102 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[May 1, 1S70. 



Erom the contents of the book we are led to the 

 conclusion that many more subjects come under 

 consideration thau that suggested by the title — the 

 atmosphere, solar light and heat, sun-spots, the 

 origin of meteorites, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, 

 Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and the Nebulae. Yet 

 all appear to be associated with the author's theory, 

 upon which we shall not presume to offer an opinion. 

 The book has been written by the light of modern 

 investigations, and is characterized by more of 

 candour and less of dogmatism than is usually as- 

 sociated with the propounders of new hypotheses. 

 Those who are interested in solar phenomena would 

 do well to give the book a careful perusal. 



A Guide to the Study of Bisects, &c. 13y A. S. 

 Packard, Jun., M.D. Salem: Naturalists' Book 

 Agency. — We are glad to find this volume com- 

 pleted with the tenth part, which has lately reached 

 us. Although we cannot altogether accept Dr. 

 Packard's reasons as sufficient for including spiders, 

 mites, and some other creatures amongst insects, 

 yet we most heartily welcome the " Guide " as an 

 excellent introduction to the study of insects, 

 divested as much as possible of technicalities, and 

 reduced to a popular treatise. Unfortunately, it is 

 by no means so easy as it should be to obtain 

 American books in this country; with greater 

 facilities in this direction, and the price announced 

 in shillings, and not in dollars, Dr. Packard's book 

 — and other natural history publications — would sell 

 as well in England as in America. 



The Book of Nature and the Book of Man, in 

 which 2Lan is accepted, as the Type of Creation — the 

 Microcosm — the Great Pivot on whichall Lower Forms 

 of Life turn. By Charles 0. Groom Napier (of 

 Merchiston), E.G.S., &c. With a Preface by the 

 late Lord Brougham. Illustrated with Photographs 

 and numerous Woodcuts. Svo.,pp. 4S0. London : 

 John Camden Hotten. — We have given the title in 

 full, in order that our readers might gather there- 

 from the nature of the book which Mr. Napier has 

 given to the world. In another page an extract 

 will be found which will illustrate the style in 

 which it is written, although a single extract is 

 hardly a fair sample for a whole book. This volume 

 is neatly and tastefully " got up," and doubtless 

 has cost the author a vast amount of laborious 

 plodding ; yet, for all that, with all its eloquence, 

 and its poetry, and its pictures, and its analogies, 

 all we can say of it is — that it is ingenious, and 

 sometimes clever. Doubtless the author's friends, 

 from Lord Brougham downwards, think it a won- 

 derful book. We do not claim the honour of per- 

 sonal friendship, and a participation in the verdict. 

 There are stupid people in the world, who will not 

 " bow down " when they are commanded. Perhaps 

 we belong to the " stupid people," if not to those 

 alluded to by the author at page 193, viz. :— - 

 "The Common Toad {Bufo vulgaris) has been 



much reviled as a poisonous creature, and certainly 

 the moisture exuding from the glands in its back 

 and sides is a somewhat corrosive liquid, poisonous 

 to animals, and not wholesome to man. They are 

 humble and generally inoffensive reptiles, which 

 crawl along at a slow rate, and^pick up slugs and 

 other injurious creatures in our gardens. 



" Those men who flatter others in an obsequious 

 manner are called ' toadies,' from the analogy they 

 show with the habit the toad has of licking the 

 slime of the slug. Human 'toadies' frequently 

 possess disagreeable or injurious qualities, which 

 do not, however, injure the more noble specimens 

 of humanity. The toad is only dangerous to the 

 smaller and inferior animals." 



THE ELM QUESTION. 



MY compliments to Mr. Holland, and I assure 

 him I have " studied " but little " the natural 

 history " of this tree. I stated a simple fact, what 

 I had seen ; and in truth had no idea at the time 

 that it was an uncommon or rare occurrence. I 

 was contradicted, and then I asked (through the 

 kind medium of a gentleman well up in horticulture, 

 and acquainted with some of our leading horticul- 

 turists) for a little information on the subject of the 

 Elm bearing fruit in this country. I do not quote 

 the replies, as the gentleman I allude to is, I 

 understand, going to do so in the pages of Science- 

 Gossip.* Suffice it for me to say to Mr. Holland, 

 they are in favour of my assertion. I would also 

 assure him that I never attempt the " science "; 1 

 leave that, as it is right I should, to the lords of the 

 creation. I only try the " gossip," as more suitable 

 to my sex. 



"B.. H. A." says, in the February number of 

 SciENCE-Gossir, p. -16 : — " But does not your fair 

 correspondent let her ' imagination ' rather run 

 away with her ? She says, for instance, of the Elm 

 tree, ' a whole page might be filled with its uses,' " 

 &c. &c. Now I look in the dictionary for the 

 right meaning of the word useful, and I find utilis ; 

 so, in my reply, when detailing the " uses " of the 

 Elm, I make use of the word " utility," and get 

 politely informed by "B. H. A." that "his words 

 did not bear the construction I put on them." Is 

 your correspondent a member of that learned pro- 

 fession of whom a certain author writes : 



" I know you lawyers can with ease 

 Twist words and meanings as you please " ? 



If so, I decline to avail myself of the privilege ac- 

 corded me by the courteous editor of Science- 



* Having announced the close of the discussion in our 

 last, we cannot insert any further communications thereon. — 

 Ed. S. G. 



