420 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



alogue appears to be to remedy this difH- 

 culty by giving all the synonyms for each 

 species under the head of the authorized 

 English name, and by cross-references. The 

 names of species are printed in capitals, 

 those of doubtful species in Italics, and 

 those of synonyms in ordinary type ; and the 

 name of the authority for the species is 

 given, as far as possible, in italics. Well- 

 authenticated species are printed in large 

 capitals ; the synonyms follow in alphabet- 

 ical order ; and under species important vari- 

 eties are printed in small capitals, with their 

 synonyms. The synonyms under each spe- 

 cies are divided into classes where that is 

 necessary, and then arranged alphabetically 

 for convenience in referring to them. The 

 symbols representing the composition of the 

 minerals are given according to the new sys- 

 tem. The catalogue meets a felt want, for 

 none of the standard works on mineralogy 

 has a complete index. 



Intimations or Eternal Life. By Caro- 

 line C. Leighton. Boston : Lee & Shep- 

 ard. Pp. 139. 



The worthy aim of this little book as 

 defined in its preface is, "to elicit some- 

 thing clear and trustworthy" in regard to 

 the effect of scientific discovery upon the 

 probabilities of a future life. The author 

 considers that science has been misinter- 

 preted, especially concerning " the existence 

 of God, the reality of the soul and its inde- 

 pendence of the physical brain," and she 

 proceeds to liberate it from misconception. 

 The actuality of things unseen is evinced by 

 the invisible rays of light, sounds made au- 

 dible by the microphone, the phenomena of 

 radiant heat, and molecular motion. The 

 indestructibility of matter and the conserva- 

 tion of energy give reassurance of transfor- 

 mation, while the all-pervading, luminif erous 

 ether "makes the universe seem one and 

 homelike " ! Within closer limits two uses 

 are found for this ether : one as material upon 

 which memory impressions may be made; 

 the other, as the substance of the psychic 

 body. Nature hints at continuance in the 

 resurrection of the spring-time, and the 

 fragmentary character of human life implies 

 future completion, which, it is represented, 

 may take place in other worlds than ours. 

 We may yet remain " in the stream of evo- 



lution " and find an abiding-place without 

 question of room, for, " if the planets fail us, 

 there are all the hosts of the fixed stars." 

 The nature of death and disposal of the 

 dead are discussed, and cheerful views of our 

 departure from earth are urged. Authorities 

 are given with great impartiality from Prof. 

 Tyndall to the Tonga Islanders, and science, 

 like a veritable Sindbad, is made to sustain 

 a multitude of inferences. Altogether, it 

 must be said, this search for scientific con- 

 firmation of the hope of a hereafter is more 

 suggestive than satisfying. 



The Metal-Worker Essays on House-heat- 

 ing BY Steam, Hot Water, and Hot Air. 

 Arranged by A. 0. Kittredge. New York : 

 David Williams. Pp. 288. Price, $2.50. 



The essays in this book were prepared in 

 1888 in answer to an offer of prizes by the 

 periodical, The Metal-Worker, for the best 

 methods of heating a house, plans and eleva- 

 tions of which were given. Three systems 

 of heating — by steam circulation, by hot- 

 water circulation, and by hot air — were rec- 

 ognized in the competitions ; and provision 

 was made for the consideration of combina- 

 tion plans. The results of the competition 

 were very successful, both in the number and 

 character of the essays received and the at- 

 tention they attracted. The essays in this 

 book are reprinted from the journal in which 

 they were first published ; and to them are 

 added summaries derived from very careful 

 study of the competitive efforts. The papers 

 are arranged under four different heads, 

 namely : 1. Combination Systems, two essays 

 — one on Steam and Warm Air, and one on 

 Hot Water and Hot Air. 2. Steam-heating 

 Systems, four essays. 3. Hot-water Circu- 

 lating Systems, three essays. And 4. Hot- 

 air Systems, six essays. The papers indicate 

 wide ranges of practice ; and it is believed 

 that, taken altogether, the fifteen essays pre- 

 sent a better idea of current practice in house- 

 heating than can be found anywhere else. 

 All the systems proposed are adequately il- 

 lustrated. 



Second Annual Report of the Geological 

 Survey of Texas, 1890. E. T. Dumble, 

 State Geologist. Austin. Pp. cix + 756. 



This large volume is devoted mainly to 

 describing the mineral resources of the 



