ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. xliii. 



when dissolved in glacial acetic acid. When the vapour of bromine 

 is allowed to fall into the tube containing such a mixture, im- 

 mediately it touches the liquid a crimson colour is formed, quickly 

 changing to violet and finally to a deep indigo-blue. Jt boils 

 under atmospheric pressure at 260 — 265° C, has a specific gravity 

 9249 at 19° 0., as obtained by repeated fractional distillation 

 finally over sodium. Combustion results gave the terpene formula,, 

 and a vapour density determination showed it to be a sesquiterpene. 

 The name Aromadendrene has been proposed for it. 



3. "Current Papers, No. 6," by H. E. Russell, b.a., cm g., f.r.s. 

 This paper on the drift of current papers shews a gradual 

 increase in the number of those who take a great interest in this 

 experimental work, and also the returned current papers that 

 reached me during the year. In the year November, 1900, to 

 November, 1901, one hundred and thirty current papers were 

 sent to me, and these form the basis of % this paper. 



In this list there was a marked increase on the tracks Sydney 

 to Canada and United States. Previously very little was known 

 of the drift of bottle papers in that sea ; but during this year an 

 appreciable increase of interest has been manifested in the current 

 papers found amongst the islands. These shew very clearly the- 

 presence of a very rapid current near the equator, somewhat similar 

 to that in the Indian Ocean. For instance: — Current paper No. 

 598 made daily a drift near Fiji of 11*1 miles per day; near 

 Gilbert Island, No. 671 travelled at the rate of 19*5 miles per 

 day; and near Phoenix Island the current paper No. 674 travelled 

 16*8 miles per day; and so on. 



The question whether or no certain months of the year deposited 

 most current papers is an interesting one. At first it seemed that 

 current papers aggregate in certain months, but upon the monthly 

 papers which have been received in five years there is not much 

 to support the idea. For instance, the record of the five years is- 

 that the greatest number of papers are found in the following 

 months :— March, 1901; May, 1897; October, 1899; and Decem- 

 ber, 1898. Hence it would be fair to assume that with more- 



