SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodwabd, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickering, As- 

 tronomy ; T. C. Mendenhall, Physics ; R. H. Thueston, Engineering ; IBA Eemsen, Chemistry ; 

 J. Le Contb, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. Bkooks, 

 Invertebrate Zoology ; C. Haet Meeeiam, Vertebrate Zoology ; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology ; 

 N. L. Beitton, Botany ; Heney F. Osboen, General Biology, ; H. P. Bowditch, 

 Physiology ; J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; J. McKeen Cattell, Psychology ; 

 Daniel G. Beinton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology ; 

 G. Beown Goode, Scientific Organization. 



Friday, Maech 13, 1896. 



CONTENTS: 



A Lecture upon Acetylene : J. M. Ceafts 377 



Notes on the Cerillos Coal Fields: John J. Ste- 

 venson 392 



TheBontgen Phenomena: Aethub W. Goodspeed..394 



Current Notes on Physiography : — 



Catskill and ffelderberg Escarpments ; Exploration 

 in Lower California; Ninafou, a Volcanic Ring 

 Island ; The Faroes ; Mountain Waste in Belation 

 to Life and Man: W. M. Davis 396 



Current Notes on Anthropology : — 



Was Syphilis a Gift from the American Race ? Eth- 

 nology, Geography and History; Mental versus 

 Physical in Women: D. G. Beinton 397 



Notes on Agriculture and Horticulture : — • 



Treatment of Peach Bot and Apple Scab ; Legisla- 

 tion against Weeds ; Bacteria in the Dairy ; Sub- 

 irrigation in the Greenhouse; Grape Culture: 

 Byeon D. Halsted 398 



Scientific Notes and News : — 



The Woods Holl Marine Biological Laboratory ; 

 Astronomy: H.J. The Bontgen Bays ; General.AOO 



University and Educational News 405 



Discussion and Correspondence:^ 



Chuar, Hegel and Speneer : Geoege Stitabt 

 Fulleeton. The Temperature of the Earth's 

 Crust : Sebeno E. Bishop. Tiie X-Bays : 

 Ralph R. La whence. The Instinct of Pecking : 



F. A. Lucas 406 



Scientific Literature : — 



Brongniart's Paleozoic Insects : Samuel H. Scud- 

 dee, American Shrews : J. A. A. Boas' Indi- 

 anische Sagen von der nordpacifischen Kilste Ameri- 

 Jcas; Taylor's Names and their Histories: A. S. 



G. Young on The Sun: C. L. P. Wurtz's Chem- 

 istrg: L. B. HALL. Hiorns' Metallurgy: J. 

 Steuthees 410 



Societies and Academies : — 



Biological Society of Washington : F. A. Lucas. 



Geological Society of Washington : W. F. MoB- 



SELL. Chemical Society of Washington: A. C. 



Peale. Academy of Natural Sciences : Edw. 



J. Nolan 417 



New Books 420 



MSS. intended for publication and books etc., Intended 

 tor review should be sent to the responsible editor, Proi. J. 

 McXeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



A LECTURE UPON ACETYLENE* 

 A YEAR and a-half ago, if a chemist had 

 been told that a new illuminating gas could 

 be obtained from the evil-smelling product 

 with which he was only too well acquainted 

 in the laboratory, namely, the acetylene 

 which forms whenever a Bunsen burner 

 strikes down, he would have said that the 

 idea was absurd. If a physicist had been 

 told that the electric furnace was to be used 

 to produce illuminating gas on a commercial 

 scale he would have said it was quite im- 

 possible. But distinguished electricians 

 were explaining that the telephone was im- 

 possible, while Graham Bell was inventing 

 that instrument. So that scientific men 

 will be well advised not to utter general 

 opinions about the possibilities of the suc- 

 cess of any new enterprise, and I shall 

 endeavor to confine myself to the statement 

 of certain facts and to the description 

 of laboratory experiments, which consti- 

 tute some new data which can be used to 

 form an opinion regarding at least one side 

 of this subject. 



The chemistry of the manufacture of 

 acetylene is very simple. Quicklime is re- 

 duced by carbon in an electric furnace to 

 carbide of calcium, and enough carbon is 

 taken not only to combine with the calcium 

 to form carbide of calcium, but also to 

 burn with the oxygen of the quicklime 



* Delivered before the Society of Arts at Boston, 

 January 23, 1896. 



