192 REPORT— 1892. 



duct of the hydrolysis of naphthalene tetrachloride. /3-Chloronaphthalene 

 in like manner yields a mixture of the 1 : 2 and 1 : 2' derivatives. The 

 results of a series of experiments on the formation of chlorinated naph- 

 thalenes at high temperatures by means of SO2CI2 and similar chlorinating 

 agents which the writer and Dr. Wynne are engaged in carrying out 

 will be given on a subsequent occasion ; they desire, however, here to 

 recognise the assistance which they have received from Mr. Jenks. 



Finally, it may be mentioned that Mr. Rossiter and the writer, having 

 repeated Meldola's experiments on the bromonitronaphthylamines, have 

 been led to interpret this author's results in a manner somewhat different 

 from that originally adopted by him, but in accordance with the results 

 of more modern enquiries (cf. ' C.S. Proceedings,' 1891, p. 186; Meldola, 

 'C.S. Trans.,' 1892, p. 766). 



A comprehensive survey of the very numerous recorded facts shows 

 that the ' laws of substitution ' in the naphthalene series are in the 

 main easy to decipher, and pervaded by a few veiy simple principles. 

 The writer and Dr. Wynne hope during the coming year to discuss these 

 in a comprehensive memoir, dealing with the investigation which they 

 have conjointly carried on now during over six years. It is perhaps not 

 undesirable to state that no single fact has yet been recorded serving to 

 support the view advocated by Claus, that the structure of naphthalene 

 is unsymmetrical. Whatever its exact inner structure may be, the two 

 nuclei of naphthalene must be represented alike. 



Fourth Report of Committee, consisting of Professor H. M'Leod, 

 Mr. W. C. EoBERTS-AusTEN {Secretary), Professor A. W. Eeinold, 

 and Mr. H. Gr. Madan, appointed for continuing the Biblio- 

 graphy of Spectroscopy. 



The collection of titles of spectroscopic papers has been continued 

 during the year, but as Mr. Madan is not now residing in Oxford, he has 

 not been able to verify all the references. 



Mr. Nagel has undertaken some portion of the work, and he is pro- 

 posed as a member of the Committee in place of Professor Reinold, who 

 wishes to retire. 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. W. J. Russell, Professor 

 W. N. Hartley, Professor W. Eamsay, Captain W. de W. Abney, 

 and Dr. A. Richardson, appointed for the investigation of the 

 Action of Light on the Hydracids of the Halogens in presence 

 of Oxygen. 



A LARGE amount of work has been done during the past year, but the 

 Committee feel that the results obtained cannot at this stage be profitably 

 laid before the Section. They hope, however, to be able to present a 

 detailed report to the Association at the next meeting. 



