192 



NA TURE 



[June 



1806 



order, which has no singular solution, cannot have an algebraic 

 intepral." He showed that Cayley's proof that every algebraic 

 family has a proper envelope, on which this conclusion regarding 

 differential equations depends, fails to take account of the fact 

 that the residual points of intersection, iii + 11 in number, may 

 be concentrated in isolated points, usually tac-points ; and pro- 

 <luced examples of cubic and quartic families which, in point of 

 fact, have no proper envelope. — Prof. Ewart gave a summary of 

 a paper by Mr. Frank J. Cole, on the cranial nerves of Chinucra 

 monslrosa, with a discussion of the lateral line system, and of 

 the comparative anatomy of the chorda tympani nerve. 



Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, June 15. — M. A. Cornu in the 

 chair. — Formula for the mean local pressures in a fluid moving 

 irregularly or in vortices, by M. J. Boussinesq. — On the varia- 

 tions observed in the composition of apatites, by M. Adolphe 

 Carnot. In Canadian apatites some of the calcium fluoride 

 would appear to be replaced by calcium carbonate without 

 <:hange of crystalline form. In some apatites from the Tyrol, 

 which presented the crystalline properties of normal apatite, 

 the amount of calcium fluoride is reduced to about one-tenth of 

 that usually present. — On the presence of Campodea slaphyliiius 

 {Westwood) and Sahacoii paradoxus in the cave of Dargilan 

 (Loz^re), by M. Lannelongue. — Remarks on the preceding com- 

 munication, by M. E. Klanchard. — On the value as food of 

 bread from different specimens of screened flour, by M. A. 

 ■Girard. From a comparative study of the amounts of phos- 

 phorus in various .sani|>les of bread, the conclusion is drawn 

 hat there is no real justification for the use of brown bread in 

 preference to white, when the digestive organs are in a healthy 

 state. — Observations and remarks on the bactericidal power of 

 blood serum, and on the b.actericidal substance contamed in it, 

 by M. S. Arloing. The experimental results obtained do not 

 appear to sustain the idea of a specific substance in the serum 

 of bactericidal properties. It was found that solutions of many 

 salts could replace the solution of common salt as a diluent of 

 the serum without appreciably affecting its action upon bacteria. 

 — Measurement of the work expended in driving a bicycle, by 

 M. Bouny. The work done was measured by a pedal of special 

 •construction containing two dynamometers, arranged so as 

 to register the force exerted in two directions at right 

 angles to each other, and also so as to take into account 

 the effect produced by the deviations of the pedal from the 

 horizontal plane. The work done by the pressure on the pedal 

 is given as a function of the speed. To double the velocity (17 

 to 33 kilometres per hour) more than trebled the work required 

 to be done. — Remarks on the preceding communication, by M. 

 Marey. — On apsidal surfaces, by M. A. Mannhein. — On the 

 theorem stated by M. P. H. Schoute in the Coiiiptes reiidiis of 

 May 18, by M. I). J. Korteweg. A simplification of one part of 

 the demonstration of this theorem. — On the note of M. P. H. 

 Schoute, entitled " The area of parabolas of higher order," by 

 M. G. Mannoury. — On the method of least squares, by M. 

 Jules Andrade. — On multiple resonance of electric oscillations, 

 by M. Nils Strindberg An experimental study of the theory 

 of MM. Poincareand V. Bjerknes on the phenomena of multiple 

 resonance, discovered by MM. Sarasin and De la Rive. By 

 the use of a new form of electro-dynamometer based upon the 

 Joule effect, it has been found possible lo determine completely 

 the form of the curves of interference. Qualitatively, the 

 results obtained verify the above theory. — Non-isotropic 

 magnetisation of crystallised magnetite, by M. Pierre Weiss. 

 From the fact that magnetite crystallises in the cubic system, 

 •complete symmetry of magnetic properties in all directions might 

 be expected. The experiments detailed, however, show that 

 this is not the case. — On the surfusion of water, by M. J. Passy. 

 It is possible to produce a precipitate in surfused solutions with- 

 out causing crystallisation to begin. — On the diurnal variation in 

 rain, by M. A. Angol. In summer the maximum amount of 

 rain at Paris falls between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. In winter the 

 maximum, which is not so well marked, appears to be between 

 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. In March, April, October, and November 

 there is no appreciable daily variation. — Dissociation spectra of 

 fused salts. Alkali metals : sodium, potassium, lithium, by M. A. 

 de Gramont. — On the reproduction of colours in chromo- 

 typography, and on a simple system of colour notation, by 

 M. Steinheil. — On a reaction of cuprous compounds serving as 

 a characteristic test fur nitrites, by M. Paul Sabatier. A solu- 

 tion containing a nitrite, treated with concentrated .sulphuric acid 



NO. I 39 1, VOL. 54] 



and a little cuprous oxide, gives a characteristic violet coloura- 

 tion.— On the zirconotungslic compounds, by M. L. A. Hallo- 

 peau. — Synthesis of natural methylheptenone, by MM. Ph. 

 Barbier and L. Bouveault. — Contribution to the study of the 

 anterior region of the digestive apparatus of the higher Steno- 

 glossia, by M. A. Amaudrut. — Artificial reproduction of a 

 chlorocarbonate of sodium and magnesium, and a double car- 

 bonate of the same bases. Artificial reproduction of darapskite 

 and hydrargylite, by M. A. de Schulten. — On the rare minerals 

 of the glacier of Meije, by M. A. Lacroix The minerals include 

 anatase, brookite and turnerite. — Chalk containing hippurites 

 of the eastern province, by M. H. Douville. — On the presence 

 of a genus allied to Caprina in the liinestone at Chateauneuf- 

 du-Rhone (Drome), by M. V. Paquier. — On the relations be- 

 tween thermal sensibility and temperature, by M. C. Henry. — 

 Action of the porcelain filter upon snake venom ; separation of 

 the toxic substances and vaccinal substances, by M. C. Phisalix. — 

 On .some derivatives of diphenylethylene diamine, by M. C. 

 (Jassmann. — Studies on peridinitronaphthalene, by the same. — 

 On a method of observing sun-spots, by M. Bougon. 



BOOKS AND SERIALS RECEIVED. 



Books.— Report of the Sixth International Geographical Congress held in 

 London, 1895 (Murray). — Statistical Atlas of India, 2nd edition (Stanford). 

 —Rivers and Canals : L. F. Vernon-Harcourt, 2 Vols., 2nd edition (Claren- 

 don Press) —Domestic Science Readers : V. T. Murchd, Book 3 (Mac- 

 millan).— The Story of Electricity : J. Munro (Newnes).— Hegel's Philo- 

 sophy of Right : translated by Dr. S. W. Dyde (Bell).— Das Sflsswasser- 

 plankton : Dr. C. Apstein (Kiel, Lipsius).— Vo.\ometric Revelation : J. 

 Abner for A. A. North (Authors' and Printers' Joint Interest Publishing 

 Company). -Text-Book of Zoologv; Dr. J. E. Boas, translated by J. W. 

 Kirkaldy and E. C. Pollard (Low). 



Serials. — Economic Journal, June (Macmillan). — Royal Natural 

 Hi.story, Part 32 (Warne).— Madias Government Museum, Bulletin No. 4 

 (Madras). — Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, June (Spon). — 

 Lloyd's Natural History. British Birds. P,irt 2 (Lloyd).— Himmel und 

 Erd^, June (Berlin). 



Closely-allied 

 F.R.S. . 



CONTENTS. PAGE 



■ Species." By W. Betting Hemsley, 



169 



The Autobiography of Professor W. C. 'WiUiamson. 



By A. C. S 169 



Our Book Shelf:— 



-Minks: " Die Protrophie, eine neue Lebensgemein- 

 schaft in ihren auffalligsten Erscheinungen." — G. 



Massee 170 



" Mathematical Papers read at the International 

 -Mathematical Congress held in connection with the 

 World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893 " 170 

 Orford : " Modern Optical Instruments and their Con- 

 struction" 170 



Letters to the Editor: — 



Cattle Plague in Africa. —Sir John Kirk, G.C.M.G., 



K.C.B., F.R.S . .171 



The Electrical Resistance of Alloys. — Walter G. 



McMillan and Robert H. Housman . . 171 



Are Rontgen Rays Polarised? — J. William Gifford . 172 



A Curious Bird's Nest. — P. B. Brodie 172 



Hydrodiityon reticiilatttm. — Alfred W. Bennett . 172 

 " The Old Light and the New."— William Ackroyd ; 



Your Reviewer 173 



"The Reminiscences of a Yorkshire Naturalist." — 



A. C. Williamson . . 173 



Post-Graduate Study in London. — "Puthos" . . . 173 

 Lord Kelvin's Jubilee. {Illustrated.) P.y Prof. A. 



Gray, F.R.S ' 173 



International Catalogue of Science . iSi 



Notes 1S2 



Our Astronomical Column: — 



Return of Comet Brooks (18S9 V.) 1S5 



Visibility of Solar Prominences 1S5 



Shooting-Star Radiants 1S6 



Kepler and his Work . • . 1S6 



Science and Society at the Central Technical Col- 

 lege . . . 1S6 



University and Educational Intelligence 1S8 



Scientific Serials 189 



Societies and Academies 19c 



Books and Serials Received 192 



