618 Scientific Intelligence. 



many of the fine Fraunhofer lines are undoubtedly due to 

 ammonia. The maxima in the two spectra not only agree in 

 wave-length and in relative intensity but they show identical 

 patches of continuous background. There is also a consistent 

 representation of the groups of- three, and of the lines composing 

 the secondary maximum of the ammonia group. Of the 260 

 band-lines of ammonia in the region A3450 to A3286, there are 

 140 which correspond with previously unidentified faint lines 

 of the solar spectrum. About 100 of the remaining lines are 

 obscured by lines for which metallic origins have been found, or 

 coincide with lines which are too strong in the solar spectrum to 

 be assigned solely to ammonia, and the few which fail to appear 

 in the sun are all of low intensity. 



In a second paper by Fowler alone it is conclusively shown that 

 at least 150 lines in the region of the A3064 band may confi- 

 dently be assigned exclusively to water vapor. "Besides account- 

 ing for a large number of previously unidentified solar lines, the 

 identification of the water- vapour band in the solar spectrum is 

 of interest as furnishing further evidence of the existence of oxy- 

 gen in the sun." In this connection, it may be remarked that 

 the author does not discuss the lines of telluric origin. — Proc. 

 Roy. Soc, 94 A, 470, 472, 1918. h. s. u. 



9. A Calendar of Leading Experiments; by Wm. S. Frank- 

 lin and Barry Mac Nutt. Pp. vii, 210; with 107 figures, 

 South Bethlehem, 1918 (Franklin, Mac Nutt and Charles).— The 

 objects of this volume are stated in the authors' preface in the 

 following words : ' ' Primarily this book has to do with class-room 

 experiments in physics. The best experiments are those that are 

 homely and simple, and suggestive rather than informing." 

 ' ' Secondarily this book is intended to set forth the possibilities of 

 an extended course in elementary dynamics, including the 

 dynamics of wave motion." The text is divided into six Parts 

 entitled respectively: Mechanics, Heat, Electricity and Mag- 

 netism, Light, Sound, and A simple treatise on wave motion. 

 The appendix contains a list of 155 experiments which, in the 

 opinion of the authors, should be kept on exhibition at all times 

 for the enlightenment and entertainment of visitors. In addi- 

 tion to purely physical topics the book contains seven "discon- 

 nected essays" with the following titles : "On the Study of Sci- 

 ence; Operative and inoperative definitions; The side-stepping 

 of mathematics ; Bacon 's New Engine ; The philosophy of steam 

 shovels and the philosophy of living; Science and technology 

 versus the humanities in education ; and The Traditive Lamp, or 

 the proper method of handing down the sciences to posterity." 

 In writing a brief notice of a new book it is appropriate, cus- 

 tomary, and usually possible for the reviewer to conclude with a 

 few remarks which are intended to help the reader form a pre- 

 liminary estimate of the probable value to him of the text in 



