486 
NATURE 
[SEPTEMBER II, 1902 
Dr. Carslaw remarks, the equation of vibration of a stretched 
string is obtained on the assumption that no such discontinuities 
occur ; if sharpcorners exist, dynamical difficulties are introduced. 
THE French Physical Society has undertaken the publication 
of a collection. of elementary physical experiments. This 
book will describe class experiments, and also simple experi- 
ments of a suitable character for class exercises. The first 
part, dealing with geometry, mechanics, gravity, hydrostatics 
and heat, is now in preparation. 
SOME statistics as to the use of alcohol as an illuminant are 
given by M. L. Denayrouze in the Bulletin of the French 
Physical Society, No. 185. This use of alcohol, first:proposed 
in Germany a few years ago, has recently been rendered practic- 
able from a commercial point of view by the introduction into 
France of methylated spirits, and also by an increase in the 
efficiency of the Denayrouze lamp. Taking 1°08 grams of pure 
alcohol or 0°64 gram of carburetted alcohol (alcohol carburé) 
per candle hour as the consumption of this lamp, the cost is 
estimated at 0°00478 and 0°00208 of a penny per candle hour for 
these two alcohols, as against 001428 of a penny for petroleum. 
The lamp consists essentially of a wick, conducting the liquid by 
capillarity into a chamber {where it is vaporised, the necessary 
heat being produced by a copper bar which derives its heat 
from the lamp itself. The vapour passes through a small 
channel into a kind of Bunsen burner, above which the mantle 
is fixed. The series of operations is entirely automatic. 
THE Ceylon Independent of August 11 contains Prof. 
Herdman’s report on the pearl fisheries in the Gulf of Manaar. 
The objects of the professor’s investigations were fourfold. 
Firstly, to inspect the oyster banks ; secondly, to find out the 
conditions under which the molluscs live ; thirdly, to take into 
consideration the marine zoology of the other Singalese waters in 
connection with trawling ; and. lastly, to select a spot for a marine 
laboratory. As the result of the survey, it was found that in the 
main the oysters were healthy and free from epidemic, and, 
indeed, from much disease of any description. Parasites were 
present in considerable numbers, but were not considered to be 
doing much damage. ‘‘ Spat” were found in abundance in 
certain localities, and enormous quantities of young oysters in 
others. A large percentage of these appeared, however, never 
to reach maturity, either from being destroyed by enemies, 
choked in sand or overcrowded. The remedy for this is thinning 
out and transplanting. It isconcluded that ‘‘ there is no reason 
for despondency in regard to the future of the pearl-oyster 
fisheries, if they are treated scientifically.” 
Two papers of considerable interest on fossil mammals are to 
hand. In the one—issued by the Cairo Survey Department— 
Messrs. Andrews and Beadnell describe remains of new forms 
from the Eocene of Egypt, among which the lower jaw on which 
the genus Phiomia is based is perhaps the most interesting and 
remarkable. The other—published in the /Jowrnal of the 
College of Science of Tokio—relates to part of a skull from the 
Tertiary of Japan believed by its describers, Messrs. Yoshiwara 
and Iwasaki, to indicate a new type of proboscidean. 
IN vol. ii. pt. 10 of the Azvads of the South African Museum, 
Sir George Hampson continues his valuable catalogue of the 
moths of South Africa, describing many new genera and 
species. 
TuE Museums Association has issued the first volume of its 
Journal, edited by Mr. E. Howarth, and containing an excellent 
portrait of Sir William Turner. The volume will be welcome 
to all interested in museum improvement, whether from the 
general education standpoint or on more strictly scientific 
grounds. 
NO. 1715, VOL. 66] 
THREE memoirs of the Geological Survey of England and 
Wales have recently been issued in explanation of the one-inch 
maps. That on Ringwood, by Mr. Clement Reid, is accom- 
panied by a colour-printed map which has been admirably 
executed by the Ordnance Survey. The area described is a part 
of the Hampshire Basin, and attention is drawn to the evidence 
of anold river course, which probably in Newer Pliocene times 
connected the Salisbury rivers with Southampton, before they 
were captured and diverted along the course of the subsequent 
Lower Avon. The geology of Southampton, also by Mr. Reid, 
with contributions by Mr. Whitaker, gives a concise account of 
the Chalk and Tertiary strata, and of the Pleistocene deposits 
some of which yield Paleolithic implements. Several new inliers 
of London Clay have been recognised, and these indicate an 
extension to the westward of the Portsdown anticline. The 
geology of the country around Exeter is by Mr. W. A. E. Ussher, 
and it gives a fairly full account of the Culm-measures, the 
various divisions of the New Red Sandstone series, and the 
superficial deposits. Much interest attaches to the volcanic 
rocks, which are probably of Permian age, and the field- 
observations are supplemented by petrological notes by Mr. 
Teall. 
A THIRD report on the soils of Dorset, by Mr. D. A. Gilchrist 
and Mr. C. M. Luxmoore, has been issued by University College, 
Reading (1902). Attention is directed to the amount of car- 
bonate of lime in the fine earth of various soils, and it is note- 
worthy that some soils on calcareous formations contain very 
little carbonate of lime, while the soil on Kimeridge Clay con- 
tains in places more than 2 percent., an amount which decreases 
inthe subsoil. An interim report is given on the general results 
of the investigations with regard to West Dorset, and many 
suggestions are made on the capabilities of the land and on the 
improvements which might be made in the cultivation of it. 
THE Chemical News for September 5 is a ‘‘ Students’ 
Number,” and contains much useful information respecting the 
leading schools of chemistry in the country. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Campbell’s Monkey (Cercopithecus camp- 
belli) from the West Coast of Africa; a Bosman’s Potto 
(Perodicticus potto) from West Africa, presented by Mr. 
G, Robertson ; a Rhesus Monkey (A/acacus rhesus) from India, 
presented by Dr. Bates; a Green Monkey (Cercopithecus 
callatrichus) from West Africa, a Two-spotted Paradoxure 
(NMandinia binotata), a Dorsal Hyrax (Hyrax dorsalzs) from the 
Gold Coast,’ presented by Mr. A. W. Morris ; two Suricates 
(Suricata tetvadacty/a) from South Africa, presented by Capt. 
C, F. Wanhill, R.A.M.C. ; a Suricate (Swrtcata tetradactyla) 
from South Africa, presented by Colonel J. S. Ewart ; two 
Naked-footed Owlets (A¢hene rvoctua) European, presented by 
Mr. A. J. Challis; fourteen Wall Lizards (Lacerta muralis) 
European, presented by Dr. Lewis H. Gough; two Madras 
Entellus Monkeys (Semnopithecus priamus), new to collection, 
from Southern India ; a Pale Genet (Gevetéa senegalensis) from 
the White Nile ; four Blue Lizards (Gerrhonotus coeruleus) 
from Western North America, deposited. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
OBSERVATIONS OF VARIABLE STARS OF LONG PERIOD.— 
Writing in the Odservatory for September, Prof. Pickering gives 
an abstract of an earlier paper oa the really valuable work that 
might be done by willing observers who only possess small 
instruments. Tle states that the number of telescopes of small 
size (ze. IO to 30 cm. aperture) now in use, is out of all pro- 
portion to the meagre results obtained by their aid, and suggests 
that observations of long-period variables by Argelander’s 
method would, if systematically made, prove of real,value in — 
furthering our knowledge of these objects. 
