J 44 



NATURE 



[December 12, 1907 



(i) 4CuO,SO„oo6CaSOj ; 



(2) 5CuO,SO,,o-2sCaSO, ; 



(-,) ioCuO,S6,,i-3CaSO, ; 



(4) ioCuO,S03,4CaO,S03 ; 



(Possibly s) loCuO.SOj.ioCaO.SO,; or 



(6) CuO,3CaO; 

 that present in most cases probably being (4). The 

 fungicidal action of Bordeaux mixture seems to depend on 

 the liberation of copper sulphate by the action of carbon 

 dioxide on the basic sulphate. — The alcohols of the hydro- 

 aromatic and terpene series, part i., resolution of the 

 alcohols into their optically active components and the pre- 

 paration of the borneols : R. H. Pickard and W. O. 

 Littlebury. The alcohol is combined with phthalic or 

 succinic anhydride, and the icsulting acid ester resolved by 

 !-menthylamine or other strong optically active base. — The 

 electrolytic preparation of disulphides, part i., dibenzvl- 

 disulphide and diethyldisulphide : T. S. Price and D. F. 

 Twriss. — The influence of solvents on the rotation of 

 optically active compounds, part xi., ethyl tartrate in 

 aliphatic halogen derivatives : T. S. Patterson and D. 

 Thomson, — The interaction in solution of ferrous sulphate 

 and copper sulphate : H. R. Ellis and W. H. Collier. No 

 action takes place between ferrous sulphate and copper 

 sulphate solutions in the cold, but on boiling, the copper 

 sulphate slowly oxidises the ferrous hydroxide produced by 

 hydrolysis. An account is also given of the action of 

 ammonia solution on mixtures of ferrous and cupric 

 sulphates in water. — Mercurous hyponitrite : E. Divers. — 

 Decomposition of mercurous and silver hyponitrites bv 

 heat : E. Divers. — Cupric nitrite : E. Divers. 



DIARY OF SOCIiiTIES. 



THURSDAY. December ii. 



RovAL SociETV, .It 4.30.— Further Con.videration of the Stability of the 

 Pear-Shaped Figure of Equilibrium of a Liquid Earth : Sir G. H. 

 Darwin, K.C.B., F.R.S.— Prebminary Not- on th- Operational In- 

 variants of a Binary Quantic : Major P. WacMahon, F.R.S.— The Artion 

 of Ozone on Water-colour Pigments: Sir W. Abney, K.C.E., F.R.S. 

 —On Kinetic Stability: Prof. H. Lamb, F.R.S. —The Absorption 

 Spectra of the Vapours of Benzene and its Homolugues at Different 

 Temperatures and Pressures, and likewise of SoUuions of Ben?ene : Prof. 

 W. N. Hartley. F.R.S. -The Spectrum of ^fagnesium and of the so-called 

 Magnesium Hydride as obtained by Spark Hischargfs under Reduced 

 Pressure : E. E. Brooks.— Magnetic Declination at Kew Observatory, 

 1890 to 1900: Dr. C. Chres. F.R.S.— The Effects of Temperature and 

 Pre.ssure on the Thermal Conductivities of Solids. Part ii.. The EITect of 

 Low Temperatures on the Thermal Conductivities of Pure Metals and 

 Alloys: Prof. C. H. Lees, F.R.S.— On E.\terior Ballistics, No. 2: Prof. 

 G. Forbes, F.R.S. 



SociETV OF Arts, at 4.30.— Big Game in India: R. Gilbert. 



Matheiw 

 its Applii 

 strass' E. 

 Love. 



ii- SociETV, at 5. TO— A Formula in Finiie Differenc 



n to Mechanical Quadrature : Mr. S. T. Shovelton.— Weier- 



i-function in the Calculus of Variations : Prof A. E. H. 



FRIDAY, Decembe 

 Malacoiogical Society, at 8.— Addition 

 Fauna of New Zealand, with Descript 

 Alteration to the name of Mitra reuimn, Sow. (p' 

 Sowerby.— Descriptions of New Species of Fresh 

 Central Africa: C. A. Smith.- New Land and Marin 

 Africa: H. B. Preston. 

 Society of Arts, at 8. — Industrial Poi 



Marine Mollusc.-in 



of New Species: H. Suter. — 



pied): G. B. 



Shells from 



lis from West 



d Phospho 



;ilh Special Reference to the Manufacture of Lucifer Matches : Prof. T, 

 10.— Exhibition of Electrical, Optical, and othei 



0\\^ 



Physical Society, : 

 Physical Apparatus 



RoVAL Astronomical Society, at 5.— Observations of the Transit of 

 Mercury, November 14, 1907 : E. T. VVhitelow.— Solar Parallax Papers, 

 No. 6, Construction of a Standard Catalogue of Photographic Star-places : 

 A. R. Hinks. -Observation du Passage de Mercure sur le Soleil. le 

 14 Novembre, 1907; R. Jonckheere.— Observations of Saturn's Ring at 

 the Time of its Disappearance in 1907, made with the 40-inch Reflector of 

 the Yerkes Observalor>- : E. E. Barnard.- On the Lunar Inequalities due 

 to Planetary Action ■ Ernest W. Brown.— The Transit of Mercury, tqc? 

 November 14: R. T. A. Innes.-Occultations of Uranus by the Moon 

 in 190S, Visible at British Observatories: A. M. W. Downing —On 

 Ancient Eclipses : P. H. Cowell.— On the Mean Distances of the Grorm- 

 bridge Stars: A. S. Y.AAn%lon.—ProlmHe Pa/-cr : Note on the Single 

 Equations which comprises the Theory of the Fundamental Astronomical 

 Instruments: Sir R.S. Ball. 



SATURDAY, December 14. 



Essex Field Club (at Essex Museum of Natural History, Stratford), at 

 6.— Discussion on Rivers Pollution from the Naturalists' Point of View 

 Opensd by Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S. 



Rov.«L Geograph 



linent: A. H. H. 



SociETV OF Arts, 



SOCIOI OGICAl. SOC 



M.P. 



MONDAY, December 16. 

 ICAL Society, at 8.30.— In Search of 



Institute ok Actuaries, at 5.- 

 of Valuing in Grouos Endo*r 

 Whole of Life by "^ ' 



On the Method of Dr. Johannes l> 

 int Assuranje*, and Policies foi 

 Jumber: G. King.— t 



Society or Art.s, at S.— He 

 Day. 



RovAi- Anthropological 

 Divination : W. G. Aston, 



Royal Statistical SoriEr 



Institution of Civil Eng 

 Sir Whately Eliot.— Keyh, 

 and Plant and Appliances 



Faraday Society, at S.- 

 Copper-Glycocoll Sulphate 

 of the Alkali Metals bv 

 Discovery: Dr. F. MolUi 



: C. R. V. Coutts. 



TUESDAY, December 17. 

 5.- How to Make the Most of : 



I Museum : Lewis F. 

 .A Japanese Book of 



FEHS, at 8. — Keyham Dockyard Extension : 

 I Dockyard Exten-ion ; Temporary Works, 

 ed ill Construction : G. H. Scott. 

 Physico-thcmical Study of the Complex 

 T. Barker. — The Centenary of the Discovery 

 Induslri.il IJevelopments of the 



Pen 



, Decem 

 7.30.- 



WEDNESDAY, 



^GYAL Meteorological .Society, at 7.30. — The Po-sibility of a Topo- 

 graphy of ihe Air based on Balloon Observations with Special Theodo- 

 lites: Captain C. H. Ley. — Indications of Approaching Frost: R. 

 Strachan. 



5EOLOGIGAL SociETV, at 8.— Some Recent Discoveries of Paleolithic 

 Implements: Sir John Kvans, K C.B.. F.R.S.— On a Deep Channel of 

 Drift at Hitchin (Hertfordshire): W. Hill. 



British Astronomical Association, at 5. 



<ovAL Microscopical Society, at 8.— Some African Rotifers: Jas. 

 Murray.— Gregory and Wright's Microscope; and a Correction for a 

 Spectroscope; E. M. Nelson. — Exhibition of Selenite Specimens showing 

 Interesting Features due to Twinning ; E. Large. 



THURSDA Y, December 19. 



■.-Derivatives of Tetramethyl Glucose ; J. C 

 -The Characterisation of Mercerised Cotton ; 



P-N P 



-Attempted Synthesis of I Di- 



/3-CH— S 



naphthacridine ; Condensation of Methylene Dichloride .and i-Substi- 

 tuted-2-Naphthylamines: A. Senier and P. C. Austin. 



.INNEAN SociETV, at 8. 



NSTITUTION OF MiNING AND METALLURGY, at S. 



NSniTUTlON OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, at S. — Electrical Power in 

 RaiKvay Goods Warehouses ; H. Henderson. 



FRIDAY, December 20. 



Preliminary Note: J. Hiibne 



I Petrol En 



Efficiency of 



N.STITUTION OF MECHANICAL h,N 



facture and Upkeep of Milling Cu 



L. G. 



t 8.— The Theory of the Microscope; Conrad Beck, 

 rv, at 8.— The Tutelage of Races : J. M. Robertson, 



NO. 1989, VOL. 77] 



CONTENTS. PAGh 



An Upper Cretaceous Flora. Ry D. H. S 121 



Paper Mill- Workers and Technology 12 [ 



Local Ornithology 122 



Electrical Engineering 124 



Our Book Shelf: — 



Adye : " Modern Lithology, illustrated and defined, 

 for the Use of Universiiy, Technical, and Civil- 

 Service Students." — G. A. J. C. ■ . . ... 125 

 Adami : " Inflammation. An Introduction to the 



Study of Pathology."— Prof. R. T. Hewlett . . 126 



Hepwoith : " Notes on Maritime Meteoiulugy '' . . 126 

 Letters to the Editor: — 



Mulattos.— Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, K.C.M.G., 



F.R.S 126 



Specific Stability and Mutation. — R. H. Lock ; Sir 



W. T. Thiselton-Dyer. KC.M.G., F.R.S. . . 127 



The Winding of Rivers.- Dr. John Aitken, F.R.S. 127 



May Gorsedds. (///;/.v/;v?/<v/. )— Rev. John Griffith . 12S 

 A Fishirg Trip to the Gulf of Mexico. (Illustrated.) 



Bv L. W. B. . . ■ 12S 



Greek Archeology. [Illnst.iiled.) By H. R. Hall . 129 



The Future Water Supply of London 131 



Notes IJ2 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Photographs of Jupiicr's Satellites VI. and VII. . . 137 



Temperature Control of Silvered Mirrors 137 



Orbits of Spectroscopic Binaries 138 



Mellish's Comet I907<- 138 



Solar Prominences in 1906 13X 



Search Ephemeris for Comet 1907;; (Giacobini) . . . 13S 



Prizes Awarded by the Paris Academy of Sciences 13S 



The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 139 



Experiments on Wind-Pressure 139 



University and Educational Intelligence .... 140 



Societies and Academies 141 



Diary of Societies 144 



