson).— Twenty- 

 four Test-Papers in Practical Plane and Solid Geometry (Science Subject 

 i), Elementary Stage : G. Grace (Macmillan). 



Pamphlet. -The Geology of the Borders of the Wash : W. Whilaker 

 and J. Jukes-Browne (London). 



.Serials. — Observatory, March (Taylor). — Astrophysical Journal, Feb- 

 ruary (Chicago).— Geographical Journal, March (Stanford).— Zeitschrift 

 fur Physik.-ilische Chemie, xxviii. Band, 2 Heft (Leipzig).— Schriften der 

 Naturforschcnden Gesellschaft in Danzig, Neunter Band, Drittes und 

 Viertes Heft (Danzig).— Mines and Quarries : General Report and Sta- 

 tistics for 1897, Part 4 (London).— Bulletin of the American Mathematical 

 Society, February (New York).— National Geographic Magazine, Feb- 

 ruary (Washington). — (Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, 

 Februar}' (Churchill).— Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, 

 February (Spon). — .Middlesex Hospital Journal, February (London). — 



Engineering Magazine, March (222 Strand). Atlantic Monthly, March 



Gav). 



NO. 1533, VOL. 59] 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Frilled Fringe of the South Coast 457 



Physical Chemistry. By J. W 458 



The Cultivation of Berries 459 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Jaubert : " L'Industrie du Goudron de Ilouille " . . 460 

 Uannemann : " Grundriss einer Gesichte der Natur- 



wissenschaften " 460 



Woollcombe : " Practical Work in Physics " .... 460 



" Ostwald's Klassikcr derexakten Wissenschaften " . 460 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



On the Colour of Sea Water. — Prof. Richard 



Threlfall . . 461 



Another Stockton Dragon. {Illuslrated.)—'^/ . T. . 461 

 Chemistsj-,inil Chemical Industries. — R.J. Friswell ; 



William A. Davis 461 



Sunspots :ind Weather. (IVith Dia^ams.)— Alex. 



B. MacDowall 462 



The Chemistry of the Stars in Relation to 

 Temperature. (llluslraled.) By Sir Norman 



Lockyer, K.CB., F.R.S 463 



The Instincts of Wasps as a Problem in Evolu- 

 tion. (UluitralcJ.) Hy E. B. P 466 



Sir John Struthers, M.D., LL.D 468 



Notes 469 



Our Astronomical (Column : — 



Comet 1S99 <i (.Swift) 473 



Tullle's Comet 1896 * 473 



New Star in .\quila 473 



Photography of Corona 473 



Harvard College Observatory 473 



Forthcoming Books of Science 474 



University and Educational Intelligence .... 475 



Societies and Academies 476 



Diary of Societies 480 



Books, Pamphlet, and Serials Received 4S0 



