466 SOME NE W BOOKS [.tune 



upon special points, we all must acknowledge his breadth and be grateful to 

 him for presenting such a wealth of facts, and for pointing out so clearly 

 the possibilities of research." Mr. Lee's translation is admirably done, and 

 sustains the spirit and charm of the original. Opinions must of course differ 

 in regard to particular phrases, e.g. "the mechanics of hereditary transmission" 

 for " Vererbungsmechanik " ; or "structure and liquid" for " Structur und 

 Fliissigkeit " ; but these are trivial matters when the whole book is so clear. A 

 new feature of merit is the bibliography at the end, to which the references in 

 the text are related by placing the year of publication after the author's name, 

 a convenient method which makes its way slowly in Britain. There is still 

 what seems an unnecessary repetition of the same figures in different parts of 

 the book, and the German edition is followed in printing the names of classes 

 and the like in the same type as names of species, which also seems to us a 

 mistake. But these are paltry criticisms. What we have to do is to recommend 

 with all possible heartiness this new edition of a book which many already know 

 to be fascinating. X. 



OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS. 



Die Optischen' Instrumente der Firma R. Fuess, deren Beschreibung, Justie- 

 rung und Anwendung. By C. Leiss. Pp. xvi. + 397, 233 figures 

 and 3 plates. Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann, 1899. 



This book is one of a type unknown in British scientific literature. As its 

 title indicates, it contains a full description of the optical instruments supplied 

 by the well-known firm of Fuess. The question at once arises, How far can 

 such a book be of use in an optical laboratory 1 The natural impression might 

 be that its usefulness must be extremely limited, that it can be of little use to 

 those who are furnished with the instruments of other firms, or even with those 

 of Fuess which are not of the most recent construction. Yet this impression 

 would be extremely false. All scientific instruments, which are designed for 

 definite purposes, are designed upon definite principles. And in this book the 

 principles are fully treated. The result is that variations in the details of con- 

 struction are of little importance. The description is aided by no fewer than 

 233 elaborate figures. 



There are many students and others, who, having become acquainted with 

 the elements of physical science, desire a more complete acquaintance with the 

 methods of physical research in order that they may follow more intelligently 

 the progress of scientific knowledge, and who are unable to make themselves 

 practically acquainted with these methods by work in a laboratory. To these, a 

 book of this kind should be of great use. 



CONDITIONS OF GROWTH. 



Experimental Morphology, Part II. : Effect of Chemical and Physical Agents 

 upon Growth. By C. B. Davenport. Vol. II. Pp. 281 to "509. 

 London: Macmillan and Co., 1899. Price 9s. 



This volume is the sequel to a previous one published two years ago, dealing 

 with the effects of chemical and physical agents upon protoplasm ; and in all 

 respects the new-comer is the worthy partner of the first. 



Mr. Davenport's work is of high importance. There is no other of the same 

 type, dealing with the same matter from the same point of view. In the second 

 place, the point of view is that of the "later biology" such as has taken form in 

 the work of Roux and of the German school of which he is the very energetic 

 and hard-working chief, and in the work of a number of zoologists, in the 

 English-speaking countries principally, Mr. Davenport himself being unus ex 

 pluris of the latter, and pars non parva, by his personal investigations. 



" Experimental Morphology " is a very suggestive book — a book which gives 



