March 20, 1902] 



NA TURE 



475 



desirable interest in science and philosophy. The contents in- 

 clude lectures on evolution and the physical basis of life, and 

 essays on aspects of agnosticism and ecclesiasticism which may 

 lead incipient rationalists to firm ideas "on the nature, the 

 duties and Ae non-insoluble problems of human life." 



A COPY of Hazell's Annual for 1902, edited by Mr. W. 

 Palmer, was received a few days ago from the publishers, 

 Messrs. Hazell, Watson and Viney, Ltd. The annual is so 

 well known and widely used that little need be said as to the 

 character of the contents. Certainly no better epitome of the 

 subjects which attracted general attention during last year is 

 available ; and no manual can be better depended upon to give 

 concise and accurate information concerning public men and 

 affairs and national interests. Among the subjects of new 

 articles in the present edition we notice anthropology, archas- 

 ology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, electricity, geography, 

 geology, meteorological office, motor vehicles, photography, 

 telephones and universal time. Under each of these headings 

 a short account is given of progress made during last year. 

 These summaries are naturally of very little value to the student 

 of science, but they serve to give general readers a view of some 

 of the results attained. Under biology, less than a dozen sub- 

 jects are mentioned — all of them zoological — and there is no 

 reference to botany either under this heading or elsewhere in the 

 book. Other subjects we miss are physics, metallography (to 

 which a paragraph might well have been devoted), radiations 

 from radiuin and similar substances, malaria and mosqui- 

 toes. In the list of educational associations we find the usual 

 secondary school organisations, but not the Association of 

 Technical Institutions, to which practically all the principals 

 of our technical school belong. 



The overproduction of alcohol, a consequence of the over- 

 production of sugar, has led to many attempts to increase its 

 use for purposes of lighting and heating. In contrast to the 

 repressive action of our own authorities in this matter, the 

 strangling action of which in our chemical industries is well 

 known, M. Jean Dupuy, the French Minister of Agriculture, 

 organised a conference in December last to discuss the best 

 means of extending the use of denatured alcohol for lighting 

 and heating. The current number of the Bulletin de la SocUU 

 d' Encouragement potir t Industrie Nationalc contains a report of 

 this conference by M. Lindet, and gives a complete account of 

 the numerous forms of alcohol burners which have been devised 

 both for lighting and heating. In conclusion, M. Lindet 

 discusses the question as to the cost of heating and lighting by 

 alcohol in comparison with the methods in current use, and 

 especially with reference to petroleum, and points out that 

 although petroleum has a slight advantage in the matter of cost, 

 this is more than counterbalanced for domestic purposes by the 

 cleanliness and freedom from smell of the alcohol. 



The same number of the Bulletin contains an interesting 

 review, by M. Ach. Livache, of the methods in use for the 

 destruction or utilisation of town refuse. The processes in use 

 fall mostly under two types, incineration, which has been chiefly 

 developed in this country, and treatment by reduction, in which 

 either a solvent or superheated steam is used. The latter is 

 mostly in favour in the United States. The relative advantages 

 of the two methods are critically examined, it being pointed out 

 that no hard and fast rule can be laid down which will be 

 applicable to all cases, a careful examination and analysis of the 

 refuse which it is proposed to treat being an indispensable 

 preliminary. 



The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the 

 past week include a Green '^\.ot^s^ {,Cercopithecus callitrichiis) 

 from West Africa, presented by Mrs. A. Clayton ; a Common 

 NO. 1690, VOL. 65] 



Otter {Lutra vulgaris) British, presented by Mr. W. H. 

 Radcliffe Saunders ; a Naked-footed Osvlet {Athene noctua) 

 European, presented by Mrs. Tewson ; a Larger Hill Mynah 

 (Gracula intermedia) hum Northern India, presented by Mi.ss 

 F. V. Cooper ; a Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) European, presented 

 by Mr. R. S. Lindley ; a South African Ground Hornbill 

 (Bticorvus lafer) from Zululand, presented by Major C. H. 

 Rowley, D.S.O. ; three Lions (Felis leo) from South-west 

 Africa ; a Malayan Bear ( Ursus malayatius) from Malacca ; a 

 Bennett's Cassowary (Casuaritis bennetti) from New Britain, 

 deposited; two Common Rheas (Rhea americana) irom South 

 America; a Scemmerring's Pheasant [Pkasianus soemmerringi) 

 from Japan ; twelve Goldeneyes (Clangula glaucion) European, 

 purchased. 



OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



Nebula around Nova Persei. — A circular from the 

 Centralstelle at Kiel announces the receipt of an interesting 

 communication from Prof Max Wolf concerning the changes in 

 the nebulous surroundings of Nova Persei. On March 5 he 

 obtained a fine photograph with an exposure of four hours, 

 which showed that all the former condensations had become 

 weaker. From the Nova towards the south-west there now 

 extends a new long zone of nebulosity much brighter than the 

 previously existing condensations. Indeed on February 3, the 

 date of the last previous photograph, this region was very 

 bright. It is extremely interesting that this later nebulosity is 

 brighter than the appearance of August, 1901. The same 

 circular also announces a communication from the Lick Observ- 

 atory stating that from recent photographs with the Crossley 

 reflector Perrine finds no evidence of polarisation in condensa- 

 tions A and D of the Nova Persei nebula. 



New Variable Star, 3, 1902 (Monocerotis). — Prof. W. 

 Ceraski, of Moscow, announces the variability of the star 

 B.D. + 6° 1462, 



R.A. =6h. som. 37s.-4 l(,8„.o) 

 Decl.= -1-6° 2i'-4 J ^'*55 0)- 



The star was near maximum about February 20, being then 

 about 7'o mag. The determination was photographic, but there 

 is not sufficient data yet available to calculate the period. The 

 magnitude in the B.D. is 8"0 {Astrononiische Nachrichten, 

 m. 158, No. 3775). 



SEISMOLOGY IN AUSTRIA. 

 A T the present time the shelves of libraries throughout the 

 ■^ world are bending beneath volumes of statistics, the 

 analysis of which it is hoped will lead to the discovery of 

 something new. To these piles of undigested materials, if we 

 surmise correctly, there is shortly to be added an inundation of 

 statistics from those who study earthquakes. Twenty years ago, 

 seismologists were few and far between, but now they have 

 increased in number and are represented by organised societies, 

 which publish journals and reports. The first of these had its 

 origin in Japan. Fifteen years later a corresponding body 

 appeared in Italy, following on the heels of which came 

 commissions and committees with similar objects in various 

 European countries. Even the time-honoured routine of many 

 meteorological and magnetical observatories has not been 

 allowed to rest in peace, and the daily round at these establish- 

 ments includes a visit to the seismographs. 



As illustrative of these new departures, we call attention to 

 what is being done by the Royal Academy of Sciences in Vienna. 

 In 1895 this body established a Commission for the Observation 

 of Earthquakes, the reports of which were published in the 

 Academy's Transactions. Possibly on account of their size 

 they are now issued as separate numbers, twenty-one of which 

 form the first series. Of the second series six parts have been 

 issued, a brief notice of which will give an idea of the extensive 

 and valuable investigations now being carried out in Austria. 



The key to this work is found in part ii. of the series, which 

 its author. Dr. E. v. Mojsisovics, describes as a general report 

 of shocks recorded in Austria in the year 1900. From this 



