November 25, 1920] 



NATURE 



403 



Our Bookshelf. 



Elementary Practical Biochemistry. By Prof. 



W. A. Osborne. Pp. v r 184. (Melbourne: 



W. Ramsay, 1920.) 

 This book represents the course of elementary 

 instruction in practical biochemistry which the 

 author has found suitable for large classes. The 

 conception of biochemistry is, however, limited to 

 the chemistry of the animal body, so that the title 

 may prove misleading. The work actually com- 

 prises a course of elementary physiological chem- 

 istry, and is divided into twenty-six lessons, each 

 representing a period of laboratory work. A short 

 statement on the theory of the subject of the 

 exercise is given, followed by directions for the 

 practical work. The latter is almost wholly quali- 

 tative in nature, and consists of the usual test- 

 tube experiments on the properties of the chief 

 constituents of the animal body. This mode of 

 treatment is always open to the criticism that the 

 theoretical discussions are too short to be of real 

 value, and it is, indeed, difficult to imagine that 

 the small amount of space allotted, e.g., to the 

 carbohydrates will be of much teaching value. 

 On the other hand, they serve a useful purpose in 

 refreshing the student's memory, so that the tests 

 are more intelligently performed. 



We note that the author still uses the term 

 "lipoid," and includes the sterols under this head, 

 in spite of the recent suggestion for the abolition 

 of this term. The question of hydrogen-ion con- 

 centration is not touched upon, and this con- 

 stitutes a serious defect, as this conception is of 

 great importance, even for elementary students, 

 and the work on ferments, proteins, and colloids 

 suffers greatly from its omission. 



Dietetics receives a good share of attention, 

 and a useful appendix is given containing an 

 <Iaboratc table of food values. Within the limita- 

 tions of the author's scheme the treatment is quite 

 Mclequate, but it is to be regretted that more 

 iltention is not paid to quantitative and prepara- 

 tive work. A. H. 



Monograph of ihe Lacertidae. By Dr. George 



Albert Boulenger. Vol. i. Pp. x + 352. 



(London : British Museum (Natural History), 



1920.) Price 2I. 

 This volume comprises only forty species, but it 

 contains the important genus Lacerta, and this 

 has been submitted to an intensive study of the 

 individual variations of the species and their many 

 varieties. The author rightly calls the available 

 material unique in its vastncss, due, we may add, 

 to his untiring, purposeful exertions during the 

 many years he has been in charge of the cold- 

 blooded vertebrates in the national collection. He 

 deemed it important to ascertain the extent of 

 variation of which a given form is susceptible and 

 in what direction a given variation trends, and 

 then to decide what characters have been modified, 

 or lost, and what new ones produced. 



The way in which certain combinations of 



NO. 2665, VOL. 106] 



orthogenetic and adaptive modifications have, by 

 their recurrence, led to various parallel series 

 is of prime importance. Ten characters, mostly 

 concerning the scaling, have been selected to show 

 from what each has arisen, whither it trends, and 

 how the resulting combinations have produced 

 thereby those recognisable varieties of the several 

 species, and then in turn the genera, which have 

 been evolved from the more central or older genus 

 Lacerta. To trace all this required immense 

 study of the numerical variations in the Lepidosis, 

 as attested by the tens of thousands of measure- 

 ments. 



Lastly, "if the interpretation of these evolution- 

 arv series of lizards is at all sound, a step will 

 have been made in the advance of our knowledge, 

 and a more rational basis laid down for the dis- 

 cussion of the probable mode of geographical 

 dispersion of the genera, species, and varieties." 



The Centenary Volume of Charles Griffin and Co., 

 Ltd. , Publishers , 1820-1920. With Foreword by 

 Lord Moulton. Pp. xx -h 290 -i- plates. (London: 

 Charles Griffin and Co., Ltd., 1920.) 

 As a member of the council of trustees of a public 

 library, the present writer has often smiled when 

 the name of Messrs. Charles Griffin and Co. has 

 been accepted as the guarantee of a book rather 

 than that of the less known but aspiring author. 

 He well remembers an interview with Miss Eliza- 

 beth Eaves Griffin, who selected him, after the 

 manner recorded on p. 8 of this memorial volume, 

 to prepare a very dry and formal text-book, 

 because she had read a sketch of midnight travel 

 written by him in a school magazine. No wonder, 

 then, that he joins with many others in applaud- 

 ing the perspicacity of the firm. It was a happy 

 thought to bring together its history, told by 

 writers who understand what scientific progress 

 means. Prof. Beare thus deals with engineering, 

 Sir W. Abcll with naval architecture. Prof. Gow- 

 land with metallurgy, and Prof. Louis with min- 

 ing. In each case the works published in Exeter 

 Street are mentioned in connection with researches 

 and technological developments that have affected 

 the world at large, and the excellent portraits of 

 authors, such as those of Sir W. Roberts-Austen, 

 Sir Edward Reed, and Mr. .Mfred Brothers, are a 

 pleasing record in themselves. The founders and 

 directors of the house are also happily represented, 

 and -Mr. F. J. Blight is revealed to us in a wel- 

 come moment when he is not called upon to write 

 his well-known signature. The book rightly char- 

 acterises many of the works issued as "pioneers." 

 It is edited with as much good taste as is shown 

 in its technical production. < 



Rudiments of Electrical Engineering. By Philip 

 Kemp. Pp. viii + 255. (London : Macmillan and 

 Co., Ltd., 1920.) Price 6s. 

 This book is intended for those with practically 

 no electrical knowledge, but whose daily work 

 brings them into touch with electrical apparatus. 

 The recent rush of students to join classes in 

 elementary electrical engineering in technical 



