664 Chronicles of Science. [Oct., 



Journal of Science,' and the 'Linnean Society's Transactions.' There 

 are 271 plates, executed by the same native artist who delineated a 

 large portion of Wight's Icones plantarum Indice Orientalis, accom- 

 panied by a synopsis of the tribes and an analytical table of the 

 genera with their synonyms. This work is an important addition to 

 our literature, and must find a place in the library of every botanist 

 who wishes to study the Flora of South India ; the only previous 

 notice of S. Indian Ferns being a memoir, Filices Nilagiricce, by Gustave 

 Kunze, in the 'Linnsea,' July, 1851. 



We are glad to learn that Captain Beddome proposes to publish 

 in six additional fasciculi the ferns peculiar to Northern India. 



IV. CHEMISTRY. 



{Including the Proceedings of the Chemical Society.) 



Several papers of much interest relating to the rarer metallic ele- 

 ments require a passing notice. The first we may mention is that by 

 C. Winkler, on Indium. So far as we know, Winkler is the only 

 chemist (other than the discoverers, MM. Reich and Richter) who has 

 experimented upon indium ; and it is satisfactory to find a substantial 

 agreement in the descriptions of the metal and its compounds. It 

 must be noted, however, that the last investigator deduces a lower 

 atomic weight. The discoverers gave the number 37 ■ 07 ; but the 

 determinations of Winkler lead to the number 35 • 918, a number 

 which he states, however, as only to be accepted provisionally. Indium, 

 our readers will remember, is found in zinc reduced from blende. The 

 method given by Winkler for its sej)aration is exceedingly simple. 

 Zinc is boiled in dilute hydrochloric or sulphuric acid, until nearly 

 all is dissolved. The black residue left will contain all the indium, 

 together with some iron, arsenic, cadmium, and lead. This residue 

 shows well the characteristic line in the spectrum ; but to obtain in- 

 dium perfectly pure a somewhat tedious process is necessary, which 

 will be found described in the paper indicated below. 



Troost has lately obtained Zirconium in the crystallized state, by 

 heating the double fluoride of zirconium and potassium with aluminium. 

 After a very strong heat, the temperature of melted iron, crystalline 

 plates of zirconium, lying close together like the leaves of a book, are 

 found upon the surface of the aluminium. Some zirconium, however, 

 alloys itself with the aluminium ; and at a lower temperature, that of 

 melted silver, only an alloy of the two is obtained. Troost arranges 

 zirconium in the carbon group, and places it between the metalloid 

 silicium and the metal aluminium.* 



Hiortdahl has communicated to the Academy of Sciences "j" some 

 researches on zirconia, Zr 2 , made to ascertain its affinity for bases, 

 and to show that it really plays the part of an acid. It was found that 



* ' Comptes Kendus,' t. lxi. p. 109. 



f ' Comptes Eendus,' t. lxi. pp. 175, 213. 



