


































Marcu 24, 1923] 
Lord Curzon had distributed 500 prospectuses of the 
Guild’s ‘‘ Catalogue of British Scientific and Technical 
Books ” to His Majesty’s Consuls abroad. He also 
pointed out the thirst for scientific knowledge that 
was developing in various parts of the Empire he had 
recently visited, where fruitful opportunities for the 
work of the Guild appear to exist. Among others 
who spoke, Mr. H. G. Wells pleaded for a wide view 
of science, which should not be regarded as a monopoly 
for any nation, though they naturally hoped that the 
British Empire would make a worthy contribution 
to the general store of knowledge. The late Mr. 
FE. W. Sanderson, whose genius as a schoolmaster 
is the subject of appreciatory editorial reference, 
emphasised the value of scientific methods in schools 
in developing a desire among boys to “ get at the 
truth.” He added that a catalogue of the British 
Scientific Products Exhibition had been of great 
interest to the boys. Other contributions to the 
journal cover wide ground. There are extracts from 
ecent articles in the press on the Guild’s national 
appeal. Prof. Flinders Petrie and Admiral Ballard 
ve contributions on “ The Science of Sailing.” Dr. 
J. A. Harker deals with ‘‘ The Fixation of Nitrogen,” 
Mr. A. P. M. Fleming with “ Radio-Telephony,”’ and 
Mr. Leon Gaster with “ Illuminating Engineering.” 
Dr. R. S. Clay furnishes a note on “ The British 
Pianoforte Industry.’’ As usual the Journal also 
ontains a series of readable notes illustrating the 
pplication of science in daily life. 
CoMMANDER HiLton Younc makes to us the sug- 
gestion that insects may be able to appreciate the 
proximity of a solid body by detecting the pressure 
ifferences which would be set up by air currents 
impinging on the latter. He asks whether this 
ibility has been examined, and a distinguished 
naturalist to whom we submitted the inquiry states 
that various entomologists have referred vaguely to 
insects being affected by changes of air pressure, 
Forel speaks of the sensitiveness of insects to slight 
movements in the air and to slight vibrations in his 
“Le Monde social des fourmis,” vol. 2 (1922), 
and Folsom in his “ Entomology ” (1906) suggests 
that the sensillum placodeum may be affected by air 
pressure. Another work by Forel, ‘‘ Sensations des 
insectes ” (1886), and Berlese’s “‘ Gli Insetti,’”’ should 
also be consulted. 
THE firm of Mr. C. Baker, of 244 High Holborn, 
London, W.C.1, has issued the January number 
(No. 77) of its well-known classified list of second-hand 
instruments and scientific works. The catalogue is 
arranged in sections, each confined to a specific class 
of apparatus, and contains a number of useful items. 
Those in need of physical apparatus, microscopes, 
cameras, etc., would do well to consult this list. 
Many students to whom Dr. A. Holmes’s ‘‘ Petro- 
graphic Methods and Calculations ” is of interest and 
value will be glad to learn that the work, hitherto 
available only in one volume, will in future be obtain- 
able in three separate parts dealing respectively with 
Specific Gravity, Separation and Determination of 
Minerals, and Detrital Sediments ; Thin Sections; and 
Chemical Analyses and their Interpretation. The 
NO. 2786, VOL. 111] 
NATURE 
Mayo-Robson mentioned the interesting fact that ; 
409 
publishers are Messrs. Thomas Murby and Co., 1 Fleet 
Lane, E.C.4. 
Messrs. H. K. Lewis anp Co., Lrp., 28 Gower 
Place, London, W.C.1, are now issuing monthly lists 
of additions to their scientific and technical circulat- 
ing library, instead of quarterly lists as previously. 
Every effort is made to meet the needs of workers 
in laboratories connected with the manufacturing 
industries, and the latest works on scientific research 
on all kinds of raw material and manufacturing pro- 
cesses are freely added to the library. These may 
also be seen in the technical books department, or a 
list will be sent to any inquirer. 
WitH the assistance of prominent specialists in 
many parts of the world, Mr. Jerome Alexander, 
50 East 41st Street, New York City, is preparing a 
comprehensive book on “ Colloid Chemistry : Theo- 
retical and Applied.’ British contributors include 
Dr. E. F. Armstrong, Prof. H. Bassett, Sir W. M. 
Bayliss, Dr. E. F. Burton, Mr. W. B. Hardy, Prof. 
F. G. Donnan, Mr. F. E. Lloyd, and Dr. A. E. Dunstan. 
Mr. Alexander invites any one who may have infor- 
mation of interest on experimental facts and practical 
applications of colloid chemical principles to send 
him a brief statement for inclusion in the book. 
Messrs. LoNGMANS AND Co, have in the press 
“ Friction,”” by Dr. T. E. Stanton, of the National 
Physical Laboratory, in which work the attempt is 
made to deal concisely with the whole subject of the 
mechanical friction which exists between bodies in 
contact, solid, liquid, or gaseous, under forces pro- 
ducing, or tending to produce, their relative motion. 
Attention is given to friction due to the flow of fluids 
over solid surfaces, with special reference to the 
dimensional theory ; also to the lubrication theories of 
Osborne Reynolds, Michell, and Sommerfeld, and to the 
recent researches at the National Physical Laboratory 
on lubrication. The section on solid friction includes 
the theories of rolling friction and of the stability of 
structures on soft earth, together with the results of 
some modern experiments on materials used for brake 
blocks, and the final chapter is devoted to a discussion 
of Reynolds’s theory of the relation between the heat 
transmitted to solid surfaces by fluids flowing over 
them and the frictional resistance of the surfaces due 
to the flow, and an examination of the experimental 
data bearing on this theory. 
THE spring announcement list of Messrs. Chapman 
and Hall, Ltd., contains many books of scientific 
interest, among which are: “ Vital Factors of Foods : 
Vitamins and Nutrition,” by C. Ellis and Dr. 
Annie Louise Macleod, aiming at furnishing all 
essential facts regarding vitamins, and at bringing 
together the literature on the subject; ‘‘ Perfumes 
and Cosmetics: with Special Reference to Synthetics,”’ 
by W. A. Poucher; and “ Electric Lift Equipment 
for Modern Buildings,’ by R. Grierson, which deals 
with the selection, installation, operation, and 
maintenance of modern electric passenger, goods, and 
service lifts. The same publishers will also issue a 
new and completely revised edition of “‘ Electrical 
Engineering Practice,’ by J. W. Meares and R. E. 
Neale, in two volumes, the first of which will be ready 
shortly. 

