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/Scientific Intelligence. 



relations. Some of these diagrams are reproduced in the original 

 paper. Thus the refractive equivalents are found at the lower 

 apices of the descending curves; the atomic volumes, on the 

 ascending branches, in appropriate positions ; and the melting 

 and boiling points, like the refractivities, occupy positions at 

 the lower apices. 



Although, however, such regularity is to be noticed, similar to 

 that which is found with other elements, we have entertained 

 hopes that the simple nature of the molecules of the inactive 

 gases might have thrown light on the puzzling incongruities of 

 the periodic table. That hope has been disappointed. We have 

 not been able to predict accurately any one of the properties 

 of one of these gases from a knowledge of those of the others ; 

 an approximate guess is all that can be made. The conundrum ot 

 the periodic table has yet to be solved." — Proc. Roy. Soc, No. 439. 



12. Studies from the Yale Psychological Laboratory / edited by 

 Edward W. Scripture, Ph.D., Director. Volume VII, 1899, 

 pp. 1-108. Yale University, New Haven, Conn. — This volume, 

 which is issued from the Yale Psychological Laboratory, contains 

 an interesting paper by Dr. Scripture (pp. 1-101) giving the 

 result of a first series of researches in experimental phonetics. 

 The immediate question before the experimenter, as stated by 

 him, was as to the possibility of using laboratory methods to 

 settle the controversy in regard to the quantitative character of 

 English verse. Records of verses in English poetry were made 

 by means of a gramophone and were transcribed with great care 

 by the use of delicate apparatus. The results are discussed in 

 detail as to the character of the vowel- and consonant-sounds and 

 their physiological explanation, also as to the nature of the 

 rhythm. A second paper (pp. 102-108), also by Dr. Scripture, 

 gives observations on rhythmic action. 



II. Geology and Mineralogy. 



1. The Periodic Variations of Glaciers. — Professor F. A. 

 Forel, in a lecture before the Helvetic Society of Sciences at 

 Thusis, in September, 1900, gave an interesting summary of his 

 views in regard to the variations in length of glaciers, particu- 

 larly as applied to those of Switzerland. He notes, in the first 

 place, that the variation that takes place is really one of volume 

 and not of form, though the observation of one dimension, 

 as that of length, is usually sufficient in the discussion of 

 the phenomenon. In regard to the changes that have taken place 

 during the nineteenth century, he notes a decided phase of 

 advance between 1816 and 1820; a maximum recognized every- 

 where in 1855, and a general recession from 1856 to the end 

 of the century, with a small partial advance between 1875 and 

 1893. This is shown more definitely in the following table. 



