LITERARY NOTICES. 



4»5 



Sillier, M. D. In this memoir 19 described a 

 new method of demonstrating the nerve-end- 

 ings in the muscles of the frog, as well as to 

 bring forth evidence supporting the view 

 that the terminal nerve-fibers are situated 

 on the outside of the sarcolcmma, and do 

 not, as taught by most authorities, pene- 

 trate this envelope." 



"Marine Larvae and their Relation to 

 Adults," by II. W. Conn, is an interesting 

 memoir on the relations of various large 

 groups of animals, based on the larval 

 stages of these groups. Based on these 

 relations solely, the author would place in 

 the first group Coelenterata, Pobjzoa, and 

 Brachiopoda ; in another group the Mol- 

 lusks and Annelids, and probably the Pla- 

 nariane ; while a third group would con- 

 tain Echinoderms, Balanoglossus, and prob- 

 ably the nemerfeans and vertebrates. As 

 the sponges and arthropods show no ap- 

 proach to the pilidium larva, they are not 

 considered. Possibly this novel classification 

 might be completed by uniting these in a 

 fourth group ! The volume closes with a 

 paper by William Trelease, entitled " Ob- 

 servations on Several Zobgloeae and Related 

 Forms." This paper deals with bacteria, 

 micrococcus, and related forms, with de- 

 terminations of new species. 



We may add that these papers are high- 

 ly technical, and are accompanied with ex- 

 cellent plates. 



Numbers Applied. A Complete Arithmetic. 



By Andrew J. Rickoff. New York: 



D. Appleton & Co. Pp. 416. Price, 



75 cents. 



This work has been prepared to meet 

 the wide-spread and growing demand for a 

 treatise on arithmetic adapted to the ob- 

 jective methods of instruction now common 

 in schools. In its preparation the author 

 has kept in view the thought that words 

 are useless in the measure that they fail to 

 call up in the mind vivid images of the 

 things signified ; and that, to the learner, 

 the operations of arithmetic are apt to be 

 only manipulations of figures after pre- 

 scribed models, unless he realizes the fact 

 that they are representatives of processes 

 that may be applied to material objects. 

 Hence the attempt has been made to vitalize 

 the relation of words and things by the aid 

 of the best practicable illustrations at every 



point ; and to bring forward problems, or 

 examples for solution, that should have life 

 in them, or bear some relation to the affairs 

 of every-day life. The work has been 

 adapted, as far as possible, to the needs of 

 those children who are liable to be with- 

 drawn from school before a full course in 

 arithmetic can be completed. Hence, the 

 more useful business applications of ele- 

 mentary principles are made as soon as 

 they are learned. Thus, familiar measures 

 are introduced before reduction is men- 

 tioned ; federal money before decimals ; 

 many practical measurements before men- 

 suration ; and questions even in percentage 

 and interest are met with before those sub- 

 jects are reached in due course. The con- 

 ditions of these problems are so presented 

 as to be within the easy understanding of 

 the pupil, while their solution requires only 

 such arithmetical operations as he has al- 

 ready learned. The authors also call atten- 

 tion to the simple treatment of the decimal 

 system of notation and the variety of exer- 

 cises under it ; to the multiplicity of short 

 exercises, while longer ones are not want- 

 ing ; to the directions to the pupil, having 

 in view the formation of right habits of 

 computation ; to the suggestions for original 

 problems ; to the simple and direct methods 

 of treating the various subjects; and to the 

 rigorous adherence to the inductive methods 

 of instruction. 



The Irish Question. By the Right Hon. 



W. E. Gladstone. New York : Charles 



Scribner's Sons. Pp. 57. Price, 10 



cents. 



In this pamphlet Mr. Gladstone explains 

 and vindicates the position on the Irish ques- 

 tion which he assumed and maintained while 

 he continued in office as the working head 

 of the British Government. The discussion 

 is divided into two parts, with papers under 

 the headings, " History of an Idea " (the Irish 

 idea of home-rule), and "Lessons of the 

 Election." The " Lessons " are for the Lib- 

 eral party and for Ireland, and relate to the 

 purchase and sale of land, and the conserv- 

 atism of home-rule. In the conclusion, 

 Ireland is advised to walk to the consum- 

 mation of her wishes in the path of consti- 

 tutional and peaceful action, and of steady, 

 free, and full discussion, which has led Eng- 

 land and Scotland to triumph. 



