48 



NA TURE 



[May io, 1906 



appear to be due to the electrostatic capacity, and cause 

 difficulty when tuning-forks are used in multiplex tels* 

 graphy. — Diffusion of solutions and molecular weights : 

 Michel Yesounow. — The atomic weight and spark spec- 

 trum of terbium : G. Urbain. The atomic weight was 

 determined by estimating the amount of water in the care- 

 fully purified sulphate Tb.(S0,)-,,8H,0, and was found to 

 be 159-2. The spark spectrum of terbium is rich in lines, 

 the wave-lengths of some thirty-seven of the most character- 

 istic being given. — The estimation of cadmium in a volatile 

 or organic salt : H. Baubigny. Cadmium sulphide pre- 

 cipitated in the presence of hydrochloric or hydrobromic 

 acids obstinately retains some of the haloid salt, and this, 

 on ignition, owing to the volatility of the chloride and 

 bromide, gives rise to serious losses. The author proposes 

 to convert the impure sulphide into sulphate, and weigh in 

 this form with certain necessary precautions. — Distemper 

 in dogs : H. Carre. Dogs which had been kept isolated 

 from ijirth remained free from distemper, but were always 

 sensitive to inoculation with the disease, whatever mode of 

 inoculation was used. The blood of the animal, collected 

 when the fever is at its height, is sterile, but communicates 

 the disease. — The Tertiary strata at Turritelles and 

 Congeries, Panama ; E. Joukowsky. — The phenomena of 

 slipping in Sicily : Maurice Lugfeon and Emile Argand. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



Socii 



THURSDAY, Mav io. 



4-30. — On Adsorption and Occlusion: the L.-i\v of 

 Distribution in the Case in which one of the Phases possesses Rigidity : 

 Prof. M. W. Travers, F.R.S.— Cyanogenesis in Plants, part iv.. The 

 Occurrence of Phaseolunatin in Common Flax {Linuni jisitatissiifntrn), 

 party.. The Occurrence of Phaseolunatin in Cassava (;l/a«///c/ ,•//>/ and 

 Manihot Utilissima): Prof. W. R. Dunstan, F.R.S., Dr. T. A. Henry, 

 and Dr. S. J. M. Auld.— A Variety of Thorianite from Galle, Ceylon : 

 Prof. W. R. Dunstan. F.R.S., and B. Mouat Jones.— The Mechanism of 

 Carbon Assimilation in Green Plants ; the Photolytic Dec.3mposition of 

 Carbon Dioxide ?« w;Vra : F. L. Usher and J. H. Priestley.— The Action 

 of .^nxsthetics on Living Tissues, part ii., The Frog's Skin : Dr. N. H. 



[nstitution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Long Flame Arc Lamps ; 

 L. Andrews (Adjourned Discussion). 



klATHE.MATicAL SociETV. at 5.^0. — On the Substitutional Theory of 

 Classes and Relations : Hon. B. Russell.— On Linear DiflFi-ential Equa- 

 tions of Rank Unity : E. Cunningham —On the Motior, of a Swarm 

 of Particles whose Centre of Gravity describes ; 

 Eccentricity about the Sun; Dr. E. J Routh.- 

 Equations : H. Bateman.— Singularities of Powc 

 G. H. Hardy. 



FRIDAY, May ii. 



il Conseque 



of the 



Physical Socii 



M 



>.— The Dead Points of a G-ilv»nometer Needle for 

 Currents : A Russell. — Exhibition of Lippmann Capillary 

 Dynamo and Electromotor: Prof. H. A. Wilson.— Exhibition of an 

 Apparatus for demonstrating the Movements of the Diaphragms of 

 Telephonic Transmitters and Receivers and the Current flowing into 

 and out of the Cable during Speech : W. Duddell. 



OVAL Astronomical Society, at 5.— Observations of Uranus at 

 Windsor, New South Wales : John Tehbutt. — Observations of Comet c 

 igo5; Natal Observatory. — Note on the Parallaxiand Proper Motion of 

 the Central Star in the Annular Nebula in Lyra': B. L. Newkirk.— On 

 the Ratios of the Triangles in the Determination of the Elliptic Orbit 

 from Three Observations: S. Hirayama. — Some Considerations regarding 

 the Number of the Stars : Miss W. Gibson.— On the Ancient Eclipses of 

 <he Sun : E. Nevill.— Elements of Five Long-Period Variable Stars : A. 

 Stanley Williams.— On the Orbit and Mass of 85 Pegasi : W. Bowyer and 

 H. Furner.- Some Points arising out of a Discussion of the Double 

 Stars in Struve's Mensurs Micromeirica: : T. Lewis.— Exhibition of 

 Stereoscopic Star Charts North of 20° N. Decl., and South, if near the 

 Milky Way : T. E. Heath. 



LOGICAL Society, at 8.— Notes on the Subgenus Malluvium: 

 E. A. Smith, LS.O.— Notes on some Species of the Genus Mitra, with 

 the Description of itl. Brctthighami, ■n.ip.: E. A. Smith, LS.O.— On 

 some Land- and Fresh-water Mollusca from Sumatra, part ii. : Rev. R. 

 Ashington BuUen. — Notes on a Collection of IMudibranchs from the Cape 

 Verde Islands: C. Crossland and Sir Charles Eliot, K.C. M.G.— Notes 

 on Indian and Ceylonese Species of Glessula : Col. R. H. Beddome. 



TUESDAY. M.AV 15. 

 S. — Glands and their Produ 



Royal Institution, 

 Stirling. 



University of London, at 5.— The Atmosphei 

 Relation to Weather : Dr. W. N. Shaw, F.R.S. 



Zo, 



Soci: 



at 8.30. 



4RADAY Society, at 8.— The Electrolysis of Fused Zinc Chloride in Cells 

 Heated Externally : Julius L. F. Vogel.— Sensitiveness of the PU 

 Electrode: H. D. Law. 



VYEDNESDAY, May 16. 



Society op Arts, at 8. — The Development of Watermarking in Hand- 

 made and Machine-made Paper : Clayton Beadle. 



Royal Microscopical Society, at 8. — Exhibition of Pond Life. 



Royal Meteorological Society, at 4.30.— An Instrument for Testing 

 and Adjusting the Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder : Dr. W. N. 

 Shaw, F.R.S, and G. C. Simpson.— The Development and Progress of 

 the Thunder Squall of February 8, 1906 : R. G. K. Lempferl. 



THURSDAY, May 17. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — Probable Papers: Determinations of Wave- 

 Length from Spectra obtained at the Total Solar Eclipses of igoo, igoi 

 and 1905 : Prof F. W. Dyson, F.R.S.— Some Stars with Peculiar 

 Spectra: Sir Nnrman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S., and F. E. Baxandall.— 

 An Apparent Periodicity in the Yield of Wheat for Eastern England, 

 18S5-1905: Dr. W. N. Shaw, F.R.S— Some Physical Constants of 

 Ammonia, a Study of the Effect of Change of Temperature and Pressure 

 on an Easily Condensible Gas : Dr. E. P. Perman and J. H. Davies. 



Chemical Society, at 8.30.— The Relation between Absorption Spectra 

 and Chemical Constitution, part vi.. The Phenyl Hydrazones of Simple 

 Aldehydes and Ketones: E. C. C. Baly and W. B. Tuck.— Aromatic 

 Compounds obtained from the Hydroaromatic Series, part ii.. The 

 Action of Phosphorus Pentachloride on Trimethyldihydroresorcin : A. W. 

 Crossley and J. S. Hills.— Studies of Dynamic Isomerism, part v., 

 ■ Sulphonic-derivatives of Camphor : T. M. Lowry and E. H. 

 —Studies on Basic Carbonates, part i, Magn ' " 



t 5.— The Influence of Ptolemaic Egypt 

 Roman Civilisation : Rev. J. P. Mahaffy. 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. — Notes on 

 Equipment of Tramways : R. N. Tweedy and H. Dudgeon. 



FRIDA Y, May i3. 

 at 9. — International Science : 



SA TURDA Y, May iq. 



Proi. -A. Schuster 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



The Cell in Modern Biology. By Prof. J. B. Farmer, 



F.R.S 25 



Appreciations of Haeckel 26 



Practical Geography By Geo. G. Chisholm .... 27 

 Folklore and Medicine of the Zulu-Kafir. By Sir 



H. H.Johnston, K.C.M.G 28 



Our Book Shelf: — 



"Sociological Papers." — F. W H 29 



Watson : " The Heart of a Garden " 29 



Flatters: "Methods in Microscopical Research — 

 Vegetable Histology." — Prof. R. T. Hewlett . . 29 

 Letters to the Editor : — 



The San Francisco Earthquake of April 18. — Dr. 



T. J. J. See 30 



Interpretation of Meteorological Records. — Dr. John 



Aitken, F.R.S 30 



Recent Publications of the Bureau of American 

 Ethnology. [Uliistrated.) By Dr. A. C. Haddon, 



F.R.S 30 



The Education and Training of the Engineer. By 



A. T. S 33 



Balloons and Kites in the Service of Meteorology. 



By W. H. Dines, F.R.S 35 



The Bicentenary Celebration of the Birth of 

 Benjamin Franklin. By SirG. H. Darwin, K.C.B., 



F.R.S 36 



Notes .... 37 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



The Expected Return of Holmes's Comet 41 



The Luminosity of the Brighter Stars 41 



The Variable Radial Velocity of e Auriga; 41 



Early Observations of Eros 42 



Observations of .Satellites in 1904 and 1905 42 



New \'ariable St:trs in Orion 42 



Recent Advances in Seismology. (Illustrated.) By 



Prof. John Milne, F.R.S 42 



German Congress of Experimental Psychology. By 



Dr. C. Spearman 45 



The Milan International Exhibition 46 



University and Educational Intelligence 46 



Societies and Academies 47 



Diary of Societies 48 



NO. 1906, VOL. 74] 



