4o8 



NA TURE 



\_Feb. 24, il 



comparing the dielectric constants with the molecular weights and 

 densities. He also determines the index of refraction of these 

 different liquids with a view to the verification of Maxwell's 

 law. — On the variable period of the current in an electro-mag- 

 netic system, by M. R. Arnoux. — Physical researches on the 

 isomery of position, by M. Alb. Cobon. Having succeeded in 

 transforming orthoxylene and metaxylene into alcohols, glycols, 

 ethers, &c., isomerous with the known compounds of paraxylene, 

 the author here inquires whether bodies so closely related in 

 their chemical properties may not also be connected hy some 

 physical relations. The best results have been obtained by the 

 calorimetric process. — Action of the oxide of mercury on some 

 dissolved chlorides, by M. G. Andre. In this preliminary paper 

 the author deals with the chlorides of barium, calcium, stron- 

 tium, and magnesium. — On the action of hydrochloric acid on 

 the solubility of the chlorides, by M. R. Engel. His further 

 studies enable the author to generalise the law already announced 

 by him in the Cotiiptcs ;-<'«i/«j- for March 1S86. — A new process of 

 analysing the carbonic acid emitted, and the oxygen inhaled, in 

 the act of breathing, by MM. M. Hanriot and Ch. Richet. 

 The differential method here described as applicable, with 

 some modifications, to the analysis of various gaseous mix- 

 tures, constitutes a simple and rigorous method for the quantitative 

 analysis of those of respiration. — The formic salts, by .MM. 

 Grehant and Quinquaud. The authors here discuss the question 

 as to what becomes of the formic salts introduced into the 

 system, and find that the formiate of soda injected into the 

 digestive organs or into the blood mostly passes unchanged into 

 the urine. — On the properties of colchicine, by MM. A. 

 Mairet and Combemale. Their experiments on dogs and 

 cats satisfy the authors that this substance is an irritant poison 

 which attacks all the organs, but especially the digestive tube 

 and the region of the kidneys. — On the effects of the transfusion 

 of blood into the head of decapitated animals and men, by M. 

 J. V. Laborde. The author refers to his numerous experiments 

 on this subject, which were overlooked in the paper recently 

 presented to the Academy by MM. Hayem and Barrier. — On 

 the comparative morphology of the brain in insects and crusta- 

 ceans, by M. H. Viallanes.-^The males of Z£V«K/«w/i«/^rM;/;« 

 and the question of parthenogenesis, by 51. R. Moniez. — On 

 the zoological researches carried out during the second scientific 

 expedition of the Hirondelle, in 1886, by Prince Albert of 

 Monaco. 



Berlin 

 Physical Society, January 7.— Prof, von Helmholtz in the 

 chair. — Dr. R. von Helmholtz developed theoretically the 

 formulae expressing the relations subsisting between vapour- 

 pressure, the melting-point, pressure, and volume, and enabling 

 the vapour-pressures in the fluid and solid state, or the freezing- 

 points and the change of the melting-point with that of the 

 pressure, to be calculated. — Dr. Thiesen, while engaged in 

 working experiments instituted by Schellbach respecting the 

 resistance of air, had found an expression for the force of resist- 

 ance in accordance with which a medium with less interior fric- 

 tion must necessarily offer a greater resistance than did a medium 

 with more friction. This induced him to carry out experiments 

 of his own with cylindrical rods regarding the resistance of air. 

 On a hardened steel point a brass cylinder open at the bottom 

 and bearing at its lower end externally two conjoined pieces, into 

 which the steel rods i metre long and I English inch thick 

 could be inserted horizontally and diametrically opposite to one 

 another, was able to rotate. By means of a cord circulation, the 

 cylinder was set rotating, and the abatement of speed consequent 

 on the resistance of the air was noted by each half-revolution 

 being marked electrically. These experiments yielded the same 

 formula for the resistance as had been obtained from the earlier 

 experiments. Another important result was that the method 

 employed for the measurement of the resistance of air had 

 maintained its validity remarkably well. In the discussion 

 following this address. Prof, von Helmholtz took part. He 

 called attention to the formation of whirling surfaces and 

 whirls on the rotating bodies, a matter which in a high degree 

 complicated the phenomenon. — Dr. Thiesen made a further 

 communication respecting the determination of the national 

 standard kilogramme. The cylinders of platinum-iridium, 

 weighing rather more than i kilogramme, which were cast in 

 London, were tested in respect of their density, and so often as 

 fissures were detected they were re-cast. They were thereafter 

 polished and again tested. Forty-two such standards were next 

 compared with one another, and their uniformity and non-liability 



to be affected by transport having been ascertained, they had 

 then to be compared with the kilogramme of the Archives, and 

 after examination by the International Commission were 

 despatched to the different Governments. 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS RECEIVED 



His 



s Sciences Math^matiques et Physiques, vol. x. : M. .Marie 

 (Gautliier-Vlllars, Paris). — Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South 

 Wales, 2nd series, vol. :. part 3 (Cunninghame, Sydney). — Nomenclature of 

 Color for Naturalists: R. Ridgway (Little, Brown, and Co.). — Bulletin of 

 the Philosophical Society of Washington, vol. i.\. (Washington). — Hourly 

 Readings. 1884, part 2, April to June (Eyre and Spottiswoode).— The Origin 

 of the Fittest : E. D. Cope (Macmillan).— Geographical and Geological Dis- 

 tribution of Animals : .K. Heilprin (K. Paul).— Hints for the Solution of 

 Problems of Solid Geometry : P. Frost (Macmillan). — Levelling and its 

 General Application : T. Holloway (Spon).— Observations Me'te'orolog iques 

 de Godthaab : A. F. W. Paulsen (Gad, Copenhague).— C//a//f«^<-r E.xpe- 

 dition Reports — Zoology, vol. xvii. ; Botany, vol. ii. — PhilosophischeStiidien. 

 Vierter Band, i Heft (Engelmann, Leipzig).— Encykljpaidie der Natur- 

 wissenschaften, Erste Abtb., 50 Lief. ; Zweite Abth. 39. 40, 41 Lief. 

 (Trewendt, Breslau) — City Government of Boston, Mass. : J. HL Bugbee 

 (Baltimore). — Annual Address to the Asiatic Society, Calcutta, February 2, 

 1887 : E. T. Atkinson.— Halifax, Annual Report of Public Library Com- 

 mittee, 1885-86. -;-Beiblatter 211 den Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Band 

 X. (Earth, Leipzig\ 



CONTENTS I 



The Owens College 



Anderson on Heat and Work 



A Field Naturalist in Eastern Bengal 



The Measure of the Metre 



Our Book Shelf:— 



De Quatrefages : " Histoire Generale dei Races 



Humaines " 



Schlemiiller : ' ' Grundziige einer Theorie der kosmischen 

 Atmospharen mit Beriicksichtigung der irdischen 



Atmosphare " 



Wall : " Manual of Physical Geography of Australia " 

 "An Intermediate Physical and Descriptive Geo- 

 graphy" 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Mr. Wallace on Physiological Selection. — Dr. George 



J. Romanes, F.R.S 



The Alleged Ancient Red Colour of .Sirius.— F.R.S. 

 A Green Light at Sunset. — R. T. Omond .... 

 Sunset Phenomenon. — Dr. Wentw^orth Erck . . 

 Aspects of Clouds. — Robert James Reilly . . . . 

 A Recently-Discovered Deposit of Celesline. — H. G. 



Madan 



"Culminating Sauropsida." — Prof. John Cleland . 

 The West Indian Seal (Moiiachns tropicalis). — Henry 



A. Ward 



An Abnormal Hirudo nicdiciiialis. — R. J. Harvey 



Gibson 



Instinctive Action. — D. W. C 



The Relations between Geology and the Mine- 

 ralogical Sciences, I. By Prof. John W. Judd, 



F.R.S 



Tabasheer. By W. T. Thiselton Dyer, C.M.G., 



F.R.S 



On the Earlier Tripos of the University of Cam- 

 bridge. By Sir G. B. Airy, F.R.S 



Notes 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Binary Star 5 Equulei 



The Temple Observatory 



Discovery of a New Comet, 18S7 (/(Barnard 2) . . 



Probable New Variable 



Names of Minor Planets 



Brightness and Mass of Binary Stars 



The Liverpool Astronomical Society 



Astronomical Phenomena for the Week 1887 



February 27 — March 5 



Geographical Notes 



On the Constitution of the Nitrogenous Organic 

 Matter of Soils. By R. Waring:ton, F.R.S. . . 



University and Educational Intelligence 



Scientific Serials 



Societies and Academies 



Books and Pamphlets Received 



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