[ 392 ] 



LX. Notices respecting New Books. 

 The Physical Atlas. Parts VI. to X. 



NEARLY twelve months ago we directed attention to the earlier 

 portions of this work, and the completing Parts have been some 

 time in our hands. In these we find the high character fully sus- 

 tained, and we congratulate Mr. Johnston on the successful con- 

 clusion of his labours, which have given to the public one of the 

 most striking of modern standard works. Of its value it is no longer 

 necessary to speak, since it has now an European reputation. In 

 pursuance of the course before adopted, we present a brief synopsis 

 of the contents of the parts published since our former notice. 



Part VI. contains — 1. A Chart of the Geological Structure of 

 the Globe according to Ami Boue, corrected up to Sept. 1846; ac- 

 companied by notes on the general principles of Geology, and their 

 application, by Prof. Nichol. 2. A Physical Chart of the Indian 

 Ocean. 3 . Two maps showing the distribution of the Rodentia and 

 the Ruminantia, constructed from the notes of Mr. Waterhouse, ac- 

 companied by elaborate tables drawn up by that gentleman. 



Part VII. — 1. A map of the lines of equal Polarization of the 

 Atmosphere, with some account of the subject, by Sir David 

 Brewster. 2. Comparative Views of remarkable Geological pheno- 

 mena. This is a highly interesting sheet, exhibiting maps and views 

 of a number of volcanoes, regions of volcanic origin, &c, after 

 Humboldt, Von Buch and others, an exact relative proportion being 

 preserved, so that it is easy to estimate comparative extent of surface. 

 3. A map of the River Systems of America, with an enlarged sketch 

 of the Niagara, plan of the Delta of the Mississippi and of the singular 

 bifurcation of the Orinoco. 



Part VIII. — Sheets 1 and 2 are devoted to a Paloeontological 

 Map of the British Islands, by Prof. E. Forbes, which with the ac- 

 companying text presents a mass of information on this subject, 

 illustrating it in every point of view and exhibiting as much origi- 

 nality as industry. The author's own researches into the distribution 

 of organized beings "in time" rendered him peculiarly fitted to the 

 execution of this chart, and its elaborate character at once makes it 

 a striking feature of the Atlas, and reflects credit on the condition 

 of Geological science in Britain. 3. A Tidal Chart of the British 

 Seas, showing the progress of the Wave of High water, the line of 

 High-water mark in Greenwich time at new and full moon, and the 

 depth of the Sea ; in the text is also incorporated a smaller Tidal 

 Chart of the World ; these are by Mr. Scott Russell. 



Part IX. — 1. A map of the Mountain chains of South America. 

 2. A Chart exhibiting Humboldt's Isothermal lines and the lines of 

 equal Barometric pressure at the level of the sea. 3. Charts exhi- 

 biting the distribution of the most important Plants yielding food 

 for Man, with indications of the Isotheral and Isochimenal lines. 

 These lines are at present so imperfectly known, that as here given, 

 they are to be taken as mere indications. A wide field lies here for 



