520 



NATURE 



[October 20, 19 10 



Elements." As the result of the determination of the 

 molecular weights of fifty to sixty halogen contain- 

 ing substances of different types, it was shown that 

 molecular association occurs only when the halogen com- 

 pound is an electrolyte, that there is no special virtue in 

 the halogen elements — such as the existence of a large 

 number of contra or residual valencies — neither is there 

 any virtue in the halogen ion differentiating it from other 

 ions. Molecular association in neutral solvents is the 

 reverse of the supposed electrolytic dissociation in the 

 dissociating solvents. 



The third paper, by W. E. S. Turner and E. W. Merry, 

 dealt with the molecular complexity of nitrosoamines. 

 Measurements of the surface energy of three nitrosoamines 

 show that aliphatic nitrosoamines are associated liquids, 

 whilst aromatic nitriles and nitro-compounds are non- 

 associated. 



Dr. F. M. Perkin communicated a short note on the 

 action of metals upon alcohols. When ozone is bubbled 

 through lead suspended in a state of fine division in 

 alcohol lead ethoxide is formed, and this substance is 

 readily obtained on boiling up finely divided lead with 

 absolute alcohol. A few drops of alcoholic mercuric 

 chloride solution are added to facilitate the reaction, or 

 dry air is bubbled through the heated mixture for the 

 same reason. 



The method has been extended to the preparation of 

 lead methoxide, cadmium ethoxide, mercurous ethoxide, 

 and silver ethoxide. 



The reports of the research committees contained much 

 valuable matter. That on dynamic isomerism dealt with 

 the absorption-spectra of camphor and a number of its 

 derivatives. The report of the study of hydroaromatic 

 substances deals with the constitution of the 3 ; 5-dichloro- 

 o-phthalic acid obtained from dimethyldihydroresorcin and 

 the preparation of 1:1: 2-trimethylcycIohexanone. 



The transformation of nitroamines committee report on 

 the chlorination of anilides and the transformation of 

 acylchloroaminobenzenes, and also on the bromination of 

 anilides. The committee on isomorphous sulphonic deriva- 

 tives of benzene state that during the past year the results 

 obtained by the examination of twenty-nine derivatives of 

 the I : 4 series have been discussed from the point of view 

 of the Barlow-Pope theory, correlating crystalline structure 

 with molecular form, and found to be in complete accord- 

 ance with it. 



GEOLOGY AT THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



A S was perhaps natural in a year when a geologist, 

 Dr. Bonney, was president of the association, there 

 was an excellent gathering at Section C, which was 

 fortunate in being able to welcome, in addition to the 

 president. Prof. A. P. Coleman, three other geologists 

 from Canada, Dr. R. Bell, Mr. J. B. Tyrrell, and Prof. 

 Spencer. The meetings of the section were well attended, 

 the number of papers presented was sufficient to afford a 

 full programme for the last day (Wednesday), and several 

 well-sustained discussions took place. Any account of the 

 sectional proceedings would be incomplete without a refer- 

 ence to the interesting series of excursions arranged by 

 Mr. B. Hobson and Mr. Cosmo Johns. On Saturday 

 there was a whole day excursion to the Castleton district 

 under the leadership of Dr. Arnold Bemrose, while four 

 half-day excursions were carried out. The sectional 

 dinner was attended by more than sixty members. 

 Successful joint meetings were held with the geographical 

 section and agricultural sub-section ; the papers read on 

 the latter occasion are referred to in the report of the sub- 

 section. 



The great majority of the papers and reports read before 

 the section were stratigraphical in character. In pre- 

 Cambrian geology there was, in the first place, the presi- 

 dent's address on " The Canadian Shield," already printed 

 in extenso in Nature (vol. Ixxxiv., p. 333). 



Two reports were also presented dealing with pre- 

 Cambrian rocks, one on the composition and origin of 

 the crystalline rocks of Anglesea, and one on Charnwood 

 rocks. 



Lower Paleozoic stratigraphy was represented by a 

 paper by Dr. J. E. Marr and Mr. W. G. Fearnsides on 

 the Lower Palaeozoic rocks of the Cautly district, Sed- 

 burgh, and a further paper by Miss G. R. Whatney and 

 Miss E. G. Welch described the graptolitic zones from the 

 Salopian beds of the same area ; the only other region in 

 which the majority of these zones have hitherto been traced 

 is the Welsh border country. Two reports relative to the 

 Lower Palseozoic rocks were also presented ; the com- 

 mittee appointed for the excavation of critical sections in 

 the Pala;ozoic rocks of Wales and the west of England 

 presented an important report drawn up by Mr. E. S. 

 Cobbold on excavations among the Cambrian rocks of 

 Comley, Shropshire, this including a general revision of 

 the results yielded by the excavations of the past three 

 years and a vertical section. An interim report on the 

 rocks of the Glensaul and Lough Nafooey areas, cos. 

 Mayo and Gal way, was also read. 



A number of papers had reference to Carboniferous strata. 

 Mr. Cosmo Johns' lecture on local geology was chiefly 

 concerned with the Carboniferous rocfcs, and he further 

 presented a paper on the Yoredale series and its equiva- 

 lents elsewhere. The report of the committee on the faunal 

 succession of the Lower Carboniferous (Avonian) of the 

 British Isles consisted of an important report drawn up 

 by Dr. A. Vaughan correlating the Belgian succession of 

 the Carboniferous limestone rocks with that of the south- 

 west of England. Mr. E. E. L. Dixon presented a paper 

 on the geology of the Titterstone Clee hills, and three 

 important papers bearing on the Coal-measures of the 

 south Pennine area were read, viz. that by Mr. H. Culpin 

 on marine bands in the Coal-measures of south Yorkshire, 

 that by Mr. W. H. Dyson on the Maltby deep boring, 

 and that of Dr. L. Moysey on some rare fossils from 

 the Derbyshire and Notts coalfield. Members of the 

 section had an opportunity on one of the excursions of 

 inspecting the fine collection of fossils at the Maltby mine, 

 and of obtaining many for themselves, while Dr. Moysey 

 kindly brought his collection to Sheffield, and it was on 

 view during the meeting. A report was also presented by 

 the committee for the investigation of the fossil fauna and 

 flora of the Midland coalfield. 



An important discussion took place relative to the con- 

 cealed coalfield of Notts, Derby, and Yorkshire, which 

 recent discoveries have proved to be far more extensive 

 than was formerly supposed. Prof. P. F. Kendall, in 

 opening the discussion, described the evidence for a great 

 eastward and southward extension of the concealed coal- 

 field, the south-western margin being probably formed by 

 a prolongation of the ancient rocks of the Charnwood area. 

 He further announced that coal had been met with in a 

 boring at Scunthorpe, a point eleven miles to the east 

 of its previously known extent. Triassic geology was re- 

 presented bv a suggestive paper from the Rev. E. C. 

 Spicer on present-day Triassic condition in Australia, and 

 by one by Mr. A. R. Horwood on the origin of the British 

 Trias. 



A number of papers and reports had reference to African 

 geology. Dr. J. W. Gregory read a paper on the geology 

 of Cyrenaica, Dr. J. D. Falconer one on the geology of 

 northern Nigeria, and Dr. F. H. Hatch one on the geology 

 of Natal. 



A somewhat lengthy report on the correlation and age 

 of South .African strata was presented, and a second 

 report on topographical and geological terms used locally 

 in South Africa. 



One of the most interesting discussions during the meet- 

 ing was that following a paper by Mr. G. W. Lamplugh 

 on the shelly moraine of the Sefstrom Glacier, Spitsbergen, 

 and its teachings. Observations on this glacier, which is 

 subject to somewhat rapid advances and retreats, showed 

 that (i) in a verv few years a thickness of some 70 to 80 

 feet of shelly Boulder-clay could be accumulated, the 

 glacier scooping up the material from the sea bottom and 

 pushing it before itself ; (21 that in this clay uninjured 

 shells occurred plentifully ; (3) that within a few yards of 

 the spot where the Boulder-clay was accumulating many 

 forms of animal and plant life could flourish — all points 

 of importance in helping to an understanding of British 

 glacial deposits. Other papers referring to glacial geology 



NO. 2138, VOL. 84] 



