48o 



NA TURE 



[March 20, 1902 



that of the light round (he kathode of a tube containing oxygen 

 or nitrogen. The author concludes that the aurora borealis is 

 a kathode phenomenon produced in the rarefied layers of the 

 upper atmosphere by Hertzian waves emanating from the sun. 

 The theory of Arrhenius is adversely criticised.— On a new 

 application of optical observations to the study of difiusion, by 

 M. J. Thovert. The optical method described in a previous 

 paper is applied to the determination of the diffusion constants 

 of solutions of the acids, alkalis and some .salts. The numbers 

 obtained for the salts accord well with those calculated from 

 electrolytic data by Nernst's diffusion theory ; for the acids the 

 observed numbers are smaller than the calculated. — Remarks on 

 a recent note of MM. Nagoaka and Honda relating to the 

 magnetostriction of nickel steels, by M. F. Osmond. — Study of 

 the transformations of steels by the dilatometric method, by 

 MM. (leorges Charpy and Louis Grenet. Two transformations 

 can be observed in the iron-carbon alloys by the dilatometric 

 method : the one brusque, produced at 700° C, with contraction 

 of volume, corresponding to the absorption of heat observed at 

 the critical point «, in the pyrometric method ; the second a 

 more gradual one, taking place at a temperature near that of the 

 critical point «., as determined by the pyrometric method. — The 

 action of hydrogen peroxide on oxide of zinc, by M. de 

 I'orcrand. The experimental results of the author lead to the 

 conclusion that zinc can exist in three states of per- 

 oxidation, Zn^Oj, ZnjOj and ZnOo. — On a new phosphate of 

 soda, by M. H. Joulie. Ordinary sodium phosphate is mixed 

 with phosphoric acid until it is neutral to litmus. On concen- 

 tration, crystals of the new salt separate out ; they possess the 

 composition Na3H.|(P04).j. It is pointed out that this salt 

 presents certain advantages from the therapeutic point of view. — 

 Reduction of orthonitroazoic colouring matters : production of 

 substituted derivatives of phenyl-pseudo-aziniidobenzene, by 

 MM. A. Rosenstiehl and E. Suais. — On the variation of 

 rotatory power in the esters of stable lajvorotatory borneol, by 

 MM. J. Minguin and E. Gregoire de Bollemont. — On the 

 separation of galactose and glucose by the Sacxharoniyces Liid- 

 wigii, by M. Pierre Thomas. Glucose is readily fermented by 

 this yeast, but galactose is not attacked. Details are given of 

 the best mode of carrying out this separation, which affords 

 very good yields. — The study of the lactic fermentation by the 

 observation of the electrical resistance, by MM. Lesage and 

 Dongier. — The evolution of branchial formations in the adder, 

 by MM. A. Prenant and G. Saint-Remy.— Study of a liver-wort 

 with thallus inhabited by a fungus, by M. J. Beauverie. — On a 

 fossil Parkeria, by M. B. Renault. — Researches on the modifica- 

 tions of the blood and serum preserved aseptically by heating. 

 The lipolytic function of the blood, by MM. Maurice Doyon 

 and Albert Morel. — Volume in urology. The volume type and 

 the dynamical coefficient, by M. J. Winter. — Experimental re- 

 searches on the biological life of a xiphopage, by MM. N. 

 yaschide and CI. Vurpas. 



GOTTINGEN. 



Royal Society of Sciences. — The Nachrichtcn (physico- 

 mathematical section), part iii. for 1901, contains the following 

 memoirs communicated to the Society : — 



November 8, 1901 : — W. Voigt : The electron-hypothesis 

 and the theory of magnetism. A. Auwers : Right ascensions 

 of 792 stars observed with the meridian instruments of the 

 Giittingen Observatory in the years 1858 and 1859. 



December 21, 1901 : — V. Rothmund : On the formation of 

 calcium carbide. 



The accompanying "business number'' contains an interest- 

 ing account by the presiding secretary of the proceedings in 

 connection with the 150th anniversary of the Sociely, celebrated 

 in November last. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



, , THURSDAY, March 20. 



RoVAL Society, at 4.30.— Development of the Layers of the Retin: 

 the Chick after the Korm.ilion of the Optic Cup : J. Cameron.— Oi 

 Peculiarity of the Cerebral Commissures in certain Marsupialia, not 

 hitherto recognised as a Distinctive Feature of the Diprotodontia : 

 Prof. G. Elliot Smith.— The CLissification of the Elements: Prof. 

 H. £. Arm-trong. V.P.R.S.— Persulphuric Acids: Prof. H. F,. Arm- 

 strong, V.P.R.S., and Dr. T. Martin Lowry.— On a Throiv-TcMing 

 Machine for Reversals of Mean Stress : Prof. Osborne Reynolds, F.R.S., 

 and J. H. .Smith.— On the Equilibrium of Rotating Liquid Cylinders: 



J. H. Jeans.— A Portable Telemeter, or Range-finder : Prof. G. Forbes, 



F.R.S. 

 LiNNEAN Society, at 8.— Electric Response in Ordinary Plants under 



Mechanical Stimulus: Prof. J. C. Rose.— On the Fruit o< Mehcarina 



baml'usotdes, Trin., an F.xalbuminous Grass: Dr. O. Stapf. — On 



M:\Jacostraca from the Red Sea Collected by Dr. H. O. Forbes : Messrs. 



Alfred O. Walker and Andrew Scott. 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Problems of Electric 



Railways : J. Swinburne and W. R. Cooper. 



FRIDAY, March 21. 

 Roval Institution, at 9 —Recent Devclcpments in Colouring Matters, 



(In English) : Prof. Otto N. Witt, 

 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at 8. — Fencing of Steam and 



Gas-Engines: H. D. Marshall.— Fencing or Guarding M.ichinery used 



in Textile Factories: S. R. Piatt.— Protection of Litt-.-h:ilts, and Salely 



Devices in connection with Lift-Doors and Controlling Gear:H. C. 



Walker.— Guarding Machine Tools: W. H. Johnson. 

 Epidemiological Society, at B.30. — Infantile Moitatity in the Tropics: 



Dr. Daniels. 



SATURDAY, March j2. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— Some Electrical Developments : Lord Ray- 



leieh, F.R.S. 

 Essex Field Ch;b (Essex Museum of Natural History, Stratford), at 



6.30.— Annual Meeting. The Presidential Address will be delivered by 



Prof. Meldola, F.R.S., on The Coming of Age of the Essex Field Club, 



a Record of Local Scientific Work, iSBo-igoi. 



MONDAY, March 2j. 



Institute OF Actuaries, at 5.3o.-The British Offices Life Tables, 



I 893 ; an Investi^aticn of the Rales of Moilalily in different Classes of 



the Assurance Experience, and of the resulting Net Premiums and 



P olicy Reserves : T. G. Ackland. 



TUESDA Y, March 25. 

 MiNERAl.OGlCAL SociETV, at 8.— The Petrology of Kiilish Exst Africa: 

 Notes on the Rock-specimens collected by Prof. J. W. (Sregory and Sir 

 Harry Johnston respectively: 0. T. Prior. 

 Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— The (Jreenwich Footway- 

 Tunnel : W. C. Copperthwaite.— Subaqueous Tunnelling ihrough the 

 Thames Gravel, Baker Street and Waterloo Railway : A. H. Haigh. 

 Society of Arts (Colonial Section), at 4.30.— The Sphere of State 

 .\ctivity in Australia: The Hon. Sir John Alexander Cockburn, 

 K.C.M.G. 



WEDNESDAY, March 26. 

 Geological Society, at 8.- On a Remaikable Irlier an-ong Ihc Jurassic 

 Rccksof Sutherland, and its bearing on the Origin of the Breccia-Beds: 

 J. F. Blake.-On a Deep Boring at Lyme Regis: A. J. Jukes- 



Bn 

 CHE^ 



Theatre), at Q.— Raoult 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Reform of the Teaching of Mathematics. By 



A. E. H. L 457 



A Study in Fish Morphology 459 



The Gold of Ophir . 460 



Experimental Work with Gases. By J. A. H. . . . 461 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Bauschinger : " Tafein zur Theoretischen Astro- 

 nomic '' 463 



Rhodes : "An Elementary Treatise on Alternating 



Currents."— M. S 463 



James: "Cyanide Practice" 463 



Durand and Jackson: "Index Kewensis Plantarum 



Phanerogarutn. Supplementum Primum " . . . . 464 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



The Misuse of Co.ll.— Prof. John Perry, F.R.S. . 464 

 Birds attacking Butterflies and Moths. — Prof. 



Edward B. Poulton, F.R.S 465 



Sun Pillars.— W. H. Graham (Illustraled) ; Dr. 



G. Johnstone Stoney, F.R.S 465 



Prools of Euclid I. 5.— H. W. Croome Smith; 



Edward T. Dixon 466 



The National Physical Laboratory 466 



Proposed Organised Research on Cancer. By 



Prof. F. W. Tunnicliffe 467 



The Owens College Jubilee 469 



Celebration cf the Twenty-Filth Anniversary of the 



Johns Hopkins University 470 



Notes. {Illustraled) 471 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Nebula around Nova Persei 475 



New Variable Star, 3, 1902 (Monocerotis) .... V 475 



Seismology in Austria. By J. M 475 



Scientific Serial 470 



Societies and Academies 476 



Diary of Societies 480 



NO. 1690, VOL. 65] 



