5IO 



NA TUI^E 



[February 25, 1909 



copper exerts a catalytic action on hypopliosphites, liydrogen 

 being gi\'en off ; one gram-molecule of copper was found to 

 produce 30 gram-molecules of hydrogen in this way. — 

 An exception to the general method of preparation of 

 aldehydes by means of the glycidic acids : Ren6 Pointet. 

 The general method indicated by Darzens does not give 

 the expected diphenylacetic aldehyde, the glycidic ester 

 splitting up into diphenylacetic acid and carbon monoxide 

 instead of into carbon dioxide and the corresponding alde- 

 hyde. — .Some halogen derivatives of 7-oxycrotonic acid : 

 M.M. Lespieau and Visuier. — Theory of the colour re- 

 actions of dioxyacetone in sulphuric acid solution : G. 

 Oeniges. Methylglyoxal, in sulphuric acid solution, gives 

 the same colour reactions with alkaloids as dioxyacetone, 

 and it is probable that the latter is converted into methyl- 

 glyoxal in these reactions by the acid. — The oxidation of 

 alcohols by the simultaneous action of tannatc of iron and 

 solution of hydrogen peroxide : E. de Stoecklin. Methyl, 

 ■ethyl, normal propyl, and normal butyl alcohols are 

 oxidised to aldehydes by hydrogen peroxide in presence of 

 tannate of iron, as also are the alcohols glycol, glycerol, 

 and sorbitol. Capryl, isopropyl, and isobutyl alcohols 

 resist this o.xidation. — Castration in 7,ca mays, var. - 

 tiiiiicata, produced by Ustilago maydis : M. ChifHot. — 

 Variations in grafted vines : F. Baco. — The influence of 

 grafting on some annual plants, and plants living by their 

 rhizomes : Lucien Daniel. Details of experiments, spread- 

 ing over thirteen years, on the grafting of the potato on 

 the tomato, and of Helianthus provided with rhizomes 

 (H. tuberosiis, lactiflorus, and mullifloriis) on an annual 

 (H. antniiis). — The phytogeographical divisions of Algeria : 

 ft. Lapil. — The anatomical distinction of the genera Litho- 

 thamnion and Lithophyllum : Mmc. Paul Lemoine. — .\ 

 case of abnormal multiple cephalisation in Syllidians in 

 stolonisation : .Aug. Michel. — A special method of electro- 

 diagnosis : M. Guyenot. An application of the instan- 

 taneous discharge of a condenser through an induction coil 

 without an iron core to the quantitative study of the elec- 

 trical stimulation of nerves. It has proved of practical 

 service in the detection of cases of feigned paralysis. — 

 Prehistoric rock engraving discovered at Ilc-d'Ycu 

 (Vendue) : Marcel Baudouin. — Seismic movements of 

 February 9, 1909 : Alfred Angot. — The solution of ferru- 

 ginous dust of cosmic origin in the sea : M. Thoulet. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, February 25. 



Royal Society, at 4.30.— The Statistical Form of the Curve of Oscillalinn 

 for the Radiation emitted by a Black Body : Prof H A. Wilson, F.R.S. 

 —The Flight of a Rifled Projectile in .iVir : Prof. J. R Henderson.— On 

 the Cross-breeding of Two R.ices of the Moth AcUnlia viygularia : 

 L. B. Prout and A. Bacot. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Problems of Geographical Distribution in 

 Mexico : Dr. Hans Gadow, F R.S 



RovAi. Society OF Arts at -.30.— The Bhuddist and Hindu Architecture 

 of India: Prof. A. A. Matdoncll. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at %— Further discussion : The 

 Use of Large Gas Engines for Generaling Power; L. .Viidrews and R. 

 Porter. 



FRIDAY, February 26. 



Royal Institution, at q.— Osmotic Phenomena, and their Modern 

 Physical Interpretation: Prof. H. L Callendar, F.R..S. 



Physical Society (at Finsbury Technical College, Leonard Street, City 

 Road, E.C. ), at 5. — .-^ Laboratory- Machine tor applving Bending and 

 Twisting Moments simultaneously ; Prof. Coker.— On the Self-demagnet- 

 ising Factor of Bar Magnets : Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson, F.K.S.. and 

 E. .1. Moss.— E.xhibition of Optical Properties of Combinations of Mica 

 and Selenite Films (after Reusch and others) In Convergent Polarised 

 \:\%\K : Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson, F.RS.— Exhibition of Apparatus: 

 C. R. Darling. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — Standardisation in Engineering 

 Praclice: Dr. W. C. Unwin, F.R.S. 



SATURDAY. February 27. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Properties of Matter: Sir J. J. Thomson, 



MONDAY, March j. 

 jociETY OF Chemical Industry, at 8.— On some Requlrenieits of a 

 Colour -Standard : I. W. Lovibond. — Sulphur as a Cause of Corrosion in 

 Steel : G. N. Huntly. 

 Royal Society of Arts, at 8. — Modern Methods of Artificial Illumina- 

 tion : Leon Gaster. 



TUESDAY, March 2. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — The Evolution of the Brain as an Organ of 



ihe Mind : Prof. F. VV. Mott, F.R.S. 

 .Zoological .Society, at 8.30. — The Development of the Sub-divisions of 

 the Pleuro-peritoneal Cavity in Birds, illustrated by Lantern-slides : Miss 

 Margaret Poole.— The Growth of the Shell of Puicllci '.■ulgn/a. L. : E. S. 

 Rus-sell.- The Life history of the Agrionid Dragon-fly : F. Balfour- 

 ;.— Growth-stages in the British Species of the C ral Genus 



The 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Some recent Gr.iin-handling 

 Storing Appliances at the MiUwall Djcks : M. Mowat. 



Faraday Socifty, at 8. — On the Rate of Evolution of Gases from H( 

 geneous Liquids: V. H. Veley, F.RS., and Dr. J. C. Cain.- 

 Electro-analysis of Mercury Compounds with a Gold Kathode : Di 

 Mollwo Perkin —The R,-lation betwi-en Composil: 

 Solutions ofiiu/a- and D>7/«j-Pho5phoric Acids : I 

 lYEDNESDAV, March 3. 



Society of Public Analysts, at 8.— The Composition of Cider : B. T. P. 

 Barker and E. Russell.— The Composition and Analysis of Chocolate : 

 N. P. Booth, C H. Cribb, and P. A. Ellis Richards —Note on the 

 Determination of Petroleum in Turpentine : J. H. Coste. 



Enpomological Society, at 8. — Birds as a Factor in the Production of 

 Mimicry among Butterflies : Guy .\. K. Marshall. 

 THURSDAY, March 4. 



Royal Society, at ^.y:,.— Probable Papers: On the Presence of Hicm- 

 agglutinins, Haem-opsonins, and Ha;molysins in the Blood obtained 

 from Infectious and Noninfectious Diseases in Man (Second Report) : 

 L. S. Dudgeon.— The Aclion on Glucoside by Bacteria of the Acid-fast 

 Group, with a New Method of isolating Human Tubercle Bacilli directly 

 from Tuberculous Material contaminated with other Micro-organisms 

 (Preliminary Note): F. W. Twort.— The Effect of Heat upon the 

 Electrical State of Living Tissues : Dr. A. D. Waller, F.R.S. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Problems of Geographical Distribution in 

 Mexico : Dr. Hans Gadow, F.R.S. 



RoNTGEN Society, at 8.15. — Some Vacuum Tube Phenomena: A. .^. 

 Campbell Swinton. 



Parasmilia : W. D. 



NO. 2052, VOL. 



79] 





CONTENTS. p 



The Natural History of Conduct. By Prof. A. E. 



Taylor 



Popular Electricity. By Maurice Solamon . . 



The Causes of Mutation 



The Subject matter of Anthropology. By J. G. . . 



Refrigeration. By F. H 



Our Book Shelf: — 



Welpton : " Principles and Methods of Physical 



Education and Hygiene." — H. R. B. . ... 



" Bathy-orographical Map of the British Isles"; 



" Bathy-orographical Map of South America " ; 



" Handbook to accompany the Map of the British 



Isles" 



Wiight : "Invariants of (Quadratic Differential 



Forms."— G. B. M 



Durell : " A Course of Plane Geometry for Advanced 



Students " 



Hill : "The Contents of the Fifth and Sixth Books 

 of Euclid" ... .... 



Peddie : " The Elementary Dynamics of Solids and 



Fluids" 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Brilliancy and Intensity of the Cupric Chloride 



Flame Spectrum. — Prof. W. N. Hartley, F.R.S. 



On the Radio-active Deposits from Actinium. — Prof. 



J. C. McLennan 



Germination of the Broad Bean Seed. — Prof Frank 



Cavers 



Scientific Societies and the Admission of Women 



Fellows. — W. J. Atkinson 



Stone Circles in Ireland. (Ilhislrated.) — W. E. 



Hart 



Ultra-microscopic Vision. (Ilhislrated. ) J. E. 



Barnard 



A Pure Milk Supply. By R. T. H 



The Density of Gases in Relation to the Atomic 



Weight of Nitrogen 



Education and Employment 



Sir George King, K.C.I. E., F.R.S 



Notes 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Astronomical Occurrences in March 



A Brilliant Meteor and its Train 



(Tuantitative Measures of the Water-vapour in the 



Martian Atmosphere 



Absorption of Lit;ht in Space 



The Orbit of 9 Aquila- 



The Planting of FruittTrees. (l/luslrateJ.) By Dr. 



E. J. Russell 



Position of the Metric System 



Bird life . 



Prehistoric Argentina. By J. W. E 



The Increased Expansion of Steam attainable in 

 Steam Turbines. By the Hon. C. A. Parsons, 



C B , F.R.S 



University and Educational Intelligence 



Societies and Academies 



Diary of Societies 



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