NA TURE 



[May 6, 1909 



absence of water, solid cuprous sulphate, Cu,SO,, has 

 been obtained in the pure state, according to the equa- 

 tion Cu,q + (CH3),SO, = Cu,SO, + (CH3),0. This com- 

 pound is instantaneously decomposed by water, giving 

 copper and cupric sulphate. Cuprous sulphate on oxida- 

 tion gives a substance which behaves as a mixture of 

 cupric oxide and cupric sulphate. — Researches on the 

 magnesium derivatives of the xylyl bromides : P. Carre. 

 The ortho- and para-xylyl bromides give ditolylethanes : 

 the nieia-compound gives some magnesium derivative, 

 from which, by the action of trioxymethylene, metatolyl- 

 ethyl alcohol was obtained. — The oxidation of aromatic 

 nitro- and nitroso-derivatives by ammonium persulphate : 

 A. Seyewetz and L. Poizat. 2 : 4-Dinitrophenol and 

 picric acid are completely oxidised by ammonium per- 

 sulphate, forming carbon dioxide, hydrocyanic acid, and 

 nitric acid. — Researches on the ketodibasic acids. a-Oxal- 

 glutaric acid and a-ketoadipic acid : H. Gault. — The com- 

 position of bauxite : H. Arsandaux. — Respiration in 

 singers : M. Marage. The influence of the mode of 

 breathing is paramount in speaking or singing. — The in- 

 fluence of the reaction of the medium on the activity of 

 the maltases from maize : R. Hiierre. Certain species of 

 maize furnish enzymes the maximum activity of which is 

 exerted in alkaline media ; in other species the enzyme 

 action attains a maximum in neutral or very slightly acid 

 media. — The influence of age on the quantity and chemical 

 distribution of the phosphorus contained in nerves : Ch. 

 phere and H. Maurice. — A metallic filter with regular 

 interstices of variable dirnensions, and reducible to ultra- 

 microscopic magnitudes: Emile Gobbi. The filter consists 

 of a nickel ribbon wound tightly in a helicoidal form, and 

 held together with a screw. The liquid filters through 

 the^ folds of the ribbon, and, according to the mode in 

 which the ribbon is wound, can be adjusted to hold back 

 particles of different sizes. Sterile water can be obtained 

 bv filtration through one of these filters, and the filtrates 

 after six days' use are still sterile.— The structure of the 

 central part of the Hautes Plaines, Algeria : A. Joly and 

 L. Joleaud — The periodic character of the mutability of 

 mesonummulitic Cerithium of the Paris basin : Jean 

 Boussac. — The value and the variabilitv of barometric 

 means : .Alfred Angrot. — The earthquake of April 23, iqoo : 

 Alfred Angrot. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, M >v 6. 



Royal Society, at 4.— Election of Fellow?.— At 4.30.— Rtciprocal 

 Innervation of Antagoni'itic Muscles. Note XIV. On Double Reciprocal 

 Innervation: Prof. C. S. Shenineton. F.R.S — Note on a Curious 

 Property of Neon : Prof. J. Norman Collie, f.R..S.— The Properties of 

 Colloidal Systems. '. The Osmotic Pressure of Conjo-red and of Some 

 Other Dyes: Dr. W. M. Bayliss, F.R.S -The Origin and Destiny of 

 Cholesterol m the Animal Organism. Part V. On the Inhibitory 

 Action of the Sera of Rabbits fed on Diets containing Varying Amounis 

 of Cholesterol on the Hajmolysis of Blood by Saponin : Miss Marv T. 

 Eraser and J. A. Gardner.— Some Effects of Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria 

 on the Growth of Non-leguminous Plants.— Prof. W. B. Bottomlpy. 



LlNNE.\N Society, at 8.— On some Zoanthea: from Queensland and 

 the New Hebrides: Mrs. Leonora I, Wilsmore.— The CEcological 

 Relations of the Tiger-Beetles : Dr. V. E. Shelford. 



ROntcen Society, at 8.15.— An Illustrated Description of the Historical 

 Collection nf Tubes recently deposited at the Albert and Victoria 

 Museum: Dr. G. H. Rodman.— On X-rays Produced at a Magnetically 

 Deflected Kathode Focus: J. H. Gardiner. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at S.— The Theory and 

 Application of Motor Coni-erters : H. .■;. Hallo. 

 FRIDAY, May 7. 



Royal Institution, at 9.— The Campaign against Ma 



Majo 



Ronald Ross, C.B., F.R.S. 

 Geologists' Association, at 8.— The Lower Chalk of Lincolnshire : Rev. 



C. R. Bower and J. R. Farmery. 



MONDAY, May 10. 

 Royal Society of Arts, at 8.— Aerial Flight : F. W. Lanchester. 

 Royal Geographical Society, at 8.3o.-The Western Pacific : 



Sir Everard F. im Thurn, K.C.M.G. 



TUESDAY, M.W ir. 

 Royal Institution, at 3.— Cosmogonical Questions: Prof. Svante 



Arrhenius. 

 Zoological Society, at 8.30.— (t) On Hitherto Unrecorded Specimens 



cf Eqmis juagga ; (2) Differentiation of the Three Species of Zebras ; (3) 



On a Portion of a Fossil Jaw of one of the Equida:: Prof. W. Ridgeway — 



On a New Race of Deer Irom Sze-chuen : R. Lydekker.— The Batracbians 



and Reptiles of Matabeleland ; E. C. Chubb. 



WEDNESDAY, May h. 

 Royal Society of Arts, at 8.— The Principles of Heredity as Applied to 



the Artificial Production of New Forms of Plants and Animals; Prof. 



A. Dendy, F.R.S. 

 Geological Society, at 8. 



THURSDAY, Ma 



4.30. 



-Newfoundland : J. G. Millais. 

 t J. 30. — Some Phases of Hindu 



t 5.30. — Ternary Quadratic Types: H. W. 

 of Gauss in the Theory of Attractions: 



of Medii 



nd Magn 



NO, 2062, VOL. 80] 



Royal Soci 



Royal Institution 



HoYAL Society of A 

 Ciobinda Gupta. 



Mathematical Soci 

 Turnbull.— The Th. 

 Dr. J. G. Leathern. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, 

 Sized Power Stations : A Study of Cumpar; 

 Oil Engines : A. J. J. Pfeiffer. 



FRIDAY, MA^ 



Royal Institution, at 9. — Solar Vortice? 

 G. E. Hale. 



Royal Astronomical Society, at 5. 



Physical Society, at 8.— On a Bifilar Vibration Galvano 

 W. Duddell. F.R.S.— Eff'ect of Temperature on the Hysteresi' 

 in Iron in a Rotating Field : W. P. Fuller and H. Grace.— On a B 

 of Testing Photographic Shutters : .A. Campbell and 1 . Smith. 



Malacological Society, at 8.— Descriptions of the Animals of Twt 

 Shells from Perak ; Skeat Expedition in the Malay Peninsula, 1895 

 Lt.-Col. H. H. Godwin-Austen, F.R.S.— List of Molhisca from Chi 

 Island, Indian Ocean, and Descriptions of New Species : E. 

 Smith.— Further Notes on Holocene and Recent Non marine Moll 

 from Perranzabuloe : Rev. R. Ashington Bullen.— On Non-ma 

 Mollusca from an Early Neolithic Interment at Cu.xlon, Kent: A 

 Kennard. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Vertebrate Development. By B 271 



Modern Explosives. By J. S. S. B ... 272 



Chemical Analysis for Steel-Works' Laboratories. 



By F. 1 272 



Hypnosis and Suggestion 273 



The Structure of the Scallop 273 



A Study of the Austrian Sea-board 274 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Andrt^ : " Les Planeles et leur Origine " 274 



Conwentz : "The Care of Natural Monuments, with 

 Special Reference to Great Britain and Germany." — 



R. L 275 



Brauns : "The Mineral Kingdom." — J. W. E. . . 275 



Tyler: " Man in the Light of Evolution " 275 



Chetwynd : " An Explanation of the Adjustment of 



Ships' Compasses." — H. C. L. . 276 



Letteis to the Editor : — 



An Inquiry concerning Scientific and Medical 



Journals.— Prof. Karl Pearson, F.R.S 276 



Radio-activity in Relation to MorozofiPs Theory 

 of the Consiitmion of Atoms. — Prof. B. de 



Szyszkowski . . 276 



The Gravilative Strain upon the Moon. — Evan 



McLennan 276 



The Inheritance uf Acquired Character. — Dr. 



Wm. Weeds Smyth 277 



The Imperial Side of the Fuel Question. With 



Note by Sir W. Ramsay, KC.B.. F.R.S 277 



Plant-life in Krakatau and the Mexican Desert. 



[Ilhidrat.-a.) By A. B. R 279 



The Mountains of the Moon. [I/lustraUd.) By 



Prof. J. W. Gregory, F.R.S 281 



Some Aspects of the Wheat Problem. By Dr. E. J. 



Russell ... 282 



The London Institution 283 



Notes 283 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Development of Martian Canals 288 



Colours and Magnitudes of Stars 288 



A Group of Red Stars in Sagittarius 288 



The Calculation of Cometary Orbits ....... 2S8 



Photometric Observations at Catania 288 



Recent Solar Research 288 



Occultalions of Planets 288 



SS Aurig.-e (31,1907) an Irregular Variable 288 



The Eruption of Vesuvius of April, igo6. (li/iis- 



lia/id.) 289 



Tantalum and its Industrial Applications. By Alex. 



Siemens 290 



Conference on Roads 292 



Magnetic Surveys. By Dr. C. Chree, F.R.S. . . . 293 



Bird Notes 295 



University and Educational Intelligence 295 



Societies and Academies 296 



Diary of Societies 300 



