the birth-rate, which during the last few years has steadily been declining, and has now reached the lowest figure on record, viz. 27.0 per 1000 for London and 29.2 per 1000 for seventy-five large towns. There must come a time, if this decline continues, when the deaths will exceed the births, and Our population will decrease-a serious catastrophe for the nation. Were it not for a diminishing death-rate, particularly among infants, this contingency would already have come to pass. It is especially among the middle and upper classes that the birth-rate has declined, partly owing to selfishness and love of pleasure, but also partly due to the strenuousness of the conditions of modern life. SIR J. CRICHTON-BROWNE delivered his presidential address to the conference of the Sanitary Inspectors' Association on August 17. He dealt with the problem of the sanatorium treatment of consumption, and expressed the opinion that splendid results had been obtained by it, and that Dr. Maudsley at the British Medical Association meeting (see NATURE, August 3, p. 331) had spoken too despondently about it, which was to be regretted, as it might tend to check a movement of great promise. He proceeded to consider the question of physical deteriordealt ation, and then at length with the housing problem, and pointed out the advantages from a health point of view of country life as compared with town life. That the townsman was shorter lived than the countryman was, he said, incontrovertible. THE relief ship Terra Nova returned to Tromsö on August 10 with the members of the Ziegler North Polar Expedition on board. Mr. A. Fiala, the leader of the expedition, landed at Hull on Tuesday on his way to the United States, and gave a representative of Reuter's Agency an account of the experiences of the expedition. The America, with the members of the expedition on board, left Vardo on July 10, 1903. At the end of August the vessel reached Teplitz Bay, Crown Prince Rudolf Island, the most northerly harbour in Franz Josef Land, where magnetic and astronomical stations we were erected. The ship was frozen in during October, and was wrecked by great ice pressure in the following month, so that the entire party had to be taken ashore on sledges. January, 1904, during a gale, all the old ice in Teplitz Bay, with several miles of the glacier face, were broken and carried away, and with the bay ice disappeared all that was left of the America. Three attempts were made to reach the Pole by sledges, but the highest point attained was 82° 13' north latitude. Mr. Fiala states that although the avowed purpose of the expedition-to reach the North Pole-was unsuccessful, the members have brought back data which should prove of scientific value, and have explored and surveyed the archipelago from Crown Prince Rudolf Land to Cape Flora, discovering four new channels and three large islands. In THE fifteenth International Congress of Americanists will be held at Quebec on September 10-15, 1906. The work of the congress will be concerned with the indigenous races of America, their origin, geographical distribution, history, physical characters, languages, civilisation, mythology, religion, manners, and customs; indigenous monuments and archæology of America; history of the discovery and European occupation of the New World. The president of the committee of organisation of the congress is Dr. Robert Bell, F.R.S., director of the Geological Survey of Canada, and the general secretary is Dr. N. E. Dionne, Quebec, Canada. TRIALS of a system of signalling by bells under water, which has been developed by the Submarine Signalling Company, of Boston, U.S.A., were made by the Trinity House authorities on August 11. This invention, which was described in NATURE of April 20 (vol. Ixxi. p. 595), has been used experimentally by the United States Lighthouse Board at several of their light stations during the past few years; it has also been adopted by the Canadian Government as an aid to navigation in the St. Lawrence. For the purpose of these trials the North Goodwin lightship was fitted with a submarine bell, and the Trinity steamship Irene with the necessary sound-receiving apparatus. At distances of from three to five miles the signals given by the bell were distinctly heard, and the direction whence they emanated could be readily noted. MR. C. R. CROSBY has favoured us with a copy of a catalogue of the North American spiders of the group Erigoneæ, contributed by him to the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy. THE fourth and final part of vol. xxv. of Notes from the Leyden Museum contains, among other papers, the concluding portion of the preliminary description, by Miss C. M. L. Popta, of new fishes collected in Borneo by Dr. Nieuwenhuis, and likewise one by Dr. Lidth de Jeudi on new Bornean lizards. WE have received the report of the Trivandrum Museum and Public Gardens for 1903-4, which is signed by the new director, Major F. W. Dawson. In addition to statements in regard to the condition and progress of the establishment, some interesting details are given with regard to the amount of food consumed by some of the reptiles in the gardens; and Mr. Lydekker's paper, in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, on certain dolphins recently taken on the Travancore coast is reproduced in full. THE report of the Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, for the period 1903-4 contains reproductions from photographs of some of the chief objects of interest added during the year. The wide scope of the exhibits, and the beauty and thoroughness of the installation, are very noteworthy. Among the exhibits special reference may be made to one of a group of wild duck being stalked by a lynx, and to second illustrating the ingredients entering into the composition of curry-powder. In the latter no less than thirty-one trays of distinct specimens are shown. a IN the course of last week's notes, reference was made (p. 385) to the web-making ants of the genus Ecophylla. In the latest issue (August 1) of Biologisches Centralblatt Dr. F. Doflein gives a detailed description of the habitof E. smaragdina, a species widely distributed in the Oriental region, accompanied by original sketches of the ants and their larvæ at work. When the edges of a leaf are to be joined, or when a rift appears in the nest, a small company of the workers place themselves in a line across the fissure, holding on to the one edge with their mandibles and to the other with their legs, which are stretched backwards to their furthest extent, and then with a united pull drag the two edges into contact. A second party then comes, and trims and fits the edges until they meet exactly, while finally comes a third party, each member of which carries a larva in its jaws. The larvæ, being put to work, immediately spin a "crisscross web by means of which the two edges of the leaf are firmly united.-In another paper in the same issue Mr. F. E. Zierler, of Dorpat, discusses the molar dentition of the fossil Suidæ in connection with their phylogeny. Apparently the author makes no reference to the theory that the crown-structure of the suilline molar a degradation from the selenodont type. is AN interesting contribution to the history of the steamengine is published in the Engineer of August 11 in the form of particulars of some old prints unearthed at the British Museum. One of the most interesting of these, engraved by Sutton: Nicholls and bearing the date 1725, is that illustrated in the accompanying figure, reduced from one of the illustrations in our contemporary. The engraved part measures 13 inches by 12 inches, and on either side in letterpress appears a detailed description. The print is believed to be unique, and in point of date is second only in importance to the Dudley Castle steamengine print of 1712, preserved in the Birmingham Free Library. It resembles the drawings of the Newcomen engine at the colliery at Griff, in Warwickshire, erected in 1722. Several changes in the mechanical details from the Dudley Castle engine may be noted. The boiler is fed with a portion of the hot water coming from the bottom of the cylinder, so that a date is fixed for this advance in economy. There are also two gauge-cocks instead of one, so that both high and low water would be indicated. Reproductions are also given in the same article of copper plates of the Newcomen engine erected at Passy, near T ENGINER Watey hy FIG. 1. A mospheric Steam Engine, 1725 From the Engineer. Paris, in 1726, which was copied from that at Griff Colliery. The first Newcomen engine on the Continent was, however, that put down in 1722 at Cassel by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, who ordered at the same time in England a similar engine for draining a mine at Königsberg, in Hungary. This was completed in 1724 by one Isaac Potter from Durham, who was in consequence looked upon as the inventor. THE Journal of the Rontgen Society for July (ii., No. 5) contains reports of meetings of the society and of the Röntgen Congress at Berlin, and various papers, notes, &c., as well as three plates of excellent radiograms and a portrait of the president, Mr. Wilson Noble. THE Journal of the Royal Sanitary Institute for August (xxvi., No. 7) contains a valuable discussion on sanatoria for consumptives, opened by Mr. Edwin T. Hall, and an interesting paper by Dr. Rideal on the sterilisation of sewage effluents, with special reference to oysters and other shell-fish, and to watercress beds. WE have received a copy of Messrs. Merck's annual report for 1904 on the advancements of pharmaceutical chemistry and therapeutics during that year. It contains a wealth of information, and should be in the hands of every medical practitioner and pharmaceutical chemist who wishes to keep abreast of modern work and progress. THE Annual Report and Transactions of the Manchester Microscopical Society for 1904 has just reached us. The society is evidently in a flourishing condition, and several of the contributed papers are of interest, particularly those by Prof. Hickson, the president, on micro-organisms associated with disease, and by Mr. Gillanders on arboreal insects, with two illustrative plates. WITH reference to a note on the Leishman-Donovan body or parasite which appeared in these columns (June 15, p. 157), Lieut. Christophers, I.M.S., writes pointing out that his researches on the development of flagellated forms antedated those of Leishman, but that Capt. Rogers, I.M.S., was the first discoverer of the metamorphosis. The latter fact was noted in NATURE (vol. lxx. p. 534). PROF. F. RAMALEY contributes an account of the examination of certain foliaceous cotyledons to the University of Colorado Studies (vol. ii., part iv.). The anatomical structure of the cotyledons of several species of tropical plants was examined for comparison with the structure of the ordinary leaves. A SIMPLE piece of apparatus, called a pinometer, for connecting both ends of a plant, cut as for a root-pressure experiment, has been devised and is described by Dr. O. V. Darbishire in the Botanical Gazette (May). The object of the pinometer, which is well adapted to ordinary class work, is to enable the experimentalist to study at one time both the suction force of transpiration and rootpressure. For research purposes the author is elaborating a more complex and precise form of the instrument. SIR JOSEPH HOOKER Continues his epitome of the British Indian species of Impatiens in No. 2, vol. iv., of the Records of the Botanical Survey of India. This includes a list of eastern Himalayan plants, of which the chief centre is Sikkim, and fifty species from Burma of which three-quarters are endemic. In addition to the new species which, as Sir Joseph Hooker expects, still await discovery in Sikkim and Burma, there is great need for collecting better material, more especially good specimens of the flowers and of separate parts of the flowers. THE Trinidad Bulletin for July contains an account of the results obtained during the first year in manurial experiments with cacao plants on the Brasso Estate. Mr. E. H. Cunningham-Craig contributes some geological notes on soils in Trinidad to serve as an explanation of the geological maps that have been produced, and also I to furnish a guide to cacao planters of the value and probable manurial requirements of the various soils. Mr. C. W. Meaden has an article on parasites in cattle and poultry, giving a detailed account of the parasite Strongylus micrurus, with remarks on the methods of treatment. A report on various rubber plantations in the island is presented by Mr. W. Leslie. MESSRS. R. AND J. BECK, LTD., have sent us a dark screen mounted in a convenient way for use in viewing the eclipse of the sun on August 30. If the sky is clear, a smoked or very dark glass will enable the progress of the partial eclipse to be followed in any part of our islands. (Circular No. 78 Kiel Centralstelle). COSMIC DUST OF SOLAR ORIGIN.-The hypothesis that certain terrestrial phenomena, e.g. magnetic storms and aurora, are caused by the earth passing through denser portions of streams of finely divided gravitating matter ejected by the sun is discussed by Prof. Schaeberle in No. 4041 of the Astronomische Nachrichten. One of the greatest objections to this hypothesis appears to be that no regularity of period has been discovered for the ejections which would fit in with the observed data of the terrestrial phenomena. Prof. Schaeberle shows, however, that a largely irregular period affords fundamental evidence in favour of the hypothesis. Both theory and observation lead to the conclusion that the ejective forces on the sun are very variable, and this would certainly mean that the initial velocities of the particles ejected would vary considerably. In a table he has prepared the author shows that particles ejected with an initial velocity of 376.76 miles per second would just reach the earth's orbit, the time taken being 64-6 days. An initial velocity of 381.78 miles per second would carry the particles to four times the earth's distance; their velocity on passing the earth's orbit would be 22.4 miles per second, whilst the time taken to reach the earth on the outward journey would be 29.7 days; 1003 days would elapse before they crossed the earth's orbit on the return journey. Particles ejected with a velocity of 382 miles per second would cross the earth's orbit with a velocity of 25.9 miles per second in 27.4 days, and would be carried to an infinite distance. Thus a very small change in the initial velocity at which the particles are ejected causes a very large change in the time taken to reach the earth, and therefore Prof. Schaeberle maintains that the irregularity of such phenomena is evidence in favour of the existence of such streams. He also discusses some cometary phenomena which, he considers, furnish the strongest evidence in favour of the hypothesis. THE ORBIT OF CORONE BOREALIS.-The following elements for the binary system of y Corona Borealis have been deduced by Mr. Doberck, of the Hong Kong Observatory, from all the available observations recorded since 1826 Academy of Sciences, August 14.-M. Bouquet de la Grye in the chair.-The study of the solar atmosphere round the spots: H. Deslandres. The author explains in detail the method adopted by him for the study of the spectra of the sun-spots, the special lines selected being the K1 and K2 lines of calcium. -On the gases produced by actinium: A. Debierne. It has been shown by Ramsay and Soddy that solutions of radium salts give off detonating gas taining a very minute quantity of helium. The author has examined actinium salts from the same point of view, and has found that in this case also a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is continuously evolved. Helium was found to be present in this gas, and in quantity comparable to that given by radium. By way of control, the experi con a ments with a solution of radium bromide" were repeated and the results of Ramsay and Soddy confirmed.-On the production of heavy liquids with the alkaline iodomercurates M. Duboin. The compounds of mercuric iodide with potassium, sodium, lithium, and ammonium iodides have been prepared, and the densities of the heaviest solutions obtainable measured. Whilst Thoulet's liquid (solution of potassium iodomercurate) has density of 3.196, the solution of the corresponding sodium salt has a density of 3-46, of lithium 3.28, and of ammonium 2.98. The sodium and lithium salts are therefore superior to the original solution proposed by Thoulet. They are soluble without decomposition in alcohol, and are suitable for the separation and determination of the density of minerals.-The pure culture of green plants in a confined atmosphere in presence of organic substances: M. Molliard. The results of the experiments show the possibility of the absorption and utilisation of glucose in sunlight by the plant, this absorption being increased when asparagine was also present in the solution. -The physiology of the placenta: MM. Charrin and Goupil. On a toxic product extracted from the cerebral substance: A. Marie. The brain substance was brought into an emulsion with five times its weight of water, centrifugalised, and filtered, first through paper and finally through a Berkefeld filter. The liquid thus obtained showed distinctly toxic properties, the nervous system being especially affected.-On infectious anæmia in the horse H. Carré and H. Vallée. Attention is directed to the state of latent infection exhibited by certain horses, apparently cured, and means given of detecting such cases. The results of the research are summarised in the form of practical instructions as to the best mode of dealing with an outbreak. On the preparation of cholera toxin MM. Brau and Denier. v. Leibniz: “Neue Abhandlungen über den menschlichen Verstand"; Jäsche: "Immanuel Kant's Logik"; Leicht: "Lazarus der Begründer der Völkerpsychologie ' Letters to the Editor: 396 British Fruit Growing-Spencer Pickering, F. R. S. 396 A Parasite of the House-fly.-M. D. Hill 397 397 398 399 400 403 THE JUBILEE CATALOGUE ANNALS OF BOTANY. ISSUED TO MARK THE FIFTY YEARS' EXISTENCE OF THE FIRM OF Edited by ISAAC BAYLEY BALFOUR, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., of the University of Edinburgh; D. H. SCOTT, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., of the Royal Gardens, Kew; E. LEYBOLD'S NACHFOLGER, W. G. FARLOW, M.D., of Harvard University, COLOGNE, Contains on its more than 900 pages a complete survey of the apparatus used for instruction in Physics, as well as numerous practical instructions and about 3000 illustrations. NATURE says: The firm of Leybold Nachfolger in Cologne has recently issued a very complete and interesting catalogue of physical apparatus and fittings sold by them. The book starts with a history of the instruments made in Cologne during the last century. In its second section we find an account of the construction and fittings of various chemical and physical institutions. After this follows the catalogue proper, filling some 800 large pages, profusely illustrated and admirably arranged. The book will be most useful to the teacher." (No. 1846, Vol. 71.) THE CATALOGUE WILL BE FORWARDED TO SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTES ON APPLICATION. MARCONI'S WIRELESS TELEGRAPH CO.. 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THE SCENERY OF SWITZER- (PHYSIOGRAPHY, SECTION I.). By Prof. R. A. ELEMENTS 25. The KLERKSDORP GOLD FIELDS. Being a description of the Geologic and of the Economic The DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH FIRST BOOK OF PHYSICAL GEO- 6s. net. ELEMENTARY PHYSICAL GEO- A TREATISE ON ORE DEPOSITS. OF CRYSTALLO- |