1899] A WELCOME WORK 227 



number of others are indicated by seeds or other remains that have not yet been 

 determined, and there is evidently much work to be done in the field of study 

 so well opened by Mr. Reid. J. W. H. Trail. 



MICROSCOPY FOR BEGINNERS. 



Chats about the Microscope. By Henry C. Shelley. 8vo, pp. 101 

 (8 blank). The Scientific Press Ltd., London, 1899. Price 2s. 



This is a nicely written and nicely printed little book, beginning with a 

 brief account of the compound microscope, methods of mounting, etc., and going 

 on to descriptions of various objects living, and otherwise suitable for examination. 

 The descriptions are rather flowery than detailed ; the lines are "heavily" leaded 

 (Anglice, wide-spaced) to correspond with the extreme meagreness of the text. 

 It belongs to a type nearly extinct ; and, on the whole, we think it would be 

 nearly as welcome a gift-book to a lad fond of natural history as Wood's 

 " Common Objects of the Microscope," and more up to date. Most of the 30 

 figures are at least fair, but the plate of the hyaline Stephanoceros is nearly as 

 grimy as one of Phil May's " Three Black Pearls," and the lovely Micrasterias 

 Crux-melitensis is vilely caricatured. Still we think that it may have a fair 

 sale through the opticians. M. 



A PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS DEALS WITH ORGANIC EVOLUTION. 



Die Enstehung des Lebens aus mechanischen Grundlagen entwickelt. By 

 Dr. Ludwig Zehnder, A. 0. Professor of Physics in the University of 

 Freiburg i. B. Erster Teil. Moneren. Zellen. Protisten. 8vo, pp. 256, 

 with 123 figs. Freiburg i. B. : J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1899. 

 Price 6 marks. 



The author has previously endeavoured in his " Mechanik des Weltalls " to 

 refer all known physical and chemical forces to gravitation ; and he here attacks 

 the problem of life. From atoms he leads the reader gently to molecules, and 

 from molecules to " Fistellen " (molecules aggregated in hollow cylinders), and 

 before we quite know Avhere we are we have reached the Protists. On the 

 ascending path, the gradient of which has been skilfully made easy, our con- 

 fidence is increased by two fundamental biological principles : the first, that 

 substance endeavours to multiply ; the second, that substance endeavours to 

 adapt itself to the conditions of existence. It need hardly be said that the 

 molecules and fistellae multiply in nutritive conditions, and have their struggle 

 for existence like full-fledged organisms. A full discussion of the soul is 

 reserved for the third part of the book. Perhaps by that time the learned 

 author may have realised that the organism is not so simple as his theory 

 suggests. In particular, we should desire more detail in regard to the origin of 

 its power of adapting itself. X. 



CHILD-STUDY. 



Anthropological Investigations on One Thousand White and Coloured 

 Children of both Sexes, the Inmates of the NeAv York Juvenile Asylum. 

 By Dr. Ales Hrdlicka. 8vo, 86 pp. New York, 1899. 



The principal aim of these investigations is to learn as much as possible 

 about the physical state of children who are being admitted to and kept in juvenile 

 asylums. In the second place, this study is a part of the general anthropological 

 work of the author, which is expected to result in an addition to our knowledge 

 of the normal child, and of several classes of children who are, morally or other- 



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