552 



NA rURE 



[April 6, 1899 



large equatorial of the Observatory of Bordeaux, by MM. G. 

 Rayet and F. Courty. — f)bservalions of the sun, made at the 

 Observatory of Lyons, during the last quarter of 1898, by M. J. 

 Guillaumu. The results are formulated in three tables giving 

 the number and area of sun-spots, their distribution in latitude, 

 and the distribution of the faculv in latitude. — On functions 

 defined by a Taylor's series, by M. L. Leau. — On some 

 arithmetical properties of analytical functions, by M. 

 Paul Staeckel. — On the existence of fundamental functions, by 

 M. W. Stekloff. — On functions of several variables, by >L H. 

 Lebesgue. — On the magnetic elements in Roumania on January 

 I, 1895. — A question of priority concerning the equation 

 k-il(k + 2)d = constant, between the dielectric constant and 

 the density, by M. D. Negreano. This relation was given 

 theoretically by H. A. Lorentz in 1880, and proved experi- 

 mentally by the author in 1887 to be true for several hydro- 

 carbons. The Mosotti-Clausius formula, g — k - ijk + 2, 

 where g is the distance between the molecules, is not identical 

 with the above, as the density does not appear. — On the 

 Wehnelt commutator, by M. H. I'ellat. — On a new apparatus 

 designed to .show the space relation of radiographs, and to 

 search for foreign bodies, by M. A. Londe. — Transformation of the 

 Galilean telescope into a range-finding instrument, by M. G. 

 Humbert. — On the mixture of gases and the compressibility of 

 gaseous mixtures, by MM. Daniel Uerthelotand Paul Sacerdote. 

 Experiments were carried out on mixtures of carbon dioxide and 

 -sulphur dioxide, air, and a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. — 

 On the decomposition of carbonic oxide in presence of metallic 

 ■ oxides, by M. O. Boudouard. The oxides of iron, nickel and 



• cobalt were studied, at a temperature of 650°, the softening 



• point of the glass tubes used, and the composition of the gaseous 

 mixture determined as a function of time of contact with the 

 oxide. — On the decomposition of carbon dioxide in presence of 

 carbon, by M. O. Boudouard. A similar set to experiments to 

 those described in the preceding paper, but with charcoal taking 

 the place of the metallic oxides. — On the dissociation of mercuric 

 oxide, by.M. H. Pclabon. — Action of the bis-diazoic chlorides of 

 benzidine, of ortho-toluidine. and ofdianisidine upon the malonates 

 of ethyl and methyl, by M G. Favr.-l. — Detection of mercury in the 

 produce of vines treated with mercurial broths, by MM. Leo 

 Vignon and J. Pcrraud. The amounts of mercury found are so 

 small that, in the author's opinion, the utilisation of mercuric 

 chloride for the treatment of diseases of the vine is subject to no 

 serious objections from the hygienic point of view ; but the 

 action on the plant itself is so serious, that for this reason alone 

 corrosive sublimate should not be used in combating diseases of 

 the vine. — Remarks by ^L Berthelot on the preceding paper. — 

 Toxic alliumen extracted from the flesh of the eel, by M.sKlophe 

 Bc-nech. — Morbid predispositions of the puerperal period, by 

 M. A. Charrin. — Action of the pancreas upon the diphtheric 

 toxin, by M.NL Charrin and Levaditi. The pancreas exerts an 

 attenuating action upon bacterial toxins. — Death from con- 

 tinuous electrical currents, by MM. J. L. Prevost and F. 

 Battelli. — Researches on the sensitive nerve terminations in 

 voluntary striated muscle, by M. D. Poloumordwinoff. — Rot- 

 rylis (iiierea and the disease of la loile, by M.'.Beauverie. — On a 

 lachylite from the bottom of the N. Atlantic, by M. P. Termier. 

 — On the captive balloon ascents of .March 24, by M. Leon 

 Teisserenc de Bort. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



ilNNEAN SOCI 



F.R.S.-On I 

 discus: F.J. Col 



Disi 



THURSDA V, AiRtL 6. 

 al 8.— On Carex WnhUnbergiana: C 

 cry and Development of Kfiabdites 



B. Clarke, 

 in Cephalo- 



FRIDAY, KvKn. 7. 

 ■Geologists' Association, .at 8.— The Geology of Brittany, wiili Special 

 Reference to the Whitsunti.Ic Excursion : Dr. Cliarles Barrois. 

 SATURDAY, Ai'RH. 8. 

 Gbouooists' Association.— Cycling Kxcursion— Winclificld to Woking- 

 ham. Director : H. W. Monckion. 



MONDAY, AiKii. 10 



SiciKTV OP Chemical Inuustrv, at 8.— The Indusiri.al Technical 



Trcalmenl of Sherry and of BritUh Colonial Wines : Dr. J. T. W. 



VicroKiA Institute, at 4.30. — Babylonian Deilics : Thco. O. Pinches. 



TUESDAY, April 11. 

 RovAL Institution, al 3.— Zebras and Zebra Hybrids: Prof. J. Coss.ir 

 Ew.art, K.R.S, 



Alloys 



f»f Iron 



OP Civil. EngineBRS, at 8.— Paper 10 be further discussed : 

 Robert Abbott Hailfield. And, time per- 



Works : J 

 NO. 1536, VOL. 59] 



MiNERALOGlCAL SOCIETY, at 8.— On a M.ass of Meteoric Iron lately found 

 in Palagonia: I,. Fletcher, F.R.S.— On Langbcinite from the M.ayo 

 Salt Mines, in the Punjab : F. R. Mallet.— On the Use and Advantages 

 of a Three-Circle Goniometer : G. F. Herbert Smilh. 



RovAL Photographic Society, at 8.— The Correct Exposures to be 

 given to Photographs of the Corona : E. W. Maunder. 

 WEDNESDAY, April 12. 



Society of Arts, at 8. — Telephones : John Gavey. 



Geological Society, at 8.— (i) Fossils in the Univeisity Museum, Oxford. 

 I. Silurian Echinoidea and Ophiuroidea ; (2) On the Occurrence of 

 Sponge-Spiculei in the Carboniferous Limestone of Derbyshire : Prof. 

 W. J. Sollas, F.R.S.— On Spinel and Farsteiite from the Glenelg Lime- 

 stone : C. T. Clough and Dr. Wm- Pollard. 



THURSDAY, Ai'RiL 13. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Atmosphere: Prof. J. Dewar, F.R.S. 



Mathematical Society ,at 8. — Note on the Characteristic Invariants 

 of an Asymmetric Optica! System : T. J. Bromwich. — Concerning ihe 

 Four Known Simple Linear Groups of Order 25920, with an Introduction 

 to the Hyper-Abclian Linear Groups : Dr. L. E. Dickson.— On the 

 Direct Delerminalion of Stress in an Elastic Solid, and on the Stress in 

 a Rotating Lamina : J. H. .Michel!. —The Theorem of Residualic 



Noethe 

 Ma 



ul.ay. 



The 



nd the Ri 



Electrical Engineer 

 FRIDAY, Ap 

 Royal Institution, at 9. — Earth Curre 



A W. Rucker, Sec. R.S. 

 Royal Astronomical Society, at 8. 

 Malacological Society, at 8. 



Roch Theorem : Dr. F. S. 



i and Electric Tractit 



BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, and SERIALS RECEIVED. 



BooKS.-On Birds and Stipules: Sir John Lubbock (Paul).— National 

 Association for tlie Promotion of Technical and Secondary Education, 

 11th Annual Report (London). — Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 

 Boston, Annual Catalogue, 1898-99 (Boston).— Text-Book of the Embry- 

 ology of Invertebrates : Drs. Korschelt and Heider, Vol. 2, tr.inslated by 

 M. Bernard (Sonnenschein).— Report of Observations of Injurious Insects, 

 &c., during the Year iSgS : E. A. Ormerod (Simpkin). 



Pamphlets. — The Future of the Metric and Imperial Systems of 

 Weights, &c. : J. Manning (Sonnenschein). — Une Excursion Electro- 

 technique en Suisse (Paris, Gauthier-Villars). 



Serials. — Contemporary Review. April (Isbister).— National Review, 

 .\pril (Arnold). — National Geographic Magi/ine, March (W.ashington).— 

 Lehrbuch der .\llgemeinen Chemie : Dr. W. Ostwald, ii. Band, 2 Tcil, 

 4 Liefg. (Leipzig).— Fortnightly jReview, April (Chapman) —Reliquary 

 and Illustrated Archsologist. April (Bemrose).— Journal of Botany, April 

 (West).— Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. Vol. xi., new series. 

 Part 2 (Melbourne). — lournal of the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- 

 land, Vol. X. Part I (Murray).— Observatory, April (Taylor).— Notes from 

 the Leyden Museum, October, 1898 (Leiden).— Minnesota Botanical 

 Studies, Part 2 (Minneapolis). — Chambers's-Biographical Dictionary, Part i 

 (Chambers).— Ditto, English Dictionary, Part 1 (Chambers).— Natural 

 Science, April (Pentland). 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Birds. By F. E. B 529 



A Lady's Diggings in Egypt 530 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Schupmann : " Die Medial- Fernrohre " 532 



Wrapson and Gee : " Mathematical and Physical 



Tables " 532 



Trutat : "La Photographic Animee" 533 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Interferometer.— Lord Rayleigh, F.R.S. . . 533 

 Theory of Functions. — Prof. J. Harkness and 



Prof. F. Morley: Prof. W. Burnside, F.R.S. 533 



The Tetravalency of Oxygen. — Rev. J. F. Heyes . 534 



The Progress of Wireless Telegraphy 534 



A Chapter in the History of Spectrum Analysis. 

 {/lliislralct) liy Sir Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., 



F-R-S S3S 



Drift-Bottles and Surface Currents. (Wi/A Ciar/.) 



liy H. N. D 539 



A Comparative Study of Visual Accommodation . 541 



Notes 542 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Tuttle's Comet (1899/1) 545 



Meteor Observations from a Balloon 546 



Planetary Perturbations 546 



U.S. Naval < )hseivatory . . 546 



Alloys of Iron and Nickel. By R. A. Hadfield . . 546 

 The Present State of Evolution. By Prof. Alpheus 



S. Packard 546 



University and Educational Intelligence .... ^49 



Scientific Serials . . 549 



Societies and Academies 549 



Diary of Societies 552 



Books, Pamphlets, and Serials Received 552 



