HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



103 



NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. 



WITH a generosity which stands forth in bold 

 contrast to the niggardly stinginess with which 

 similar British productions are dealt out to scientific 

 journals, we have received from the United States 

 Government the following handsome volumes : 

 " Atlas to accompany the Tertiary History of the 

 Grand Canon District " (crowded with beautiful maps 

 and large coloured plates of the chief scenic features) ; 

 "Tertiary History of the Grand Cafion District," by 

 Capt. Dutton ; "Second Annual Report of the 

 United States Geological Survey" (J. W. Powell, 

 Director) ; " Geological and Geographical Survey 

 of the Territories of Wyoming and Idaho " (for 1878 

 and 1879, two large vols.) ; " Maps and Panoramas, 

 Twelfth Annual Report of the Survey of the Terri- 

 tories." These volumes are always acceptable to 

 English geologists ; and Capt. Dutton's handsome 

 volume would be so to any one, apart from its graphic 

 descriptions, who values first-class illustrations. The 

 reading of this volume has produced a strange effect 

 on our mind — the most promiment idea being the 

 strong wish that every one of our readers could share 

 the delight we experienced in reading the author's 

 clear and bold geological explanation of this wonder- 

 ful and unique Canon country, which rises sometimes 

 to an impassioned strain of reverent enthusiasm, as he 

 describes the most striking scenic features. We have 

 not read anything more graphic, as regards scenery, 

 outside Ruskin. The illustrations comprise photo- 

 graphs, chromoliths, and woodcuts. The artist, 

 Mr. W. H. Holmes, has evidently been as much 

 impressed with the country to be described as Capt. 

 Dutton himself. One remarkable feature in the 

 illustrations of these volumes, is the clever and artistic 

 manner with which there is presented a panoramic 

 view of a country, and at the same time, the outcrop 

 of the different strata, so that the eye takes in at once 

 the relation of the scenic features to the underlying 

 rock-masses. 



Whilst everybody complains of the high price of 

 our own Geological Survey Memoirs, and the 

 sublime indifference shown to public opinion in the 

 matter, as to whether they are known or not, it is 

 pleasing to find the Trustees of the British Museum 

 recognising the position in which that Institution 

 stands as the great national scientific guide. We 

 have just received the latest of the numerous hand- 

 some and elaborate volumes on different scientific 

 subjects which are issued by the Trustees from time 

 to time under the unpretending title of " Catalogues." 

 The volume just mentioned is entitled "Catalogue of 

 the Fossil Sponges in the Geological Department of 

 the British Museum (Natural History)," by George 

 Jennings Hinde, Ph.D., F.G.S. It is illustrated by 

 thirty-eight large lithographic plates, showing both 

 the form and structure of the fossil sponges from the 

 Silurian to the Cretaceous formations. Sponges are 



now classed according to their microscopic structures, 

 and this is followed in the present volume. No 

 English palaeontologist is better fitted for the work 

 than Dr. Hinde, and he has produced a book which 

 all workers will be grateful to him for. 



Proceedings of the Literary and Philosophical Society 

 of Liverpool, vols. 35, 36, and 37 for 1880-81, 

 1881-82, and 18S2-83. This society is one of the 

 oldest of its kind in the country, and the yearly 

 volumes always contain a large variety of able articles, 

 mostly from the pens of the many well-known and 

 eminent men who reside in Liverpool and its neigh- 

 bourhood. Science, art, and literature crowd each 

 other in juxtaposition in these pages, so that we find 

 a paper on " The Peculiar Development of an Egg of 

 the common Fowl," side by side with another "On 

 English Caricature Art." But all are well written, 

 and many are original and valuable contributions 

 both to science and literature. In vol. 35, the paper 

 by Mr. R. C. Johnson on "Recent Researches into 

 the Movements and Dimensions of the Stellar 

 Universe," and that by Mr. A. J. Mott's " Notes on 

 Easter Island," are both especially noteworthy. 

 The Address of the President (Mr. Edward Davies), 

 in vol. 37, is on " The Unity of Life ; " and in this 

 part there is a very important paper by Mr. Alfred 

 H. Mason, on " Odours, Perfumes, and Flavours," 

 giving their physiology, philosophy, history, sources, 

 and preparation. Vol. 36 contains the President's 

 address on " Chemical Force," and a paper " On the 

 Velocities of Gases, " by A. J. Mott ; an incisive and 

 discriminative paper on " Some Popular Misconcep- 

 tions of Darwinism," by the Rev. S. F. Williams ; 

 and a powerfully-written article " On the Justifiability 

 of Scientific Experiments on Living Animals," by 

 Dr. F. Pollard, in which experimenters are defended. 



Flowers and Flower Lore, 2 vols., by the Rev. Hil- 

 deric Friend (London : W, S. Sonnenschein & Co.). 

 The title suggests to the reader that this ought to be a 

 very readable book ; but it is more, it is very attractive 

 in every way, beautifully illustrated (indeed, we have 

 rarely seen better woodcuts of plants), well printed, 

 and artistically bound. The author is not only well 

 informed in his subject — he is possessed with it. 

 Such a writer, therefore, makes himself listened to. In 

 every way the work before us is a delightful one, 

 which all lovers of flowers will hasten to read. 



Nursery Hints, by N. E. Davies, L.R.C.P. 

 (London : Chatto & Windus). This valuable little 

 guide is written especially for mothers. It is crowded 

 with excellent recipes and instructions, and in the 

 hands of an intelligent mother one cannot help 

 thinking such a cheap little book would reduce the 

 doctors' bills. There is hardly anything relating to 

 the health of children which cannot be found here. 



Tiie Watch and Clock makers'' Handbook, by F, J. 

 Britten (London : W. Kent & Co.). In every respect 

 this is a unique book. It is at once a dictionary of 

 every term used in watch and clock-making (we had 



