1897] SOME NEW BOOKS 275 
Saws and Sickles,” in which is given an excellent general account of 
these implements, together with views on such controversial matters 
as, for instance, the use of the wooden-handled flint “saws” from 
Polada, which Mr Spurrell regards as sickles allied to those found 
by Mr Petrie at Kahun. 
The illustrations are numerous, and for the most part good ; the 
text is not always free from blemish, in the shape of curious printer’s 
errors, which have survived the proof-reading ordeal ; there are also 
sundry awkwardly turned sentences. These, however, do not in any 
way affect the value of the work, nor do the unimportant, if inartistic 
slips, impair our indebtedness to the author. Ho: 
SoME ELEMENTARY TEXT-BOooKs. 
Firsr Srace PHysiocrarny (The Organised Science Series). By A. M. Davies. 8vo, 
pp- viii. 238, with 110 illustrations. London: W. B. Clive & Co., 1897. Price, 2s. 
ELEMENTS OF PHysicAL GrocraPHY. ByS. B. J. Skertchly. 28th Edition ; revised 
by J. H. Howell. 8vo, pp. viii. 224. London: F. Murby, 1896. Price, 2s. 
A Trxt-Book or GroLogy. By W. J. Harrison. 8vo, pp. viil. 343, with 140 
illustrations. London: Blackie & Son, 1897. Price, 3s. 6d. 
First Stace MecHANICS OF Fiurps (The Organised Science Series). By G. H. Bryan 
and F, Rosenberg. 8vo, pp. viii. 208, with 77 illustrations. London: W. B. 
Clive & Co., 1897. Price, 2s. 
First PRINCIPLES OF NatuRAL PuiLosopuy. By A. E. Dolbear. 8vo, pp. x. 318, 
illustrated. Boston, U.S.A., and London: Ginn & Co., 1897. Price, 4s. 6d. 
THE constant alterations in the syllabus for Physiography in the 
Science and Art Department’s examination render necessary a 
continual series of new or greatly revised text-books. Mr A. M. 
Davies’ “First Stage Physiography” will, therefore, no doubt be 
extremely useful. It has all the merits of a good elementary text- 
book; it is concisely and clearly expressed, it is thoroughly reliable 
and up to date; it is illustrated by a series of well-selected diagram- 
matic figures of which many are new; and the definitions are ex- 
plained by homely illustrations which are so chosen as to be very 
suggestive to an intelligent student. The only point in the book we 
regret is the use of the metric system for all dimensions, an inno- 
vation in an elementary book on this subject which we think hardly 
likely to lead to accurate perception among students. It was perhaps 
a pity to refer to a lustre in the explanation of the form of a prism ; 
for as the point in which students most often go wrong is by regard- 
ing a prism asa triangular pyramid, an error for which comparison 
with a lustre, which has a pointed end, is apparently generally 
responsible. It is not quite correct to say that the snow-line reaches the 
sea-level in Greenland. But except for one or two trivial points like 
these, there is nothing in the book with which we can find fault. 
We can only wish the book the circulation it deserves. 
Opportunity has been taken of the issue of a 28th edition of 
Skertchly’s small ‘“ Physical Geography” to subject it to extensive 
revision, which might, however, have been made even more thorough. 
The book, as it now stands, has many good points, the chapter on 
“ Astronomical Relations” being probably the best ; subjects such as 
the precession of the equinoxes, and the method of finding latitudes 
are generally stumbling blocks to the beginner, but they are here 
clearly explained. The main points to which the editor might attend 
