1912. Reviews, 15 1 



REVIEWS. 



SCIENCE FOR MARINERS. 



Science of the Sea. An elementary Handbook of Practical Oceano- 

 graphy for Travellers, Sailors, and Yachtsmen. Prepared by the 

 Challenger Society for the Promotion of the study of Oceanography. 

 Edited by G. Herbert Fowler, B.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. Pp. 452, 

 with 217 figures, and 18 charts. London ; John Murray, 1912. 

 Price 6s. net. 



In this handy volume the student is provided with an encyclopaedia 

 of marine science, The editor has obtained the help of a number of 

 naturaUsts who are foremost authorities on the various subjects assigned 

 to them, and the scope and value of the book may be gathered from a 

 survey of the chapters and their ^^Titers. Dr. H. R. Mill and Capt. D. 

 Wilson Barker write on the air, dealing with w^nd, rainfall, temperature, 

 and atmospheric electricity ; Professor H. N. Dickson and Mr. D. J. 

 Matthews on the water, discussing temperature, salinity and currents. 

 Professor J. Stanley Gardiner contributes a chapter on the zoology of the 

 shore, in which he gives hints on tropical shore-collecting, and on the 

 outfit desirable for the marine zoologist at work in foreign waters, and 

 discusses the problems presented by coral reefs and islands. Professor 

 V. H. Blackman and Mrs. A. Weber -van Bone write on the Algae, while 

 Dr. Fowler and Mr. E. T. Browne discuss the fauna of the plankton. Then 

 descending to the depths, we have a chapter on the Sea-floor by Sir John 

 Murray and another on the animals to be found there by Dr. W. T. 

 Caiman and Mr. G. P. Farran. In most of these chapters there is not 

 only information as to the facts already knowTi, but practical instruction 

 as to how further research may be carried on. They are followed, however, 

 by several chapters in which the practical work of the oceanographer 

 is prominent — on yacht equipment, by Dr. Fowler and Mr. Stanley W. 

 Kemp, on dredging and trawling by Mr. Kemp and Dr. E. J. Allen, on 

 the preservation of marine organisms by Dr. Allen and Mr. Browne, on 

 logs, notes and labels by Dr. Fowler. Then the vertebrate animals of 

 the sea are specially dealt with in two chapters. Mr. L. W. Byrne, who 

 acknowledges especial help from Mr. E. W. L. Holt, writing on fishes and 

 fishing, and Professor D. Amy W. Thompson on whales, seals, and 

 sea-serpents. Professor Thompson thinks that many of the sea-serpent 

 stories may be explained by observations of gigantic cuttle-fishes, but 

 he believes that some of the records point to an undiscovered something 

 more mysterious, and hints that gigantic zeuglodonts may yet survive 

 in the oceans of our globe. The only important group of animals that 

 appear neglected by the editor is that of the pelagic birds. 



We hope that all who take their pleasure on the seas will provide them- 

 selves with this volume, and by carrying into effect the good advice of 

 its vso^ious authors will widen the bounds of the " Science of the Sea." 



G.H.C. 



