204 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1912. 
depends only upon the state of motion, and may be taken as a measure 
of its amount. The wire was mounted in the combustion space of an 
engine of 7 inches bore and 15 inches stroke, which was motored round 
so as to compress and expand charges of air, the gas supply being cut 
off, and comparative measurements of effective conductivity at the top 
of compression were made first with the engine valves working in the 
ordinary way, and second with the valves closed, so that the same charge 
of air was continually compressed and expanded, and there was there- 
fore no turbulence resulting from suction. It was found that at 240 
revolutions per minute the conductivity was more than 60 per cent. 
greater in the first case than in the second, while at 60 revolutions per 
minute the difference was only about 20 per cent. In these compara- 
tive experiments the temperature and density of the gas were the same, 
and the difference could only be due to the motion. From measure- 
ments of the heat-loss from a similar wire in the closed vessel, Hopkin- 
son infers that the motion of the gas with a fan speed of 2,500 revolu- 
tions per minute is probably considerably greater than that obtaining in 
the gas-engine. At this speed the heat-flow at a temperature of 
1600° C. or over is increased by an amount of the order of 25 per cent., 
and, while it is certain that turbulence is responsible for some increase 
of heat-flow in the gas-engine, it is improbable that this is such as 
materially to affect the thermal efficiency, though it is of importance in 
the problem of cooling. The great influence of this factor on this 
manner of inflammation which has been disclosed by these experiments 
of Clerk, and of Hopkinson also, makes the subject worthy of more 
detailed investigation. 
The Committee consider that their work can be continued with 
advantage, and they therefore recommend that they be reappointed. 
Out of the grant of 601. allotted to the Committee at the Portsmouth 
Meeting, 451. has been expended in assisting individual members with 
their experimental work. The Committee are of opinion that the 
Association grant would be better applied if the whole of the money 
could be assigned to one laboratory, where experiments having a direct 
bearing on the work of the Committee could be carried out. Arrange- 
ments with this object are under consideration and will, it is expected, 
be concluded before the meeting of the Association. In these cireum- 
stances the Committee feel justified in asking for a grant of 1001. 
Artificial Islands in the Lochs of the Highlands of Scotland.— 
Second Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. R. Munro 
(Chairman), Professor J. Li. Myres (Secretary), and Pro- 
fessors T. H. Bryce, W. Boyp Dawkins, and W. RipGEway, 
appointed to investigate and ascertain the Distribution thereof. 
THE Committee have received the following report from Dom F. Odo 
Blundell, of St. Benedict’s Abbey, Fort Augustus, in continuation of 
the memorandum printed in the First Report. Fresh information still 
