clxxx Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XIII. 



decinormal calomel electrode, and was found to be slightly (about "08 

 volts) negative to hydrogen, an impossible value for a nitrogen electrode. 

 It was proved that the nitrogen was not electromotively active, the 

 measured potential being due to the platinum metal in a solution contain- 

 ing a minute concentration of Pt ions. Subsequently the potential of a 

 platinised platinum anode, at which nitrogen was being evolved electro- 

 lytically from a N. Sodium azide solution was measured with an 

 auxiliary calomel electrode during the passage of the polarising current. 

 Results were obtained indicating that the potential of a nitrogen electrode 

 in a normal solution of N3 ions is very near to that of the bromine 

 electrode. It is also evident that the nitrogen set free during electrolysis 

 of sodium azide differs from ordinary nitrogen, since the latter is electro- 

 motively inactive. 



Section of Zoology and Ethnography. 



President— Mr. K. Ramuxi Menon, M.A., Professor of Zoology, 



Presidency College. Madras. 



{Presidential Address.) 



In opening the proceedings, the President disavowed any intention 

 of giving an introductory address and said : 



However, as President of the Section , I think I may say that I 

 note with pleasure the increasing interest in zoological investigations 

 evinced m this country as evidenced by the rapidly-increasing output of 

 zoological work in which the Indian Museum takes' such a predominant 

 part, and incidentally also by the number of zooloci.nl papers beinir pre- 

 sented to the section this year. When the people of this countrv really and 

 seriously require original work to be done in zoology as in other subjects, 

 1 feel confident that workers will be forthcoming in zoologv no less than 

 in other subjects. In the meantime, those who by their position or by 

 inclination are interested in zoology „ ill cordially appreciate such addi- 

 tional opportunities and facilities as are thrown up by the ever-advancing 

 wheels of administration, and we may uugrudgingly 'welcome the fact that 

 in the newly established University of Mysore zoology forms one of the 

 P 'T Pal i U u JeCtS ° f Study - With the am P le backing of the Mysore Gov- 

 f,?.™ n f , T We , may reasonabl y anticipate a fruitful and prosperous 

 S r £ Z °?l°f1t l 1-eS6arch in this cit >- There is one other point. You 



othno^h n S £ ear our 8ection co »' '«** not only zoology but 



an ££l P hyasweIL Personally , lam not i, ns ~d to regard this as 

 Z rfas lT g ; ^ '- haveno doubt that ,V^ kers ii/ethnograph' 

 nresent thff Ste SeCtl ° n Wi " have to be <™ '<>r them. But for th 



obvTou; 1 1% rang rT fc 1Hthe most practicable, and, in view of the 

 Wl il , n „ 0f P h y sical anthropology to /.oology, is a logical one. 

 eTnnolc^ts°1°f 1StS ""* haVe Httle ^ offer at pr- nt which will interes 



suSt nf 4 Vh 8Ure W t Sha11 be benefited by being associated with a 



subject of such surpassing human interest. 



Recent Experimental Enquiries concerning the so-called 

 Renal Portal " System.-/iy \V\ X. l\ Woodland. 



(£woUtSi 191 T,! **£*•* the renal afferen * vein9 of three toad 



weeks Z leatJ fed S' n 7 &U recover ed from the operation and for some 

 ■ xac% * x T e ets If **$ appeared to be P erfectl y ht " U hy. One died 



al th?ee toi wh„ ^ had Kved twelve "** **»* * kilbd lfc ' *" 



found to beTtill -n'l^T 111 ? 1 P ° M mortem ' toe renal affOTenfc veinS Wefe 



6 St,H Wel1 Matured (no new veins having formed), the kidneys 



