. 1864. | ~ Pamphlets. 573 
as Professor Owen has remarked, when making observations on these 
eges before the Zoological Society,* to conclude hence that the size 
of the bird was in proportion to the great dimensions of its eggs. The 
little Apteryx, or kiwi of New Zealand, produces an egg 4? inches in 
length, and, when freshly laid, “ nearly equal to one-fourth of the 
weight of the living bird.”+ In fact, Professor Owen considers that 
the “pyornis did not surpass in height or size the Dinornis giganteus, 
and that it was probably a somewhat smaller bird.” 
The eggs of the Afpyornis are now well known to scientific men, 
from casts which have been prepared to imitate the originals in the 
French collection, and liberally distributed amongst all the principal 
Museums of Europe and America. But, as regards originals, the 
Parisian examples have remained, as far as we know, unique, until the 
arrival of the example described in the present pamphlet, which was first 
exhibited in the International Exhibition of 1862. It was obtained, 
Mr. Rowley informs us, at Mananzari, on the east coast of Madagascar, 
at a depth of 5 feet in a hill of ferruginous clay, by some Malgaches 
digging for iron ore. Mr. Rowley tells us that this specimen, which 
he obtained by purchase from a M. Brunet—the secretary of a French 
charitable association — slightly exceeds the two Parisian eggs in 
dimensions, and is, therefore, the largest known example of the eggs 
of Aipyornis. Without grudging Mr. Rowley the acquisition of such 
an addition to his collection of eggs, for which, we believe, he paid a 
handsome price, we cannot help expressing our regret that the autho- 
rities of the British Museum, to whom we know the offer was made, 
did not secure such a prize for our national collection. 
Speotrum ANALysIs.{ 
WE may commend this little book to our readers as an excellent 
practical guide to the use of the Spectroscope, which all who are 
beginning to experiment with the instrument will do well to study. 
Whether its revelations, so far as the materials of our own globe are 
concerned, are come to an end or not, it will always be looked upon as 
an important means of research, with the use of which every chemist 
will do well to make himself acquainted. Although the application 
to qualitative analysis seems limited and somewhat delusive, there are 
some who anticipate the day when further researches may show that 
the spectroscope will be available not only to discover the presence of 
different substances, but also to show their several proportions. In 
these hopes we hardly share, but we are glad to lend any aid to extend 
the use of the instrument. 
One objection often brought against the usefulness of the spectro- 
* See P. Z. 8., 1852, p. 9. 
+ See Sclater, in P. Z. S., 1859, p. 350. 
t ‘Instruction Pratique sur l’Analyse Spectrale, comprenant: 1. La Descrip- 
tion des Appareils; 2. Leur Application aux Recherches Chimiques: 3. Leur 
Application aux Observations Physiques; 4. La Projection des Spectres.’ Par M. 
Louis Grandeau. Paris : Mallet-Bachelier. 
2Q2 
