PARIS. It Academy of Sciences, July 5.-M. Émile Picard in the chair. Some new trialkylacetophenones and the trialkylacetic acids derived from them: A. Haller and Edouard Bauer. It has been shown in a preceding communication that dialkylacetophenones can be converted into trialkylacetophenones by treatment with an alkyl iodide in benzene solution in presence of sodium amide. These trisubstituted ketones, when further heated with sodium amide in toluene give a nearly quantitative yield of the amide of the trialkylacetic acid, together with benzene. In the present paper alkyl groups of high molecular weight are introduced. has been found that on treatment with sodium amide these trialkyl ketones always give the fatty amide, the expected change into benzamide and the trialkylmethane not being effected. The preparation and properties of several new ketones are described. The tectonic relations of the island of Elba with Corsica, and the situation of the latter in the Alpine chain Pierre Termier.-The new Recueil of levellings of Russian railways as a basis for the hypsometry of the country J. de Schokalsky.-Central Asiatic Russia and the level of the lake basins: J. de Schokalsky. There is evidence that the levels of the Siberian lakes are slowly rising. This is connected with the fact that the annual rainfall for the last twenty years has been slowly increasing. It is possible that there are alternate dry and wet periods in Siberia, and that at the present time the wet period has passed its maximum.-M. J. C. Kapteyn was elected a correspondant in the section of astronomy.Occultations of stars observed at the Observatory of Lyons with the Brunner 16-cm. equatorial during the eclipse of the moon of June 3: J. Guillaume. The summation of Dirichlet's series: Marcel Riesz.-The singular integrals of certain algebraical differential equations: B. Gambier.— Linear differential equations and uniform transcendentals of the second order: René Garnier.-Some inequalities having a bearing on the theory of elastic vibrations and electrical vibrations A. Korn.-The conductivity of a gas at atmospheric pressure under the influence of a high alternating voltage: A. Chassy. The conductivity of a gas increases continuously with the voltage, and it is only for the highest voltages well above the critical voltage that the capacity of the gas condenser is the same as that which would be obtained if the gas were replaced by a liquid conductor. It is possible that under these conditions the gas is a true conductor and follows Ohm's law. The radio-activity of potassium salts: Emile Henriot and G. Vavon. The minute radio-activity shown by potassium salts would appear to be a property of the potassium atom, since all attempts to concentrate the radio-activity by a series of fractionations failed. This confirms the results of Campbell and MacLellan. The rays have been identified with the B rays. Tautomeric changes elucidated by means of the magnetic rotatory power: P. Th. Muller and M. Thouvenot. A differential method was employed to increase the sensitiveness of the measurements. Experiments were made with methyl cyanacetate and its sodium salt and with acetoacetic ester and its sodium derivative. The results indicate a change in the internal structure when the molecule passes into the sodium derivative.-The chlorides of silicon: A. Besson and L. Fournier. The evolution of hydrogen from silicochloroform under the action of the silent discharge has been confirmed by working in a current of hydrogen chloride gas.-A new method for the isolation of terbine: G. Urbain.-The oxidation of aldehydes by silver oxide: Marcel Delépine and Pierre Bonnet. The aldehyde in aqueous solution is mixed directly with silver nitrate, and baryta solution added in a proportion sufficient to set free the silver oxide and neutralise the organic acid formed. Various applications of the method are given, the yields being very high, usually more than 90 per cent. of the theoretical.-The hydrolysis of proteid materials by means of hydrofluoric acid; some new results: L. Hugounenq and A. Morel. By varying the strength of the hydrofluoric acid used for the hydrolysis the reaction can be stopped at definite stages. The process is especially advantageous for the isolation of the simple peptides.Study of the principal layers of the alkaline rocks of the French Soudan: G. Garde.-The elaboration of the materials containing phosphorus and saline substances in the leaves of living plants: G. André.-Two new carbohydrates extracted from asparagus: Georges Tanret. These have the composition (C,H,,O), where n is about 15. Details of the method of isolation and properties of these carbo hydrates are given.-The rôle of the fluorescent bacilli of Flügge in plant pathology: Ed. Griffon.-The biometrical study of the seeds of Vitis vinifera: P. Soyot.-The supposed utilisation of atmospheric nitrogen by certain special hairs of plants: François Kövessi. The development of plant hairs is independent of the presence of atmospheric nitrogen, and there is no evidence that these organs have specialised absorptive powers for nitrogen.-Seeds killed by anææsthetics retain their diastatic properties: Jean Apsit and Edmond Gain. Grains of wheat, the germinating power of which had been destroyed by treatment with ether, retained both their diastatic and peroxydiastatic properties. The sensation of relief: A. Quidor. The presence of attractive spheres and of centrosomes in the cells resulting from the parthenogenetic segmentation of the fowl's egg, and on the characters of these formations: A. Lécaillon. The caves of Lacave (Lot): Armand Viré. The morphological zones of western Switzerland: E. Romer. The earthquakes of June 11 and 23: Alfred Angot.-An attempt to guard against hail: M. de Beauchamp.-New observations on earth currents between stations differing greatly in height: B. Brunhes and P. 64 66 New Books on Organic Chemistry. By J. B. C. Cosserat: "Théorie des Corps déformables" Pike: "Behind the Veil in Bird-land."-W. P. P. Soliman: "Etirage, Tréfilage, Dressage des Produits Reinheimer: "Nutrition and Evolution" Letters to the Editor : Bessel's Functions.-A. B. Basset, F.R.S.. The Commutative Law of Addition, and Infinity. The Theory of Crookes's Radiometer. By Lord 83 83 83 83 84 86 86 87 87 88 89 ADAM HILGER, Ltd., 75a Camden Road, London, N. W. Awarded TWO GRAND PRIZES at the Franco-British Exhibition. Telegraphic Address:-" Sphericity, London." Telephone: No. 1687 North. ILLUSTRATED LISTS OF SPECTROSCOPES AND SPECTROSCOPIC APPARATUS OF ALL KINDS CRATIS ON REQUEST. 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An inexpensive instrument with inclining joint, fitting in a socket in side of its case or to fit into a bench. For the work of the Laboratory, the 1/6 in. (4 mm.) and 1 12 in. (2 mm.) Oil Immersion are unexcelled. Prices-1/12 in. Oil Imm., 1'30 N.A., £5; 1/12 do., 120-1'25 N.A., £4. These are of identical 313 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, ENGLAND, & 16 FORREST ROAD, EDINBURGH. THE STIGMATIC BRITISH SERIES II. F/6. LENS. DESIGN AND WORKMANSHIP. Is the best All-round Lens for either Professional or Amateur use. Each lens will give perfect definition with full aperture to the extreme corners of the pla it is sold to cover; with smaller stops it will cover at least two sizes larger, giving perfect shar ness all over the plate, and thus becoming a wide-angle lens of the highest excellence. Either combination may be used separately, giving foci of about 1 and 2 times the length of that the lens when used intact. 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