i88o.] 
( 537 ) 
NOTES. 
Mr. J. W. Mallet, F.R.S., in a communication to the Royal 
Society, shows that although hydrogen is occluded by aluminium 
its quantity is too small to vitiate the determination of the 
atomic weight of that metal. 
Among other papers recently read before the Royal Society 
are — “ Notes of Observations of Musical Beats,” by A. J. Ellis, 
F.R.S., &c. ; “ The Aluminium Iodine Readlion,” by Dr. J. H. 
Gladstone, F.R.S. ; “ On the Critical Point of Mixed Vapours, 
by James Dewar, F.R.S. ; “Experimental Researches on the 
Eledtric Discharge with the Chloride of Silver Battery,” by W. 
De la Rue, D.C.L., F.R.S., and Dr. H.W. Muller, F.R.S. ; and 
on the Lowering of the Freezing-point of Water by Pressure,” 
by James Dewar, F.R.S. 
Prof. E. Ray Lankester has communicated to the Royal Society 
a note on the discovery of a fresh-water Medusa, of the Order 
Trachomedusse, in a tank in the water-lily house of the Royal 
Botanical Society. It has received the name of Peregrinella 
Sowerbii. 
Prof. E. A. Schafer, F.R.S., and Mr. F. A. Dixey have laid 
before the Royal Society a preliminary note on the ossification of 
the terminal phalanges fo the digits. The process begins at the 
tip, and not at the centre. 
Prof. W. C. Williamson, F.R.S., in a paper presented to the 
Royal Society, gives a very interesting account of the organisa- 
tion of the fossil plants of the coal-measures. 
Prof. Hoppe-Seyler has obtained from the alcoholic solution of 
chlorophyll crystals of a body which he names chlorophyllon, and 
to which he ascribes the decomposition of carbonic acid under 
the influence of light, and the peculiar fluorescence of chloro- 
phyll. On treatment with caustic alkalies at elevated tempera- 
tures a purple-red compound is obtained, dichromatic acid, which 
possesses very remarkable optical properties. — Zeitschrift 
Physiol. Chemie , iv., p, 193. 
According to the “American Naturalist ” the English sparrow 
has become such a nuisance in Iowa that the State legislature is 
considering plans for its extermination. 
From the same journal it appears that the arrival of migratory 
birds from the south is determined by hot winds lasting about 
three days. 
