LITERARY NOTICES. 



561 



areas, an exception has been made in the 

 case of Washington County, because its ge- 

 ology embraces a complete section at the 

 •westernmost exposure in the State, across 

 the lower carboniferous rocks from the base 

 of the coal measure to tlie Silurian ; and 

 because the location of the State University 

 at Fayetteville makes it desirable for the 

 geology of the surrounding region to be 

 worked up in detail for purposes of instruc- 

 tion. The economic results of the survey 

 are not of great positive value, and Washing- 

 ton County will have to depend upon its other 

 advantages, which are many and excellent, 

 for its growth and prosperity. The report, 

 which was prepared by Prof. F. W. Simons, 

 is accompanied by a geological map. The 

 riant List is chiefly the work of Prof. F. 

 V. Coville, with additional contributions by 

 Prof. Branner, who remarks upon the clear 

 distinction between the flora of the limestone 

 and of the sandstone formations, as show- 

 ing to how large an extent the distribution 

 of plants is governed by the character of the 

 soil. 



The fourth part of Mr. Harold Whiting^ 

 Corirse of Experiments in Physical Measure- 

 ment (D. C. Heath & Co.) consists of Appen, 

 dices and Examples for the use of teachers. 

 In the first appendix are described the labora- 

 tory, or room where the experiments are to be 

 performed, which should be well lighted and 

 uniformly heated, and should have good ven- 

 tilation. The use of iron in construction 

 should be avoided, on account of its mag- 

 netic influence, and special precaution should 

 be taken to' avoid vibrations. A basement 

 is not suitable, or an attic. Such a room as is 

 commonly used for lecture purposes is the 

 most suitable — a two or three story room 

 reaching from the first floor to the attic, and 

 lighted on three sides, is the best. The 

 arrangement of the tables, benches, and ap- 

 paratus is considered, and the apparatus is 

 described in detail, beginning with the most 

 needed articles. In the third appendix, ex- 

 penses, the most economical methods in 

 dividing the classes and delivering the lect- 

 ures, so as to get along with the fewest sets 

 of apparatus and the smallest number of 

 teachers practicable, are considered ; and in 

 the fourth appendix, the best methods of 

 making the instruction given efBeient and of 

 permanent value. The rest of the volume is 

 VOL. XL.. — 39 



devoted to models of experiment, demonstra- 

 tions of rules etc. First are examples of 

 observations and calculations in a hundred 

 experiments, illustrating the details to be re- 

 garded in each of the numbers and the man- 

 ner of treating ; there are three lists of ex- 

 periments, intended to cover the ground 

 required for admission to Harvard College, 

 in both elementary and advanced physics. 

 These are followed by discussion of the prin- 

 ciples of finding the average values of varia- 

 ble quantities, the probability of errors, 

 " proofs," and " useful formulae," with, in 

 conclusion, a full index to the whole series 

 of books. 



The Rev. J. C. Atkinson, Canon of York, 

 publishes through Macmillan & Co., a collec- 

 tion of stories in the style of Jack the Giant 

 Killer, and Jack and the Bean Stalk, entitled 

 The Last of the Giant Killers, or the Exploits 

 of Sir Jack of Danhij Bale. They were writ- 

 ten without any intention of publication, for 

 the amusement of certain children belonging 

 to different families, who were more or less 

 interested in the district of which Danby 

 Dale is a part. In nearly every instance the 

 stories are based upon or connected with 

 some local legend, local fact, or local habita- 

 tion ; and the relations are prefixed by a few 

 remarks on the popular disposition to attach 

 a superstitious significance to peculiar feat- 

 ures in the landscape and to curious local 

 incidents. 



W. S. Gottsberger & Co. add a humorous 

 book to their series of usually sober or classi- 

 cal romances in the shape of A Little Tour 

 in Ireland, in which a visit to Dublin, Galway, 

 Conncmara, Athlone, Limerick, Killarncy, 

 Glengarrif, Cork, etc., is described by An 

 Oxonian, with a vein of jollity pervading the 

 story and a disposition to look upon the laugh- 

 able side of everything — which are much 

 heightened by Mr. John Leech's illustrations. 

 The book is one from which the careful 

 reader, by straining the bubstance from the 

 froth, may get a fair and pleasing view of 

 the country and its sights. 



A collection of short stories by Count 

 T.co Tolstoi, published by C. L. Webster & 

 Co.. includes Ivan the Fool, or the Old Devil 

 and Three Small Devils, A Lost Opportunity, 

 and Polikushka. The translation is direct 

 from the Russian by Count Norraikov, who 

 thinks that justice is not done to the author 



