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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



ments in various materials, and of the carv- 

 ings on horn, bone, and wood, which testify 

 to the artistic ability of the man of the stone 

 age. The next chapter is devoted mostly to 

 dwellings, and in it we find described the 

 earth holes of France and South America, 

 the natural caves used as abodes, especially 

 in France, the lake stations of Switzerland, 

 the crannoges of Ireland, the burgs of Scot- 

 land, the nurhags of Sardinia, the talayoti 

 of the Balearic Isles, and the castelheri of 

 Istria. Megalithic monuments are treated 

 with no less fullness than are the dwellings, 

 and the same may be said in regard to forti- 

 fications. There is also a brief summary of 

 Dr. Schliemann's discoveries on the site of 

 Troy. A somewhat miscellaneous chapter 

 deals with industry, commerce, social organi- 

 zations, fights, wounds, and trepanation ; and 

 the volume ends quite appropriately with 

 tombs. One hundred and thirteen figures 

 illustrate the text. 



Longmans' Object-lessons. By David Sal- 

 mon. Revised and adapted to American 

 Schools by John F. Woodhull. New 

 York : Longmans, Green & Co. Pp. 238. 

 Price, $1. 



These lessons are intended for children 

 in infant or primary schools, and full notes 

 are given for a course which may extend 

 through four or five years. Plants, animals, 

 and the common properties of substances are 

 studied at first ; later on, the general princi- 

 ples of chemistry, physics, and botany are 

 considered. The first part of the work is 

 devoted to hints for teachers, and a strong 

 plea is made for early training. Many chil- 

 dren enter upon life ill equipped, since their 

 school education ends before the definite 

 study of science begins. 



The method of the author is excellent, 

 but a false idea is conveyed by illustrating 

 modes of manufacture which have been su- 

 perseded, as that in the making of pins. 



The book is fully illustrated, and pro- 

 vides blank notes for teachers and an index. 



The Story of Kaspar Hauser. By Eliza- 

 beth E. Evans. London : Swan, Son- 

 nenschein & Co. Pp. 188. Price, $1.75. 



The pathetic tale in this volume will ap- 

 pear entirely credible to those who read it 

 here for the first time. Even in these days 

 of quick intelligence and watchful societies 



children are abducted, secreted, and finally 

 lost to their friends, so that at the outset it 

 is not improbable that such a scheme should 

 have been effectual in past times with the 

 heir to a royal house. The preponderance 

 of proof is that Kaspar Hauser was indeed 

 the Prince of Baden. Supposing that a 

 group of such diverse characteristics as the 

 city officials, a scholarly professor, and noted 

 criminal lawyer could be easily deceived, the 

 autopsy performed in another city showed 

 their observations to be well founded. The 

 abnormal flatness of knee-line, the enlarged 

 liver, and undeveloped brain were unim- 

 peachable witnesses. The portrait given 

 ought also to furnish some evidence if it 

 bears a marked family resemblance. The 

 literature that has grown up on this subject 

 is quite extensive. A list of forty-five books 

 and pamphlets is appended for those who 

 wish to consult the original testimony. 



Nature Study. By Wilbur S. Jackman. 

 Second edition, revised. New York : 

 Henry Holt & Co. Pp. 448. 



The teacher of elementary science in the 

 common school has not only his class to in- 

 struct in the study of Nature, but probably 

 himself ; and this volume is designed to guide 

 him in this task of manifold difficulty. An 

 acquaintance with scientific fact and princi- 

 ple can be gleaned from books, but the meth- 

 od, which is generally an untrodden way for 

 him, must be learned by individual effort, and 

 it is advised that he should begin and work 

 with his pupils. The plan of the book is al- 

 together novel. An outline of subject mat- 

 ter for a year's course of lessons is given ; 

 this is divided into twelve sections corre- 

 sponding to the months. In each of these 

 an effort is made to study the special phe- 

 nomena of the season, chiefly by practical 

 work. Although no illustrations are fur- 

 nished, explicit directions are given for per- 

 forming experiments, collecting specimens, 

 and keeping mineralogical and meteorological 

 records, charts for which are also published 

 separately. Topics are indicated by ques- 

 tions, but it is not intended that the teacher 

 shall use these except as suggestions. Class 

 work can be varied by drawing, painting, 

 modeling, and the making of apparatus. 



The list of sciences entered upon is long. 

 A weekly lesson is prescribed in zoology and 



