286 
Notes . 
ference with the magnetic circuit itself, and points to the possi- 
bility of building up magnetic force of magnets by the mere 
movement of wires in these lines of force, though the coils moved 
need not of necessity be connected with the helices surrounding 
the magnets. 
Mr. F. Geddes has laid before the Royal Society a paper on the 
coalescence of amoeboid cells into plasmodia, and on the so-called 
coagulation of invertebrate fluids. The author considers it may 
be safely asserted that all the evidence we possess points to the 
conclusion that the power of coalescing with its fellows, under 
favourable circumstances, to form a plasmodium, is at any rate 
a very widely spread— if not a general— property of the amoeboid 
cell. 
Dr. MacMunn, according to a memoir communicated to the 
Royal Society, has succeeded in isolating urobilin from urine, 
and determining some of its principal optical and chemical pro- 
perties. It is an amorphous, nitrogenous, brownish red pigment, 
derived from one of the colouring-matters of bile. 
Dr. Thudichum has laid before the |Royal Society a paper on 
the modifications of the spe<5trum of potassium effected by the 
presence of phosphoric acid, and on inorganic salts and bases 
found in combination with edudts of the brain. He combats the 
evidence recently advanced by Prof. E. Roscoe in favour of the 
existence of “ protagon ” as a definite chemical compound. He 
also points out errors in the determination of inorganic matter in 
the brain, and in organic bodies generally. 
M. E, A. Schafer, F.R.S., communicates to the Royal Society 
the results of an elaborate investigation of the immature ovarian 
ovum in the common fowl and in the rabbit, with observations 
on the mode of formation of the discus proligerus in the rabbit 
and of the ovarial glands in the dog. 
According to the researches of C. DeCandolle and Raoul Picftet 
the seeds of plants lose little of their germinating power even by 
prolonged exposure to intense cold. The refrigeration was carried 
down to — 8o°. 
Ereata. 
Page 168, line 3, for “ acceptable 
„ line 25, for “ Drydale ” 
” read “ accessible.” 
read “ Drysdale.” 
