562 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



agent, electro-chemistry, telegraphy, teleph- 

 ony, and electric waves. There is an ap- 

 pendix containing tables and various prac- 

 tical points, such as " directions for setting 

 up a cell," etc. This is followed by a num- 

 ber of carefully prepared problems for 

 school use. There is a magnetic chart of 

 the British Islands and other illustrations. 



The Cat : a Guide to the Classification 

 and Varieties of Cats, and a Short 

 Treatise upon their Diseases and 

 Treatment. By Rush Shippen Huide- 

 koper, M. D. New York : D. Appleton 

 & Co. Pp. 148. Price, $1. 



The first national cat show, held in New 

 York in the early part of May of the present 

 year, may be regarded as opening a new era 

 in the life of Pussy in this country ; and we 

 may henceforth expect to have cat fanciers 

 and cat breeders and the other appurte- 

 nances of a well- cultivated and really proper 

 fad, as we have long had horse and dog fan- 

 ciers and breeders. In view of her independ- 

 ence and individuality, it is well that Pussy 

 be taken up and have more regard paid to 

 her than heretofore. When it became cer- 

 tain that the exhibition would be held, and 

 inquiries were made concerning the classifi- 

 cation and qualities, it appeared that New 

 York had no suitable book on the subject. 

 Dr. Huidekoper perceived the emergency, 

 and determined to supply the want. He has 

 done it very well. The book is a practical 

 one, as well as scientific. It treats of the 

 zoological position of the cat family, the 

 anatomy, origin, and varieties of the domes- 

 tic cat, classified as long-haired and short- 

 haired ; the care of the cat ; its diseases 

 and the remedies, the etymology and syno- 

 nyms, and the emblematic significance of 

 the animal. 



Electric Light Cables and the Distribu- 

 tion of Electricity. By Stuart A. 

 Russell. With 107 Illustrations. Lon- 

 don and New York : Whittaker & Co. 

 Pp. 319. Price, $2.25. 



This is to be one of the new series of 

 books for students, practical engineers, and 

 others, to be called The Specialists' Series. 

 It is thoroughly practical, describing the 

 primary systems of distribution and their 

 combinations, the various forms of conduct- 

 ors and the insulating materials in use, 



modes of placing overhead and underground 

 lines, internal wiring, modes of testing, etc. 

 Among the problems discussed are the rela- 

 tive advantages of different materials for 

 conductors, the relative economy of direct 

 and transformer systems, the use of air in- 

 sulation, and the comparative advantages 

 and disadvantages of overhead and under- 

 ground lines. Besides presenting the results 

 of experience so far attained, the book has 

 the additional purpose of helping the further 

 advance of knowledge in its field. 



Geological Survey of New Jersey. Re- 

 port on Water Supply, Water Power, 

 the Flow of Streams, and Attendant 

 Phenomena. By C. C. Vermeule. Pp. 

 352 + 96. 



The present is Volume III of the final 

 report of the State Geologist. The waters 

 of the State having been recognized by the 

 Geological Survey as part of its mineral re- 

 sources, much attention has been given to 

 them in nearly all the reports. The sub- 

 terranean as well as the accessible waters 

 were studied by Mr. Cook, the late State 

 Geologist, as to their accessibility, volume, 

 and character, and the artesian wells along 

 the Atlantic coast belt have demonstrated 

 the accuracy of his studies. The work for 

 the present volume was begun in 1 890. Re- 

 sults of permanent value have been obtained, 

 illustrating, among other points, the large 

 influence of geological conditions upon 

 storage and delivery of ground water ; the 

 bearing of evaporation and ground storage 

 upon stream-flow ; the preponderating in- 

 fluence of temperature in determining the 

 amount of evaporation and the total run-off 

 of streams for a given rainfall ; the subordi- 

 nate influence exerted by forests and other 

 vegetation thereon ; and the indicated cer- 

 tainty of occasional periods of small rainfall. 

 The former part of the volume is occupied 

 with discussion of the laws that govern 

 stream-flow, rainfall, evaporation, ground 

 storage, surface storage, and surface or 

 flood flows. Gauging flows and the method 

 of computing them are next considered. The 

 local water systems are then described. The 

 latter part of the book is devoted to general- 

 izations as to water supply, chemical analyses, 

 public water supplies, water power, evapora- 

 tion, ground storage, effects of vegetation, 



