152 Scientific Intelligence. 



9. The Physical Review: A Journal of Experimental and 

 Theoretical Physics, conducted by Edwaed L. ^Nichols and 

 Ernest Meeeitt. Vol. I, No. 1, pp. 1-80, July — August, 1893. 

 (Published for Cornell University. Macmillan and Company, 

 New York and London). — This new Journal gives the depart- 

 ment of Physical Science what it has not had before in this 

 country, a special periodical devoted to itself. The objects of 

 the Physical Review, as given in the prospectus, are threefold : 

 "To afford a channel for the publication of the results of 

 research ; to translate and reproduce in full, or in part, important 

 foreign memoirs not easily accessible in the original to American 

 readers ; to discuss current topics of special interest to the 

 student of Physics." It will be issued bi-monthly. The faithful 

 carrying out of this program and the high standard of the 

 Review in all parts is guaranteed by the able editorship of 

 Professors Nichols and Merritt. It will doubtless receive from 

 Physicist and the Scientific public in general the generous wel- 

 come which it deserves, and it should exert a powerful influence 

 on the development of physical science in this country. 



The opening number contains the following articles : The 

 transmission spectra of certain substances in the infra-red by 

 Ernest F. Nichols ; relation between the lengths of the yard 

 and the meter by W. A. Rogers; the infra-red spectra of the 

 alkalies by Benjamin W. Snow (from Wiedemann's Annalen) ; 

 the critical current density for copper deposition and the abso- 

 lute velocity of migration of the copper ions by Samuel Sheldon 

 and G. M. Downing ; a geometrical proof of the three-ammeter 

 method of measuring power by Frederick Bedell and Albert C. 

 Crehore. The number closes with notes of scientific meetings 

 and book notices. The mechanical execution of the work is all 

 that could be desired. 



10. Polarization Rotatoire. Reflexion et Re [fraction vitreuses ; 

 Reflexion Metallique. — Lecons faites a la Sorbonne en 1»91— 1892, 

 par G. Foussereau, redigees par J. Lemoine. 343 pp. 8vo. Paris, 

 1893. (Georges Carre, Editeur). — This is an interesting and 

 instructive volume discussing the whole subject of rotatory 

 polarization. The method is simple and involves no excess of 

 mathematical analysis. The four divisions under which the sub- 

 ject is treated, are: (1) natural rotatory polarization; (2) mag- 

 netic rotatory polarization ; (3) vitreous reflection and refraction; 

 (4) metallic reflection. 



II. Geology and Natueal Histoky. 



1. Lehrbuch der Petrographie von F. Ziekel. Vol. I. Leip- 

 zig, 1893. 8vo. 845 pp. (Verlag von W. Engelmann). — Prof. 

 Zirkel was not only one of the earliest petrographers, but was 

 particularly the first of the European workers in this line who 

 became well known to the American scientific public through his 

 connection with the work of the survey of the 40th Parallel under 



