LITERARY NOTICES. 



243 



of biological inquiry converge in this direc- 

 tion; and, as pointed out by Prof. Huxley 

 in his address on " The Progress of An- 

 thropology," published in the October num- 

 ber of this journal, that science has already 

 gained a well-established place, counts 

 among its numerous workers a large num- 

 ber of eminent men, and promises to re- 

 main, for many years to come, the chief 

 centre of scientific interest in all countries 

 where science is cultivated. 



Up to within a few years most of the 

 work in this department has been done 

 abroad, and the Anthropological Societies 

 of Paris, London, and Berlin, each with its 

 special organ for making known the fruits 

 of research, and with a large and distin- 

 guished membership, show the wise provi- 

 sions that have been made for the prosecu- 

 tion of future investigations. 



Although commonly spoken of as the 

 " New World," it is becoming daily more 

 apparent that this continent has had a past 

 that is full of interest for the archsologist 

 and ethnologist, and out of which much is 

 yet to be gathered that will throw light on 

 the interesting problems involved. Ameri- 

 can investigators are already numerous, 

 and the publication before us meets an im- 

 portant want, in supplying an authoritative 

 medium for the announcement of discov- 

 eries, the discussion of new views, and the 

 presentation of the results of American re- 

 search. The broad ground it is intended 

 to cover is thus stated in the prospectus : 



"The Early History, Esploration, Discov- 

 eries, and Settlement of the difl'erent portions 

 of the Continent. 



" The Native Races, their Physical and Men- 

 tal Traits, Social Organizations and Tribal Dis- 

 tinctions ; their Religious Customs, Beliefs, and 

 Traditions, as well as their earlier and later Mi- 

 grations and changes. 



"The Antiquities of America, especially the 

 Prehistoric Relics and Remains, or any evi- 

 dences as to Ancient Earthworks and Struct- 

 ures, Inscriptions, Hieroglyphics, Signs, and 

 Symbols. 



"Prehistoric Man, his Origin, Antiquity, 

 Geological Position, and Physical Structure. 



" The Antiquarian will also treat of subjects 

 of a more general character, such as The De- 

 scent of Man, The Rise of Society. The Origin 

 of Writing, The Growth of Language, The His- 

 tory of Architecture, The Evolution of Orna- 

 ment, and Ceremonial Observances, Compara- 

 tive Religions, Serpent-Worship and Religions 

 Symbols, Man and the Mastodon, Man and Ani- 

 mals, Earth and Man, and many other topics 



which are connected with the Science of An- 

 thropology, especially as they are viewed by the 

 antiquarian. 



" Besides these topics especial arrangements 

 have been made by which articles will be con- 

 tributed upon Archseological Relics, upon Abo- 

 riginal Languages and Dialects, and upon the 

 Traditions of this Continent compared with 

 those of other lands. 



" The Investigations made by different His- 

 torical and Scientific Societies, as well as the 

 Results of all Explorations and Discoveries, wiU 

 also be reported as far as possible. 



" In the editorial management the assistance 

 of several prominent gentlemen has been se- 

 cured." 



The present number contains nine arti- 

 cles, all of them on topics of interest, and 

 several finely illustrated. There is also a 

 valuable editorial department, made up of 

 contributions from several distinguished 

 writers besides the editor-in-chief The 

 magazine is a credit to American science, 

 and deserves to be well sustained. 



The Parks and Gardens op Paris. Con- 

 sidered in Relation to the Wants of oth- 

 er Cities, and of Public and Private 

 Gardens. By W. Robinson, F. L. S. 

 Second edition, revised. Illustrated. 

 London : Macmillan & Co. Pp. 548. 

 Price, $7.50. 



The object of this work is to acquaint 

 the reader with those important points of 

 general public gardening, and of fruit and 

 vegetable culture, in which France is in ad- 

 vance of other countries. The author, who 

 has traveled extensively and given prolonged 

 and careful attention to the subjects treated, 

 looks upon English agriculture and rural 

 affairs in general as far before those of 

 France, yet in many important matters he 

 shows that there is much to be learned of 

 the French. The first half of the book is 

 devoted to the parks and gardens in' and 

 about Paris, and to the squares, avenues, 

 boulevards, and other improvements, of 

 new Paris. In his criticisms, the aim of 

 the author has been " not only to record 

 and illustrate what is good in them, but 

 also to point out what is harmful." While 

 he finds much to learn and much to ad- 

 mire in their public grounds, yet of the 

 cemeteries he says that " their best aspects 

 are painful to any one who knows what is 

 possible, or what has already been accom- 

 plished in the formation of decent burial- 

 grounds near large cities." After a most 



