bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
1. On the application of the Theory of Probabilities to the question of the Combination of Testimonies.
Authors: Boole
Published: June 2016

The method for the solution of questions in the theory of probabilities which is applied in this paper, is that which was developed by the author in a treatise entitled “An Investigation of the Laws of Thought, on which are founded the Mathematical Theories of Logic and of Probabilities.”
2. On New Species of Marine Diatomaceæ from the Firth of Clyde and Loch Fine. Illustrated by numerous drawings, and by enlarged figures, all drawn by Dr Greville.
Authors: Gregory
Published: June 2016

In two papers, read before this Society, and subsequently published in the Microscopical Journal, I described and figured a large number of new species of Diatoms, chiefly marine, which I had found in the Glenshira sand.

This sand was deposited by the Dhu Loch of Glenshira, at a period geologically recent, when that lake occupied a higher level than it now does, and extended about two miles farther up the valley. That the Dhu Loch at that period, as well as now, communicated with Loch Fine, so that at high tide the salt water flowed into the lakes, while at low water the current, as in a tidal estuary, flowed outwards, is proved by the fact, that the sand then deposited contains more marine than fresh-water species.
2. On the Reproductive Economy of Moths and Bees; being an Account of the Results of Von Siebold's Recent Researches in Parthenogenesis.
Authors: Goodsir
Published: June 2016

In a recent work, entitled “Wahre Parthenogenesis bei Schmetterlingen und Bienen”—Real Parthenogenesis in Butterflies and Bees, Von Siebold, after reviewing the present condition of the subject, distinguishes the so-called alternate generation from parthenogenesis, and limits Professor Owen's term to reproduction by unimpregnated females.

He has ascertained that this real parthenogenetic mode of reproduction occurs in certain moths—Solenobia lichenellaandtriquetrella, the larvæ of which are sac-bearers; and inPsyche helix, the larva of which constructs one of those remarkable spiral sacs which have been mistaken for the shells of molluscs.
3. On M. J. Nicklès' claim to be the Discoverer of Fluorine in the Blood.
Authors: Wilson George
Published: June 2016

I am very reluctant to occupy the time of this meeting with a personal matter, but as I am necessitated to defend my priority in reference to certain researches which, in greater part, were first communicated to this Society, and first made public through its “Transactions,” it seems the proper tribunal, at least in this country, to adjudicate on a question liable to dispute.
1. Notice respecting Father Secchi's Statical Barometer, and on the Origin of the Cathetometer.
Authors: Forbes
Published: June 2016

A friend, who returned lately from Rome, has sent me some copies of a pamphlet by Father Secchi of the Collegio Romano, one of which I lay on the table of the Society.

It describes a barometer stated to be on a new construction. The barometric tube is suspended from one arm of a balance, and counterpoised. It is filled with mercury in the usual way; but the cistern into which it opens is fixed apart, and does not move with the beam of the balance. It is evident, therefore, that the varying pressure of the air on the exterior of the tube will require a changing counterpoise, and that the magnitude of the change may be increased by enlarging the section of the tube, so that the alteration of pressure may be indicated with any required delicacy.
3. On certain Laws observed in the Mutual Action of Sulphuric Acid and Water.
Authors: Stewart Balfour
Published: June 2016

The object of this paper was to show that where sulphuric acid combines with water, distinct reference is made to certain definite compounds or hydrates of sulphuric acid.
1. On the Structure of Pedicellina.
Authors: Allman
Published: June 2016

The author maintained that the genus Pedicellina, notwithstanding the circular arrangement of its tentacula, does not properly belong to the infundibulate Polyzoa at all, but is in reality hippocrepian, of which type, however, it presents a remarkable modification. The intestine at first sight appears to terminate within the margin of a orbicular lophophore, and, consequently, within the circle of tentacula, and thus to present a striking exception to the admitted plan of the Polyzoa. It was shown, however, that the anomaly which thus seems to exist was only apparent, for the lophophore, when carefully examined, is found to be constructed on the hippocrepian type, with the tentacula confined to the outer or convex margin, and the arms of the crescent united at their extremities so as to enclose a space, around which the tentacula will then be arranged in an uninterrupted circle, and within which the intestine opens, its termination being thus quite normal, and properly external to the lophophore.
3. On Insect Vision and Blind Insects.
Authors: Murray Andrew
Published: June 2016

Mr Murray commences with aresuméof what is known regarding the growth of eyes in insects, from the first stage in the larva, when many are without eyes, till their exclusion from the chrysalis, when they usually appear well provided with compound eyes. He reviews the nervous system in different species, and gives some details as to those species which live in dark places, and which have small eyes and a less-developed optic nerve, contrary to what one would at first suppose. The next portion of his paper is devoted to explaining his views of the structure of the eye in insects, and its relation to the eye in vertebrate animals.
3. On the true Signification of certain Reproductive Phenomena in the Polyzoa.
Authors: Allman
Published: June 2016

When the reproductive phenomena of Alcyonella, as manifested both in gemmation and true generation, are viewed in their proper sequence, they will be found to present a series of acts which admit of an obvious comparison with the class of phenomena commonly known as the “alternation of generations.”

From the fecundated ovum an embryo is produced in the ordinary way after the segmentation of the vitellus. In this embryo, which presents at first the form of a locomotive ciliated sac, sexual organs are never directly developed, but there are produced within it by a process ofgemmationthe following series of zooids.
1. On the Philological Genius and Character of the Neo-Hellenic Dialect
Authors: Blackie
Published: June 2016

The Author showed by a historical review of the fortunes of Greece, through the Middle Ages, and under the successive influences of Turkish conquest and Turkish oppression, how the Greek language had escaped corruption to the degree that would have caused the birth of a new language in the way that Italian and the other Roman languages grew out of Latin. He then analysed the modern language, as it existed in current popular literature before the time of Coraes, that is, from the time of Theodore Ptochoprodromus to nearly the end of the last century, and showed that the losses and curtailments which it had unquestionably suffered in the course of so many centuries, were not such as materially to impair the strength and beauty of the language, which in its present state was partly to be regarded as a living bridge betwixt the present and the past, and as an altogether unique phenomenon in the history of human speech.
Laboratory Notes by Professor Tait. 1. On the Relation between Thermal, and Electric, Conductivity
Authors: Tait
Published: June 2016

Reference was made to a previous paper by the author (Proceedings, 1867–8, p. 309), in which an attempt was made to apply to this subject the Theory of Dissipation of Energy.

Some years ago, a bar of German silver was procured, at the expense of the British Association, for the purpose of ascertaining whether its thermal, like its electric, conductivity is little altered by change of temperature. With this, Forbes' experiments have been carried out carefully through very great ranges of temperatures.
3. Note on the Rate of Decrease of Electric Conductivity with Increase of Temperature
Authors: Marshall D. H.
Published: June 2016

These experiments were undertaken in order to determine how closely the hypothesis “that the electric resistance in a pure metal is directly as its absolute temperature” holds for various metals at two easily ascertained temperatures,—that of the air in the room, and the boiling point of water. The apparatus used was a Wheatstone's bridge; one coil of wire kept in a vessel of water at the temperature of the air in the room being put against another, which could be heated up to 100° C. The experiments showed that the rate of increase of resistance with temperature was different for hard and soft specimens of the same metal, being always less in the hard.
Award of Makdougall Brisbane Prize to Professor Allman
Authors: Maxwell William Stirling
Published: June 2016

The Council of the Royal Society have awarded the Makdougall Brisbane Prize to George James Allman, M.D., F.R.S., Emeritus Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh, for his memoir “On the Homological Relations of the Cœlenterata,” published in the Transactions of the Society for 1870–71.
2. Additional Note on the Strain-Function, &c.
Authors: Tait
Published: June 2016

The author gave an account of the mode in which he had treated the Strain-Function in an elementary Treatise on Quaternions, soon to be published, mainly from the pen of Professor Kelland.

The coefficients of the cubic in φ are determined easily from the condition that homogeneous strain alters the volume of every part of a body in the same ratio.
4. On the Physiological Action of Light. No. I
Authors: Dewar James , M'Kendrick John G.
Published: June 2016

The authors of this communication have more especially directed their attention to the problem of the specific effect produced on the retina and optic nerve by the action of light. Numerous hypotheses have been made from time to time by physicists and physiologists; but up to the present date, our knowledge of the subject is without any experimental foundation. For example, Newton, Melloni, and Seebeck, stated that the action of light on the retina consisted of a communication of mere vibrations; Young conjectured that it was a minute intermittent motion of some portion of the optic nerve; Du Bois-Reymond attributed it to an electrical effect; Draper supposed that it depended on a heating effect of the choroid; and Mosier compared it to the action of light on a sensitive photographic plate.
5. On the Thermo-electric Properties of Pure Nickel
Authors: Tait
Published: June 2016

By the kindness of M. de Boisbaudran I have been enabled to experiment upon a specimen of nickel, very nearly pure. Its thermo-electric relations are exceedingly interesting, and are easily observed by employing palladium as the second metal in the circuit. The nickel line in the thermo-electric diagram presents nearly the same appearance as that of iron, but its peculiarities occur at much lower temperatures.
6. Notice of the Ravages of the Limnoria terebrans on Greenheart Timber
Authors: Stevenson David
Published: June 2016

In 1862 I communicated to the Society a notice of the ravages of the Limnoria terebrans on timber employed in engineering structures exposed to the action of the sea. In that communication I stated that African, English, and American oaks, mahogany, teak, beech, ash, elm, and the different varieties of pine, were found sooner or later to become a prey to the Limnoria. The special object of the notice was, however, to show that timber subjected to preservative processes did not long resist the attacks of the Limnoria, and, more especially, that thoroughly creosoted timber is readily perforated by it, and subsequent experience has fully shown that these statements were correct.
2. Note on the Transformation of Double and Triple Integrals
Authors: Tait
Published: June 2016

If we have two equations of the form

u and v are given as functions of ξ and η, or vice versâ. Here either u and v, or ξ and η, may be the ordinary Cartesian x and y, or any given functions of them.
4. Notes on Mr Sang's Communication of 7th April 1873 on a Singular Property possessed by the Fluid enclosed in Crystal Cavities in Iceland Spar.
Authors: Tait  , Swan
Published: June 2016

The very beautiful experiment of Mr Sang, communicated to the Society on the 7th April, 1873, suggested to me, as soon as I heard him read his description of it, an explanation which was confirmed by a subsequent examination of his specimens. Some remarks made to me by members of the Council of the Society, three days afterwards, led me to write, and deposit (under seal, as Mr Sang had announced that he was still prosecuting his inquiry) with the Secretary the following hastily written document, which has been since that time in his possession, and is now printed verbatim.
1. On the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy
Authors: Brown Thomas
Published: June 2016

After describing the general appearance of these terraces, the author referred to the discussions which had taken place as to their formation. More than fifty years ago it was conclusively proved by Dr Macculloch and Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, that these parallel roads are the margins of ancient lakes, and since then the question has been whether these were freshwater or sea lochs. Mr Darwin, Dr Eobert Chambers, Professor Nichol, and others, have contended that they were marine; while Agassiz, Dr Milne Home, Mr Jamieson, and others, have maintained that they were freshwater.
3. Laboratory Notes by Professor Tait—On the Thermo-electric Positions of Sodium and Potassium
Authors: Tait
Published: June 2016

Farther experiments with the apparatus described in the “Proceedings” of 2d March 1874, and with a similar one containing potassium, have led to the following values of the tangent of the inclination of the corresponding lines in the thermo-electric diagram. I have added its value in palladium for comparison—

Na – ·00212

K – ·00066

Pd – ·00182
3. On a Form of Radiation Diagram
Authors: Forbes George
Published: June 2016

The following facts appear to have been conclusively established by universal experience:—

1. Nearly all, if not all, solid substances become self-luminous at the same temperature.

2. The red rays are the first to become visible, and, on increasing the temperature, colours of less wave-lengths are successively added in the order of their wave-lengths.

3. While colours of shorter wave-lengths are being added, those which were previously visible become more intense.
1. On Last-Place Errors in Vlacq's Table of Logarithms
Authors: Sang Edward
Published: June 2016

Now fifty years ago, while engaged with some heavy calculations connected with engineering work, I became impressed with the advantage of having logarithmic tables much more extensive than those in use. The trouble of the interpolations at the early part of the table, contrasted with the convenience of the small additional part from 100,000 to 108,000 printed in Hutton, gave rise to the idea of carrying the table onwards even so far as to one million. Although the bulk of such a table appears to be an objection, and the turning of so many leaves a toil, the ease to the habitual computer of finding at once the number of which he is in search is so great as far to outweigh the opposite considerations. Thus, though working only to five places, we prefer to use the extensive seven-place tables rather than to take up Lalande's small volume; and so, while working to seven places, we should gladly avail ourselves of a nine-place million table, the construction of which I proposed to myself, notwithstanding the vast amount of the labour.
2. On Some Compounds of Dimethyl-Thetine
Authors: Brown Crum , Letts E. A.
Published: June 2016

In this paper the authors describe in detail compounds of dimethyl-thetine, some of which were enumerated in an earlier communication. Hydrobromate of dimethyl-thetine is readily obtained as a colourless crystalline body by the action of sulphide of methyl on bromacetic acid at ordinary temperatures. Its analysis shows that it contains quantities of the different elements agreeing with the formula C4H9BrSO2, and its mode of formation and reaction lead to the constitutional formula—
3. On a New Example of the Opheliidæ (Linotrypane apogon) from Shetland
Authors: M'Intosh W. C.
Published: June 2016

This peculiar iridescent pinkish Annelid was dredged in 1871 in Bressay Sound, in four or five fathoms, on a bottom of coarse sand and gravel, which abounded with finely-branched Melobesia calcarea, Ell. and Soland.
8. Biographical Notice of Jacques-Adolphe-Lambert Quetelet
Authors: Buchan Alexander
Published: June 2016

JACQUES-ADOLPHE-LAMBERT QUETELET.—On 17th February 1874 Quetelet died at Brussels, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, having been born at Ghent on 22d February 1796. At the age of 18 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the College at Ghent; and in July 1819, the degree of Doctor of Science was conferred on him by the University of the same town, which had just been founded by King William. His dissertation on the occasion was so well received that he was shortly thereafter appointed to the Chair of Mathematics in the Royal Athenæum of Brussels. In February following he was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences and Belles-Lettres.
Laboratory Notes by Professor Tait a. Photographic Records of the Sparks from a Holtz Machine
Authors: Tait
Published: June 2016

To determine the cause of the ordinary zig-zag form of electric sparks, the author requested Mr Matheson, one of his laboratory students well skilled in photographic processes, to take instantaneous photographs of the sparks of the Holtz Machine, by means of a quartz lens, in hot and cold air alternately. Several of these photographs were exhibited, and showed much greater smoothness of the track of the spark in heated than in cold air. The zig-zag appearance seems to depend upon the presence of combustible organic particles in ordinary air, but the experiments are still in process.
2. On a Faulty Construction common in Skewed Arches
Authors: Sang Edward
Published: June 2016

In the course of engineering works, bridges have to be thrown obliquely over rivers or over roads, and thus the construction of oblique or skewed arches is forced upon us. The skewed stone arch has not grown in favour, partly from the greater skill required in delineating and executing the forms, partly from the fact that such skewed arches have given signs of weakness. Hence an impression has gained ground that there is something defective in the principle.
1. Laboratory Note.—Analysis of Titaniferous Iron Sand from North Berwick
Authors: Davidson James
Published: June 2016

In an excursion of Professor Geikie's class to North Berwick (5th February), a layer of titaniferous iron sand was found lying along the shore for a short distance.

The rocks at this locality consist chiefly of dull green and red trap-tuffs, traversed by dykes and veins of basalt. Immediately in front of the spot where the iron sand was met with several intrusive masses of dark heavy basalt occur. It was evidently from the decomposition and trituration of this rock that the iron sand came, which has been assorted by the waves along the upper margin of the beach.
3. Note on the action of Bile Salts on the Animal Economy
Authors: Brown J. Graham
Published: June 2016

The investigations recorded in this paper were undertaken for the purpose of elucidating the action of the bile salts on the animal economy. The chief workers in this field of inquiry have been Frerichs and Kühne, and the results obtained have been to a great extent contradictory.
2. The Placenta in Ruminants.—a Deciduate Placenta
Authors: Turner
Published: June 2016

All zoologists, who have accepted the placental system of classification of the Mammalia, agree in placing the Ruminantia amongst the Indeciduata.

As is well known, the fœtal portion of the placenta in Ruminants consists of a number of distinct cotyledons. Each cotyledon is composed of numerous branched villi, which fit into pits or depressions situated in mound-like elevations of the wall of the uterus, called the maternal cotyledons.
2. Observations on Mr Sang's Remarks relative to the Great Logarithmic Table compiled at the Bureau du Cadastre under the direction of M. Prony
Authors: Lefort M. F.
Published: June 2016

J'ai reçu par une voie détournée, un article de M. Edward Sang, intitulé “Remarks on the great Logarithmic and Trigonometrical Tables computed in the Bureau du Cadastre under the direction of M. Prony.” Cet article, qui parait avoir été publié dans les “Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Session, 1874–1875,” m'a été adressé à l'Observatoire de Paris. Or je n'ai pas l'honneur d'être astronome. Je suis simplement un inspecteur général des Ponts et Chaussées, ami de la science qu'il a cultivée et qu'il cultive encore dans les trop courts instants de loisir que lui laisse sa carrière professionelle. L'Observatoire de Paris a d'ailleurs bien voulu me reiivoyer la brochure à mon domicile, rue du-bac No. 38, à Paris.
Observations relatives aux remarques publiées par M. Edward Sang dans les “Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Session 1874–1875,” sur les grandes tables logarithmiques et trigonomètriques calculées au Bureau du Cadastre sous la direction de Prony
Authors: Lefort F.
Published: June 2016

M. Edward Sang, dans un article dont je viens de rappeler le tître, a mentionné de la manière la plus flatteuse les travaux que j'ai publiées sur la matière des logarithmes, et notamment sur la grande operation qu'a dirigée Prony à la fin du siècle dernier. Je ne puis que l'en remercier; n'entendant d'ailleurs intervenir en aucun façon dans le fond de la controverse qui s'est engagée entre ce savant et le rédacteur de la feuille scientifique intitulée “Nature.” Mais je lui dois, autant qu'à la très honorable Société Royale d'Edimbourg, des explications sur différents points de fait et de doctrine, qu'il regarde comme ressortant de mes écrits, écrits qu'il a mal interprètés, sans doute par suite d'une connaissance incomplète de la langue Française.
Reply to M. Lefort's Observations
Authors: Sang Edward
Published: June 2016

From M. Lefort's opening sentence it appears that he had only recently received the copy of my remarks which had been posted to him on 22d December. Perhaps on this account M. Lefort has been hurried in the perusal of my paper, and so has fallen into several mistakes as to my meaning. These will be apparent to any one who peruses the writings, and I shall pass them over entirely, confining myself to the very few points which are essential to the subject in hand. The only extraneous matter to which I shall allude is this, that while M. Lefort has obviously and justly been desirous of upholding the dignity of the Grandes Tables du Cadastre, he has, in the true spirit of an inquirer after truth, clearly and faithfully exhibited even those points which press most sorely on his own position.
4. De l'interpolation des fonctions irrationnelles en général, et des fonctions logarithmiques en particulier, à l'aide des tables numériques
Authors: Lefort F.
Published: June 2016

Pour faire un usage intelligent destables des fonctions irrationelles en général, et des tables de logarithmes en particulier, il est indispensable de conaître les formules fondamentales de l'interpolation, et de savoir se rendre compte du degré d'approximation que l'on peut obtenir dans les différénts cas. Je traite dans ce mémoire ces deux points qui sont à peine indiqués dans la plupart des ouvrages élémentaires, et qui sont complètement omis dans les introductions les plus développées à des tables d'ailleurs très estimables.
II.—Seismic Radiations
Authors: Knott C. G.
Published: June 2016

This second paper is a discussion of the surface displacements associated with plane elastic waves reflected from the boundary of the elastic solid through which they are being propagated. In my first paper on Seismic Radiations (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., vol. xxviii. pp. 217–230, 1908) my aim was to find a simple distribution of density and elasticity in terms of which the transmission of seismic disturbances could be described.
IV.—On the Illuminating Power of Groups of Pin-hole Burners
Authors: Harris R. G.
Published: June 2016

The object of the present series of experiments is to find the variation of the illuminating power of symmetrical groups of pin-hole burners with the distance of adjacent burners.

The burners were fitted so as to slide on a frame composed of two pieces of a metre-rod fastened together to form a cross, as shown in figs. 1 and 2. The stems of the burners were circular in section and cylindrical in bore, the external and internal diameters being 8 mm. and less than 1 mm. respectively. Their bases were bevelled in such a manner that the burners could be fixed so close as to touch each other; thus their centres could be placed at any distance from the centre of the cross from 4 mm. to 10 cm. The standard of illumination with which they were compared was a similar pin-hole burner.
VI.—A Further Contribution to a Comparative Study of the dominant Phanerogamic and Higher Cryptogamic Flora of Aquatic Habit in Scottish Lakes
Authors: West George
Published: June 2016

This contribution is a continuation of a former paper on the same subject, references to which in this paper will, for the sake of brevity, be referred to as ante, p.…, or ante, fig.… The present pages deal especially with the following districts of Scotland:—

1. North-west Kirkcudbrightshire.

2. South-east Kirkcudbrightshire.

3. Wigtownshire.

4. Fife and Kinross.
XIII.—The Theory of Orthogonants in the Historical Order of Development up to 1860
Authors: Muir Thomas
Published: June 2016

Notwithstanding the generalisations made by Jacobi and Cauchy, the special case with which the whole theory originated continued from time to time to attract attention. In 1843 William Thomson, afterwards known as Lord Kelvin, published under the signature “T.” in the Cambridge Math. Journ., iii. pp. 247–248, a short note in which he proved the detached theorem that if l1, m1, n1, l2, … be nine quantitiessuch that

then it follows that

This led to a short paper by A. Göpel in the Archiv d. Math. u. Phys., iv. (1843) pp. 244–246.
XIV.—The Restoration of an Ancient British Race of Horses
Authors: Ewart J. C.
Published: June 2016

In a work published in 1846, Professor Owen figured two upper molars of a small member of the Equidæ family which lived in the south of England along with the mammoth. A study of these and other molars led Owen to conclude that the small equine which lived in England in prehistoric times was either an ass or a zebra. Assuming that the small Oreston fossil equine had “callosities on the fore legs only, the tail furnished with a terminal brush, and a longitudinal dorsal line,” Owen gave it the name Asinus fossilis. In support of the view that a “wild ass or quagga” as well as a wild horse and a wild boar entered “into the series of British Pliocene hoofed mammalia,” Owen mentions that he had seen a fossil second phalanx or pastern bone of a small species of Equus about the size of the zebra from the Pliocene crag at Thorpe, and that Dr Mantell had described teeth and bones of “a small species about the size of a Shetland pony“ from the super-cretaceous drift deposit at Brighton—the deposit which, owing to the abundance of mammoth bones, is known as the “Elephant Bed.”
XV.—Current Observations in Loch Garry
Authors: Wedderburn E. M.
Published: June 2016

Following on the current observations made during 1908 in Loch Ness by the author and Mr W. Watson, a few observations were made in Loch Garry (Ness basin) during August and September 1909. Mr Macdonald, Fort Augustus, again assisted in the work. The Loch Ness observations showed that the currents in the loch were very confused, but certain general conclusions were drawn; e.g. (1) that when a lake has become stratified and the temperature discontinuity has appeared, the return current is nearly always found above the discontinuity; (2) that towards the windward end of the loch the return current may take place close to the surface; (3) that slow-currents are to be found below the discontinuity, and with the same direction as the surface current. All these conclusions are borne out by the Loch Garry observations, and some additional information has been obtained.
XVIII.—The Glenboig Fireclay
Authors: Gregory J. W.
Published: June 2016

According to Percy's definition, “clays are termed fireclays or refractory clays when they resist exposure to a high temperature without melting or becoming in a sensible degree soft and pasty.” The refractoriness of fireclay is due to its low proportions of fluxes. The best known British fireclays occur beneath the coal seams of the coal measures, and are therefore known as “under-clays” or “seat-clays.” The explanation of their paucity of fluxes usually offered is that the alkalies have been withdrawn as food by the vegetation which formed the coal. Thus Professor Tarr remarks that fireclays “are particularly abundant in the Carboniferous rocks associated with coal beds, the plants having been instrumental in the withdrawal of the alkalies.” This view has been widely accepted, and the death of the successive coal forests has been attributed to the exhaustion of the plant foods in the underlying soils. Caution is, however, necessary in the application of this theory; for plants can only withdraw soluble alkalies from the soil, and the alkalies are usually present in the form of silicates, which decompose slowly. Hence the total removal of alkalies from a soil by vegetation would be a very lengthy process. Moreover, alkalies are not the only, or indeed the most common of fluxes, for iron is usually the most potent. Further, some good fireclays are not associated with coal seams, while well-washed river muds may be poorer in alkali than an underclay, the alkalies having been washed out of the material. Thus the river muds from the Rhine near Bonn, analysed by Bischoff, contain only ·89 per cent. of potash and ·39 per cent. of soda; or after deducting the water and organic material the percentages of potash and soda are 1·02 and 0·45 respectively. Another analysis by Bischoff of river mud from the Rhine collected above Lake Constance contained potash ·55 per cent. and soda ·54 per cent., or after deducting the water and carbonates the percentage of these two constituents only rose to ·91 per cent. of potash and ·90 per cent. of soda.
XXIX.—Equilibrium in the Ternary System: Water, Potassium carbonate, Potassium ethyl di-propyl-malonate
Authors: McDavid J. W.
Published: June 2016

During the electrolysis of a solution of potassium ethyl di-propyl-malonate it was discovered by Crichton that when a concentrated aqueous solution of the salt was shaken up with a concentrated aqueous solution of potassium carbonate two distinct layers were formed. The peculiarity of this case lies in the fact that both substances are salts of the same metal, though cases of the non-miscibility of aqueous solutions of two totally different substances are common, as, for example, that of potassium carbonate and alcohol.
XXX.—On a New Method for differentiating between Overlapping Orders when mapping Grating Spectra
Authors: Ross Alexander D.
Published: June 2016

Some time ago the author commenced an investigation of the Zeeman effect in the spark spectrum of certain rare elements. The research promised results of considerable interest, as the properties and relationships of these substances are as yet very imperfectly known, and certain of the elements show indication of high magnetic quality. The following elements were examined: uranium, rubidium, gadolinium, samarium, scandium, dysprosium, neo-ytterbium, and lutecium. The author is greatly indebted to Sir William Crookes for his kindness in supplying the scandium, and to Professor Urbain of the University of Paris for the samples of the three last-mentioned elements.
XXXII.—Observations of the Earth-air Electric Current and the Atmospheric Potential Gradient at Edinburgh
Authors: Carse G. A. , MacOwan D.
Published: June 2016

The portable gold-leaf electrometer designed by C. T. R. Wilson gives a means of measuring the charge upon and current through a conductor exposed to the earth's field and maintained at zero potential. Further, Wilson has shown (1) that the dissipation factor (the ratio of current per minute to the corresponding charge) is approximately the same for a surface of turf and the metal test-plate; and (2) how to deduce the corresponding charge and current per square centimetre on the neighbouring ground-level. Wilson's measurements were made chiefly in a country atmosphere (near Peebles), and we have made observations with a similar instrument in town air, in and near Edinburgh, to find out whether the dissipation factor is notably affected by the purity of the atmosphere as regards smoke, etc.
XXXV.—The Morphology of the Manus in Platanista gangetica, the Dolphin of the Ganges
Authors: Turner Wm.
Published: June 2016

In July 1909 I communicated to the Society a description of the skeleton of Sowerby's whale, and discussed the morphology of the Manus in the Ziphioids, Mesoplodon and Hyperoodon, and in the Delphinidæ. In this paper I propose to consider the morphology of the manus in the pentadactylous Gangetic dolphin, the type example of the Platanistidæ.

The most complete account of the anatomy of Platanista is contained in the chapter on the Cetacea in the important “Anatomical and Zoological Researches” by the late Dr John Anderson. As director of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, he collected and studied both the soft parts and the skeleton in a number of specimens of both sexes. He analysed the constitution of the manus, and assigned to the carpal bones names corresponding with those used in descriptive human anatomy.
XXXIX.—Did the Tail of Halley's Comet affect the Earth's Atmosphere?
Authors: Aitken John
Published: June 2016

The return of Halley's Comet in May of this year gave rise to much speculation as to its possible effects on the earth. As it was expected that the earth would pass through the tail of the comet when the comet passed between us and the sun, many observations were arranged for in order to see if the tail, whatever it was composed of, had any effect on the earth or on its atmosphere. If the tail was composed of matter in any form, gaseous, or fine solid or liquid particles, then it seemed possible to get some evidence of its presence in the atmosphere; or if the tail was composed of electrons, then these would disturb the electrical condition of the atmosphere, and also the magnetic condition of the earth.
IV.—The Absorption of Light by Inorganic Salts. No. VIII. Alcoholic Solutions of Copper, Cobalt, and Nickel Salts in the Ultra-Violet
Authors: Brown Alex. R.
Published: June 2016

The salts experimented on in this research were the chlorides, bromides, nitrates, and sulphates of copper, cobalt, and nickel. They were obtained from Kahlbaum. Jones and his co-workers have already investigated qualitatively the absorption of alcoholic solutions of some of these salts. Also quantitative measurements of the absorption at a few points in the visible spectrum have been made by Vaillant for some of the hydrated salts. In the present case solutions of the anhydrous salts were examined.
V.—The Theory of Axisymmetric Determinants from 1857 to 1880
Authors: Muir Thomas
Published: June 2016

My last communication in reference to the history of axisymmetric determinants dealt with the period 1841–1859 (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., xxvii. pp. 135–166). The present paper continues the history up to the year 1880, but in addition contains an account of one contribution belonging to the previous period, namely, by d'Arrest (1857).
VI.—The Precipitation of Salts by the Corresponding Acids
Authors: Masson Irvine
Published: June 2016

It is well known that salts such as the chlorides of the alkali metals are less soluble in water containing the corresponding acid than in water alone; and for sparingly soluble salts, in weakly acid solution, the decrease of solubility has been shown to follow quantitatively the course predicted from simple ionic notions. With concentrated solutions of strong electrolytes, however, the causes which operate are still obscure; and, indeed, much has yet to be discovered as to the facts in such cases. There may be said to be two methods of studying the isothermal phenomena in question. The first, which has received attention from numerous observers, consists in determining the solubility of a salt in water containing the acid in varying concentrations. This may be termed the “solubility“ method. The second method seeks to ascertain the minimum concentration of aqueous acid which must be used in order to cause deposition of salt, when the acid is added in small quantity to the saturated aqueous salt solution. This we shall refer to as the “precipitation“ method; it was adopted by Gibson and Denison, and formed the subject of a communication by them to this Society (Proc., vol. xxx., 1910, p. 562).
XI.—On the Application of Manley's Differential Densimeter to the Study of Sea-waters on board Ship
Authors: Campbell Norman Phillips
Published: June 2016

In a paper communicated to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Mr Manley describes a differential densimeter and its successful application in the laboratory to the rapid determination of the relative densities of sea-waters. The paper also contains the suggestion that the instrument would, if suspended in gimbals, be rendered available and convenient for use at sea: thus making it possible for the oceanographer to carry out observations upon the density of sea-water with greater frequency than the usual methods conveniently permit.
XII—The Absorption of Light by Inorganic Salts. No. IX.: Solutions of Copper, Nickel, and Cobalt Salts in Alcohol and in Acetone
Authors: Houstoun R. A. , Gray A. H.
Published: June 2016

The absorption spectra of the copper, nickel, and cobalt salts investigated in this series do not seem to depend so much upon the acid radical as on the water of solution. The latter evidently plays a very important role, and possibly complicates matters. It was therefore resolved to determine the molecular extinction coefficients in alcohol and in acetone to see whether conditions were any simpler there. It may be stated in advance that they are not.
XVI.—On the Electron Theory of Thermo-electricity
Authors: McWhan John
Published: June 2016

The rôle played by the “free” (negative) electrons in metallic conductors as carriers of the electric current has formed the basis of theories developed by H. A. Lorentz, Sir J. J. Thomson, E. Riecke, and others, regarding the thermo-electromotive force. In these theories the free electrons are considered collectively as an ideal gas permeating the metal and subject to the usual gas laws. The kinetic theory of gases is then applied to the problem of the motion of the atoms of the electronic “gas,” and expressions for the thermo-E.M.F.—differing in the various instances by a constant multiplier only—are deduced.
XVII.—On a Fuller Test of the Law of Torsional Oscillation
Authors: Ritchie James B.
Published: June 2016

It has been shown in a former paper that an equation of the form

can be applied to give close representation of results in the determination of the law of decrease of torsional oscillations of wires of different materials, when the range of oscillation is large in comparison with the palpable limits of elasticity.
XIX.—Note on a Comparison of Records of Atmospheric Electric Potential at Two Stations in Edinburgh
Authors: Carse G. A. , Shearer G. , Jameson H.
Published: June 2016

The electrograms (continuous records of the atmospheric potential) were obtained by means of electrographs of the Kelvin water-dropper type at the Physical Laboratory, Edinburgh University, and the Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, and as the inspection of the records showed some remarkable similarities, a more detailed comparison of the records was instituted, the results of which are given in this paper.
XXIV.—The Scattering of Light
Authors: Milne James Robert
Published: June 2016

The present paper describes a number of experiments made in connection with Christiansen's experiment in which a beam of light is passed through a transparent insoluble powder immersed in a liquid, with the result that light of the particular colour for which the indices of powder and liquid are the same passes unaffected, while light of all other colours is scattered. In this communication only the simplest case of the above is dealt with, that, namely, in which a flat piece of glass, ground on one side, takes the place of the powder, the rugosities of the ground surface representing a single layer of grains, and air takes the place of the liquid. In such a case there is, of course, no colour of light for which the indices of solid and liquid are alike, and indeed it was found that the colour of the light made very little difference to the results. On the other hand, however, it soon became apparent that different ways of grinding the glass surface led to very different effects. Accordingly, as no previous work appears to have been done in this field, and as it seemed a promising one, it was decided to make a systematic study of the various cases. Each specimen of glass employed was photomicrographed, and had its polar light distribution measured by a photometer. Two methods of characterising the particular scattering power of a screen soon suggested themselves and have been formally defined—the one connected with the Angle of Maximum Total Emission, and the other with the Equivalent Cavity.

It is hoped to continue the investigation not only on the above lines, but also in the direction of ascertaining the effect of a number of plates, i.e. of successive layers of light-scattering particles; and in investigating the polarisation effects, which some rough preliminary experiments have shown to be marked.

I am glad of this opportunity of acknowledging the help I have received from the Trustees of the Carnegie Trust in the form of grants for the construction of the special apparatus necessary; and desire to tender my grateful thanks to Professor MacGregor for the many facilities for carrying on the work which he kindly placed at my disposal.
XXVIII.—Atmospheric Electric Potential Results at Edinburgh during 1912
Authors: Carse G. A. , Shearer G.
Published: June 2016

§ 1. In this paper are given the results of calculations made from continuous records of atmospheric electric potential obtained during the year 1912 at the Physical Laboratory of the University of Edinburgh.

During the summer of 1909 intermittent observations of the atmospheric electric potential and earth-air current were made at various points in Edinburgh, the results of which have already been communicated to this Society, and since October 1911 there has been an electrograph in operation at the laboratory.
1. Vortex Statics
Authors: Thomson William
Published: June 2016

The subject of this paper is steady motion of vortices.

1. Extended definition of “steady motion.” The motion of any system of solid or fluid or solid and fluid matter is said to be steady when its configuration remains equal and similar, and the velocities of homologous particles equal, however the configuration may move in space, and however distant individual material particles may at one time be from the points homologous to their positions at another time.
2. Experiments illustrating Rigidity produced by Centrifugal Force
Authors: Aitken John
Published: June 2016

If an endless chain is hung over a pulley and the pulley driven at a great velocity, it is well known that the motion so communicated to the chain has almost no tendency to change the form of the curve in which the chain hangs, and that the principal effect of the motion is to confer on the chain a quasi-rigidity which enables it to resist any force tending to alter its curvature.
3. On Diamagnetic Rotation
Authors: Forbes George , Maxwell J. Clerk
Published: June 2016

Faraday's discovery of the magnetic rotatory polarisation of light may be expressed in the following manner:—Let two electromagnets, in the form of iron tubes, surrounded by helices of wire, be placed end to end, so that in the space between them the lines of force are very intense. Let a rod of dense glass be placed in this space, so that a ray of light may pass through the two tubes and the rod of glass. Let such a ray on entrance be plane-polarised, so that the direction of vibration is in a vertical direction. If the electro-magnet be now magnetised, the emergent ray will be polarised, so that its vibrations are inclined to the vertical at a small angle. The direction in which the line of vibration has been rotated is the same as the direction of the positive current in the helices.
2. A Further Contribution to the Placentation of the Cetacea (Monodon Monoceros)
Authors: Turner
Published: June 2016

In the year 1871, I read before this Society a memoir on the Gravid Uterus of Orca gladiator, in which I discussed the placentation of the Cetacea. This memoir was published in the Transactions for that year. On the present occasion I purpose describing the placenta in a Cetacean genus in which it has not hitherto been examined.
6. Laboratory Notes by Professor Tait (a) On a Possible Influence of Magnetism on the Absorption of Light, and some correlated subjects
Authors: Tait
Published: June 2016

Professor G. Forbes' paper, read at a late meeting of the Society, and some remarks made upon it by Professor Clerk-Maxwell, have once more recalled to me an experiment which I tried for the first time rather more than twenty years ago, in Queen's College, Belfast. I have since that time tried it again and again, whenever I succeeded in getting improved diamagnetics, a more powerful field of magnetic force, or a more powerful spectroscope. Hitherto it has led to no result, but it cannot yet be said to have been fairly tried. I mention it now because I may thus possibly be enabled to get a medium thoroughly suitable for a proper trial.
1. On the Structure of the Body-wall in the Spionidæ
Authors: M'Intosh W. C.
Published: June 2016

In regard to external form, Nerine foliosa, Sars, is generally taken as the type of the family, and therefore it may be selected for structural examination in the first instance. Anteriorly the pointed snout is completed by the intricate interlacing of the muscular fibres beneath specially thickened cuticular and hypodermic layers. As soon as the body-wall assumes a rounded form, a layer of circular and oblique muscular fibres occurs beneath the hypoderm, the majority having the latter (i.e., the oblique) direction. In the centre of the area the oesophagus is suspended by strong muscular bundles (the most conspicuous of which are vertical) passing from the hypodermic basement-layer in the middle line superiorly to be attached to the œsophagal wall. A second series, as they descend to their insertion at the ventral surface, give lateral support to the tube; while a third group interlace in a complex manner, and, with the blood-vessels, fill up the space between the œsophagus and the wall of the body.