October 1, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



467 



Determinations of the lowering of the freezing 

 point of chlorine by various solutes were made. 

 Toluol, chloroform and various substances form- 

 ing oxonium compounds such as ether, gave nor- 

 mal results; bodies containing the hydroxyl group 

 were polymerized. 



The Preparation of Metallic Vanadium : E. Edson 



and D. McIntosh, F.R.S.C. 



Vanadium was deposited on a heated wire from 

 an atmosphere of a volatile vanadium compound 

 and hydrogen. 



JBromocamphor Sulphonio Acid and Oxonium Com- 

 pounds: D. McIntosh, F.E.S.C. 

 An account of an unsuccessful attempt to pre- 

 pare oxonium compounds. 



The Viscosity of Ethyl Ether in the Neighborhood 

 of the Critical Point: A. L. Clark, B.Sc, Ph.D. 

 A Self-recording Instrument for Measuring Earth 

 Temperatures: John Patterson, M.A. (Can- 

 tab). Presented by R. F. Stupart, F.R.S.C. 

 The instrument consists of a Thread Recorder 

 Galvanometer and a set of thermo couples con- 

 nected through a special commutator to the gal- 

 vanometer. A record is obtained of the tempera- 

 ture at the surface and at a depth of six inches 

 twice every hour; below six inches the record is 

 obtained once every hour at each depth. 



On the Diurnal Changes in Magnetic Horizontal 



Force at Agincourt, 1902-1912: W. E. W. 



Jackson, M.A. Presented by R. F. Stitpart, 



F.R.S.C. 



The mean diurnal inequality for each month of 

 the year is treated by harmonic analysis and the 

 seasonal variations brought out, and a comparison 

 made with seasonal variations at Kew. Finally 

 the abnormalities in the monthly diurnal ranges 

 during years of maximum and minimum sun spots 

 is shown, and also the variations in the seasonal 

 values of the Fourier coefficient with the sun spots. 



Comparison of the Callendar Sunshine Beceiver and 

 the Angstrom Pyrheliometer : John Patterson, 

 M.A. (Cantab). Presented by R. F. Stupart, 

 F.R.S.C. 



The comparison made by the author in 1912 

 showed that there was a very large difference be- 

 tween the two instruments, and the comparison has 

 been continued ia order to find out the cause of 

 the difference. 



The Diffusion of Oxygen Through Silver: F. M. G. 

 Johnson, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. 



Waves in a Jet of Water: Mr. Otto Maas. Pre- 

 sented by D. McIntosh, Ph.D., F.E.S.C. 



In Section IV. (Geological and Biological Sci- 

 ences), Dr. Buller, of the University of Manitoba, 

 Winnipeg, delivered the presidential address and 

 discussed "Micheli and the Discovery of Repro- 

 duction in Fungi." The other papers included: 



A Contrihution, to a Knowledge of Canadian 

 Ticks: Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, F.E.S.C. 

 The economic importance of many of the native 

 species of ticks in North America as responsible 

 agents in causing certain known and obscure dis- 

 eases or pathological conditions in man and do- 

 mestic animals renders a knowledge of the occur- 

 rence and distribution of the species occurring in 

 Canada very desirable. The present paper brings 

 together in an a.ccessible form information col- 

 lected by the author and others. 



I. A Comparison of Spore-disclmrge in the TJredi- 

 neee and the Symenomycetes : A. H. Eeginald 

 Bdller, D.Sc, F.R.S.C. 



A minute study of the discharge of sporidia from 

 the promycelium of a rust fungus and from the 

 basidiospores of Agarics has provided evidence 

 that the processes of discharge in the Uredinese and 

 Hymenomycetes are identical in nature. (Lantern 

 slides.) 



II. The Movements of Spirogyra: A. H. Reginald 

 Buller, D.Sc, F.E.S.C. 



The free ends of Spirogyra filaments execute 

 fairly rapid bending movements, the result of 

 which is that the filaments become twined around 

 one another so as to form wisps. The filaments in 

 each wisp lie more or less parallel to one another. 

 The parallel situation of the filaments in any wisp 

 eventually facilitates scalariform conjugation. 

 The movements therefore have a biological signifi- 

 cance. (Lantern slides.) 



On the Taxonomio Value of the Placenta: Dr. 



Arthur Willet, F.E.S.C. 



The paper discusses the relations of the various 

 forms of placenta in the light of recent advances 

 in mammalian embryology, with special reference 

 to the gestation of the Canadian beaver. 



Comorocystitis punctatus Billings: Sm James 



Grant, K.C.M.G., F.E.S.C. 



A Cystidian from Ottawa. 

 The Cretaceous Sea in Alberta: D. B. Dowling, 



F.E.S.C. 



A fairly extended description of the formations 

 underlying the plains is available in the several 

 reports that have been made by various observers. 

 The beds composing these formations have been 

 examined in many localities and the animal re- 



