1 68 



NATURE 



{^Dcc. i6. li 



conditions determining the form and density of the earth's crust, 

 by M. Faye. The conclusions of modern physicists regarding 

 the uniform flattening of both terrestrial poles are vindicated 

 against M. de Lapparent's captious objections. The general 

 charge that the work of geodesy is far from completed is ad- 

 mitted ; but it is pointed out that, in order to continue this 

 work, it is not necessary to sweep away the secure results 

 already obtained ; it will be safe to prosecute it on the safe lines 

 already laid down by Sabine, Freycinet, Foster, Clarke, Liitke, 

 and other eminent men of science. — Action of manganese on 

 the phosphorescent property of carbonate of lime, by M. Ed- 

 mond Becquerel. The experiments here described place in a 

 clear light the action of manganese, explaining how the car- 

 bonate of lime derived from the solution of Iceland-spar in pure 

 hydrochloric acid always leads to preparations of orange phos- 

 phorescent sulphurets, while the'phosphorescent matter is always 

 bright green when the carbonate of hme used in the preparation 

 is aragonite. — On the nitric substances of vegetable soil, by 

 MM. Berthelot and Andre. A first series of experiments is 

 here described, which have been carried out in the presence of 

 diluted hydrochloric acid for the purpose of determiningthe chemi- 

 cal constitution of the nitric substances found in all vegetable soils 

 in association with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and almost ab- 

 solutelyinsoluble. — On the coinposition of cider, by M. G. Lechar- 

 tier. A quantitative analysis is given of the vaiious ciders at pre- 

 sent consumed in Paris, and coming chiefly from Normandy and 

 Brittany. The results show an average proportion of alcohol 

 lying between 5'i and 9*40 per cent. — On the red fluorescence 

 of alumina, by M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. These experiments 

 show that the presence of chromium appears to be indispensable 

 for the production of the red fluorescence of alumina. There 

 seems to be a complete analogy between the parts played by 

 chromium and all other active substances, such as Mn, Bi, Za, Z& 

 or Sm. — Report made, in the name of the Section of Physics, in 

 reply to a letter of the Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, 

 and Worship on sundry questions connected with the establish- 

 ment of lightning-conductors on the buildings of the Lyceums 

 (Commissioners : MM. Becquerel, Berthelot, Cornu, Mascart, 

 Lippmann, and Fizeau). The report considers it indispensable 

 for complete safety to have all iron roofs, doors, sashes, jiipes, 

 &c., carefully connected with the general apparatus usually 

 attached to these buildings as protections against electric dis- 

 charges. — On the fundamental principles of the higher geometry, 

 by M. A. Mouchot. To generalise the figures of geometry by 

 assigning them well-defined imaginary points, and then to 

 prove that the algebraic symbols express all the relations of 

 magnitude or position between the elements of these figures, is 

 the double problem which has engaged the attention of the 

 author for the last thirty years, and a rational and complete solution 

 of which is now submitted to the Academy.— On certain pro- 

 blems in which are considered, on a plane curve, arcs of the 

 same origin traversed in the same time as the corresponding 

 chords, by M. G. Fouret. — On a new testing exploder ("ex- 

 ploseur-verificateur ") of quantity and tension, by MM. Louis de 

 Place and Bassee-Crosse. This apparatus consists of a moist 

 pile of the Place-Germain system, an induction bobbin, and a 

 telephone. It is described as very handy, portable, .and durable, 

 advantageously replacing the exploders of quantity and the 

 exploders of tension. It also verifies the circuits at any given 

 moment without danger of premature explosion. — Calorimetric 

 researches on the specific heats and changes of state at high 

 temperatures, by M. Pionchon. In this first communication the 

 author gives, in tabulated form, the results of his calorimetric 

 studies for silver, tin, iron, nickel, and cobalt. His experiments 

 fully confirm the opinion already announced by M. Berthelot on 

 the so-called law of Dulong and Petit. — On the tensions of 

 vapour of solutions made in ether, by M. Em. Raoult. The 

 tensions of vapour for the solutions here determined by Dalton's 

 method show that the molecular diminutions of tension are 

 always comprised between 0-67 and 074, with a general average 

 of 071, whatever be the composition, chemical function, and 

 molecular weight of the substances held in solution. — Researches 

 on the bi-metallic phosphates and allied salts, and on their 

 transformations, by M. A. Joly. — Saturation of normal arsenic 

 acid by magnesia, and formation of amnioniaco-magnesian 

 arseniate, by M. Ch. Blarez. These researches on the forma- 

 tion of the arseniates of magnesia and of ammoniaco-mag- 

 nesian arseniate have been undertaken for the purpose of I 

 completing the author's studies on the saturation of normal 1 

 arsenic acid.; — On the phenomena attending the heating and I 



cooling of cast steel, by M. Osmond. In continuation of 

 his studies of these phenomena between the normal tem- 

 perature and 800° C. the author here gives the results of his 

 researches brought up to 1200° C. — On the influence of silicium 

 on the state of the carbon in pig-iron, by M. Ferdinand Gaulier. 

 The experiments already carried out by Messrs. Stead and Wood, 

 of Middlesbrough, are here repeated under somewhat altered 

 conditions and with analogous results. — On the water of com- 

 bination of the alums, by M. E. J. Maumene. — Heat of neutral- 

 isation of the meconic and mellic acids, by MM. H. Gal and E. 

 Werner. — A contribution to the study of the fossil fruits of the 

 Eocene flora in the west of France, by M. Louis Crie. — On the 

 diseases of the olive, especially tuberculosis, by M. L. Savastano. 

 — On the phenomenon of the green ray, by M. de Maubeuge. 

 The author's repeated observations of this well-known pheno- 

 menon, both at sunset and sunrise under varying atmospheric 

 conditions, lead him to conclude that it is really objective, and 

 not merely a subjective sensation. — The Indo-European Canal 

 and the navigation of the Euphrates and Tigris, by M. Emile 

 Eude. It is suggested that with a capital of about 60,000,000/. 

 a canal available both for navigation and irrigation might be 

 constructed from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, shorten- 

 ing the route to India by six days. 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 



The History of Howietoun, and also of the Fish-Cultural Work : Sir 

 J. R. G. Maitland (Guy, Stirling).— Mitteilungen des Vereins fur Erdkunde 

 zn Halle, 188S (Halle).— Trait^ de Zoologie Agricole : P. Brocchi (Bailliete 

 et Fils. Paris).— Pearis and Pearling Life : E. Streeter (G. Bell and Sons).— 

 The Owens College ; J. Thompson (Cornish, Manchester.) — Journal of 

 the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. .xix. (Sydney).— The Pre- 

 History of the North : J. J. -A. Worsaae, translated by H. F. M. Simpson 

 (Trubner).— The Age of Electricity : P. Benjamin (Cassells).— Journal of the 

 Royal Microscopical Society, December (Williams and Norgate). — Hydraulic 

 Power and Hydraulic Machinery: H. Robinson (Griffin).— Education 

 Exhibits, part i (Washington).— Elementary Course of Practical Zoology : 

 B. P. Collon (Heath, Boston).— Old and New Chemistry : S. E. Phillips 

 (Wertheimer, Lea, and Co.). — Calendar of the Universitj^ College of Wales, 

 Aberystwith, 1886-87 (Cornish, Manchester).— A Treatise on Cnemistry, 

 vol. iii. part 3 : Sir H. Roscoe and Prof. C. Schorlemmer (Macmillan). — A 

 Text-Book of Pathological .\natomy and Pathogenesis, part 2, sections ix.- 

 xii. : Prof. E. Ziegler, translated by Dr. D. Macalister (Macmillan). 



CONTENTS PAGE 



The Palissy of Calico-Printing. By Prof. T. E. 



Thorpe, F.R.S I45 



The British International Polar Expedition . . . 147 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Nicholson's "Natural History, its Rise and Progress 



in Britain" 148 



" The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of 



England." — Prof. John Wrightson 148 



Oliver's "Madagascar" 149 



Letters to the Editor : — 



An Ice Period in the Altai Mountains. — E. 



Michaelis 149 



How to make Colourless Specimens of Plants to be 

 preserved in Alcohol.— Prof. Hugo de Vries . 149 



Virtual Velocities.— F. Guthrie 149 



Recent Gales.— E. J. Lowe 150 



Note on the Manipulation of Glass containing Lead. 



H. G. Madan 150 



Fireball of December 4, 1SS6.— W. F. Denning . 151 

 The Dispersion of Plants by Birds. By D. Morris 151 



Sounding a Crater. By Prof. John Milne 152 



The Mathematical Tripos, II. By J. W. L. 



Glaisher, F.R.S 153 



Earthquake at Sea. By Reginald H. Hertslet . . 157 



Notes 157 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Publications of the Washburn Observatory, vol. iv. . 159 

 The Second Armagh Catalogue of 3300 Stars . . . 159 

 Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1886 



December 19-25 itJc 



Sanitary Progress during the Reign of the Queen. 



By Capt. Douglas Galton, C.B., F.R.S 160 



On the Forms of Clouds. By A. F. Osier, F.R.S. . 164 

 Further Experiments on Flame. By Dr. George J. 



Burch. [llltistralc-d) 165 



Societies and Academies 165 



Books and Pamphlets Received 168 



