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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



emy, of which thirteen were read before the 

 department of the natural sciences. Several 

 of these illustrate the geology and natural 

 history of Wisconsin, but are of general as 

 well as of local interest. Others give the 

 results of archaeological researches in the 

 State, with several illustrations. 



The departments of letters, of the social 

 and pohtical sciences, and of speculative 

 philosophy, are represented by papers of 

 ability from specialists in the respective de- 

 partments. A paper on recent progress in 

 theoretical physics by Prof. John E. Davies, 

 of the University of Wisconsin, is an able 

 resume of researches on that subject. 



A summary of proceedings of the Acad- 

 emy since 1874 is given, and not the least 

 interesting portions of the volume are me- 

 morials commemorating the labors and worth 

 of two deceased members, the late Prof. 

 Peter Engelmann, and the eminent Dr. J. 

 A. Lapham, first secretary of the Academy. 



A Course of Lessons in Modeling Wax 

 Flowers, designed especially for Be- 

 ginners. By Florence I. Duncan. With 

 Illustrations. Philadelphia : J. B. Lip- 

 pincott. Pp. 94. 



This little book is intended as a prac- 

 tical guide to the art of modeling flowers 

 ill wax. The author aims to give such ex- 

 plicit directions for the selection of mate- 

 rials, and their proper manipulation, that a 

 novice in the art can acquire dexterity in 

 the management of wax for this purpose. 

 It is well gotten up, is at-tractive in its gen- 

 eral appearance, is printed on fine thick 

 paper, and illustrated by seven full-page en- 

 gravings of flowers suitable for models. 



Catalogue of the University of Cincin- 

 nati FOR the Academic Year 1877-'78. 

 Pp. 104. Office of the University. 



This young institution gives indications 

 of vigorous life and thorough-going manage- 

 ment. Its scientific department, especially, 

 is administered with ability. Chemistry, for 

 example, is not only taught in the sense of 

 imparting existing knowledge, but the stu- 

 dents are early called upon to address them- 

 selves to original and independent work. 

 There are gaps, unsettled points, contested 

 questions, and doubtful results, in such 

 abundance in this science that there is no 

 difficulty on the part of the intelligent 



teacher in assigning problems suited to va- 

 rious capacities and steps of advancement, 

 or in combining a class upon any suitable 

 line of investigation. Prof. F. W. Clarke, 

 who has charge of physics and chemistry, 

 has airanged a course of preparative work 

 along the track of chemical physics, which 

 is well fitted to train the students to habits 

 of accurate manipulation, and to stimulate 

 them in the direction of original thought. 

 One feature of his plan is thus presented : 



"In connection with the other laboratory 

 exercises, a certain amonnt of time will be 

 spent in making fine chemical preparations, 

 and in determining densities. In ISTT-'TS this 

 portion of the course will be so arranged as to 

 involve the cooperation of all the laboratory- 

 students in a systematic research upon the con- 

 stitution of double salts. Each student will be 

 required to prepare a number of such salts, and 

 to determine, by means of the spcciflc-travity 

 bottle, the amount of condensation which talves 

 place during their formation. At the end of the 

 year the entire mass of material thus collected 

 will be discussed both by the student and by 

 the professor, and as much of it as proves to be 

 valuable will be published in some one of the 

 scientific journals. The aim of this exercise is 

 to give every student some insight into the 

 methods pursued by scientific investigators, and 

 to demonstrate the important principle that 

 whoever is able to study science at all is also 

 able to contribute something toward its ad- 

 vancement." 



The Anonymous Hypothesis of Creation. 

 By James J. Furniss. New York : 

 Charles P. Somerby. 1877. Pp. 54. 

 Price, 50 cents. 



In this review of the Mosaic cosmogony, 

 the author aims at presenting the subject as 

 concisely as practicable for the benefit of 

 those who have not the time or the inclina- 

 tion to peruse more voluminous works. The 

 first and second chapters of Genesis are dis- 

 sected and compared, and their supposed 

 incongruities are rendered more obvious by 

 being presented in tabular form. 



A Calendar of the Dakota Nation, by 

 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Garrick Mal- 

 lery, U. S. a., from the Bulletin of the 

 United States Geological and Geographi- 

 cal Survey. Pp. 25. 

 Colonel Mallery, with the assistance 

 of Lieutenant Reed and others, whose ser- 

 vices are acknowledged, has presented a 

 valuable paper, with a lithographic copy of 

 the Dakota calendar. The original is on 



