HARD WICKE ' S S CIENCE- G O SSI P. 



19 



speak too hit^hly. Each is written by the man best 

 capable of knowing what he is talking about on the 

 subject ; and yet the price of these excellent manuals 

 is remarkably low. The S. P. C. K. is to be con- 

 gratulated on taking up departments of knowledge 

 which are useful and therefore Christian. We allude 

 to Soap- Bubbles, by Prof. C. V. Boys ; Spinning- 

 Tops, by Prof. J. Perry ; and The Birth and Growth 

 of Worlds, by Prof. A. H. Green. 



The Aictobiography of the Earth, by the Rev. H. 

 W. Hutchinson (London: Edward Stanford), is a 

 delightfully written and thoroughly accurate popular 

 work on geology, well-calculated to engage the 

 interest of readers in the fascinating study of the Stony 

 Science. 



Frcsh-Watcr Aqxiaria, by the Rev. Gregory C. 

 Bateman (London: L. Upcott Gill). A well-written 

 description of these domestic water-gardens and 

 vivaria. Also well-illustrated, although most of the 

 illustrations are very familiar to the editor. The 

 author has made the fullest use of all who have 

 written before on this interesting subject, and has 

 therefore produced a very useful little manual. 



Poems, by Nina Layard (London : Longmans). 

 The authoress of this daintily got-up volume is well 

 known to the readers of the Science-Gossip by her 

 able papers, and replies to the comments thereon, 

 concerning such evolutionary subjects as "Vestiges," 

 &c. Poems, as a rule, lie outside our line of book 

 notices ; but it is a genuine pleasure to recommend 

 this little book for its graceful and thoughtful verses. 

 Many of them have already appeared in the chief 

 magazines of the day. But we think Miss Layard 

 has done right in collecting them together in this 

 pretty form. They are too good to pass away with 

 the monthly ephemeral literature. They are full of 

 thoughtful and philosophical feeling expressed with 

 that delicate nna?tce which only an educated woman 

 possesses. Every reader of Science-Gossip should 

 procure or read these poems. 



The Philosophy of Clothing, by W. Mattieu "Williams 

 (London : Thos. Laurie). There are few writers on 

 economic or general science better known than Mr. 

 Mattieu Williams. His monthly contributions to our 

 own columns convinced us of this. Consequently, 

 whatever he has to write or speak upon is bound to 

 be read and heard. In this well got-up little book 

 iSIr. Williams discourses like the practical philosopher 

 he has proved himself to be, and even illustrates his 

 remarks by the peculiar type in which his remarks 

 are set up. He treats upon " Our Natural Clothing "' 

 (an admirable chapter to read), "The Natural Re- 

 lations of Animal Heat," "The Protecting Power of 

 Different Clothing Materials," "The Transmission 

 of Heat through Clothing," "Adhesion of Air to 

 Clothing Materials," "Clothing as a Sanitary Puri- 

 fier," " Woollen Clothing " (Ulustrated by specimens 

 of the same), "The Sebaceous Follicles— Feather 

 Clothing," "Boots and Shoes," "Head Gear," 



"Women's Dress and Fashion," &c. From the 

 mere titles of these chapters our readers may guess 

 the large scope and amazing amount of practical 

 information conveyed in this little book. 



Are the Effects of Use and Disuse Inherited? By 

 W. Piatt Ball (London : Macmillan & Co.). This 

 well got-up little volume is one of the celebrated 

 "Nature Series." It deals clearly and forcibly with 

 Herbert Spencer's examples and arguments, as well 

 as those of Charles Darwin. The ground travelled 

 over by the author is far-reaching, and the subjects 

 treated upon numerous and varied. 



An Illustrated Handbook of British Dragon-flies, 

 by the editor of the " Naturalist's Gazette " (London : 

 E. W. Allen ; Birmingham : The Naturalist Pub- 

 lishing Co.). This capital little handbook is just the 

 work which has long been wanted by students. The 

 author has devoted special attention for years to this 

 class of insects, and he now gives, in a cheap form, 

 the benefits of his knowledge and experience. We 

 cordially recommend the book. 



Inorganic Chemistry, by J. Oakley Buttler (Lon- 

 don : Relfe Bros.). This is a handy and useful little 

 book on the chemistry of the non-metals. It covers 

 the ground required by the London Matriculation 

 Examination, as well as the Cambridge Local Exa- 

 mining Board, and the Science and Art Department. 



Practical Inorganic Chemistry (elementary stage), 

 by E. J. Cox (London : Percival & Co.). Another 

 competitor for the much patronised " student " going 

 in for the Science and Art Department, &c., written 

 by a man who knows his work. It is, however, 

 a cheap, handy, and capital note-book, just small 

 enough to be useful (51 pages), and the limp cloth 

 cover makes it handy for the pocket. 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Royal Institution. — The following are the 

 Lecture Arrangements before Easter : Professor 

 Dewar, Six Christmas Lectures to Juveniles, on Frost 

 and Fire ; Professor Victor Horsley, Nine Lectures 

 on the Structure and Functions of the Nervous 

 System (Part I. the Spinal Cord, and Ganglia) ; Mr. 

 Hall Caine, Three Lectures on The Little Manx 

 Nation ; Professor C. Hubert H. Parry, Three 

 Lectures on the Position of LuUi, Purcell, and 

 Scarlatti in the History of the Opera ; Professor C. 

 Meymott Tidy, Three Lectures on Modern Chemistry 

 in relation to Sanitation ; Mr. W. Martin Conway, 

 Three Lectures on Pre-Greek Schools of Art ; the 

 Right Hon. Lord Rayleigh, Six Lectures on the 

 Forces of Cohesion. The Friday evening meetings 

 will begin on January 23rd, when a discourse will be 

 given by the Right Hon. Lord Rayleigh on Some 

 Applications of Photography ; succeeding Discourses 

 will probably be given by the Right Hon. Lord 

 Justice Sir Edward Fry, Professor J. W. Judd, 



