No More Learning

Capt. Cartwright was a military officer who parks from about 6,000 ft. to 8,000 ft. ,
retired from service in 1770, and immediately 13) the mountains from about 8,000 ft. to
went out as a settler to Labrador. Here, timber-line at 11,500 ft. Three birds, in-
SOCIETIES.
first in partnership and then alone, he estab-cluding the interesting white-tailed ptar-
lished stations for fishing and the trade in migan, nest even beyond this altitude.
ROYAL. -March 7. - Sir Archibald Geikie, Presi-
furs, and resided upon the coast on and off Aquatic and marine species
dent, in the chair. --Sir William Crookes read a
well
paper ' On the Devitrification of Silica Glass. '
—with one interval of more than two years represented on the lakes and rivers. Mr. A transparent tube of silica glass with a
-to the end of 1786. He was in the strict Sclater says that the Canada goose holds bulb blown at one end was exhausted to a high
It was heated in an electric resistance
sense a pioneer, for the coast had only just its own, and when persecuted will resort
been surveyed' for the first time by 'the to trees, and sometimes appropriate nests exposed to the greatest heat, while the lower part
furnace in such a manner that the bulb was
famous Capt. Cook. The contemporary of herons. It is curious to read of whole-
of the tube was comparatively cool. After being
map reproduced by the editor, presumably sale destruction of heronries by hailstorms. kept at a temperature of 1300°
C. for 20 hours
from the original work, might, we think, Among many characteristic species we may the bulb and upper part of the tube had devitrified,
have been modernized with advantage. note the white-headed jay, nesting high becoming white and translucent like frosted glass.
The tube was resealed, exhausted, and exposed
Altogether Capt. Cartwright made six in the mountains long before the snow is
to 1300° for 11 hours. On cooling, the point
voyages to Labrador, spending seven winters off the ground; the well-known cowbird,
of the tube was broken under inercury, and from
of his "sixteen years' residence
on its
“gregarious, polyandrous, and parasitic”; the amount that entered it was ascertained that
ice-bound shores. He showed great tact in and the uncommon cañon-wren (there are 7. 79 per cent of the tube's capacity had leaked
his dealings with the Eskimos, then reputed seven kinds of wren in the State), which through the devitrified silica.
To ascertain if air would leak through at
the worst kind of savages ; he calls them hardily goes its way amid mighty and ordinary temperature, a facsimile of tube and bulb
“the best-tempered people I ever met with, numerous birds of prey,
was made in glass, and the two tubes were simul.
and most docile. ” Five of them he took to
England in 1772 on his return from his first quate, are good of their kind. As the number balance case.
The illustrations, while not entirely ade. taneously exhausted to the highest point, sealed
off at the same time, and kept together in the
voyage ; unfortunately, four died of small of them is not large, they might with ad-
Weighings were taken at hourly
intervals. In 18 hours the weight of the glass
pox after several months' stay.
vantage have been confined to breeding sites
tube did not alter, but the silica tube increased
0·048 grain. In a few days both tubes were
The chief charm of his 'Journal' lies and haunts. For the novice a very con-
opened under mercury. The glass tube and bulb
in his faithful description of the wild life venient key, based on external characters,
filled completely, the silica tube and bulb only
around him. He was an accurate observer is supplied; for the expert, a scientific
partially, and on measuring the mercury that
of the birds and beasts which he trapped and diagnosis.
entered it was found that air to the amount of
shot; and his notes on the habits of the
46. 58 per cent had leaked in.
A micro-photograph of the devitrified surface of
beaver are worthy of Gilbert White at his Physico-Chemical Tables : Vol. II. Physical the silica bulb shows it to be superficially cracked
best. Finding a statement in Buffon that and Analytical Chemistry, by John Castell. all over into the appearance of cells, some of which
beavers have a scaly tail because they eat | Evans (Charles Griffin), is for the use of have a decided hexagonal outline.
fish, he wonders that “Monsieur Buffon analysts, physicists, chemical manufacturers,
A few years ago a similar effect was observed
had not one for the same reason,” adding and scientific chemists. The physicists, 100 mgrms. of pure radium bromide had been
on a clear silica dish in which a solution of about
that beavers eat neither fish nor other however, will miss tables of constants which evaporated down on the water-bath. Under the
animal food. He often mentions the great would be of special use to them. So far as microscope the appearance was very similar to
auk, which he calls a penguin,” and fore- an examination without actual study of the surface of the devitrified silica bulb just
described.
tells its extinction owing to the depredations each page is concerned, we can find very
of fishermen upon Funk Island, to which little reference to optical constants. A Volatility of Metals of the Platinum Group,' in
Sir William Crookes also read a paper on The
even then it was principally confined. He table of refractive indices was given in the course of which he said
once followed a trapped wolverine, which vol. i. ; but it might have been well to deal “For the last two years I have been using an
went six miles on three legs through deep with molecular refractive powers and re-
electric furnace, and some facts which came under
snow with the trap in its mouth, and then fraction equivalents; and surely the specific my notice on the occasion of a breakdown of the
flew at him as he came up; the weight of rotatory, powers of various crystalline and platinum was not so entirely fixed at temperatures
heating arrangement led me to guspect that
the trap was eight pounds, while that of organic bodies would have been very accept-well below its melting-point as has been universally
the animal itself was only twenty-six. able, at least to physicists. The subject of accepted by chemists and physicists.
Such stories from Cartwright excite magneto-optics does not appear in the
“ After à certain time the platinum ribbon coil
no suspicion; he is too honest and matter- Index, nor can we discover it by reference gets thinner and melts at the weakest part, and
the furnace becomes useless until a new porcelain
of-fact to exaggerate, and the philosophy to the text of either volume. In the next
tube and platinum ribbon coil are supplied.
with which he contemplates his apparent edition the Index might be a little amplified, During the two years I have had the furnace in
ruin after years of exile is worthy of all for we have occasionally found in the use this breakdown has happened three times.
praise. His spirited “poetical epistle" on text matter to which no reference is made The porcelain tube was found to be coated with
Labrador is wisely preserved by Dr. Towns- in it. On the other hand, we can find
a fine dust of beautifully formed crystals of
brilliant metallic lustre, which on analysis proved
end; it is a wonderful production for a 'po mention of electric conductivities or of 'to be platinum. It therefore seemed of interest
6
6


## p. 315 (#245) ############################################

12
315
No. 4403, MARCH 16, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
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​to subject a platinum crucible to a temperature angles to the first is connected mechanically to having tried to make a collection of dried speci.
approaching that to which the platinum resistance the specimen, so that, as the specimen extends, mens, which proved most disappointing, I was
coil had been exposed. A crucible was heated to the mirror receives the angular motion in pro- led to begin the paintings by a desire to have
1300° C. in the electric furnace for 30 hours, portion to the extension between assigned gauge some permanent record of what I saw. The list
when the loss of weight amounted to 0-245 per points.
of 104 plants is far from being exhaustive, but
cent. Palladium, treated in the same way, lost A beam of light from a source within the contains, perhaps, the majority of the more
0•745 per cent in 30 hours.
instrument is directed upon the first mirror and prominent ones. I am not a botanist, but have
"In May, 1908, I suggested the grcat advan- reflected from it to the second mirror, from which endeavoured to delineate as faithfully as possible
tages of using crucibles of pure iridium instead of it is again reflected and focussed on a ground- the form and structure of the various species,
platinum in laboratory work. An iridium glass screen, which can be replaced when desired and have also tried to reproduce something of
crucible is hard as steel: it may be heated for by
a photographic plate.
the intensity, of colouring which seemed to me
hours over a smoky Bunsen burner without There is no connexion between the instrument so remarkable. I nay, perhaps, be allowed to
injury. It will stand hours of boiling in aqua and any part of the framework of the machine, make a special mention of the number of flam-
regia without appreciable attack; lead and zinc the former being attached to the weigh-bar only. boyant trees, Poinciana regia, which, with their
can be melted in it and boiled at a full red heat ; To take a diagram, all that is necessary is to abundance of bright scarlet blossoms, form so
likewise nickel, copper, gold, and iron can be place the instrument in position and on the weigh- striking a feature of the landscape in the months
melted in an iridium crucible, and poured out bar, apply a load to the specimen by any suitable of May, June, and July. ”. A list of most of the
without injury.
means, and the diagram is obtained automatically. botanical names, supplied by Mr. John Bovell,
Accordingly, I commenced experiments to Mr. R. Whiddington read a paper on The of the Agricultural Department, Barbados, was
see if I could detect loss of weight in iridium at Transmission of Cathode Rays through Matter,' also shown. The exhibitor reminded those
1300°, a temperature at which I had found and also one on 'The Velocity of the Secondary present that some of the colours, especially the
platinum to be slightly volatile. An iridium Cathode Particles ejected by the Characteristic mauves and blues, are not seen to advantage in
crucible was found to have lost over 7 per cent in Röntgen Rays. '
artificial light.
weight after 22 hours at 1300°, and at greater Mr. E. E. Fournier d'Albe read a paper On The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing read his paper
heat losg of weight for equal periods of time was the Potential Effect in Selenium. ' A new type 'Historic Doubts about Vaunthompsonia,' * in
proportional to temperature.
of selenium bridge (or “ selenium cell ") was con- which he pointed out that the number of
After this severe treatment the crucible, structed by coating a plate of unglazed porcelain The Natural History Revieve for July, 1858, was
which had taken on a crystalline appearance of high insulating power with graphite, and divid-
received by the British Museum at the date
over the whole surface when the series commenced, ing the surface into two conducting portions by stamped as * 16 JY 58,". thereby proving its
began to show disintegration along its edges, and cutting, with a diamond, a to-and-fro line through priority over Vauntompsonia. Dr. W. T. Calman,
pieces began to crumble when touched with the the graphite. The plate was then coated with The General Secretary, and Prof. A. Dendy joined
forceps.
selenium and sensitized. The bridges so con: in the subsequent discussion.
I next tried rhodium, a metal intermediate in structed showed no polarization, and were well Dr. O. Stapf showed some living specimens of
fusibility between platinum and iridium, and adapted to the study of the “ potential effect,”' or Cactoid Euphorbias from South Africa, and com-
similar to iridium in its resistance to chemical the change of resistance with the voltage applied.
mented on the salient features of the group.
agents which attack platinum. The loss in 30
hours was 0. 13 per cent, not far from that of
ZOOLOGICAL. -March 5. —Sir John Rose Brad-
platinum.
ASIATIC. --March 12. -Lord Reay, President, ford, V. P. , in the chair. —Mr. Oldfield Thomas
“Ruthenium does not lend itself to such ex- in the chair. -Mr. Grant Brown of the Indian exhibited the skulls of a German wild boar from
periments as the foregoing owing to the formation Civil Service read a paper on 'The Use of the Baden and of a Hungarian wild boar from Koloz-
of a volatile oxide, and similar experiments Roman Character for Oriental Languages. He svar, the latter recently presented to the British
at 1300° showed a loss in 8 hours of 25 per cent. began by defining transliteration and distinguish- Museum by Fräulein Sarolta von Wertheimstein.
Experiments were now made at 900° by heating ing it from phonetic writing, while pointing out The difference in size between these was so great
the metals in a flame of a good Méker burner. that some kind of phonetic script was used for that Mr. Thomas considered that the Hungarian
Platinum and rhodium after heating for 20 hours all transliteration, however much the spoken boar should be separated as a distinct species,
showed no loss of weight. Palladium in 10 hours sound might appear to be ignored. The trans- which he proposed to call Sus attila. He also
lost 0·0019; iridium in 20 hours lost 0·091 per cent. literator had, first, to decide what sounds were
stated that the North and South Spanish wild
The mode of occurrence of the beautiful represented by the characters in the text, boars were, on the other hand, so much smaller
crystals of platinum is against the supposition and then to embody them in a phonetic
in different degrees than the German animal as
that they are a product of the decomposition of script. There was no reason why the same phonetic each to deserve subspecific distinction from the
an oxide, for they deposit on a part of the appa- | script should not be used for all language, latter.
ratus that is at a slightly lower temperature than special symbols being added when necessary. Mr. H. L. Hawkins read a paper, communi-
the bulk of the metal, and it is inconceivable The author then suggested the qualifications cated by Dr. H. Woodward, on The Classifica-
that platinum should unite with oxygen to formi necessary or desirable for such a script, and
tion, Morphology, and Evolution of the Echinoidea
a volatile oxide at one definite temperature, and showed that the only system in use which pos. Holectypoida,' illustrated with lantern -slides.
part with this oxygen and come down in metallic sessed them all was that of the International The classification of the Mesozoic Gnathosto-
crystals at a little lower temperature.
Phonetic Association, of which Mr. Daniel Jones, matous Irregular Echinoids was revised, with
"I devised an experiment to see if iridium Lecturer in Phonetics at London University diagnoses of the families, sub-families, and genera,
would volatilize at a high temperature in a vacuum. College, was Secretary. The system was already and a new genus and sub-genus were introduced.
A fused silica tube had a bulb blown on the end. widely used in Europe for educational purposes, The anatomy of the test was described for the
In the bulb was put 27. 619 grains of clean iridium; especially in teaching phonetics. He urged that Holectypoida, and compared with that of other
the other end of the silica tube was drawn out a training in phonetics was essential for Indian
orders. The origin of the Irregular Echinoids
for connecting with the pump and sealing. It civilians if they were to follow scientific methods was discussed, and the lines of evolution that
was exhausted to a high vacuum and heated to in learning the Indian languages, and to go to they followed were indicated and summarized
near redness along its whole length till all moisture India well equipped for learning to speak, not in a genealogical table.
and occluded gases had been removed ; it was only the principal language of their province, Mr. H. G. Plimmer read a paper' On the Blood-
then sealed off, and placed in the furnace in such but also any other language which might be Parasites found in the Zoological Gardens during
a position that the iridium would be at the point needed for their work. He showed that the the Four Years 1908-11,' illustrating his remarks
of greatest beat. The bulb was kept at a tem- script would be useful to ethnologists for recording with a large number of lantern-slides. The
perature of 1300° for 30 hours. On examining new languages, to natives who had no written
paper contained the results of examination of the
the silica tube when cold it was seen that the long language or an unsatisfactory script, and for blood of 6,430 animals, in about 7 per cent of
continued high temperature had caused the bulb many other purposes. He ended by quoting an which parasites were found. Many of these
and the upper part of the tube to devitrify and article in The Edinburgh Review of 1848, which parasites were described for the first time, and
become white and translucent, and that it had an said that the preparation of a manual supplying in other cases the hosts were newly recorded.
irregular black deposit on the lower part, which a well-considered phonetic alphabet, and illus-
Prof. G. 0. Sars presented a memoir entitled
proved to be metallic iridium. "
trating its use by means of texts in important • Zoological Results of the Third Tanganyika
Prof. W. M. Hicks read a paper on ' A Critical languages, was a matter of pressing urgency if | Expedition, conducted by Dr. W. A. Cunnington,
Study of Spectral Series : the Principal and Sharp
the unwritten languages of the earth were to be 1904-6: Report on some Larval and Young
Sequences and the Atomic Volume Term," which effectually recorded before they perished. A dis- Stages of Prawns from Lake Tanganyika. Four
was a sequel to a paper on the same subject pub-cussion followed, in which the Rev. J. Knowles, forms were dealt with in this paper, two of which
Jished in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. ccx.
the Rev. Dr. Weitbrecht, Miss Ridding, Dr.
represented very early larval stages, and appar.
(1910).
Pollen, Mr. J. Dyer Ball, and Mr. D. Jones took ently belonged to two quite different kinds of
Prof. W. E. Dalby read a paper on 'An Optical | part.
prawns; but owing to the difficulty of deciding
Load-Extension Indicator, together with some
with any certainty the species or even the genera
Diagrams obtained Therewith. ' The paper de- LINNEAN. -- March 7. -Dr. D. H. Scott, Presi- to which they were referable, they were not
scribes a
new instrument by means of which dent, in the chair. -Mr. C. C. Calder, Mr. T. A. named, although a detailed description was given
automatic records of load-extension diagrams Dymes, Mr. T. M. Fitch, Miss C. E. Larter, Miss and their probable origin suggested. The remain-
can be obtained with precision, the records M. Samuel, and Mr. D. G. Stead were elected ing two forms represented a larva in the last stage
being free from errors due to inertia, pencil- Fellows. Mr. C. D. Sherborn was declared an and a very young prawn in the first post-larval
friction, and any strains caused by the yielding Associate.
stage, and both were referred to a definite species.
of the testing machine in which the specimen is Prof. Percy Groom read a paper entitled 'Note Dr. Robert Broom communicated a paper On
being tested. The specimen to be tested is placed on the Internodes of Calamites,' in which he the Structure of the Internal Ear, and the Rela-
in series with & weigh-bar, so that the load is contended that the nodes corresponded to a tion of the Basi-cranial Nerves, in Dicynodon, and
applied equally to both weigh-bar and spec nen. cycle of growth during the vegetative season, and on the Homology of the Mammalian Auditory
The proportions of the specimen are so arranged supported his views by measurements supplied Ossicles,' the first part of which contained an
that the load on the weigh-bar never exceeds, or by Dr. F. J. Lewis. A discussion followed, the account, the first on record, of the bony labyrinth
even approaches, the elastic limit of the material under-mentioned speakers taking part : Prof. enclosing the internal ear and the nerve foramina
of which it is made, whilst the load on the specimen F. W. Oliver, Dr. Marie Stopes, Mr. C. Reid, and in relation thereto, in the skull of the extinct
may increase to the breaking-load.
the President; the author replied.
reptile Dicynodon. The author had obtained a
A small light mirror mounted on an axis is con- Miss E. M. Phillips exhibited a portfolio of cast of the internal ear of a specimen in which
nected with the weigh-bar so that it tilts pro- water-colour drawings, and explained that they the matrix was hardened by epidote and the
portionately to the extension of the weigh-bar, were made during a recent visit to Barbados, bone mainly calcareous. By dissolving away
and is therefore proportionate to the load on the between November, 1908, and May, 1911. “I the calcareous matter replacing the bone, he had
weigb-bar, and measures the load acting on the had been greatly struck by the profusion satisfactorily traced the structure of the ear.
specimen. A second mirror whose axis is at right and brilliance of the flora of the island, and The author stated that the vestibule was very
31


## p. 316 (#246) ############################################

316
No. 4403, MARCH 16, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
the
>
on
remarkably elongated, and that there was no
trace of a cochlea. The semicircular canals
NORSEMEN AT THE SOUTH POLE.
were of the normal reptilian type. The homo.
Science Gossip
logies of the auditory ossicles were discussed, and
THE success of Capt. Roald Amundsen
it was shown that the bone which Dr. Broom in reaching the South Pole on December M. HENRI POINCARÉ has lately examined
had formerly regarded as the tympanic was really 14th last will surprise no one who remembers the hypothesis of quanta recently raised by
the stapes. In the light of his new observations, his skill and daring in bringing his little ship Prof. Planck. This supposes that every
the author stated that he was now prepared to
accept the view that the incus is the homologue
Gjöa through the North-West Passage in radiating body contains a great number of
of the reptilian quadrate, the malleus the articular,
1903-6. Some Englishmen may perhaps small resonators, which like those of Hertz
and the tympanic the angular.
have been tempted to look on his present create Hertzian waves in the ether, the cause
venture with mixed feelings, since Capt. of vibration and the consequent radiation
SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL ARCHÆOLOGY. —March 13. Scott was already in the field in 1910. In being generally the heating of the body in
-Mr. F. Legge in the chair. -Mr. E. J. Pilcher making his head-quarters in the Bay of question. Prof. Planck's theory is that these
read a paper on 'Weight-Standards of Palestine'
in relation to a number of small weights recently himself of the discoveries made by recent by abrupt jumps, and that therefore the
Whales in 78° 20's. lat. he was availing tiny resonators only acquire or lose energy
discovered in the Holy Land. These weights are
not inscribed with the familiar word shekel,” British expeditions ; indeed, all previous provision of energy which each contains
and they are not on the shekel standard, but discoveries in this quarter have been, we
they are divided into three classes : the neseph,
must always be a multiple of a constant
having a mean weight of about 156 grains ;
are glad to say, the result of British enter- quantity which he calls & quantum. As M.
the payam, of about 115 grains; and the beka,
prise.
Poincaré points out, this theory has much
of about 97 grains. The neseph is obviously the
By placing his base in the Bay of Whales, to recommend it, because we have lately
fiftieth part of the Babylonian mina of 7,800 Capt. Amundsen began his march from a
come to think that electricity is not in.
grains, and this would tend to demonstrate that point about a degree further south than Capt. finitely divisible, but consists of electrons
the ancient Hebrews divided their mina into Scott's head-quarters on Ross Island.
It
fiftieths, instead of the sixty parts which formed
having all the same charge, and otherwise
the Babylonian division. The payam is two-
was too hastily assumed in England that resembling one another. The same idea
thirds of the Persian silver stater of 173 grains, Amundsen would ascend to the Polar has lately entered the field of magnetism,
and the beka is two-thirds of the Egyptian kedet plateau by Shackleton's route up to the where, as readers of The Athenæum know,
of 146 grains. The discovery of these three Beardmore Glacier. Very wisely he decided the magneton, or atom of magnetism, has
standards is not at all surprising in a land sub-
jected alternately to the influence of Babys rewarded by a discovery which is of even
on an independent route; and he has been
now become a familiar conception. Yet
lonians, Persians, and Egyptians ; but the reason
M. Poincaré is not inclined to accept Prof.
for such a proportion as two-thirds of the Persian more importance than his attainment of Planck's hypothesis as proved, and suggests
stater and two-thirds of the Egyptian kedet is the Pole-viz. , the determination of the several difficulties that he finds in thus
far from obvious. It should be remembered, southern limit of the Great Ice Barrier in considering that there are in existence real
however, that in the time of Nehemiah a poll about 86° s. lat. and 163° W. long.
tax of one-third of a shekel was imposed upon
From atoms of energy. He points out that the
Jews instead of the previous levy of half a shekel, his cable it would appear that this is a
first person who witnessed a shock between
and it is not improbable that the same principle conjectural estimate, for he left the Barrier two bodies probably thought that he was
was carried into the other standards. The Hebrew in lat. 85°; but from this point he could beholding a
or Phoenician shekel was really a double stater, plainly descry that the Victoria Land range whereas we now know that he was really
discontinuous phenomenon,
and weighed about 220 grains. It should, there-
fore, be compared with double staters in the other
of mountains became merged in another assisting at a very rapid, but still continuous
systems, and this is what was done by Josephus range from the north-east-probably from change of velocity.
in comparing it with the Attic standard. Con. | Edward VII. Land.
sequently, a Babylonian Jew in paying his On October 20, with five men, four idea of discontinuity or atomism is gaining
It is curious to notice, however, how this
poll tax would give a third of a double stater on
the Persian standard, while an Egyptian Jew Bledges, and fifty-two dogs, he pushed due ground. Sir Joseph Thomson, at his lecture
would give a third of a double kedet, each one
south over the Barrier surface, picking up Molecular Physics' at the Royal
thus contributing in the currency to which he was
without difficulty three depots laid down Institution on the oth inst. , threw out the
accustomed, instead of weighing by the shekel in the autumn, the furthest of which was
standard, which was, for political reasons, pro- in 82° s. On November 9th they sighted dealing with the continuous transmission
suggestion that in a ray of light we are really
bably in abeyance at the time.
the high range of Victoria Land in the south of energy from one of a series of points to
west, and on the 18th, in lat. 85°, they the others. But this is not very far from
left the Barrier-edge in order to ascend
Mos. Bibliographical, 5. - English Printers' and
this range at a new point. By wonderful
a corpuscular instead of an undulatory theory
of light.
Victoria and Albert Museum, 6. – Georgian Town and Country climbing they reached the height of 10,600 ft.
Institute of British Architects, 8. – The Architecture of the in four days, which seems to indicate that IT, was proposed at International Geo.
the new Axel Heiberg Glacier must be easier graphical Congresses several years ago to
Painting, Lecture I. , Mr. N. Heaton. (Captor Lecture. )
TUES. Royal Institution, 3. -'Ancient Britain,' Lecture II. , Dr. T. R.
of ascent than the Beardmore Glacier, which make a map of the whole world of one-
Pritish Museum, 4. 30. —'Early Byzantine Churches,' Mr. B.
took Shackleton's party twenty-three days. millionth actual linear size, or, in other words,
Here the Norsemen were imprisoned in their
on the scale of sixteen miles to the inch, to
Statistical, 5. -The Financial Systems of Germany,' Mr. P.
Ashley.
tent for four days by a blizzard, and sacrificed be published in sheets. It appears that this
Institution of Civil Engineers, 8: - Discussion on The Main
Drainage of Glasgow. . The Construction of the Glasgow some of their dogs, retaining only eighteen work is now being performed by interna
Main-Drainage Works,' and Glasgow Main Drainage: the for the final march. Their climbing was
tional co-operation, and that the War Office
Kinning Park Pumpiug-Station. '
Anthropological e. nasiente, 8. 16. -'The study of Primitive gradually southwards to 8,000 ft. at the
not yet over, for the plateau descended has lately produced a sheet of South Africa.
UNDER the rigorous climatic conditions
foot of the Devil's Glacier, which they now prevailing in Antarctic regions it is not an
Zoological, 8. 30. 'Observations on Alcyonaria from Singapore,
had
to ascend. This glacier was
easy matter for an explorer to determine
Nephthyida, Mr. E: W. Shaun A List of Moths of the dangerous than the former ; but on Decem accurately his latitude, so as to be certain
Family Pyralidæ collected by Felix B. Pratt and Charles
ber 6th they reached the central plateau in that he has reached the actual Pole. The
Cirripedes of the Genus Scalpellum,' Mr. T. II. Withers.
87° 40' at 10,750 ft. , which was the corrected) necessary observation consists in measuring
between Hydro- height of Shackleton's last marches over the altitude of the sun, which at the South
graphical and Meteorological Phenomena,
the same plateau. From 88° 25', reached Pole in the middle of December would be
Entomological,
8.
on December 9th, the plateau sloped slightly only 23° above the horizon. The sun would,
Folk-lore, 8. - The Folk-lore of the Middle Issa Japura downwards ; but Amundsen estimates that of course, remain at nearly the same alti,
Society of Arts, 8-The Work of the Marine Biological the Pole, which he reached on December 14th, tude throughout his apparent diurnal round
Tuurs. Royal Institution. 3. - Seasonal Dimorphism in Butterflies,' is at a height of 10,000 ft. During his three of the heavens, and would be repeatedly
days at the Pole, and indeed throughout his observed. An error of five or six miles
Thin Anchor-ring. ' Lord Rayleigh ; 'The After-Luminosity
of Klectric Discharge
in Hydrogen observed by Hertz,' Hon.
homeward march, he was favoured with might easily be made, and this uncertainty
R. J. Strutt , On the Changes in the Dimensions of a stoei good weather, and a most careful series (which in no way detracts from the merits
Waves in Steel, Prof. J. H. Poynting; The Oritical
of observations was taken. He returned of the achievement) would remain in the
Patterson, R. 8. Cripps, and R. Whytlaw. Gray; and other
the whole distance from the Pole to his resulting latitude of the final station. But
Britisb Archeological Association, 5. -'Some Phases of Indian
base—875 miles--in thirty-nine days, which it cannot be too strongly, emphasized that
Architecture, with Bpecial Reference to Ancient Indian gives an average of more than twenty-two a mere journey to the Pole however much
Institution of Electrical Engineers, 8. -Discussion on The miles a day. This is a high speed, including, it may appeal to the popular imagination-
Causes preventing the More General Use of Electricity for
as it did, the descent of 10,000 ft. and two is in itself of little scientific interest or value
Linners to be cörthoptera: Phasmade to the Seychelles mighty glaciers; but as the party were well unless it includes the means and oppor.
Dr. Ignacio Bolivar and Mr. Ferrière;
mens of Phasmidæ,' Prof. A. Deody; and other Papers. provided with food, they would cover great tunity of making scientific observations of the
Chemical, 8. 30.