I20 



NA TURE 



[June 4, 1908 



in Monge's problem : P. Zervos. — The general problem 

 of probabilities in repeated trials : L. Bachelier. — The 

 secondary rays from the a rays: William Douane. The 

 production ol the secondary rays ceases almost entirely 

 when the radium salt is removed more than 2 cm. from 

 the slit ; this distance is precisely that which was found 

 in earlier experiments for the charge of the a. rays. — 

 The potential difference and stability of the alternating 

 arc between metals : C. E. Guye and h. Bron. The 

 contradictory results of earlier workers are largely due to 

 the difficulty of maintaining the stability of the arc. The 

 authors have obtained arcs of high stability by bringing 

 the electrodes to a temperature near their melting points, 

 and having a large reserve of potential (20,000 volts) in 

 open circuit. For metals which are slightly volatile the 

 potential difference, under equal conditions, tends to a 

 lower limit, approximately the same (about 470 volts) for 

 all metals. — The existence and origin of harmonics in the 

 self-induction spark : G. A. Hemsalech. — The impossi- 

 bility of diagnosing death by the radiography of the 

 abdominal organs : Maxime Menard. — Contribution to the 

 study of the oxidation phenomena produced by iodic and 

 bromic acids : H. Baubigny. Bromide of silver in 

 ammoniacal solution is stated to be converted at 100° 

 by iodic acid into silver iodide and ammonium bromide ; 

 this statement is now shown to be erroneous, the reaction 

 in reality being quite different. .\ small proportion of the 

 ammonia is oxidised by the iodate at 200°, nitrogen, 

 water, and ammonium iodide being produced. — \ new 

 volumetric method allowing the simultaneous estimation 

 of carbonic acid and other acids in atmospheric air : 

 H. Henriet and M. Bouyssy. — The estimation of tungstic 

 acid and its separation from other substances by the use 

 of a mixture of chlorine and chloride of sulphur : F. 

 Bourion. The method proposed is described in detail, and 

 its accuracy proved by the results of analyses of sodium 

 rungstate, silicotungstic acid, ytterbium, silicotungstate, 

 and a mixture of silica and tungstic acid. — The tribo- 

 luminescence of mineral substances : j\drien Karl. — The 

 syncytial nature of the intestine of Rhabdocoeles : Paul 

 Hallez, — The comparative action of simple salt solutions 

 and artificial serums with complex mineral contents on 

 the blood and circulation : C. Fleig^. — The action of acids 

 on the coagulation of milk by vegetable ferments : C. 

 Gerber. — The experimental study of the cutting of twigs 

 for slips : X. Imbert. — The study of the bactericidal action 

 of anti-virulent scrum on the adventitious germs of 

 vaccine : L. Camus. — The transmission of syphilis to the 

 cat : C. Levaditi and T. Yamanouchi. — The different 

 levels of alluvium at the ronfluenie of the Yonne and the 

 Cure : Paul Lemoine. — Two causes of error in experi- 

 ments on fluorescein : F. Dienert. \ fluorescent sub- 

 stance occurs naturally in cert.ain waters, and this may 

 cause difficulty when fluorescein has been used to trace the 

 passage of underground water. The added dye may often 

 travel very slowly, and by its appearance cause confusion 

 when a second experiment is being carried out in the 

 same district. — The temperature of the thermal waters of 

 the eastern Pyrenees : O. Meng^el. 



DIARY OF SOCIETIES. 



THURSDAY. Ju.ne 4. 



RoVAL Society, at 4.30. — On the Aberration of Sloped Lenses and on their 

 Adaptation to Telescopes of Unequal Magnifying Power in Perpendicular 

 Directions : Lord Rayleigh. O.M., Pres R.S.— The Optical Constants of 

 Gypsum at Different Temperatures, and the Mitscherh'ch Experiment : 

 Dr. A. E. H. Tutton, F.R.S.— On the Viscosity of Ice : R. M. Deeley.— 

 The Effect of Temperature on the Neutralisation-Volume Change for 

 Different Salts at Different Concentrations: Miss Ida Freund. — Note on 

 a New Sounding Machine for Use on Lakes and Rivers without a Boat : 

 Prof. E. J. Garwood. — The Electrical Qualities of Porcelain, with Special 

 Reference to Dielectric Losses : H. F. Haworth. — On the Decay of the 

 Radium Emanation when Dissolved in Water : R. B. Moore. 



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

 Scott, F.R.S. 



LiNNEAN Society, at 8. —Note on the Spicules of Chirodota gtminSfira. 

 DendyandHindle : Prof. \. Dendy, F.R.S.— Two New Fungus Diseases : 

 E. S. Salmon.— The CaryophyllaceK of Tibet : F. N. Williams.— Poly- 

 chsEta of the Indian Ocean : F. A. Potts,— The .Stylasterina of the Indian 

 Ocean: Dr. S. J. Hickson, F.R.S. . and Miss Helen M. England.— 

 A Contribution to the Mycology of South Africa : W. N. Cheesman and 

 T. Gjbbs. — Exhibits: Drawings prepared to illustrate Descourtilz's 

 " Ornithologie br(?silienne " : C. E. Salmon. — Lantern-slides of the Life- 

 history of a Wood-boring Wasp : F. Enock. 



Institution of Mini.ng Engineeus, at ii a.m.— Presidential Address by 

 C. E. Rhodes.— The Mineral Resources of Trinidad : J. Cadman.— The 



NO. 2014, VOL. 78] 



Occurrence of Fluorspar in Derbyshire : C. E. Wedd and G. C. Drabble. — 

 Calcining-kilns : G. Jones. — Cobalt and Northern Ontario : J. B. Tyrrell. 



Chemical Society, at 8. 30. — Condensation Products from Pinene Aniino- 

 dicarboxylic Acid ; W. Godden.— A Delicate Test for Bromides alone, or 

 ill Solution with Chlorides : J. S. Jamieson. — Experiments un the Synthesis 

 of i-Meihylcyclohexylidene-4-acetic Acid : W. H. Perkinand W. J. Pope. 

 —The Triazo-group. Part iv., AUyl Azoimide: IM. O. Forster and 

 H. E. Fieri. 



FRIDAY, }\^-iiK<,. 



Royal Institution, at 9. — The Nadir of Temperature and Allied 

 Problems: Sir James Deuar, F.R.S. 



Institution of Mining Engineers, at 11 a.m. — Winding-engine Tests, 

 with Notes and Suggestions on the Design and Testing of Plant : S. L. 

 Thacker. — 'I'he Utilisation of Sewage for the Production of Crude Oil and 

 Ammonia : M. F. Purcell. — The Oil Prospects of Central British South 

 Africa : Dr. C Sandberg. — Oil-mining : D. M. Chambers. — Mining in the 

 Boundai->' District of British Columbia : F. Keffer. 

 TUESDAY, June 9. 



Faraday Society, at 8. — The Utilisation of Atmospheric Nitrogen in the 

 Production of Calcium Cyanamide and its Use in Agriculture and 

 Chemistry: Dr. R. A. Frank. 



THURSDAY, JvKE II. 



Mathematical Society, at 5.30. 



FRIDAY, June 12. 



Royal Astronomical Societv, at 5. 



Aristotelian Society (at Cambridge). — Symposium : The Nature of 

 Mental Activity: Profs. S. Alexander, James Ward, Carveth Read, and 

 G. F. Stout. 



Physical Society, at 8. — E.xperiments on a Directive Sj'stem of Wire- 

 less Telegraphy : Messrs. BclUni and Tosi. — On the Lateral Vibration 

 and Deflection of Clamped Directed Bars : Dr. Morrow. — On the Resist- 

 ance of a Conductor of Uniform Thickness whose Breadth Suddenly 

 Changes, and on the Shapes of the Stream-lines: Prof. Lees. — On the 

 Self-inductance of Two Parallel Wires : Dr. Nicholson. — On Homo- 

 geneous Secondary Radiation : Dr. Barkia and Mr. Sadler. — Notes on 

 the Motion of a Corpuscle and on Cloud Formation : Prof. Morton. 



Geologists' Association, at S. — Origin of Mountain Tarns : Prof. E. J. 

 Garwood. 



contents. page 



Science in Folklore 97 



A Zoologist as iEsthete. ByJ. A. T 98 



Fundamental Principles of Chemistry. By T. H. L 9S 



Newton's Philosophy 99 



Our Book Shelf:— 



Hetter : "The Common Bacterial Infecticins of the 

 Digestive Tract and the Intoxications arising from 



Them."— Prof. R. T. Hewlett 100 



Mulock : "National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-4." — 



J. W. G ICO 



von Ihering : " Archhelenis und Archinotis. Gesam- 

 melte Beitriige zur Geschichte der neotropischen 



Region " ico 



Serviss : "The Moon, a Popular Treatise." — W. E. R. loi 



Clark: " The Apodous Holothurians " 101 



Letters to the Editor: — 



Elimination of Self-coloured Birds. — Prof. Chas. B. 



Davenport loi 



"Barisal Guns "in Western Australia. — Dr. J. Burton 



Cleland . ■ loi 



Welsh Saints and Astronomy. — Rev. John Griffith 102 



Meteors from k Draconis in May. — W. F. Denning 102 

 Formation of Ground- or Anchorice, and other 



Natural Ice. (Il/nslra/fd.) By Prof H. T. Barnes 102 

 Telegraphic Photography and Electric Vision. By 



Dr. Shelford Bidwell, F.R.S 105 



Aristotle and Natural Selection. By Dr. F. A. 



Dixey 106 



Notes 106 



Our Astronomical Column : — 



Astronomical Occurrences in June ill 



The Return of Encke's Comet ill 



The Radial Velocity of Algol 1 1 1 



The Radial Velocity of € Urste Majoris iii 



Observations of Jupiter's Satellites iii 



The Orbit of a Andromedie Ill 



The United States Naval Observatory m 



On the Shapes of Eggs, and the Causes which 

 determine Them. By Prof D'Arcy Wentworth 



Thompson, C.B iii 



Geodetic Investigations in the United States . . . 113 

 The Mechanics of the Inner Ear. By Prof. John 



G. McKendrick, F.R.S 114 



Colour Photography iii 



University and Educational Intelligence 115 



Societies and Academies. {IVith Diagrams.) . ... 116 



Diary of Societies 120 



