72 



NA TURE 



[May 21, 1908 



Thorium fluoride and oxyfluoridc ; Ed. Chauvenet. 

 When hydrated thorium fluoride is heated to about Soo" 

 in a current of pure dry HF, thorium oxyfluoride, ThOF„, 

 remains. The fluoride, ThF,, can be obtained by the 

 ■ action of anhydrous gaseous hydrofluoric acid on thorium 

 bromide. — The combinations of silver selenide and the 

 selenides of arsenic, antimony, and bismuth : H. Pelabon. 

 The existence of compounds of these selenides is deduced 

 from a study of the fusibility curves of their mixtures. — 

 The origin of atmospheric ozone and the causes of the 

 variation of carbonic acid in the air : H. Henriet and M. 

 Bonyssy. Ozone is produced by the ultra-violet rays of 

 the sun in the upper atmosphere, and the amount near the 

 earth increases when air currents set in from these upper 

 regions. The reduction in carbon dioxide found to accom- 

 pany an increase in ozone is an indirect effect, due to 

 simple dilution of the lower air with the purer air of the 

 higher atmosphere. — The properties of starch in relation to 

 its colloidal form : E. Fouard. A study of starch solutions 

 after filtering through collodion films of different per- 

 meabilities. — The properties of the metallic thiosulpho- 

 carbamates : Marcel Delepine. — Contribution to the study 

 of the amido-derivatives of o-dibenzoylbenzene ; .A. Guyot 

 and P. Pignet. — A new method of tanning ; Louis 

 Meunier and Alphonse Seyewetz. .Skin can be tanned 

 \\ith quinone or quinhydrone. Skins thus tanned present 

 great affinity for both acid and basic colouring matters. — 

 The thermal effects of high-frequency currents on the 

 organism : A. Zitnincrn and S. Turchini. Experiments 

 made in dogs and men show that a rise of the body tempera- 

 ture of between o°-r and o°-4 is caused by high-frequency 

 currents. As a method of thermotherapy, the authors re- 

 gard this method as much preferable to the external 

 methods in current use (hot baths, sun baths, &-c.). The 

 application to certain circulatory troubles is indicated. — 

 Researches on the distribution of the antivirulent substance 

 in the humours of vaccinated animals : L. Camus. — k new 

 Oospora (Oospora Uni^ualis) associated with Cyyptococcus 

 liuguac-pilosac in black tongue : Fernand Gueguen. — The 

 formation and disappearance of acntaldehyde under the in- 

 fluence of alcoholic yeasts : A. Trillat and M. Sauton. 

 Experiments are cited showing the formation of aldehyde 

 under the action of yeast ; the reverse action also takes 

 place, since when aldehyde is gradually added to an 

 alcoholic liquid containing fresh yeast in suspension, the 

 aldehyde disappears. — The nutritive value of some peptones 

 for different microbial species : H. Dunschmann. Com- 

 Darisons were made of the nutritive action of Dufresne, 

 Martin, and vegetable peptone on cultures of typhoid, 

 Bacferitttn coli, anthrax, and diphtheria. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY, Mav 21. 



FovAi. Society, at 4.30.-00 Some Features in the Hereditary Trans- 

 ■ '<is.';ion of the Albino Cha'-acrer and the Black Piebalil Coat in Raf:. 

 II. : G. P. Mudge. — A Further Note on the Nutrition of the Early 

 Embryo, with Special Reference to the Chick : E. Emrys- Roberts. — The 

 Antagonistic Action of Calcium upon the Inhibitory EfTect of Mag- 

 ne'^iuni : R. J, Mehzer and J- Aner. 



RovAL Institution, at 3. — '1 he Chemistry of Photography : Dr. Alexander 

 Scott, F.R S. 



Royal Society of Arts, at 4.30. — The United Provinces of Agra and 

 O.idh : Sir J. J. D. LaTouche, K.C.S.I. 



Chemical Society, at S.30. — Hydroaromatic Ketones, Preliminary Note : 

 A. W Crossley and C. CilMing. — Titani-dihydroxymaleic Acid, and the 

 Detention of Titanium : H. J. H. Fenlnn. — S-^me Experimenf; on Carbon 

 at Hich Temperatures and Pressures, and Apparatus Therefor : R. 

 Threlfall.— The Sulphides and Oxy-sulphides of Silicon : I. G. Rankin 

 and S. M. Revington. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8.— Recent Progress in 

 Tungsten Metallic Filament Lamps : H. Hirst. 



Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, at 8. — The Electrical Equip- 

 ment of Gold Mines {coniinued discussi<m')'. H. J. S. Heather. — The 

 Kehaviour of Tellurium in Assaying: S. W. Smith — The Average Rale 

 of Accumulation and Absorption of Gold Amalgam by Copper Plates : 

 K. HaNe. — The Absorpti n and Accumulation of Gold on Copper Plates: 

 W. F. A. Thomae. — A Journey to Central Asia : A. Adiassewich. 



FRIDAY, May 22. 

 RovAi. Institution, at g — Recent Researches in the Structure of the 



Universe : Prof. J. C. Kapteyn. 

 Physical Society, at 5 — On the Spectrum Top : G. P. Sexton. — On the 



Coefficient of Diffusion : B. W. Clack.— On the Production of Smalt 



Alternating Currents of Variable Frequency suitable for Telephonic and 



other Measurements; B. S. Cohen. 



MONDAY, May 25. 

 LiNNEAN Society, at 8. — Anniversary meeting. 

 Royal Geograi-hical Society, at 3. — Anniversary meeting. 



TUESDAY, May 26. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — Animal Heat and Allied Phenomena: Prof. 

 William Stirling. 



Zoological Society, at 8.30. — The Rudd Exploration of South Africa. 

 X. Li-t of Mammals collecte-l by Mr. Grant near lette, Zambesia : 

 Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S., and R. C. WrouRhion.— Zoological Results of 

 the l"hird Tanganyika PZxpedition, conducl»;d by Dr, W. A. Cunnington, 

 1904-5. Report on the Is -poda Terrestria : Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing, F.R.S. 

 — On the Anatomy of Antechinom^s and some other Marsupials, with 

 Fspecial Reference to the Intestinal Tract and Mesenteries of These and 

 other Mammals: F. E. Beddard, F.R.S. —The .\rmour of the Extinct 

 Reptiles of the Genus Pareiasaurus : Prof. H. G. Seeley, F.R.S. — New 

 Siphonaptera : Hon. N. Charles Rothschild. 



Faraday Society, at 8. — Presidential Address ; Some Aspects of the Work 

 of Lord Kelvin : Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S. 



WEDNESDAY, May 27. 

 British Astronomical Association, at 5. 



THURSDAY, May 28. 



Royal Society, at ^.y^,— Probable Papers : On the Theory of Capillarity; 

 Prof. E. T. Whittaker, F.R.S.— Effect of a Cross Wind on Rifled Pro- 

 jectiles: A. Mallock, F.R.S. — Transparent Silver and other Metallis 

 Kilms : Prof. T. Turner. 



Royal Institution, at 3. — The Chemistry of Photography : Dr. Alexander 

 Scott, F.R.S. 



Institution of Electrical Engineers, at 8. 



FRIDAY, May 29. 

 Royal Institution, at 9.- Ancient and Mediieval Projectile Weapons 

 other than Firearms : Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, Bart. 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



Historical Geography of Australasia. By Sir John 



A. Cockburn, K.C.M.G 49 



British Ascidians. By Piof. Walter Garstang ... 50 



Principles of Breeding . 51 



Thermochemistry. By F. M. P 51 



Mathematical Text-books . . 5^ i 



Our Book Shelf :— f 



Bohannan : " Nephilitn " 53 



Matisse : "Le Principe de la Conservation de 1' Assise 



et ses AppUcations . 54 



" The Case for the Goat " 54 



"Confessio Medici" 54 



Letters to the Editor: — 



Who Built the Aberdeen Stone Circles?— J. Gray . . 54 

 Kadio-aclivily of Potassium and other Alkali Metals. — 



Norman R. Campbell 55 



On Disper^-ion and Spectrum Series. — G. A. Schott 55 

 Secondary Waves of Light. ( With Diagram.) — C. V. 



Raman 55 



The Corrosion of Iron and Steel. — W. F. Macfadyen 55 

 Investigation of the Upper Atmosphere. (IVith 



Diagram.) By J E. Petavel, F.R.S 56 



Home and Foreign Bird-Life. (Ilhislratai.) 57 



The Royal Society's Conversazione. {Illustraled.) . 58 



Notes . 61 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



A Brilliant Meteor 65 



Correlation of .Stellar Characters 65 



Variable Star Work at the Laws Observatory, Missouri 65 

 Photometric Observations of Short-period Vari.ible 



Stars ■ 66 



The Relative Accuracy of Various Double-star 



Observers .... 66 



Italian Observations of the Sun during 1907 .... 66 



The Natal Observatory 66 



Solar Phenomena and Terrestrial Temperatures . . 66 j 



The Okapi Monograph. By R. L 66 | 



Iron and Steel Institute 67 



Scientific Aid to Egyptian Agriculture. By E. J. R. 68 



The Pigmentation Survey of Scotland 68 



Acoustic Oscillographs. By E. E 69 



University and Educational Intelligence . ... 69 



Societies and Academies. {With Diagram.) . 70 



Diary of Societies 7* 



NO. 2012, VOL. 78] 



