April 24, 191 3] 



NATURE 



207 



Observatory of Lyons during- the fourth quarter of 

 1912. Tables are given of the number of spots, their 

 ■distribution in latitude, and the distribution of the 

 faculce in latitude. Observations were possible on 

 fifty-nine days. — J. Lagrula : A new method for I In- 

 rapid visual search for the small planets. The method 

 is based on the application of binocular vision, com- 

 bined with the use of a coloured screen. The pre- 

 sence of a small planet in the field can be proved in 

 less than a minute. An error of position of the 

 asteroid 233, Asterope, was detected on the night of 

 April 1 in less than five minutes. — M. Tzitzeica : A 

 generalisation of non-Euclidean minimal surfaces. — 

 G. Valiron : Integral functions of finite order. — 

 Georges Remoundos : The series and families of alge- 

 broid functions in a domain. — G. Polya : The method 

 of Graeffe. — M. Gunther : The characteristics of sys- 

 tems of partial differential equations. — Albert Turpain : 

 The reception in the Morse code of radio-telegrams 

 with simultaneous photographic record. Diagrams 

 showing the results obtained by the system of relays 

 described in an earlier communication (March 17). — 

 M. de Broglie : The reflection of the Rontgen rays. 

 Reproductions of photographs obtained by the reflec- 

 tion of Rontgen rays bv various crystals at a grazing 

 .angle. The exact interpretation of the results is still 

 uncertain. — H. Guilleminot : The variation of the elec- 

 trical resistance of selenium when irradiated by the 

 Rontgen rays and by radium rays. The results are 

 given in a table showing the fall of resistance of a 

 selenium cell under the action of the X-rays ; a pre- 

 liminary study of the effects of varying voltage and 

 •temperature was necessary. Similar measurements 

 were made with exposure to radium rays, but the 

 results are not given. — Camille Matignon : The reduc- 

 tion of magnesia by aluminium. A mixture of 

 aluminium powder and magnesia, heated to 1200 C. 

 in a vacuous steel tube, the upper portion of which 

 was kept cool, gave metallic magnesium as crystals 

 in the cold portion. The yield of magnesium was 

 good. — L. C. Maillard : The formation of humus by 

 the action of polypeptides on sugars. — Paul Gaubert ; 

 The polymorphism of codeine, thebaine, and narcotine. 

 A new type of sphaerolite. — L. Collot : The celestine of 

 the sedimentary strata. — G. Andre : The evolution of 

 the mineral and nitrogenous materials in some annual 

 plants. — F. Baco : Comparative budding of grafted and 

 ungrafted vines. — Jules Glover j An intensive physio- 

 logical telephone. The action of the current on the 

 receiving magnet of the telephone does not depend 

 on its strength so much as on the variations in 

 strength. The new arrangement described is based 

 on the studv of the physiological causes of these 

 variations. — B. Roussy : The mathematical theory of 

 the geometric law of the surface of the human body. 

 The bodv is pictured as consisting of twenty-six trun- 

 cated cones and a formula derived for obtaining the 

 true surface. Various approximations are discussed. 

 — Raphael Dubois : Microzvmas, coccoliths, and vacuo- 

 lids. — Charles Nicolle, A. Cuenod, and L. Blaizot : Some 

 properties of the virus of trachoma. Immunity in 

 trachoma. The Algerian ape (Macacus inuus) con- 

 tracts trachoma, but throws off the disease completely 

 in from one to three months. Immunisation experi- 

 ments were carried out on this animal with successful 

 results; results of the application of similar treatment 

 to man are also given. — Charles Lepierre : The re- 

 placement of zinc by uranium in the culture of Asper- 

 gillus niger. Uranium can replace zinc in Raulin's 

 fluid ; the stimulation of growth of the mould is 

 less intense, however, with uranium than with zinc. 

 — E. Voisenet : New researches on a ferment of bitter 

 wines. A bacillus has been isolated, named Bacillus 

 amaracrylus, which produces all the characteristics 

 NO. 2269, VOL. 91] 



of bitterness in wines. It converts glycerol partially 

 into acrolein, to which the bitter taste is due, the 

 other products formed including hydrogen, carbon 

 dioxide, ethyl alcohol, and various fatty acids. — M. 

 Piettre and A. Vila : The preparation of fibrinogen by 

 dialysis on saccharose syrup. — L. Cayeux : The sedi- 

 mentary iron minerals considered in their relations 

 with the destruction of mountain chains. — I. Assada : 

 The levels of the Lyons plateau. — M. Durand-Greville : 

 The laws relating to wind-storms causing a kink in 

 the barometric chart. — De Montessus de Ballore ; De- 

 structive earthquakes and atmospheric precipitations. 



Calcutta. 

 Asiatic Society of Bengal, April 2. — R. Gurney ; Ento- 

 mostraca from Lake Tiberias. Dr. Annandale ob- 

 tained eight species of Entomostraca in the Lake of 

 Tiberias and in small pools near it. Eight other 

 species were bred from earth taken from a dried-up 

 pool between Tiberias and Nazareth. The collection 

 does not comprise any forms hitherto unknown. — D. 

 Hooper : Sarcocoll'a. This is a description of a drug 

 known to the early Greek and Arabian physicians, 

 and used largely in India. It is the gum of Astra- 

 galus fasiculifolius, Buissier, a spiny shrub growing 

 in Persia. Chemical examination shows that it con- 

 sists principally of a peculiar glucoside differing- from 

 saponin and glycvrrhizin. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Bulletin International. Resumes des Travaux Pre- 

 sented. Classe des Sciences Math6matiques, Natu- 

 relles et de la Medecine. xvii" Annee. Pp. iii -H 419 -h 

 plates. (Prague : L'Academie de Sciences de l'Em- 

 pereur Francois Joseph.) 



Icones Plantarum Formosanarum nee non et Con- 

 tributiones ad Floram Formosanam, or Icones of the 

 Plants of Formosa, and Materials for a Flora of the 

 Island, based on a Study of the Collections of the 

 Botanical Survey of the Government of Formosa. By 

 B. Hayata. Fa'sc. ii. Pp. ii+156+xl plates. (Tai- 

 hoku : Bureau of Productive Industries, Government 

 of Formosa.) 



Reprints of Papers from the Science Laboratories 

 of the University of Sydney, 1908-9 to 1911-12. (Syd- 

 ney.) 



A Manual of Agricultural Chemistry. By H. Ingle. 

 Third edition. Pp. 397. (London : Scott, Greenwood 

 and Son.) 75. 6d. net. 



The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and 

 Burma. Hymenoptera. Vol. iii. By C. Morley. Pp. 

 xxxvi + 531 + 1 plate. (London: Taylor and Francis.) 



205. 



Nomography, or the Graphic Representation of 

 Formula?. By Capt. R. K. Hezlet. Pp. iv + 54. 

 (Woolwich : Royal Artillery Institution.) 2s. 6d. 



A Handbook of Forestry. By W. F. A. Hudson. 

 Pp. ix + 82. (Watford:' Cooper Laboratory for 

 Economic Research.) 2s. 6d. net. 



Verhandlungen der Schweizerischen Naturforschenden 

 Gesellschaft. 95 Jahresversammlung vom 8-1 1 Sep- 

 tember 1912 in Altdorf. Teil I. Pp. vii + 2io + 171 + 

 plates. Teil II. Pp. vii + 251+2 plates. (Aarau : 

 H. R. Sauerlander et Cie.) 



The Works of Aristotle, translated into English. De 

 I Coloribus. By T. Loveday and E. S. Forster. (Ox- 

 i ford : Clarendon Press.) 5s. net. 



A Manual of Petrology. By F. P. Mennell. Pp. 

 iv + 256. (London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd.) ys. 6d. 

 j net. 



