6o4 



NATURE 



[April 24, 1902 



various temperafures, and by the application of the formula of 

 Clapeyron to the data thus obtained, the heat of formation of the 

 hydride is calculated, and compared with the value given by 

 direct experiment. From these experiments it was also possible 

 to give the exact conditions necessary to the preparation of 

 metallic strontium from its amalgam. — On the combinations of 

 alumina with chromium sesquioxide, by M. Duboin. — On the 

 composition of the amidotariric acids, by M. Arnaud. The ap- 

 plication nf Beckmann's reaction to tariric ketoxime gave un- 

 decylaniine, pimelic acid, lauric acid and amidocaproic acid, 

 from which the formula CH,— (CH2),„— C = C— (Clf.,)^— COj,H 

 is deduced for tariric acid.— On diacetylbenzoylethane and 

 acetylmethylphenylfurfurane, by M. F. March. — On metho- 

 ethenylbenzene, by M. M. Tififenau. — On oxyisopropylphos- 

 phinic acid, by M. C. Marie. — The action of the organo- magne- 

 sium compounds on the fi-ketonic esters, by M. \'. Grignard. 

 Acetoacctic ethyl ester reacts with magnesium methyl iodide 

 entirely in the enolic forin ; its mono-alkyl derivatives appear to 

 behave as a mixture of the enolic and ketonic forms ; the pro- 

 duct of condensation of acetoacetic ester with aldehydes react 

 with the magnesium alkyl compounds in a manner corresponding 

 to the formula of Classen. — On the ichthyological fauna of the 

 basin of the Adour, by M. G. de Saint-Paul.— On the epithelio- 

 glandular origin of the seminal cells, by M. G. Loisel. The 

 conclusion is drawn from the experiments cited that in all 

 vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles and fishes, the 

 seminal cells are derived from a glandular epithelium. — On the 

 generic identity of Zygodia axillaris and the Baissea, by M. 

 Henri Hua. — The treatment of rickets by cod liver oil con- 

 taining lecithin, by M. G. Carriere. The cod liver oil used 

 contained 041 per cent, of lecithin derived from eggs, and was 

 applied in five cases, with the result that the disease was 

 arrested and cured in from four to six months. — Researches in 

 the variations arising in the toxic power of certain mineral and 

 . organic compounds, according to the chemical groups to which 

 they are linked in their soluble compounds, by M. Marc 

 iLaffont. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, April 24. 

 'Royal Society, at 4.30.— On Skin currents. Part III.— The Human 

 Skin: Dr. A. D. Waller, F.R.S.— Antarctic Origin of the Tribe 

 Schoene.-E : C. B. Clarke, F.R.S.— A New Interpretation of the Gastric 

 Organs of Spirula Nautilus and the Gastropods : J. E. S. Moore and 

 W. B. Randies.— Absolute Magnetic Observations at the Valencia 

 Observatory (Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry), 1899, 1900 and 1901 : J. E. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— The Oxygen Group of Elements: Prof. 

 J. Dewar, F.R.S. 



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

 Rail\v.-iys : J. Swinburne and W. R. Cooper. (Adjourned discussion).— 

 Form of Model General Conditions, for use in connection with Contract.* 

 for Plant. Mains, and .-\pparatus for Electricity Works. As drafted by a 

 Committee. 



FRlDAYy April 25. 



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

 Davidson. 



Physical Society, at 5.— An Exhibition of a Mechanical Break for 

 Induction-coils: Dr. Dawson Turner.- A Temperature Indicator for use 

 with Platinum-thermometers, in which Readings are .Automatically 

 Reduced to the Gas Scale : R. S. Whipple.— Note on the Compound 

 Pendulum : S. A. F. White. 

 'Jnstitution of Civil Engineers, at 4. — Sir W. C. Roberts-Austen, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S., will repeat the " James Forrest " Lecture on Metallurgy 

 ■in Relation to Engineering. 



MONDAY, Xn\i. 28. 



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

 brook, F.R.S. 



■ Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30.— Trade Routes in Eastern 

 Persia : The Earl of Ronaldshay and Edward Penton. 



■Institute of Actuaries, at 5.30. — Vaccination and the Act of iSgS: 

 A. F. Burridge. 



TUESDA Y, April 29. 



Anthropolocicai. Institute, at 8.3o.^Stone Axes and other objects 

 from Queensland : R. D. Darbishire. — Notes on the " Goura," the 

 Musical Instrument of the Bushmen and Hottentots: H. Balfour. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Annu.-d General Meeting. 

 WEDNESPA Y, April 30. 



Society of Arts, at 8.— The Timber Resources of the Australian 

 Commonwealth : E. T. Scammell. 



Chemical Society, at 5.30.— (i) On the Preparation of Absolute Alcohol 

 from Strong Spirit ; (2) On the Vapour Pressures and Boiling-point of 

 Mixed Liquids; (3) The Correction of the Boiling-points of Liquid from 

 Observed to Normal Pressure : S. Young.— (t) On the Properties of 

 Mixtures of the Lower Alcohols ; (2) On the Properties of Mixtures of 

 the Lower Alcohols with Benzene, and with Benzene and Water; (i|) 

 Fractional Distillation .is a Method of Quantitative Analysis ; (4) 

 Vapour Pressures and Specific Volumes of lsopropyl_ Isobutyrate; S. 

 Young and E. C.-Fortey.-:-Nitrogen Bromides containing the Propionyl 

 <jroup : F. D. Chattaway. 



<»eolocical Society, at 8.— The Origin and Associations of the Jaspers 

 of South-eastern Anglesey: E. Greenly.- The Mineralogical Constitu- 



tion of the Finer Material of the Burner Pebble-Bed in the West of 



England : H. H. Thomas. Revisio.i o( the Phyllocarida from the 



Chemung and Waverly Groups of Pennsylvania : Prof. C. E. Bcecher. 



THURSDAY. May i. 



Rov.\L Society, at 4 \o.—rrol;tlU /V/,:rj^— CoeBicients of the Cubical 

 Expansion of Ice, Hydratcd Salts, Sol-id Carbonic Acid, and other 

 Substances at Low Temperatures: Prof. J. Dewar, F.R.S. -The Con- 

 ditions determinative ofChcmicil Change and of Electrical Conduction 

 in Gases, and of the Phenomena of Luminosity : Prof. H. E. Armstrong, 

 F.R.S.— On llie Insulatina Resistance of the Capillary Electrometer, 

 and the Minimum (,)uantity of Electricity required 10 produce a Visible 

 Excursion: G. J. Burch, F.R S. 



RovAL Institution, at 3.— Recent Geological Discoveries: Dr. A. 

 Smith Woodward, F.R.S. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8.— <i) On the Mammalian Cerebellum, with 

 special reference to the Lemurs ; ^2) On the Brain of the Elephant Shrew, 

 Macroscetides prohoscidetis : Dr. Elliot Smith.— On the Early Condition 

 of the Shoulder-Girdle in the Polyprotodont Marsupials, Dasyurus and 

 Perameles : Dr. R. Brown. 



Institution of Electrical EN(;iNiiERs, at 8.— Automatic Relay Trans- 

 lation for Long Submarine Cables: S. G. Brown. 



Rontgen Society, at 8.30.— The Relation between XRaysand allied 

 Phenomena in Light and Electricity : Ernest Payne. (Discussion.) 

 FRIDAY. May 2. 



Royal Institution, at 9 —Experimental Researches on the Constilu- 



ioYAL Institution, at 9.— Expenmeni 

 tion of Crystals: A. E. Tutton, F.R.S. 



NO. 1695, VOL. 65] 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Practical Zoology for Beginners. By E. W. . . . 581 



Ferments and Fermentation. By Dr. A. C. Houston 582 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Harcourt : " Civil Engineering as applied in Con- 

 struction " 582 



Murche : " Rural Reader — Senior" ; " The Teacher's 

 Manual of Object Lessons for Rural Schools — 



Senior."— A. D. H .... 583 



Pilmer : " Poultry Management on a Farm " . . . . 583 



Adams: " Lectures on the Lunar Theory " .... 583 

 Stephen and Pollock : " Lectures and Kssays by the 



late William Kingdon Clifford, F.R.S." 584 



Vivanti : "Teoria delle Funzioni Analitiche" . . . 584 

 Leaper : " Graduated Exercises in Elementary Prac- 

 tical Physics " 584 



Letters to the Editor:— 



The Education Bill.— Sir J. G. Fitch; Sir W. T. 



Thiselton-Dyer, K.C.M.G., F.R.S 5S4 



The Dangers of Coral Reefs to Navigation. — ^J. Stan- 

 ley Gardiner 585 



Rearrangement of Euclid Book L — Prof. G. H. 



Bryan, F.R.S 585 



The Morphology of the Pleuronectida?. — F. J. Cole . 585 

 Swarm of Velella.— Prof. Ch. S. Sherrington, 



F.R.S.; Rose Haig Thomas 586 



Habits of the Gar-fish and Mackerel. — J. T. Cun- 

 ningham 5S6 



Flint Implements at Chelsea.— A. B. Marshall . . 5S6 



The Misuse of Coal.— Subscriber; J. P 5S6 



A Correction.— F. Finn 587 



Some Scientific Centres. — IV. The Heidelberg 



Physical Laboratory. (Illi<slral,-J) 587 



Erailien Jean Renou. By R. H. S 590 



Notes, {/lluslraled) 590 



Our Astronomical Column :— ■ 



Astronomical Occurrences in May 595 



Comet 1902a (Brooks) 595 



Nebula- and their Velocities in the Line of Sight . . 595 



The Red Spot on Jupiter 596 



The Meaning of the White Under Sides of 

 Animals, By Prof. Edwaid B. Poulton, F.R.S., 



and Abbott H. Thayer 596 



Report of the Smithsonian Institution. (IllusltaUd) 597 



University and Educational Intelligence 599 



Scientific Serials 599 



Societies and Academies 600 



Diary of Societies 604 



Suri'LEMENT. 



First Fruits of the Cambridge Anthropological 

 Expedition to Torres Straits. By E. Sidney 



Hartland iii 



The Sea-Coast of England iv 



Evolution and Anti-Materialism. By F. W. H. . . vi 



Galls viii 



The Evolution of Life. By R. M viii 



Outlines of Physiology. By B. Moore ix 



A Protest against Vitalism. By E. A. M x 



