Wedderburn. In the Gullmar Fjord, off the Skagerack, Pettersson observed oscillations of temperature and salinity with a period of fourteen days. This he attributed to the action of the moon, although he admitted that he could not give any reason for the effect. Mr. Wedderburn suggested that it was due to a temperature seiche in the Skagerack. When a layer of depth h and density p floats on a layer of depth h' and density p' in a land-locked bay of length 1, the period is given by the formula

T=4π/ √(p+p')/\p/h+p'/h').

=

With 1=250 metres, h=20 metres, h' 100 or 200 metres, p=1.023 and p=1.027, the calculated periods are 13.9 days for h'=200 metres and 14.2 days for h' 100 metres.-A Carboniferous fauna from Novaia Zemlya: Dr. G. W. Lee. This was an account of a collection of fossils found by Dr. W. S. Bruce during a cruise with Major Andrew Coats in the yacht Blencathra. The fossils were found at Cape Cherney in 71° north latitude, and proved that the Carboniferous seas had extended some six hundred miles further north than had hitherto been supposed. The collection contained more than thirty species similar to the fauna of the lower limestone of the Scottish coalfields and of the Yoredales of England.-Note on the flight of Nigerian arrows: Dr. C. G. Knott. These were unprovided with feathers, and rotation seemed to be given to the arrow by the action of the air upon the head, the asymmetrical form of which was probably originally occasioned by the manner in which the wings and barbs were forged. Experiments on the rotation were described. -The development of the auditory ossicles in the horse, with a note on their possible homologues in the lower Vertebrata: Ray F. Coyle. The malleus, stapes, and lucus were developed from an area which is originally homogeneous, and lying between the proximal ends of the first two visceral bars. Later the malleus and lucus are split off, bearing a close relation to the first bar. The stapes is related neither to the first or second bar the auditory capsule, arising as an element peculiar to the Mammalia.

nor to

In

July 12.-Dr. Horne, F.R.S., vice-president, in the chair. A further contribution to a comparative study of the dominant phanerogamic and higher cryptogamic flora of aquatic habit in Scottish lakes (Scottish Lake Survey): George West. The lochs studied were those of Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtonshire, Fife, and Kinross. north-west Kirkcudbrightshire the lochs are of highland character, but the flora, though resembling that of the Ness district, does not thrive to so great a depth. This is due partly to the comparative shallowness of the Galloway lochs and to the deposit of dead leaves of grasses over the floor of the loch. The lochs of south-east Kirkcudbrightshire are of lowland type, and have in many cases a rich and luxuriant flora. In Wigtonshire both types of ochs are found, those in the open moor being scanty in flora, while those within the zones of active agriculture are of lowland type and of rich and varied vegetation. The populous mining, manufacturing, and agricultural regions of Fife and Kinross are characterised by many lochs of the lowland type, some of them being very luxuriant in aquatic flora, because the non-peaty water contains a rich supply of food-salts, due in many instances to the activity of man in the surrounding district. The paper enumerated about 250 species of plants found in the lochs of the areas named.-Osteology of Antarctic seals (Scottish National Antarctic Expedition): Dr. R. B. Thomson. The seals brought home by Dr. Bruce numbered in all forty-four, and included all the Phocida except the elephant seal. The most interesting capture was that of two Ross seals, the dentition of which differs markedly from that of other Antarctic seals. The dentition is remarkably feeble. The chief food being soft-bodied cephalopods, the incisors and canines have developed into needle-pointed re-curved hooks of great delicacy, while the post-canines have been allowed to degenerate. Other anatomical peculiarities were described, one interesting anomaly being presented by the fifteenth dorsal or last ribbearing vertebra. On one side there is the normal condition, an articular facet bearing a feebly developed rib; on the other there is a well-marked process representing the absent rib, showing that the costal processes in the

lumbar vertebræ are the homologues of the ribs.-A negative attempt to detect fluorescence absorption : Dr. R. A. Houstoun. Results which seemed to indicate fluorescence absorption have been obtained by Burke, by Nichols and Merritt, and by Miss Wick, but, after careful experimenting and making every allowance for the uncertain nature of the phenomenon studied, the author is inclined to refer these positive results to systematic errors in the photometric arrangement.-The effect of internal friction in cases of compound stress: G. H. Gulliver. The minimum resistance to deformation and the inclination of the surfaces of sliding were given for any system of stress in a body, the internal friction being supposed to be operative. The application of the formulæ to experimental data did not yield very consistent results. With internal friction taken into account, the modified expression for the equivalent bending moment of a shaft under combined bending and twisting gives values intermediate between those given by the formulæ of Rankine and Guest.-A new experimental method of investigating certain systems of stress: G. H. Gulliver. The lines of maximum shear in a strained solid, as indicated by surface changes in the manner already described by the author, were compared, by superposition, with the stream lines of a viscous fluid in channels of definite shape obtained by the method of Hele Shaw. The comparisons were extremely satisfactory, and showed how analogous the equations of strain in the one case are to the equations of flow in the other.-Motion of Neptune's satellite: David Gibb. The calculations were made under Prof. Dyson's supervision, and were based upon the numerous observations which have been made in the American observatories since 1892, when Struve discussed all that had until then been made. From 650 equations of condition, twentytwo sets of normal equations were formed and solved. The results led to various corrections to be applied to Struve's elements. The eccentricity of the orbit of the satellite was found not to exceed 0.001. From the changes in the node and inclination, which are due to the spheroidal form of Neptune, the inclination of the orbit The to Neptune's equator could be found-about 21°. longitude of the node of Neptune's equator on the earth's equator was found to be about 205°, and the inclination of the two equations 132.8°. From these it was deduced that the pole of the satellite's orbit describes a small circle about the pole of Neptune in about 580 years, and that Neptune's equator is inclined at an angle of about 27° to the plane of its orbit round the sun.-The monsoons of the Chilian littoral: R. C. Mossman. The paper was a general discussion of the prevailing winds in this region of the southern hemisphere, showing how they are influenced by the circumpolar distribution.-The superadjugate determinant and skew determinants having a univarial diagonal: Dr. Thomas Muir.-The illuminating power of groups of pin-hole burners: R. G. Harris. The of two, three, and four burners with the distance between variation of the illuminating power of symmetrical groups contiguous members of the groups was found to require somewhat complex equations for its expression. graphs were of the same general form, and could be accounted for qualitatively on the assumption that the variation of illuminating power was due, for the most part, to a two-fold effect of the increase of distance between the burners on the supply of oxygen. The more open distribution of burners increased this supply, but the diminished draught attending such open distribution diminished it. The life-history of Hydrolius fuscipes, L.: F. Balfour Browne. A complete and detailed monograph on this common and interesting form of life.

PARIS.

The

Academy of Sciences, July 19.-M. Émile Picard in the chair.-Researches on the movements of the upper layer of the solar atmosphere: H. Deslandres. Details of the spectroheliograph at the Observatory of Meudon are given, together with some of the results of a study of the calcium line K,.-The determination of the displacements of the axis of rotation of meridian telescopes : Maurice Hamy. The reduction of plant assimilation during cloudy weather: A. Müntz and H. Gaudechon. During direct exposure to sunlight the quantity of carbon fixed by plants is about five times as great as during

cloudy or rainy weather.-The determination of the bovine or human origin of Koch bacilli isolated from tuberculous lesions in human beings: A. Calmette and C. Guérin (see p. 135). The origin of the contrasts of colour and sudden changes of level which are found in the moon: P. Puiseux. The hypothesis of snow or ice being the cause of bright spots on the moon is considered and rejected, as is also the suggestion that the dark spots are caused by deposits of cosmic material.-Observations of the comet 1909a (Borrelly-Daniel) made at the Observatory of Marseilles with the comet finder: A. Borrelly. Positions are given for June 21, 26, and July 8 and 13.-Observations of the comet 1909a (Borrelly-Daniel) made at the Marseilles Observatory with the Eichens equatorial of 26 cm. aperture: M. Coggia. Positions are given for June 18, 20, 24, and 25.—Systems of differential equations : Edmond Maillet. The existence, in the magnetic decomposition of the absorption bands of a uniaxial crystal, of dissymmetry of positions observed parallel to the lines of force, the field, and the optical axis of the crystal: Jean Becquerel. The author has repeated his earlier experiments on this subject with a more powerful magnet (fieldstrength, 34,000 Gauss). The unsymmetrical change of position, as also the changes in the intensities of the lines, are in accord with the theory of W. Voigt.-The relation between the electric double refraction of mixed liquids and the optical double refraction of the solid constituents of these solutions: J. Chaudier.-Harmonic analysis and resonance : Henri Abraham.-The application of the magnetic properties of metals to automatic coin machines : Antal Fodor and M. de Büty. The use of a permanent magnet in a coin slot machine is applied in such a manner that the machine only works when a nickel coin is used. Discs of copper, zinc, or tin drop through without affecting the mechanism: iron blocks the machine, and prevents it being further used.-Researches on the phosphates of thorium A. Colani. A description of the preparation of thorium chlorophosphate and double phosphates of calcium and strontium with thorium.-The synthesis of papaverine Amé Pictet and A. Gams. The steps in this important synthesis are as follows:-veratrol, acetoveratrone, amino-acetoveratrone hydrochloride, homo-veratroyl

amino-acetoveratrone, and homoveratroyl-oxy-homoveratrylamine. This last substance is dehydrated in xylene solution with phosphorus pentoxide, and the base thus obtained is identical in all respects with natural papaverine.-The catalysis of the fatty acids: J. B. Senderens. It has been shown in a previous paper that thoria and alumina, heated to a suitable temperature, convert the vapours of the fatty acids into the corresponding ketone. The proper

:

ties of the oxides of chromium, calcium, zinc, copper, and cadmium have been investigated from this point of view, but none of these oxides is so advantageous as thoria in this reaction.-The presence of dimethoxy-2 3-methylenedioxy-4 5-allyl-1-benzene in the essence of Crithmum maritimum: Marcel Delépine. Some reactions of anthranol: Robert Padova.-The di-iodine addition derivatives of the higher fatty acids of the series CHO, A. Arnaud and S. Posternak. The fixation of two atoms of iodine is nearly instantaneous in acetic acid solution.-A new base extracted from rye containing ergot; ergothioneine: C. Tanret. The method of extraction and the chemical and physical properties of this new base are described; its composition is C,H,N,O,S.-The constitution of perseulose: Gabriel Bertrand.-Contribution to the study of cultivated oats: M. Trabut.-The influence of the radium radiations on the chlorophyll and respiratory functions of plants: Alexandre Hébert and André Kling. No direct effects on these two functions can be traced; some secondary effects appear to be due to the slight changes induced in the plant cells.-The muscular work electrically provoked in the cure of diseases by reduction of the nutrition, and in particular the cure of obesity: J. Bergonié.-The anti-rabic properties of the cerebral substance: A. Marie. -The action of the pancreatic juice on esters: L. Morel and E. Terroine. The action of the pancreatic juice on esters is very slight, but is considerably reinforced by the addition of bile salts.-A new endoparasite of insects: Louis Léger.-The instability of the Swiss plateau in post-Glacial times: E. Romer.

CALCUTTA.

Asiatic Society of Bengal, July 7.-Some notes on mineralogy: Prof. E. Sommerfeldt. (1) Measurement angles in crystals. An apparatus is shown (devised by the author) which permits the use of a simple goniometer like a theodolite-goniometer. (2) Isomorphism between anh. drite and barites. The method of Ostwald for recognising isomorphism was used for answering the question, Ar the sulphate of barium and calcium isomorphous? The answer is that one salt is not able to remove the super saturation of the other, and that, therefore, no isomorphis exists between them.-The Shou (pronounced Siau) or Tibetan stag: Lieut.-Colonel J. Manners-Smith. A roe on the distribution and habits of Cervus affinis, and o specimens living in captivity in Nepal.-The Loranthes parasite of the Moru (Quercus dilatata) and Ban (Quercus incana) oaks: E. P. Stebbing. Mistletoes are exceedingl abundant on these two species of oak in certain parts of the north-western Himalaya. They attack the trees about Naini Tal and throughout Kamaon so extensively as, with the aid of boring beetles which follow them, to cause at times their death. It seems that moss aids the mistletoe seeds in obtaining a lodgment. Decomposition of ammonium platinichloride and platinibromide under the influence of heat: Prafulla Chandra Ray and Atul Chandra Ghosh.

126

120

127

127

127

Notes on a Stone Circle in County Cork. (Illus• trated.)-Captain Boyle T. Somerville, R.N. Musical Sands in Chile.-M. H. Gray The Ether of Space.—Charles W. Raffety Botanical Surveys.-W. Munn Rankin The Acarus Crossii.-Charles E. Benham Barisal Guns in Australia.-Dr. J. Burton Cleland 127 The Stone Circles of Keswick and Long Meg. (Illustrated.) By Dr. John Morrow.

The Flora of South Africa. (Illustrated.) By
R. H. Y.

Paleolithic Man. By Dr. A. C. Haddon, F.R.S.
The Origin of the Planetary System
State Aid for University Education
Notes

Our Astronomical Column:

Astronomical Occurrences in August
A Large Group of Sun-spots

Physical Interpretation of Lunar Features
Double-star Measures

Maximum of Mira in 1908

Observations of Jupiter's Fifth Satellite

128

129

133

138

138

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