6o NATURAL SCIENCE. Jan.. 



is a bachelor of divinity, has, by his own account, a very intimate 

 acquaintance with the thoughts and actions of " the Great Creator." 

 Less presumption would have argued greater reverence. 



The Popular Readings by Messrs. Gall and Robertson form a useful 

 popular summary of the results obtained by investigators in various 

 branches of science. The chapters on physical subjects are con- 

 tributed by Mr. Gall, while Mr. Robertson is responsible for the 

 astronomical, chemical, and biological sections. Neither author lays 

 claim to originality; but the writings of the leaders of thought in each 

 department have been used in compiling the various accounts, which 

 are careful and accurate. Perhaps the amount of matter introduced 

 into some of the chapters has led to excessive condensation ; in fifty- 

 eight pages we have, under the title of the "Vegetable Kingdom," an 

 outline of the morphology, histology, physiology, and classification of 

 plants, besides remarks on tropical vegetation and forestry. The 

 chapter on " Mimicry " deals, not only with the phenomena which 

 naturalists now understand by that term, but with the kindred 

 phenomena of protective resemblance. The Darwinian theory is 

 clearly enunciated, and some of the modern controversies thereon are 

 mentioned. The author's respect for authority is shown to be rather 

 too great by such a sentence as the following: "Considering that 

 Huxley, who is a host in himself, substantially accepts the theory, 

 there cannot be much doubt that natural selection is the chief factor in 

 the evolutionary process." Huxley would have been the last to wish any 

 man to come to an opinion about any subject by such a road as that. 

 The Flowering Plants and Ferns of New South Wales. With especial 



reference to their economic value. By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., assisted by W. S. 



Campbell, F.L.S. Part I., pp. 1-15, plates i.-iv. Sydney : 1895. Price 2S. 6d- 



(non-subscribers, 3s. 6d.). 



The Department of Mines and Agriculture of New South Wales is 

 responsible for this brightly illustrated attempt to familiarise the 

 colonists with the flora of their country. Each part of the work will, 

 so far as possible, contain plates and descriptions of two forest 

 trees of economic value, and of two flowering shrubs or smaller 

 plants selected because of the beauty or scientific interest of their 

 flowers or foliage. The trees selected for the first part are the 

 Bloodwood [Eucalyptus covymhosa) and the Coast Myall {Acacia 

 glaiicescens), while the smaller plants, equally representative of the 

 plant-life of the colony, are the Waratah (Telopea speciosissiina) and the 

 Flannel-flower [Actinotiis helianthi). The last-named bears a strong 

 superficial resemblance to Edelweiss, though a member of quite a 

 different family (Umbelliferse). The coloured plates are w^ell executed 

 and include sections of the flower and fruit, and other useful details. 

 The text comprises a full botanical description (in brevier), and a 

 good popular account of the plant, its parts, geographical distribution, 

 and economic value, with notes on cultivation. The specimen promises 

 well, and we echo the hope expressed in the introduction that the 

 public will support it sufficiently to justify its continuance. Half-a- 

 crown per part is not an exorbitant price, if the standard of excellence 

 of the plates in the present issue be maintained. 



Microscopical Studies in Botany. By James Hornell, Director of the Jersey 



Biological Station. With original photomicrographs of the subjects described. 



Vol. i., Pt. I., May, 1895. 8vo. Pp. 8, 3 plates. Jersey: Author. London: 



Elliot Stock. Price 23. 



The httle pamphlet to hand speaks well for the series of botanical 



shdes which Mr. Hornell is issuing along with the illustrative text and 



