HINTS AND HELPS. 159 



The most recent of their publications is Sir William Dawson's 

 "Geological History of Plants," which aims to give in a con- 

 nected form a summary of the development of the vegetable king- 

 dom in geological time. 



The great " American Cyclopaedia," the " Cyclopaedia of Ameri- 

 can Biography," and the " Popular Science Monthly," are also 

 published by Messrs. Appleton & Co. 



Besides their large list of works for the general reader on scien- 

 tific subjects, Messrs. Appleton & Co. publish a number of excel- 

 lent text-books for special study. These books will most interest 

 the working members in the Association and help them to a prac- 

 tical knowledge of the subjects in which they are engaged. 



Those interested in the study of chemistry will find Mary Shaw- 

 Brewster's "First Book of Chemistry " a great help in making 

 experiments. As all the experiments are elementary in character, 

 only the simplest apparatus and chemicals are needed. Another 

 useful book just published is J. D. Everett's " Outlines of Natural 

 Philosophy," in which the leading principles of that branch of 

 science are presented in the plainest manner. 



Eliza A. Bowen's "Astronomy by Observation " is based, as its 

 title implies, on the interesting, as it is, indeed, the only true 

 method of studying the subject that of observation. Careful 

 directions are given when, how and where to find the heavenly 

 bodies, together with many curious facts concerning them. 



Eliza A. Youmans' "First Book of Botany " is an excellent 

 text-book for a beginner in that interesting study, taking the 

 learner by the hand and leading him among the plants themselves 

 to find out their history. "A Study of Leaves," by Mary B. 

 Dennis, is also a useful companion. 



For students in Zoology we commend Dr. Edward S. Morse's 

 " First Book of Zoology." The examples presented in this book 

 are the common and familiar animals. The illustrations, of which 

 there are upwards of three hundred, were nearly all drawn from 

 nature by the author expressly for this work. 



The " Science Text-book Series," contains a number of im- 

 portant books for more advanced work, in Descriptive and Phy- 

 siological Botany, Geology, Zoology, Chemistry," etc., etc. 



The Agassiz Association owes Messrs. Appleton & Co. a vote 

 of thanks for the delightful way in which young people are in- 

 troduced to their animal friends in James Johonnot's series of 

 Natural History Readers. The " Book of Cats and Dogs," and 

 ' Friends in Feathers and Fur," are sure to bring recruits to the 

 Association from the ranks of the little folks, while older heads 

 will find something of the charm of looking through the author's 



