342 NATURAL SCIENCE [November 



Bibliography 



The Theory of National and International Bibliography, with special reference 

 to the introduction of system in the record of modern literature. By Frank Camp- 

 bell. 8vo, pp. xvi. and 500. London : Library Bureau, 1896. 



The main object of the present work is to demonstrate and enforce 

 the responsibility of the government of each nation in the matter of 

 cataloguing the literature published within its boundaries. As the 

 author points out, it is impossible for any other body to do this work 

 thoroughly and economically, because no other can bring pressure to 

 bear upon the publishers. There is also this further reason for urging 

 upon governments to discharge this obvious duty, that it is just in the 

 department of State papers that the greatest confusion reigns and the 

 labours of the bibliographer are most difficult. Witness Mr Camp- 

 bell's imaginary, but most lifelike, conversation between a librarian 

 and a reader in some large public library. 



This main theme is treated in a series of papers which have for 

 the most part been read before the Library Association and other 

 bodies, and published in their journals, and in addition there are 

 essays upon various collateral topics, such as "the influence and 

 functions of the learned societies in regard to bibliography " — a 

 chapter which we wish their councils would all " read, mark, learn 

 and inwardly digest." 



Mr Campbell's book is eminently suggestive, and his schemes if 

 carried out would reduce confusion to something approaching order. 

 With the form of his work we are not so satisfied ; the plan he has 

 adopted of reprinting essays leads to much repetition, and he often 

 sins against his own ' theories of compilation ; ' but as he explains in 

 the preface that illness prevented him from carrying out all his inten- 

 tions, it would be ungenerous to dwell upon these defects, which are 

 small in comparison with the solid value of the book. 



W. E. H. 



Flight and Flying Machines 



The Aeronautical Annual for 1897. Edited by James Means. 8vo, pp. 178, 

 pis. xviii. London : W. Wesley & Son, 1897. Price 5s. 



The "Aeronautical Annual" for 1897 contains much that is valuable 

 and interesting, since the contributors are nearly all of them men 

 who are actively engaged in solving the great problem how flight may 

 be made possible for men. First among these must be mentioned Mr 

 Langley, who contributes an account of the experiments which, after 

 many disappointments, ended in the manufacture of an aerodrome 

 which actually rose in the air and continued rising and advancing for 

 about one and a half minutes, after which it alighted rather than fell. 

 As in the case of Mr Maxim's flying machine, screw-propellers driven 

 by steam-power were employed. The action of the propellers is to 

 drive the machine onward : the spreading wings have a slight upward 

 slope, so that the force is resolved, and there is progress not only 

 onward but upward. This aerodrome, as compared with Mr Maxim's, 

 had the great advantage of being light, weighing, in fact, only about 



