108 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. VII. No. 160. 



algae, as some Polysiphonias, in forming a cortex 

 by developing a layer of cells on its surface. 

 The latter small cells absorb mineral matter, 

 especially silica and lime. The Characese are 

 important purifiers of water by means of this 

 surface absorption. They are also interesting 

 as examples of the great length to which it is 

 possible for a single cell to develop — sometimes 

 reaching 12 feet. 



Edward S. Burgess, 



Secretary. 



MEETING OP THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 



The regular meeting of the New York Sec- 

 tion of the American Chemical Society was 

 held on Friday evening, January 7th, at the 

 College of the City of New York, Dr. Wm. 

 McMurtrie presiding. 



Mr. G. E. Stone exhibited samples of man- 

 ganese alloys of the following composition : 



Spiegel. White. Gray. 



Total carbon 4.92 4.45 3.98 



Graphitic carbon 2.43 3.14 



Silicon 1.94 1.51 3.25 



Manganese 11.00 11.00 11.00 



Phosphorus 0.04 0.04 0.04 



Iron, sulphur, etc., difference 82.10 80.57 78.59 



100.00 100.00 100.00 

 The alloys are characterized by great hard- 

 ness and strength, as compared with ordinary 

 pig irons. 



Mr. P. C. Mcllhiney described a method of 

 determining the resistance of electrolytes hav- 

 ing the advantage of making readings at very 

 short intervals. The more accurate method 

 of Kohlrausch requires two minutes between 

 readings, while by the method described a 

 reading may be made every five seconds, which 

 was necessary in the work for which the method 

 was devised. 



Professor Loeb gave a very exhaustive review 

 of the speculations in regard to variations of 

 the atomic weights, the theories of condensa- 

 tion, of the 'meta' elements and of ideas in 

 regard to simpler forms of matter. He protests 

 against the notion that any simpler conditions 

 would result from assuming that all elements 

 are a form of one element, and considers that 

 the acceptance of a reasonable number of forms 

 of matter is a decided advantage. 



Miss Hitchcock reported experiments show- 

 ing that nitrogen was given off from tungsten 

 and molybdenum oxides when reduced in a 

 current of hydrogen. On lowering the tem- 

 perature the amount of nitrogen decreased and 

 increased on again raising the heat. Argon 

 and helium were not found. The results ob- 

 tained on other oxides indicate that nitrogen is 

 generally present and is considered as a cause 

 of obtaining low atomic weights by the reduc- 

 tion method. Further results are promised: 

 DuRAND Woodman, 



Secretary. 



biological society of WASHINGTON. 



The eighteenth anniversary meeting of the 

 Biological Society of Washington, D. C, was 

 held on the evening of January 7th. The sub- 

 ject of the presidential address, by Dr. L. O. 

 Howard, was ' A Great Experiment in Eco- 

 nomic Entomology : The Work of Massachusetts 

 against the Gipsy Moth.' Both the practical 

 and biological aspects of the work were con- 

 sidered. The address will not be published in 

 full, but the practical portion will appear in 

 Bulletin 10, New Series, Divison of Ento- Li 

 mology. United States Department of Agricul- / 

 ture. The biological portion comprised a con- / 

 sideration of the interesting points which have ' 

 developed in the course of the work of the 

 committee of the State Board of Agricul- 

 ture for Massachusetts, under the direction of 

 the entomological adviser. Professor C. H. 

 Fernald. The points especially considered 

 were the analyses of the caterpillars fed upon 

 arsenical poisons, the experiments upon rate of 

 travel, amount and character of food, effects of 

 starving, of heat and cold upon the larvae, the 

 occurrence of hermaphroditism, of polygamy 

 and polyandry with the adults, the experiments 

 upon the eggs, especially as to the effects of 

 heat and cold, and the very important and in- 

 teresting work done on the assembling of the 

 adults. More detailed consideration was given 

 to the biological interest attaching to the 

 work as a whole, as an attempt to exterminate 

 a species existing under the most favorable 

 circumstances over a considerable extent of 

 country. 



F. A. Lucas. 



