ApriL 8, 1915] 
NATURE 
167 

problem requiring solution may give a fellowship to 
provide the salary of a researcher selected to carry 
out the investigation desired, the institute supplying 
every facility for the work. At present twenty-three 
fellowships are in operation and forty research chemists 
are at work. At the opening ceremony fifteen honorary 
degrees were conferred on distinguished Americans. 
Though the institute possesses its own endowment and 
has its own board of trustees, it is an integral part 
of the University of Pittsburgh. 

SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 
Lonpon. 
Zoological Society, March 23.—Mr. R. H. Burne, 
vice-president, in the chair.—R. Lydekker: The true 
coracoid. The element in birds and _post-Triassic 
reptiles universally known as the coracoid is the homo- 
logue of the human coracoid process, and its equiva- 
lent the true coracoid of the monotremes and mammal- 
like reptiles.—Dr. F. E. Beddard; Certain points in 
the anatomy of the Cestode genera Amabilia and 
Dasyurotenia.—B. F. Cummings: New species of 
Polyplax (Anoplura) from Egypt. This paper con- 
tained a systematic description of two new species 
of louse based on a large supply of material in spirit 
collected on Acomys cahirinus, Des., and forwarded 
by the Department of Public Health in Egypt to the 
Lister Institute, by whom they were subsequently 
presented to the British Museum. Both the new 
species were fortunately collected in large numbers 
in all stages of development, and an account of the 
larvee consequently has been prepared.—J. T. 
Cunningham; The resemblance in form and markings 
of the plates of paraffin-wax originally obtained by 
Prof. Kappers, of Amsterdam, to the shells of Mol- 
luscs. Examples of these structures had been ex- 
hibited at a previous meeting by Mr. R. H. Burne. 
Mr. Cunningham found that the forms were produced 
by pouring molten paraffin-wax on to the surface of 
cold water, and he had no doubt that Prof. Kappers’s 
specimens were produced in the same way by the 
molten wax running over on to a vessel filled with 
water. The author concluded that the form and 
markings were not in either case in any way due to 
effects of crystallisation as Prof. Kappers supposed. 
Geological Society, March 24.—Dr. A. Smith Wood- 
ward, president, in the chair.—P. G. H. Boswell: The 
stratigraphy and petrology of the Lower Eocene de- 
posits of the north-eastern part of the London basin. 
The following divisions of the Lower Eocene occur in 
the area:—London Clay—basement-bed only; the 
Pebble-Beds and accompanying sands; Reading Beds; 
Thanet Beds. The unconformity of the Eocene upon 
the Chalk is discussed, and reasons are given for re- 
garding the layer of green-coated flints. at the bottom 
of the Thanet Beds in the area as a true basal con- 
glomerate. Evidence is adduced to show that the 
London Clay overlaps the Lower London Tertiaries, 
and rests directly upon the Chalk in Norfolk. The 
Reading Beds also overlap the Thanet Beds in the 
western part of the area. A hypsometrical map of the 
Challx-surface in the London Basin is presented, and 
a minimum estimate of the unconformity, in terms 
of thickness of Chall removed, is given for the 
northern part of the basin. Stratigraphical details of 
the various divisions and descriptions of new sections 
are given. The variations in lithology of the Reading 
Beds are described, and it is shown that the Pebble- 
Beds belong lithologically and petrologically to the 
Reading Beds, but that their scanty fauna is a London 
Clay one. The distribution of the sarsens in the area 
is plotted out on a map, and their petrology is con- 
NOwee370,.)VOL.. Q5)] 


sidered; it is concluded that, in this district, they are 
derived from the sands of the Reading Beds. The 
mineral constitution of the various divisions of the 
Eocene Beds is discussed in detail. 
MANCHESTER, 
Literary and Philosophical Society, March g.—Mr. F. 
Nicholson, president, in the chair.—Sir Ernest 
Rutherford: Origin of the spectra given by 8 and 
y rays of radium. An account of recent experiments 
by Sir Ernest Rutherford and Dr. Andrade to deter- 
mine the wave-length of the very penetrating y rays 
emitted from radium. The spectrum of the y rays 
was obtained by a photographic method by reflecting 
the rays from a thin slip of rock-salt. The radio- 
active source consisted of a fine glass tube containing 
a large quantity of radium emanation. Special pre- 
cautions were taken to get rid of the effect of the 
B rays emitted with the y rays. A large number of 
lines were observed in the spectrum over a wide range 
of wave-length. Two well-marked lines are reflected 
from rock-salt at 10° and 12°, and correspond to some 
soft y rays. There were other strong lines of 1° and 
1-7°, corresponding to the very penetrating rays. The 
shortest wave-length observed was 9-7 angstrém unit, 
which is about 1/50,000 of the wave-length of visible 
light. This radiation has much the shortest wave- 
length at present known. An account was also given 
of the methods for determining the magnetic spectrum 
of the 6 rays. The rays from a fine source, passing 
normally in a strong magnetic field, describe a circular 
path and fall on a photographic plate. A number of 
well-marked lines are observed on the plate, which 
correspond to groups of rays of definite velocity. The 
speed and energy of the £ particle comprising each of 
those groups of rays from radium products have been 
accurately determined by Rutherford and Robinson. 
The general evidence indicates a very close connection 
between the emission of 8 and y rays from radio-active 
bodies, and that the energy of the groups of £ rays 
are intimately related with the frequency of the 
y radiation from which they arise. The author out- 
lined a general theory to explain the connection be- 
tween the 6 and y rays. 
Paris. 
Academy of Sciences, March 29.—M. Ed. Perrier in 
the chair.—Edmond Delorme: Artificial limbs for the 
use of the amputated. Medical treatment is required 
by the amputated for some time after the wound has 
healed, if the full benefit of artificial limbs is to be 
obtained.—J. Comas Sola: Certain rapid displacements 
of short duration registered by photography. In 
photographs of the sky taken for the purpose of de- 
tecting minor planets, a certain number of stars showed 
changes of position from hour to hour, which could 
not be attributed to contractions or deformations of 
the gelatine of the plate.—J. Comas Sola: The dis- 
covery of a new minor planet.—E,. Keraval: A family 
of triply orthogonal systems.—Gaetano Scorza; Singu- 
lar Abelian functions.—M. Dussaud ; New experiments 
on sources of light of small surface.—O. Bailly : The 
constitution of glycerophosphoric acid and of lecithin. 
Ege lecithin is a mixture of two isomers from which 
a mixture of a- and £-glycerophosphoric acids is ob- 
tained, the latter predominating.—G. Tizzoni; The 
infectious nature of pellagra. Results of researches 
made in Italy and in Bessarabia. Further studies on 
the micro-organism previously described by the author 
under the name of Streptobacillus pellagraec.—M. 
Guépin: The destruction by suppuration and ablation 
of a considerable part of the brain resulting in no 
appreciable trouble.—Pierre Delbet: Extra-pericardic 
cardio-thoracic symphysis.—H. Busquet : The compara- 
