314 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLV. No. 1161 



Central-Battery Systems, Secondary Cells, 

 Secondary-Cell Working, Eepeaters, Test 

 Boxes, Telegraph Testing, Aerial Lines, 

 Underground Lines. 



As will be seen from the above list, the plan 

 of development opens •with, the elementary 

 theory of the subject, and then proceeds with 

 detailed descriptions of the various types of 

 apparatus in most general use. Finally, the 

 circuits and lines are dealt with. 



A number of useful appendices on special 

 topics are inserted near the end of the book. 

 The index of subject-matter has been prepared 

 with great care. 



As a practical telegraphist's guide, and as 

 an elementary text-book of the principles of 

 wire telegraphy in Great Britain, the volume 

 deserves high praise. A. E. Kennelly 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL 

 ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



The first nimiber of Volume 3 of the Pro- 

 ceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 

 contains the following articles : 



Inferences concerning Auforas: Elihu 

 Thomson, General Electric Company, West 

 Lynn, Massachusetts. Auroras consist of ver- 

 tical streamers which, seen from different 

 points of perspective, give the various optical 

 effects observed. 



Application of the Laws of Action, Reaction 

 and Interaction in Life Evolution: Henry 

 Fairfield Osborn, American Museum of Nat- 

 ural History, New Tork City. In each or- 

 ganism the phenomena of life represent the 

 action, reaction and interaction of four com- 

 plexes of physico-chemical energy. 



The Resistance of Metals under Pressure: 

 P. W. Bridgman, Jefferson Physical Labora- 

 tory, Harvard University. Twenty-two metals 

 are examined up to 12,000 kg. 



The Bate of Discharge of Central Neurones : 

 Alexander Forbes and W. C. Rappleye, labo- 

 ratory of physiology. Harvard Medical School. 

 The normal frequency of nerve impulses dis- 

 charged from the ganglion cells in voluntary 

 contraction must lie between 300 and 5,000 

 per second. 



A Physiological Study of Noctiluca, with 



Special Reference to Light Production, An- 

 esthesia and Specific Gravity: Ethel Browne 

 Harvey, Cornell University Medical School, 

 New Tork City, and department of marine 

 biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington. 

 These animals are able to regulate their spe- 

 cific gravity. Anesthetics seem to attack the 

 mechanism of the utilization of oxygen in the 

 absence of which light is not produced. 



Physiographic Subdivision of the United 

 States: Nevin M. Fenneman, department of 

 geology. University of Cincinnati. The basis 

 of division shown on the map is physiographic 

 or morphologic. There are twenty-four major 

 divisions, some with six to ten subdivisions. 



On the Composition of the Medusa, Cassi- 

 opea Xamachana and the Changes in it after 

 Starvation: S. Hatai, Tortugas Laboratory, 

 Carnegie Institution of Washington. 



Studies of the Magnitudes in Star Clusters, 

 IV. On the Color of Stars in the Galactic 

 Clouds surrounding Messier 11: Harlow 

 Shapley, Mount Wilson Solar Observatory, 

 Carnegie Institution of Washington. The 

 frequency curve for colors shows great diver- 

 sity of color index and general resemblance 

 to the curve for the brighter stars in the 

 neighborhood of the sun. A striking pro- 

 gression of color with decreasing brightness 

 is shown. 



The Color of the Standard Polar Stars 

 Determined hy the Method of Exposure- 

 Ratios: Frederick H. Scares, Mount Wilson 

 Solar Observatory, Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington. The colors of the Polar Stand- 

 ards, brighter than the 13th magnitude, have 

 been determined to about the same precision 

 as was reached in the investigation of the 

 magnitude scale, with an expenditure of time 

 and labor perhaps a tenth of that in an earlier 

 investigation. 



Terracing of Bajada Belts: Charles Keyes. 

 The feature of desert bajada-terracing, when 

 explained upon a strictly aqueous basis, can 

 not but lead to complete misinterpretation. 

 It is far more largely the result of wind- 

 action. 



Relation of the Apex of Solar Motion to 

 proper Motion and on the Cause of the Differ- 

 ences of its Position from Radial Velocities 



