58o 



NA TURE 



[Ai'Rii. 1 7, 1902 



of neon, argon, kryplon and xenon, by M. H. Wilde. The 

 author assumes, without proof, that the atomic weJRhts of this 

 series shouUi be represented by the members of the series 

 7«H, where n is 3, 6, or 9. This would give the atomic 

 weights as neon, 7 (996) ; nitrogen, 14 (14) : argon, 21 (I9'96) ; 

 krypton, 42 (40 78) ; and xenon, 63 (64), instead of the experi- 

 mental numbers given in brackets. — On a type of compounds 

 of glucinuni, by M. H. Lacombe. The compounds arc of the 

 type A,;Be,,0, where A is the radical of a falty acid. Particulars 

 are given of the preparation and properties of the formate, 

 acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, normal butyrate and isovalerate. 

 All attempts to prepare the normal salts of the type BeAo were 

 fruitless. — On (he constitution of the chlorhydrins, by M. Marc 

 Tiffeneau. The author has applied the synthesis of chlor- 

 hydrins from magnesium alkyl bromides and mono-chloracetone 

 to determine the constitution of the chlorhydrins obtained from 

 olefines and hypochlorous acid. The rule given by Markownikoff, 

 that in the fixation of MClO on olefines the hydroxyl group 

 attaches itself to the carbon possessing the least hydrogen, as 

 generalised by Krassousky was verified in the experiments 

 described. — On the nilration of furfurane, and on a derivative 

 of nitrosuccinic aldehyde, by M. Marquis. The nitration of 

 furfurane in solution in acetic anhydride opens up the ring with 

 the formation of a monacetin of nitrosuccinic aldehyde. By 

 the action of pyridine upon this, the ring is again closed and 

 mono-nitrofurfurane is produced.— On a new mode of pre- 

 paration of oxygen, by M. George F. Jaubert. The peroxides 

 of sodium or potassium are compressed with the theoretical 

 quantity either of a soluble permanganate or hypochlorite, or a 

 trace of a nickel or copper salt. Oxygen is produced from 

 these cubes in the cold by the action of water. — Mendel's 

 law and the heredity of pigmentation in mice, by M. L. Cuenot. 

 Up to the present all researches on Mendel's law have been carried 

 out on plants, and it is not known whether this mode of heredity 

 is met with in animals also. Experiments were therefore 

 carried out with white and grey mice, and it was found that the 

 progeny obtained by crossing these was invariably grey. The 

 result of crossing with these grey mongrels was in complete 

 accord with the theory. — On the structure and mode of 

 multiplication of the flagellfe of the genus Herpetomonas, by M. 

 Louis Leger. — On the Danictlia of Western Africa and on their 

 resinous products, their relation with the Hainmoul or incense 

 of the French Soudan, by M. Edouard Meckel.- On the seismic 

 influence of the Armorican folds in the north-west of France and 

 in the south of England, by M. F. de Montessus de Ballore. — 

 On a new application of the principle of chrono-photography 

 and on the construction of isonomal barometric charts, serving 

 for the kinematographical study of the general movements of 

 the atmosphere, by M. P. Garrigou-Lagrange. A series of 

 charts showing the isobars over a given area at sufficiently short 

 intervals of time may be regarded as instantaneous photographs 

 representing the several phases of a movement. A series of 

 charts issued by the Signal Ottice at Washington has been 

 treated from this point of view, and a number of charts obtained 

 which can be used in a hand kinematograph. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY. Ai'RiL 



Prof. 



RovAL Institution, at 3.— The Oxygen Group of Eli 



SociKTY OF Arts, at 4.30.— Recent Developments in Punjab Inigation : 

 Sidney Preston. , ... , - , vt , 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8.— The Anatomy of Todea with Notes on the 

 Affinity and Geological History of the Osmundjicea: : A C. Seward, 

 F.R.S., and Miss Sybil O. Ford. -On the New Ze.iland Phyllobranchiale 

 Crustacea, Macrura: G. M.Thomson. j ■ r, ■ .■ 



Chemical Society, at S.-Oxonium Salts of Fluoram and its Derivatives . 

 T.' T. Hewitt and J. H. Tervet -The Influence of cerl.-iin Acidic 

 Oxides on the Specific Rotations of Lactic Acid and Potassium Lactate : 

 G. G.' Henderson and D. l'renlice.-(.) The Amounts of Nurogen as 

 Ammonia and as Ni.ric Acid, and Chlorine in the R.-,in.water collected 

 at Rolhamsled ; (2) The Amounts of Nitrogen as Nitrates and Chlorine 

 in the Drainage through uncr,.pped and unmanuted land: N. H. J. 



'^''""' FRIDAY, April 18. 



RovAL Institution, at 9.— The Autocar : Sir J. H. A. M.tc<lonald. 

 KimEMlOLOGlCAL SOCIETY, at 8.30.— Smallpox Hospitals and the spread 



of Infection : Dr. Thresh. .„„ ,„•. - 



Institution opCivil Engineers, at 8.— The Erewash Valley Widening 



and Tolon Sidings : H. C. M. Austen. „ ™ ^ , j- • 



Instiiution OF Mechanical Engineers, at 8.— The Siandardisaiion 



of Pipe Flanges and Flange Fittings : R. E. Atkinson. 



MONDAY, \rR\\. 2t. 



Victoria Institute, at 4.30.— Iceland, its Histoiy and Inhabitants; 

 Dr. J. Stefansson. 



Society OF Arts, at 8.— Glas.s for Optical Instruments : Dr. R. T. Glaze- 

 brook, F.R.S. 



TUESDAY, Atkw. 22. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— Recent Methods and Results in Biological 

 Inquiry : Dr. A. Macfadyen. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8. — Discusiion: Locomotive Fire- 

 box Stays: F. W. Webb. 



lVF.nNESDAY,\eRi\.:ii. 



Institution of Civil ENt;iNRERS, at 8. — "James Forrest" Lecture: 

 Metallurgy in Rel.-ition to Engineering : Sir W. C. Roberts-Austen, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— Opto-technics : Prof. Silvanus P. Thompson. 



THURSDAY, April 24. 



Royal Society, at ^.io.—l'toliitliU fnfcn.— On Skin-currents. Part 

 III— The Human Skin: Dr. A. D. Waller. F.R.S.— Antarctic Origin 

 of the Tribe Schoenex : C. B. Clarke, F.R.S -A New Interpretation cf 

 the (Jastric Organs q{ Spirilla Nautilus and the Gastropods; J. E. S. 

 Moore and W. B. Randies. 



Royal Institution, at a.^The Oxygen Group of Elements: Prof. 

 J. Dcwar, F.R.S. 



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

 Railways; J. Swinburne and W. R. Cooper. (Adjouincd discussion).— 

 Form of Model General Conditions, for use in connection with Contracts 

 for Plant, Mains, and ."Apparatus for Electricity Wotks. As dratted by a 

 Committee. 



FRIDA Y, April 25. 



Royal Institution, ai 9.— X-Rays and Localisation: Dr. J. Mackenzie 

 Davidson. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Evolution of Mariiage. By E. Sidney Hart- 

 land 553 



CUmatological Atlas of the Russian Empire. By 



Dr. Alexander Buchan, F.R.S 554 



A French Critic of Maxwell. By Prof. VV. McF. 



Orr 555 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Pigg : "Clinical Pathology and Piactical Morbid 



Histology" 556 



Dalby: " The Balancing of Engines."— N. J. L. . . 556 

 " Guide to Italy ; " " (iuide to the Western Mediter- 

 ranean" 557 



Jones: " Outlines of Electrochemistry."— F. M. P. 557 



Leavitt : " Outlines of Botany " 557 



Letters to the Editor : — 



The Permeability of Iron Alloys.— Prof. W. M. 



Hicks, F.R.S 55S 



Reform in Mathematical Teaching.— C. S. Jackson; 



Frank L. Ward 55^ 



Rearrangement of Euclid Bk. I., Pt. 1.— W. C. 

 Fletcher; Edward T. Dixon; T. Petch ; 



Robt. B. Hay ward, F.R.S 559 



Winter Phenomena in Lakeland.— Dr. P. Q. Keegan 559 

 The Species Problem in Corals. — Henry M. 



Bernard 560 



Sun Pillars. (Illiislraled.)—'Dr. Vaughan Cornish 560 



Swarm of Velella.— Isaac C. Thompson 560 



Resultant-Tones and the Harmonic Series.— Mar- 

 garet Dickins 5^1 



Municipal Meteorology.— A. R. Hunt ... . . 561 

 A Gall-making Cynipid Fly in Jamaica.— Prof. 



T. D. A. Cockerell 561 



Criticism of "The Great Persian War."— G B. 



Grundy 5^1 



The Education Bill. By The Editor; Dr. Oliver 

 Lodge, F.R.S.; Sir J. G. Fitch; Prof. J. 



Wertheimer 5^^ 



The Regina Margherita Observatory. {lllustiaUd.) 



By Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B., F.R.S 568 



Prof. Exneron Science and the Stale. By J. P. . . 569 



Notes 570 



Our Astronomical Column ; — 



Total Eclipse of the Moon (April 22) 574 



New Varialile Stars ■ -. 574- 



The Photography of Disturbances in Air. (lllus- 



IraUd) .• V ■, • ; '.r'l • ■ ^^^ 



The Temperature of Inversion of the Joule-Kelvin 



Effect for Hydrogen. {lUuslra'cd.) By M. W. T. 576 

 The Radiant Point of the April Lyrids. liy W. F. 



Denning 570 



University and Educational Intelligence 57b 



Societies and Academies 579 



Diary of Societies 5*^° 



NO. 1694, VOL. 65] 



