414 



NA rURE 



\Attgiist 29, 1889 



Museum, notes on distribution, &c., being added by Dr. 

 Aitchison. 



The publication by theLinnean Society of the whole series 

 of descriptions in one fasciculus is a manifest advantage. 

 If it has no other effect, it may perhaps convert from error 

 some of those who, like the contributor of the part " Aves " 

 to the last four numbers of the Zoological Record, still retain 

 the mistaken idea that the Afghan fauna belongs to the 

 Oriental or Indian region Not only does the prevalence 

 of genera like Arvicola, Ellobius, Crtcetus, ?[.nd A laclaga, 

 among mammals ; Pt'ca, Accentor, and Phasianus^ amongst 

 birds ; Teraioscincus, Phrynocephaliis, Scapteira, Taphro- 

 fnetopon, and Vipera, amongst reptiles ; and Schizothorax, 

 amongst fishes, show plainly the Paleearctic character of 

 the fauna, but there is a remarkable absence of Indian 

 types, with the exception of wide-ranging forms like the 

 tiger, which is found here and there in suitable localities 

 throughout Central Asia, from the Caucasus to the banks 

 of the Amoor (and which, as its absence from Ceylon 

 shows, is doubtless a comparatively recent immigrant 

 into the Indian peninsula). A few species, like the 

 wild ass and Ovis cycloceros, extend into the extreme 

 north-west of India, but cannot possibly be said to form 

 a part of the typical Indian fauna. Even amongst non- 

 migratory birds, only two or three kinds, like Praiincola 

 caprafa and Lnnius vittatus, are characteristic Indian 

 species, and the forms named have a considerable range 

 beyond the limits of the Oriental region. 



It is interesting to find that some of the naturalists who 

 have described the Invertebrata notice affinities between 

 the forms collected and those inhabiting the Mediter- 

 ranean basin. The Vertebrata, on the other hand, are 

 characteristically Central Asiatic, as is shown by the 

 genera already noticed. 



The illustrations are excellent, and the representation 

 by figures of all species of insects and Araclmida described 

 as new is much to be commended. W. T. B. 



A Text-book of Paper-making. By C. F. Cross and 

 E. J. Bevan. (London : E. and F. Spon, 1889.) 



An increase in the number of technical schools and insti- 

 tutes will no doubt call for a number of trustworthy text- 

 books on various chemico-mechanical industries, arranged 

 not only for the student proper but for the manufacturer 

 as well ; indeed, it is perhaps the latter who needs and can 

 use a good text-book to greatest advantage. 



It would be well for us if we had other text-books as 

 commendable in their particular connection, and as clear, 

 concise, and thorough, as this on paper-making chemistry, 

 for that is what it amounts to. 



The authors state in their preface their belief in the im- 

 portance of a scientific training for paper-makers. This 

 of course would apply to many trades besides paper-mak- 

 ing with equal force. As the earlier and most important 

 operations in paper-making are of a purely chemical 

 nature, or at any rate more chemical than mechanical, the 

 authors have very rightly treated this portion more fully 

 than the mechanical operations proper, which would 

 involve descriptions of complex machines and details 

 not exactly fitted for a text-book of an instructive nature 

 as this. 



The introductory note and chapter i. treat of the 

 chemical properties and composition of cellulose and its 

 varieties as far as is known at present. It is a somewhat 

 concentrated chapter on the natural history of this class 

 of substance, and to appreciate it fully the reader should 

 already have a fair acquaintance with the more common 

 chemical processes and elementary principles. It is a 

 useful and valuable chapter, and nobody is better able to 

 discuss it than the authors. The same applies to 

 chapter v., in which processes for isolating cellulose from 

 plant substances are considered. 



The chapter on the special treatment of fibres is a very 



exhaustive one. The remainder of the book— with the 

 exception of short sections on "chemical analysis" for 

 paper-makers, and " paper-testing," and the " Willesden 

 paper "—is taken up with the more mechanical part of 

 paper-making. They are very fully illustrated with large 

 diagrams. 



Many besides paper-makers will find interesting matter 

 and much information in this book. W. R. H. 



Boilers : their Construction and Strength. By Thomas 

 W. Traill, F.E.R.N., M.Inst.C.E., Engineer-Surveyor- 

 in-chief to the Board of Trade. (London : Charles 

 Griffin and Co., 1888.) 



As a hand-book of rules, formulae, tables, &c., relative to- 

 material, scantlings, and pressures for boilers, this volume 

 will prove most useful. The name of the author is a 

 sufficient guarantee for its accuracy. It will save engineers, 

 inspectors, and draughtsmen avast amount of calculation,, 

 and the fact that the information is co.lculated from 

 formulae embodying the Board of Trade practice will add 

 greatly to the confidence of those using it in any particular 

 design. The tables contain over 60,000 results, and in- 

 clude in their scope most of the information required in 

 any ordinary case. Engineer inspectors will also find 

 valuable information pertaining to the qualities of iron 

 and steel generally in use, and many good hints as to 

 what ought to be allowed or prohibited in the ordinary 

 working of the material. Among the many duties of the 

 Board of Trade inspectors is that of determining a safe 

 working steam-pressure for old boilers. In the tables 

 relating to this subject thin plate scantlings are given. 

 The decision as to a suitable pressure must, of course, to 

 a large extent depend on the actual condition of the old 

 boilers under inspection, whether the plates are corroded 

 or pitted, and on the condition of the stays and rivet 

 heads. One hears an occasional "growl" about the 

 severity of the Board of Trade inspection, but there is 

 no branch of engineering more carefully and conscienti- 

 ally done than that under Mr. Traill's control, and the 

 present volume should be of great service to his inspectors. 

 The woi'k is the result of much thought and labour, 

 and the author deserves the cordial thanks of all who 

 have to design and superintend the construction of 

 boilers. N. J. L. 



Lord Howe Island : its Zoology, Geology, and Physical 

 Characters. Printed by order of the Trustees of the 

 Australian Museum, Sydney. (Sydney : Charles Potter, 

 1889.) 



In 1887, by the order of the trustees of the Australian 

 Museum, Sydney, a collecting party was despatched from 

 Sydney to Lord Howe Island. Most of the results of the 

 expedition are described in the present volume. An 

 excellent epitome of the general zoology of the island, by 

 Mr. R. Etheridge, Jun., is first given. Then come detailed 

 descriptions of the specimens obtained by the members 

 of the party. Mr. A. J. North deals with oology, Mr. J. 

 Douglas Ogilby with reptiles and fishes, Mr. A. Sidney 

 Clliffwith insects, Mr. R. Etheridge, Jun., with geology 

 and physical structure, and Mr. T. W. Edgeworlh David 

 with rock specimens. The memoir also includes descrip- 

 tions of various collections made in Lord Howe Island, by 

 Mr. Alexander Morton, in 1882 ; of collections, chiefly 

 entomological, made by Mr. George Masters, in 1869; 

 and of some gatherings made by Mr. E. H. Saunders 

 after the return of the Museum party. The contributors 

 to the volume have evidently striven to write accurately, 

 concisely, and clearly, and everyone who may have 

 occasion to consult their work will admit that it is well 

 done. The various papers are carefully illustrated. We 

 may note that the descriptive account of the Mollusca is 

 not yet ready, but that the plates are here issued in 

 advance. 



