298 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 
made suitable for applying the larger loads needed. ‘The tests with this 
apparatus are almost complete. 
To enable automatic records of compression load/strain curves to be 
obtained, and particularly to enable hysteresis loops to be recorded, the 
shear apparatus, referred to in the last report, has been slightly added to. 
With the new additions a very large number of records have been made on 
clays of various water contents, and some particularly interesting experi- 
ments have been made on clay tested under water and under oil. This 
‘hysteresis loop apparatus ’ produces records on smoked glass, which are 
varnished and stored. 
At the present time a full investigation is being made on shear strengths 
in the shear apparatus. One of the many difficulties is that water is often 
extruded from the clay during the test. The cause of this extrusion is the 
point under investigation at the moment. 
A good deal of thought and time has been spent on the design of a kneading 
apparatus which is wanted to mix the clay produced in the press so as to 
destroy any possible lamination, Some interesting results have been 
obtained, but no method has yet been found by which clay can be kneaded 
without introducing air. 
All these experiments are valueless unless they lead to the understanding 
of the fundamental principles of the mechanics of clay. ‘They are sufficient 
to show that none of the existing theories are tenable, and they all appear at 
present to point to an explanation which is fundamentally very simple,. 
though disguised by many subsidiary effects. All the work at present is 
aimed at checking the accuracy of this hypothesis. ‘Though there are many 
difficulties, none of them appear to be insuperable. The great trouble 
of endless creep has not appeared in any of the tests, all of which give 
definite results. 
Conclusion—Though no definite results have been reached so far, the 
experiments are working well, and a promising theory is being worked out. 
C. F. JENKIN. 
BRITISH SOMALILAND. 
Report of Committee appointed to make a preliminary survey of some reported 
archeological sites in British Somaliland (Dr. A. C. Happon, F.R.S., 
Chairman; Mr. R. U. Sayce, Secretary; Prof. J. L. Myrss, 
F.B.A.). 
THE Committee was appointed at the Bristol Meeting in 1930, to enable 
Dr. L. S. B. Leakey to visit Somaliland and make preliminary examination 
of some reported archzological sites. Dr. Leakey was, however, prevented 
from going to Somaliland, either on his journey to Kenya Colony or on 
his way home; and has accordingly refunded the grant. 
