40 



NATURE 



[March 13, 1913 



different directions. A remarkable result of these 

 experiments was the conclusion that the resistances 

 could be equalised by using fifteen perforations hori- 

 zontally to fourteen vertically, the extra perforation 

 making all the difference. 



We have received a copy of a new illustrated cata- 

 logue of physical apparatus issued by Messrs. F. E. 

 Becker and Co., Hatton Wall, E.G. It is a substan- 

 tial quarto volume of more than a thousand pages, 

 and covers most of the apparatus, from millimetre 

 scales to electric motors, likely to be used in a physical 

 laboratory, while the requirements of the engineer and 

 miner are not forgotten. Some of the newer appa- 

 ratus is described in detail, and instructions as to its 

 use are given, as, for instance, in the case of the 

 Bunsen ice calorimeter on p. 950, and of the stereo 

 pvrometer on p. 1013. 



The first number of Scientia for 1913 contains two 

 articles which throw doubt on the validity of the 

 recently discovered sun-spot periods of five and eight 

 vears, and on the principle of relativity which has 

 taken so prominent a place in recent theory. The 

 first article is by Mr. E. W. Maunder, of Greenwich. 

 The second article, by Prof. M. Brillouin, of the 

 College de France, points out the slenderness of the 

 foundation on which the theory of relativity has been 

 reared, and maintains that the impossibility of detect- 

 ing a relative motion of ether and matter, which forms 

 the basis of the theory, is merely an experimental 

 difhcultv of the present time, and ought not to be 

 elevated into a universal principle. Prof. Brillouin 

 also takes exception to some of the more recent pro- 

 positions stated by Prof. Einstein, as, for example, 

 that energy has inertia and weight, and concludes 

 that the principle of relativity introduces more difficul- 

 ties than it solves. 



The Verhandlungen of the German Physical Society 

 for January 15 include a short risumi by Dr. F. 

 Reiche of the results he has obtained for the distribu- 

 tion of intensitv in a fine spectrum line under various 

 conditions. He considers a thin layer of a luminous 

 gas the electron systems attached to the atoms of 

 which are oscillating owing to the impact on them 

 of electrons or atoms. The breadth of the line emitted 

 is produced partly by damping due to radiation, and 

 to inter-atomic forces, and partly to the motion of 

 the emitting centres themselves in accordance with 

 the kinetic theory of gases. As a result, he finds that 

 the distribution of intensity is to a great extent deter- 

 mined by a parameter, which, if small, gives the dis- 

 tribution found previously by Lord Rayleigh ; if large, 

 a distribution the author proposes to call the "dis- 

 persion distribution." In the former case, increase of 

 density of the gas or of thickness of the layer of gas 

 leads to only a small amount of widening of the line, 

 in the latter to a considerable widening. These 

 theoretical conclusions have been verified experiment- 

 ally. 



A year ago reference was made in Nature to the 

 elegant proof given by Willstatter and Escher that 

 NO. 2263, VOL. 91] 



lutein, the yellow pigment of yolk of egg, was similar 

 to, if not the same as, the xanthophyll present in 

 leaves. In the interval other animal pigments have 

 been investigated, and Dr. Escher now announces 

 that the yellow pigment of the Corpus luteum is 

 identical with carrotene, such as is present in carrots 

 and leaves, and closely allied to lycopin, the colouring 

 matter of tomatoes. Carrotene has been shown by 

 Monier-Williams to form the yellow colouring matter 

 of wheaten flour, and it is of interest to note that 

 Escher states he has preliminary evidence that the 

 yellow pigment of fat is similar in composition. 

 Carrotene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon, C 40 H 56 , 

 whereas xanthophyll has the formula C 40 H 56 O 2 . The 

 two classes of pigments are separated by shaking 

 with a mixture of alcohol and light petroleum. The 

 liquid forms two layers, the upper one of petroleum 

 ether containing the carrotene, and the lower alcoholic 

 layer containing the xanthophyll. The ovaries of no 

 fewer than 10,000 cattle were required for the inves- 

 tigation, and yielded less than half a gram of pig- 

 ment. 



Five recent additions to the "Cambridge Manuals 

 of Science and Literature" have been received from 

 the Cambridge University Press. One volume, by 

 Prof. J. H. Poynting, has on its cover, "The Earth," 

 but an examination of the title-page shows that its 

 shape, size, weight, and spin only are dealt with. 

 In Mr. A. J. Berry's book, "The Atmosphere," the 

 subject-matter has been restricted to the more purely 

 chemical and physical phenomena, meteorology being 

 omitted. Dr. Alex. Wood writes on "The Physical 

 Basis of Music," and provides an elementary account 

 of the principles of the subject. In "The Story of 

 a Loaf of Bread," Prof. T. B. Wood gives a popular 

 account of the subject so far as farming, milling, and 

 baking are concerned. Mr. E. L. Attwood, writing from 

 the naval architect's point of view, contributes a 

 volume on "The Modern Warship." The volumes, 

 which are each sold at is. net, appear to be addressed 

 to the general reader, but it is to be feared that few 

 such readers will be prepared to give the sustained 

 attention which the treatment of the subject in most 

 of the volumes demand. In accuracy and authorita- 

 tiveness the books leave nothing to be desired, and as 

 introductions to more advanced treatises the series 

 may be recommended unreservedly. 



A brief account of the thirteenth meeting of the 

 Australasian Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, held in January, 1911, at Sydney, appeared 

 in the issue of Nature for February 23, 191 1 

 (vol. lxxxv., p. 558). We have now received the 

 official report of this meeting, edited by the per- 

 manent honorary secretary, Mr. J. H. Maiden, assisted 

 by the secretaries of sections. It is an imposing 

 volume of 766 pages, and is well and profusely illus- 

 trated with forty-eight plates, in addition to the illus- 

 trations in the text. The report provides excellent 

 evidence of the industry and enthusiasm of Austra- 

 lasian men of science, and of this record of a year's 

 work the association may well be proud. 



