192 



A^A TURE 



[June 2 i, 1906 



method of distillation of the turf in superheated steam has 

 been worked out, by means of which the yield of ammonia 

 is greatly increased. — The dry avalanches and mud torrents 

 in the recent eruption of Vesuvius : A. Lacroix. — The 

 occurrence of crystals of sylvite in blocks thrown out by 

 the recent eruption of Vesuvius : A. Lacroix. The crystals 

 of sylvite (potassium chloride) were remarkable for their 

 size, forming cubical crystals of more than 2 cm. in the 

 side. In several specimens the sylvite crystals were covered 

 with large cubical crystals of halite (sodium chloride). .'\ 

 description is also given of a rare mineral consisting of a 

 chloride of sodium, potassium, and manganese. — Researches 

 of the hydroxides of rubidium, caesium, and lithium ; M. 

 de Forcrand. The hydroxides of rubidium and caesium 

 obtainable commercially both contain one molecule of water 

 of crystallisation ; the anhydrous hydroxides can be pre- 

 pared from the commercial products by heating in a silver 

 crucible, an atmosphere of hydrogen being necessary in the 

 case of the cssium compound to prevent the formation of 

 higher oxides of cassium. Anhydrous lithium hydroxide is 

 readily prepared from the hydrate. The heats of dissolu- 

 tion of the three hydroxides were measured. — .\ theorem 

 on plane algebraic curves of order n : G. B. Guccia. — 

 .^n azimuth circle w-ith reading microscopes for technical 

 survey work : Ch. Lallemand. The circles are divided 

 into tenths of degrees, and are read by estimation by bent 

 microscopes carrying a cross-wire. The arrangement has 

 the advantage of rapidity and simplicity, and a comparison 

 with the various types of instrument in common use showed 

 that it is only surpassed in accuracy by instruments 

 furnished with reading microscopes carrying a micrometer 

 screw. — The electrical control of synchronised clocks : Jean 

 Mascart. A discussion of the possible accidents to a 

 synchronised clock system, and the various means that 

 have been adopted to inform the public that the electrical 

 control of one of the clocks on the system has failed. — 

 -An experiment due to Hittorf and the generality of 

 Paschen's law : E. Bouty. — The properties of surfaces for 

 which the apparent angle of contact of water is zero : H. 

 Ollivier. — The action of silicon chloride on nickel : Em. 

 Vig^ouroux. By the action of silicon tetrachloride upon 

 heated nickel two substances have been isolated, SiNi, 

 and .SiNi,. That the former silicide is homogeneous and 

 free from metallic nickel is rendered probable by the fact 

 that it is not magnetic. — The decomposition of copper 

 sulphate by methyl alcohol : V. Aug^er. A basic copper 

 sulphate is formed, the sulphuric acid removed probably 

 forming methyl-sulphuric acid. — Dibromodimethyl- and 

 dibromodiethyl-amidobenzoylbenzoic acids and their deri- 

 vatives : E. Severin. — The variations in the size of the 

 particles in colloidal hydrochloric-ferric chloride solutions : 

 <i. Malfitano. — k new micro-organism producing acetone: 

 L. Breaudat. The chromogenic organism described was 

 found in the drinking water of Saigon, Cochin-China. 

 and is capable of producing acetone from proteid material. 

 The name proposed for the new species is BaciUus violarius 

 acetonicus. — Contribution to the study of the soluble 

 albuminoid materials of milk : M. Lindet and L. 

 Atnmann. It is shown that the casein of milk is, in part, 

 dissols-ed by the calcium phosphate present. Experiments 

 are described throwing light upon the causes of clotting of 

 milk. — Contribution to the cytological study of bacteria : 

 S. Guilliermond. The author concludes from his observ- 

 ations that a true nucleus does not exist in bacteria, and 

 considers that the nuclei described by various authors are 

 due to misinterpretation of the facts observed. — .\ new 

 parasitic copepod of Amphiura squammata : E. Herouard. 

 — A new type in the family of the Virgularidae : Ch. 

 Gravier. — The excretion of the endogenous purins and uric 

 acid : Pierre Fauvel. The quantity of endogenous purins 

 and uric acid is constant even for a subject whose diet is 

 free from purins, and this is still the case whether a milk 

 diet, strictly vegetarian diet, or mixed milk-vegetarian diet 

 be followed. This quantity varies little with the individual, 

 and averages 04 to 05 gram of purins and 028 to 0-35 

 uric acid in twenty-four hours. — The state of the adductor 

 muscles during life in the acephalous molluscs : F. 

 Marceau. — Pulmonary tuberculosis in the tiger : P. 

 Achalme. — A new explanation of glacial erosion : Jean 

 Brunhes. 



NO. 1912, VOL. 74] 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, June 21. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. — The Transition from the Liquid to the Solid 

 State and the Foam.structure of Matter : Prof. G. Quincke, For.Mem.R.S. 

 — Experimental Evidence of Ionic Migration in the Natural Diffusion of 

 Acids and Salts: R. G. Durrant.— On the Behaviour of Certain Sub- 

 stances at theii Critical Temperatures: Prof. M. W. Travers, t'.R.S., 

 and F. L. Usher. — Note on the Phenomenon of Opalescence at the 

 Critical Temperature: Prof. S. Young, F.R.S.— Ionic Velocities in 

 Gases at Different Temperatures : P. Phillips.— The Action- of Radium 

 and Certain Other Salts on Gelatin : W. A. Douglas Rudse.— Barometric 

 Variations of Long Duration over Large Areas : Dr. W. J, S. Lockyer. — 

 On the Electric Inductive Capacities of Dry Paper and of Solid Cellulose : 

 A. Campbell. 



Chemicai. Society, at 8.30.— The Cleve Memorial Lecture: Prof. T. E. 

 Thorpe —The Constituents of the Essential Oil from the Fruit of 

 Pittosponim un.iidalum : F. B. Power and F. Tutin.— Mobility of 

 Substituents in Derivatives of /3-Naphthol : J. T. Hewitt and H. V. 

 Mitchell. 



LlNNEAN Society, at 8.— On the Botany of Southern Rhodesia: Miss 

 L. S. Gibbs.— On the .Authentic Portraits of Linnaus (lantern slides) : 

 W. Carruthers, F.R.S.— Plants: nova; Daweana: in Uganda lectE : Dr. 

 Otto Stapf.— On the Genitalia of Diptera; W. Weschi. 

 FRIDAY. June 22. 



Physical Society, at 5.— The Effect of Radium in Facilitating the Visible 

 Electric Discharge in vactto : K. A. Campbell Swinton. — A Comparison 

 between the Peltier Effect and other Reversible Heat Effects: A. O. 

 Allen.— The EfTect of the Electric Spark on the Actinity of Metals: 

 T. A. Vaughton.— Dielectric Strength of Thin Liquid Films : Dr. P. E. 

 Shaw.— The Effect of Electrical Oscillations on Iron in a Magnetic Field : 

 Dr. W. H. Eccles. 



WEDNESDAY, June 27. 



Geological Society, at 8. — Interference-Phenomena in the Alps: Dr. 

 Maria M. Ogilvie Gordon— The Influence of Pressure and Porosity on 

 the Motion of Sub-surface Water : W. R. Baldwin-Wiseman. 

 THURSDA K, June 2S. 



Royal Society, at 4.30. Probable Papers: Sex -determination in 



Hydatina, with some Remarks on Parthenogenesis: R. C. Punnett. — 

 On the Julianiacea, a New Natural Order of Plants: W. Rotting 

 Hemsley, F.R.S.— On Regeneration of Nerves: Dr. F. W. Mott, F.R.S., 

 Prof. W. D. Halliburton, F.R.S., and A. Edmunds.— The Pharmacology 

 of Ethyl Chloride : Dr. E. H. Embley.— The Alcoholic Ferment of Yeast 

 Juice, part ii., The Coferment of Veast Juice: Dr. A. Harden and 

 W. J. Young ; and other papers. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



British Inland Navigation 169 



Recent Botanical Books 170 



Photography in Surveying Operations. By W. E. P. 172 



Conversations on Chemistry. By A. S 173 



Nencki's Collected Works. By W. D. H 173 



Our Book Shelf: — 



Bouasse : " Essais des Materiaux " . _ 174 



"The Scientific Roll and Magazine of Systematised 



Notes" 174 



Letters to the Editor: — 



Another New Vesuvian Mineral. — Dr. H. J. John- 



ston-Lavis 174 



The Discovery of Logarithms. — Cecil Seymour- 

 Browne : The Reviewer 174 



Distribution of the Forms of Corviis comix and C, 



(cronc. — J. A. Harvie-Brown ; The Reviewer 175 

 The Date of Easter. — Alexander D. Ross; Chas. 



Leigh 175 



Geological Survey of Canada. — A. P. Low . . . 175 

 The Fossil Vertebrates of the Fayum. {Illustrated.) 



By R. L 17s 



The Californian Earthquake of April 18. (Illustrated.) 178 

 The Forthcoming Meeting of the British Associa- 

 tion at York 179 



Kew Publications iSo 



Baron C. R. von der Osten Sacken. By Prof. G. H. 



Bryan, F.R.S iSo 



Notes. (lUustraled.) iSl 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Discussion of Facuire Observations 185 



New Method for the Discovery of Asteroids .... 185 



Radial Velocity of a Draconis 185 



Useful Tables and Formulse for Astronomical Com- 

 putations 185 



The Leeds Astronomical Society 186 



Meteorological Observations 186 



The Theory of Frequency-Distributions. ByG.U. Y. 187 



A Plea for an Expedition to Melanesia 187 



Destruction of Animals in Australia . . 18S 



Aberdeen University Quatercentenary Celebrations 188 



University and Educational Intelligence 189 



Societies and Academies 190 



Diary of Societies 192 



