90 



NATURE 



I March i8, 190Q 



believes that at any rate a first approximation to scientific 

 prediction is attained. In each case diagrams are given 

 from which the probable extent of a crop can be found 

 from the antecedent rainfall for the localities considered. 

 In this part of the paper there is also a theoretical dis- 

 cussion of the way in which the regression equations are 

 modified by errors of measurement such as certainly occur 

 for agricultural statistics, and to a less extent in rainfall 

 data. In part ii. the distribution of rainfall, a funda- 

 mental problem both for agriculture and meteorology, is 

 considered by the method of curve fitting developed by 

 Prof. Karl Pearson. — Mosquito-larvse-eating propensity of 

 the genus Haplochilus : B. L. Chaudhuri. A note 

 suggesting that fish of this genus are useful in keeping 

 down mosquitoes, and saying that further observations will 

 be made. 



GOTTINGEN. 



Royal Societv of Sciences.— The A'at/wzV/i/^w (phvsico- 

 mathematical section). No. 4, for igo8, contains the follow- 

 ing memoirs communicated to the society : — 



July II. — The uniformisation of given analytical curves, 

 iii. : Paul Koebe. 



October 31. — The valency between metals and oxygen, 

 and its dependence on temperature : W. Blitz. 



December 19. — The kinetics of dissociation-equilibrium 

 and reaction-speed ; F. Krijgrer. — The conformal repre- 

 sentation on a circular lamina of a solid angle determined 

 by the intersection of a finite number of regular analytical 

 surfaces : Paul Koebe. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, March i3. 



^"^^^ SocrETV, at 4.30.— An Attempt to Detect some Electro-optical 



Effects : Prof. H. A. Wilson, F.R.S.— On the Influence of their State in 



Solution on the Absorption Spectra of Dissolved Dyes : Dr S. E. 



Sheppard.— The Ferments and Latent Life of Resting Seeds: Miss Jean 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8.— The Dry-rot of Potatoes: Miss Sibyl Lonsman. 



—The Structure and Affinities of Davtdia involucrata, Baill. : A. Home. 

 Institution of Mechanical Encineeks, at 8.— Experiments upon the 



Forces acting on Twin-drills when operating on Cast-iron and Steel : D. 



Smith and R. Poliakoff. 



FRIDAY, March 19. 



Royal Institution, at 9.— Experiments at High Temperatures and Pres- 

 sures: Richard Threlfall, F.R.S. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Some Aspects of Chemical 

 Engineering: C. J. Gutlmann. 



Sir J. J. Tho 



SA TURD A Y, March : 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— Properties of Ma 

 F.R.S. 



MONDA Y, March 22. 

 Royal Society of Arts, at 8.— Steam Turbines : Gerald G. Stoney. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.30.— The Colorado Canyon : Some 

 of Its Lessons : Prof. W. M. Davis. 



TUESDAY, March 23. 



Royal Institution, at 3.— The Evolution of the Brain as an Organ of 

 Mind : Prof. F. W. Mott, F.R.S. 



MiNERALOGlCAL SOCIETY, at 8.— On a Stage-goniometer for Use with the 

 Dick-pattern of Microscope : Prof. H. L. Bowman.— On the Electrostatic 

 Separation of Minerals : T. Crook.— On the Identity of Guarinite and 

 Hiorldahlite : Dr. F. Zambonini (with Chemical Analyses by Dr. G T 

 Prior).- Note to a Paper " On the Comparison of Refractive Indices of 

 Minerals in Thin Sections" : Dr. J. W. Evans. 



Royal Anthroholocical Institute, at 8.15.— Exhibition of Flint Im- 

 plements of the "Older Series" from Ireland: Miss N. F. Layard.- 

 Melanesians and Polynesians : Rev. Dr. Brown. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, at 8.— Construction and Wear of 

 Roads: A. Mallock, F.R.S. 



IVEDNESDA Y, March 24 

 Geological Society, at 8.— Glacial Erosion in' North Wales • Ptol 



W. M. Davis. 

 Royal Society of Arts, at 8.— Afforestation and Timber Planting in 



Great Britain and Ireland : Dr. J. Nisbet. 



THURSDAY, March 25. 

 RovAi. Society, at 4.^0.— Probable Papers : Liberation of Helium from 

 Radio-active Minerals by Grinding : J. A. Gray.— On Sphaerostoma 

 ovale (Colostoma ovale et intermedium, Williamson) and Crossot/ieca 

 Grievi,, the Ovule and Pollen-synangium of Heterangiimi Grievii: Miss 

 M. Benson. 



NO. 2055, VOL. 80] 



at 3. — On Aerial Flight in Theory and Practice : 

 Prof. G. W. Bryan. F.R.S- 

 Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— The Electrical System 



of the London County Council Tramways : J. H. Rider. 

 Royal Society of Arts, at 4.30. — Native Man in Southern India : Edgar 

 Thurston. 



FRIDAY, March 26. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Recent Results of Astronomical Research : 

 A. S. Eddington. 



Physical Society, at 5.— Note on the Production of Steady Electric 

 Oscillations in Closed Circuits and a Method of Testing Radio teleeraphic 

 Receivers: Prof. J. A. Fleming, F.R.S., and G. B. Dyke —The Effect 

 of an Air Blast upon the Spark Discharge of a Conden-^er Charged by an 

 Induction Coil or Transformer: Prof. J. A. Fleming and H. W. Richard- 

 son. — On the Action between Metals and Acids and the Conditions under 

 which Mercury causes Evolution of Hydrogen : Dr. S- W. J. Smith. 



SATURDAY, March 27. 

 Royal Institution, at 3. — Properties of Matter: Sir J. J. Thomson, 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



New Lights on Protoplasm in Plants 6i 



Admissions of an Anti-Vivisectionist. By E. S. G. 63 



Strength of Structures and Materials 64 



Wireless Telegraphy. By Maurice Solomon ... 65 

 Our Book Shelf:— 



Darmstaedter : " Handbuch zur Geschichte der 



Naturwissenschaften und der Technik " . . . . 66 



Thomas: "British Butterflies and other Insects " . . 67 

 Mortimer and Coullhurst : " The Oil and Bromoil 



Processes " 67 



Letters to the Editor : — 



Suggested Effect of High-tension Mains. — Sir Oliver 



Lodge, F.R.S 67 



Scientific Societies and the Admission of Women 



Fellows.— Dr. T. E. Thorpe, C.B., F.R.S. . . 67 



The Isothermal Layer of the Atmosphere. — E. Gold 6S 

 The Promotion of Scientific Research. — Walter B. 



Priest 68 



The " Daylight Saving " Bill.— L. C. W. Bonacina 69 



Fireball of February 22. — W. F. Denning .... 69 

 Unusual Condition of Nasal Bones in Sphenodon. — 



H. W. Unthank 69 



English Earthworks and their Orientation. (Illus- 

 trated.) Rev. John Griffith 69 



Darwin Celebrations in the United States. (Illus- 



Irated.) By H. F. O ^^ 



An Imperial Bureau of Anthropology. By Dr. A. C. 



Haddon, F.R.S 73 



Notes 74 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Stellar Evolution 79 



Hale's Solar Vortices 79 



Comet Tempel^ Swift, 1908;^ 79 



The Cape Observatory 79 



Hours of Sleep for Children 79 



Magnetic Rays. (Illustrated.) By R. S. W So 



Prize Subjects for Scientific Research 80 



Papers and Reports on Insects 81 



Explosive Combustion, with Special Reference to 

 that of Hydrocarbons. By Prof. W. A. Bone, 



F.R.S 81 



Supplementary List of Forthcoming Books of 



Science 85 



University and Educational Intelligence 85 



Societies and Academies S6 



Diary of Societies 90 



