a2 
to have been directed round the north side of Montpelier Hill, 
and has left its traces here in a series of terraces and incipient 
channels.—Dr. E. J. McWeeney made some remarks on a 
bacteriological method of air examination.—Mr. H. J. Seymour, 
of the Geological Survey, gave a short note on the occurrence of 
cassiterite in the Tertiary granite of the Mourne Mountains, co. 
Down.—Monsignor Molloy described and demonstrated working 
models of a three-phase generator and a three-phase motor, 
suitable for lecture purposes. 
PARIS. 
Academy of Sciences, July 15.—M. Bouquet de la Grye 
in the chair.—On the structure and history of the lunar crust: 
observations suggested by the fifth and sixth numbers of the 
** Photographic Atlas of the Moon,” published by the University 
of Paris, by MM. Loewy and P. Puiseux.—Preparation and pro- 
perties of a silicide of vanadium, by MM. H. Moissan and Holt. 
A mixture of vanadium oxide, V,O,, with about five times its 
weight of pure silicon is heated in the electric furnace for four 
or five minutes. The compound VSiz, is formed ; it can also be 
prepared by the action of magnesium powder upon a mixture of 
silicon and vanadic acid. Heated in a current of hydrochloric 
acid gives silicochloroform and a mixture of chlorides of vana- 
dium.—On the coccidia found in the kidney of Rana esculenta 
and on the general infection which it produces, by MM. A, 
Laveran and F. Mesnil. It is shown that this organism, ya/o- 
klossia Lieber kiihni of Labbe, is really an Isospora, and is re- 
named by the author /sospora Lielerkiihni. Diagrams are given 
showing its different stages of growth ; it causes an acute mixed 
nephritis in the frog.—The direct hydrogenation of acetylenic 
hydrocarbons by the method of contact, by MM. Paul Sabatier 
and J. B. Senderens. The method of direct hydrogenation by 
-contact with nickel or copper has been applied to cenanthylidene 
and phenyl-acetylene. With nickel the chief product in the 
first case is normal heptane ; with copper a heptene together 
with a small amount of heptane. With phenyl-acetylene nickel 
gives chiefly ethylcyclohexane ; with copper ethylbenzene, with 
small quantities of diphenyl-butane and metastyrolene.—Report 
on the experiments made at the Observatory of Montsouris re- 
lating to the composition of atmospheric air, by MM. Armand 
Gautier, Haller and Ad. Carnot. The experiments of MM. 
Lévy, Henriet and Pécoul on the existence of an easily oxidis- 
able gaseous compound in the air of Paris have been repeated 
and confirmed (see p. 308). —The use of hail rockets, by M. E. 
Vidal. Evidences are given of the power possessed by the 
rockets of breaking up storm clouds, and especially of pre- 
venting damage to vines by hail.—Application of the method 
of the arithmetical mean to the surfaces of Riemann, by M. 
A. Korn.—On the formation of liquid drops and the law of 
Tate, by MM. Leduc and Sacerdote. The law of Tate states 
that the weight of the drops of a given liquid falling from 
the extremity of a tube is proportional to the radius of the 
end of this tube. It is shown that this is only approximately 
true and that the usual reasoning establishing this law is in- 
exact. A new expression is deduced which is submitted to an 
experimental study.—On binary accords, by M. A. Guillemin. 
—On a new organic vapour in atmospheric air, by M. H. 
Henriet. Filtered air is mixed with steam and this is then con- 
densed. The condensed water was then examined and found 
to contain a minute amount of what would appear to be a sub- 
stituted formamide.—On the properties and constitution of the 
peroxides of zinc, by M. de Forcrand.—On_ oxyisopropylphos- 
phinic acid, by M. C. Marie. —On a new method of preparation 
of a-substituted 8-ketonic esters, by M. René Locquin.—The 
electric resistivities of pathological blood serums and serous 
effusions in man, by MM. Lesage and Dongier.—The zymase 
from Lurotzopsis Gayont, by M. Maze. It has been found that 
the zymase is present in considerable quantity in the developing 
mycelium, but that with aérobic cultures the quantity of the 
zymase present in unit weight of mycelium diminishes rapidly 
with the age of the cultures.—On the cure of ‘‘la casse” in 
wines by the addition of sulphurous acid, by M. J. Laborde. 
The author criticises the views of MM. Bouffard and Dienert, 
and gives fresh experimental evidence in favour of the hypo- 
thesis originally advanced by him.—Researches on the Culicides 
of Algeria, by M. H. Soulié.—On the treatment of black rot, 
by M. A. Prunet. Mildew and black rot being different 
diseases the same remedies should not be applied to both. The 
NO. 1708, VOL. 66] 
NATURE 
[JuLy 24, 1902 
raximtm interval which should be allowed to elapse between 
|wo successive treatments with the copper sulphate solution has 
been determined experimentally.—On the lower Gothlandian of 
the Armorican mass7/, by M. F. Kerforne.—Some facts, new or 
little known, concerning the Glacial period, by M. David 
Martin. 
New SoutrH WALtLEs, 
Linnean Scciety, May 28.—Mr. J. H. Maiden, president, 
in the chair.—Descriptions of new genera and species of Lepi- 
doptera (Fam. Noctuidz), by Dr. A. Jefferis Turner.—An 
ascobacterium from the sugar cane, by Mr. R. Greig Smith.— 
Preliminary note on the geology of the Queensland coast, with 
references to the geography of the Queensland and New South 
Wales plateau, by Mr. E. C. Andrews. An attempt is here 
made to refer the origin of the present coastal configuration of 
Queensland and Northern New South Wales primarily to a 
recent variable ciusial movement. The topography of the 
Cordillera and the continental shelf is found to throw light on 
Barrier Reef problems.—Notes on the botany of the interior of 
New South Wales (part vi), by Mr. R. H. Cambage. The 
conspicuous botany of the country between Marsden, near Lake 
Cowal, and Narrandera is described. Mention is made of the 
damage done to certain trees, notably dogwood (JZyoporum 
desertz), by the rabbits. 
CONTENTS. PAGE 
The Encyclopedia Britannica. By R. T. H.; 
Prof, Arthur Smithells, F.R.S. . . . ; 289 
Submarines, By iC. V. Biv mcmeeeere ‘peey mez 90 
The Dynamical Foundations of Thermodynamics, 
By Prof. G. H. Bryan, F.R.S.... . iovomoromces: ZEN 
An Attempt at Originality in the Teachin of 
Zoology 5 mf O 292 
Our Book Shelf :— ' 
Dunlop and Jackson: ‘Slide Rule Notes,”— 
(G5 Win VER 292 
Miall: ‘‘Injurious and Useful Insects: an Introduc- 
tion to the Study of Economic Entomology” . . . 293 
Lawrie: ‘‘Chloroform: a Manual for Students and 
Bractiioners” \. *. “hey eateieine een eis 293 
Grasset : ‘‘ Les Limites de la Biologie” . 293 
Letters to the Editor :— 
Heights of Sunset After-glows in June, 1902.—Prof. 
A. S. Herschel, F.R.S. . » ola Vaibgte! 2 294 
Distribution of Pithophora.—Prof. G. S. West . 296 
Saturn Visible through the Cassini Division. —C. T. 
Whitmell PP hers. “<ucwGecmURGr oF < 219) 
The Electrification of London. (W2th Map.) By 
Wi; Ss A MEMMMT 6 oo oo Bho 5 ng Bee 
The Pittsburg Meeting of the American Associa- 
GHC}2\ 5 Gt POC. ties Oud de akDb ovo eto co. 2428) 
Address by Prof. C. S. Minot, President of the 
Association 300 
Notes evict RS Pal 304 
Our Astronomical Column :— 
Bright Meteor of July 13 oie: 309 
Radial Velocity of the Orion Nebula 309 
Motion of the Pole SRO SS} 309 
Photographs of the Perseids in 1901 . 309 
Variable Stars Meee oo ols Oe ots 309 
The August Meteoric Shower. By W. F. Den- 
ety £55) Qe or Ak ous ip 309 
University and Educational Intelligence 310 
Scientific Serials . Mere tio. bo Beane 310 
Societies and Academies. (Ith Diagram) 311 
