102 



HA RD WICKE' S SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. 



yj STRONOMY WITH A N OPERA - GLASS, 

 -*1 by Garrett P. Serviss (New York : D. 

 Appleton and Co.). This is the second edition of a 

 highly successful work. It is one of the best works 

 on " Astronomy for the Million" we have seen ; and 

 young students, of that noble science who sigh for 

 telescopes, can here learn how much they may see 

 with an ordinary opera-glass. The book is divided 

 into " Stars of Spring," " Stars of Summer," " Stars 

 of Autumn," and " Stars of Winter," and there is a 

 fifth chapter on the " Moon, Planets, and Sun." 



Elements of Astronomy, by Dr. Chas. A. Young 

 (Boston : Ginn and Co.). It will be sufficient to 

 state that this is a text book intended for use in high 

 schools and academies, and that Dr. Young is the 

 author of the admirable work on the sun published 

 in the International Scientific Series. Professor Young 

 had previously written a treatise on General 

 Astronomy, but the present volume is an entirely 

 new work. Its scope is as large as the science with 

 which it deals ; and, as the author's style is noted for 

 its perspicacity, those of our readers who desire a 

 work on astronomy will understand this is the very 

 one they should get. It is abundantly illustrated, 

 has a capital index, and appendix of important 

 astronomical odds and ends. There is also included 

 an Uranography, or brief description of the constella- 

 tions visible in the Northern Hemisphere. This is 

 illustrated by star maps. 



A Handbook of Quantitative Analysis, by John 

 Mills (London : Chapman and Hall). Students of 

 chemistry cannot complain of want of attention. 

 Indeed, of the writing of books on the subject there 

 seems to be no end. The present neatly got-up 

 volume has been written with a view to assist 

 students who may be going in for the Honours 

 Examination in Inorganic and Organic Chemistry at 

 South Kensington Science and Art Department as 

 well as lor the B.Sc. and M.B. examinations. It 

 seems admirably adapted for this purpose, as well as 

 for the larger one of being a handy book of reference 

 for all people who are interested in chemical opera- 

 tions. 



Alternative Elementary Physics, by John Mills 

 (London : Chapman and Hall). This is another 

 handy little volume, written expressly for the course 

 required by the Department of Science and Art, in 

 the Science Directory. It deals with Sound, Light, 

 Heat, Magnetism, Frictional Electricity and Voltaic 

 Electricity, and each chapter is illustrated by a series 

 of easy experiments, which bring home to the student 

 the principles he has been learning. We cordially 

 recommend this book to all whom it concerns. 



Electric Light Installations and the Manageme?it of 

 Accumulators, by Sir David Salomons (London : 

 Whittaker and Co. ). This is a practical handbook, 

 intended for working electricians, and a better one 



could not be put in the hands of those who are taking 

 up this profession. The work has already made its 

 mark, having gone through four editions; but electrical 

 engineering has progressed by such leaps and bounds 

 that a very few years make an earlier work ancient 

 history. Sir David Salomons therefore has taken 

 advantage of a fifth edition being required to 

 thoroughly revise and greatly enlarge the scope of 

 his treatise. He has added two new chapters to it 

 and several important new plates. 



Electrical Influence Machines, by John Gray 

 (London : Whittaker & Co.). We have here a very 

 instructive little book both for students and those 

 general readers who are interested in the history and 

 progress of electrical science. It deals with the 

 phenomena and leading principles of static electricity, 

 and has half a dozen highly interesting and well- 

 illustrated chapters describing influence machines, 

 besides two other chapters devoted to their practical 

 construction. The chief and most valuable feature in 

 the work is the copious and numerous descriptions of 

 all sorts of electrical machines which have been 

 invented from the earliest times till now. 



Idylls of the Field, by F. A. Knight (London : 

 Elliot Stock). Our readers will remember the 

 pleasant notice of "Leafy Ways" by the same 

 author, which we had the pleasure of giving in 

 Science-Gossip a few months ago. The present 

 handsomely got up and beautifully illustrated little 

 volume is a sequel to the former work, containing 

 delightful sketches of nature in her varying moods 

 such as frequently remind us of Richard Jeffrys. 



Glimpses of Animal Life, by William Jones 

 (London : Elliot Stock). This is another volume of 

 popular natural history essays and sketches, highly 

 readable and pleasant, and frequently instructive. 

 Mr. Jones has that large sympathy with animals 

 which is the first requirement for a man who under- 

 takes to write on these subjects. 



English Idylls, by P. H. Emerson (London : 

 Sampson Low). This is the second edition of a cheap 

 and charming little book of nature pictures drawn 

 from life. It is full of vigour and character, and is 

 altogether a delightfully original work. 



Hampstead Hill, by J. Logan Lobley (London : 

 Roper and Drowley). Mr. Lobley has been joined 

 by a few kindred spirits in the production of a very 

 handsome monograph. It demonstrates that London 

 has within her borders an area where the geologist, 

 ornithologist, entomologist, and botanist may pursue 

 their studies in the field. The story and structure of 

 Hampstead Hill are given by Professor Lobley, whilst 

 Mr. H. T. Warton discourses on its flora, the Rev. 

 Dr. F. A. Walker on its insect fauna, and Mr. J. E. 

 Halting on the birds. Lists of fossils, plants, insects, 

 and birds are fully given. The illustrations are 

 quaint, and in keeping with the work. 



Palestine, by Major C. R. Conder (London : Geo. 

 Philip & Son). This is a volume of the " World's 



