February 2, 1922' 



NATURE 



135 



material, care in labelling all specimens — on these 

 and other cognate matters the author draws from 



I his extensive experience, and the article is one in 

 which those who are beginning research will find 

 much that is helpful. 

 Municipal Engineering. By H. Percy Boulnois. 

 (Pitman's Technical Primers.) Pp. vii-fio3. 

 (London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 

 1921.) 2S. td. net. 

 It is clear from the matter in this little book that 

 the author has had very extensi\e experience in 

 municipal engineering, and the list of important 

 appointments he has held — as noted on the title-page 

 — gives ample confirmation of this impression. He 

 is therefore usually a safe guide in the matter of 

 offering advice to young men who intend to enter 

 this profession. The position, appointment, and 

 training of the municipal engineer are explained, and 

 the special responsibilities he has to accept are fully 

 discussed. A considerable number of examinations 

 have to be passed ; these provide, or should provide, 

 evidence of a sound training in the scientific and 

 other subjects required of the municipal engineer. 

 It is, therefore, unfortunate that the author, whilst 

 decrying " cramming," suggests on p. 44 that there 

 are numerous coaches or crammers who can assist a 

 candidate. We should rather have expected advice 

 of a kind which would have led young men to spend 

 a few years in following a course in engineering 

 with special attention to municipal engineering. 

 Such courses are now available at several colleges, 

 and when combined with a pupilage for the sake of 

 acquiring practical experience will produce properly 

 qualified men. That the author fully understands 

 this is clear from other pages in the book, and it 

 is unfortunate that the blemish on p. 44 should 

 appear in this otherwise excellent and helpful 

 volume. 



History of the Great War, based on Oificial Docu- 

 ments. By Direction of the Historical Section of 

 the Committee of Imperial Defence: Naval 

 Operations. By Sir J. S. Corbett. Vol. 2. 

 Pp. xi + 448-fi7 plans. (London: Longmans, 

 Green, and Co., 1921,) 21^. net. 

 This volume, the second of Sir Julian Corbett's 

 masterly series on the naval operations of the great 

 war, covers the six months from November, 1914, 

 to May, 191 5. It is based primarily on the official 

 documents of the British Admiralty, but the in- 

 formation supplied by these has been supplemented 

 from other sources, notably the revelations of dis- 

 illusioned German seamen, such as Admiral Scheer 

 and Admiral Hugo von Pohl. The narrative is 



k fascinating in its interest. It displays in their en- 

 tirety the operations of which at the time of their 

 ■^ happening we obtained but partial glimpses. Here 

 we can read — and, if we once start, must continue 

 to read — about the raid on Scarborough and Hartle- 

 pool (December, 1914), the loss of the Formidable 

 (January, 191 5), the early attacks on the Dardan- 

 elles (February, 1915), and the sinking of the Lusi- 

 iatiia (May, 191 5). The maps and plans are 

 numerous and excellent. 



NO. 2727, VOL. 109] 



A Sketch-map Geography: A Text-book of World 

 atid Regional Geography for the Middle and 

 Upper School. By E. G. R. Taylor. Pp. viii-f 

 147. (London: Methuen and Co., Ltd., 1921.) 



A SERIES of sketch-maps presenting the funda- 

 mental geographical facts of regions and places, 

 with brief explanatory text. The author claims 

 three advantages for this method. In his first 

 claim, that pupils will acquire the habit of work- 

 ing out the geography of a place for themselves, 

 instead of reading up the facts, we think that he 

 is over-sanguine. Boys, at any rate, will just learn 

 up his sketch-maps by heart as they formerly did 

 the written facts. Probably, however (as he claims 

 next), they will remember these facts better, and 

 will fiml the diagrams more interesting than solid 

 paragraphs. Also the third advantage may be 

 realised. — the pupils will become accustomed to 

 illustrate their work with sketch-maps, and this is 

 an excellent habit. 



The book is in itself too " sketch v " for a youth- 

 ful student. It is meant to be used in conj.unction 

 with a good atlas, but should also be supplemented 

 bv a more detailed text-book. It mav then be a 

 \\iluablt> aid to teachers. 



Fneumaiic Conveying. By E. G. Phillips. (Pit- 

 man's Technical Primers.) Pp. xii -1-108. (Lon- 

 don: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 1921.) 

 2S. 6d. net. 

 Pneumatic conveying is one of the so-called labour- 

 saving devices, the usefulness of which has been 

 recognised only comparatively recently. In the little 

 book iinder notice Mr. Phillips sets forth the prin- 

 ciples underlying the construction of pneumatic con- 

 veying systems and gives an account of some of the 

 various uses to which this means of transport can be 

 adapted. The first portion of the book deals with 

 the different systems in use, and pumps, dischargers, 

 pipe lines, suction nozzles, and other details of the 

 necessary plant are described. Then follow chapters 

 on grain and coal-handling plants and on the induc- 

 tion and the steam-jet conveyor. The concluding 

 chapter recounts some of the multitudinous uses to 

 which this extraordinarily adaptable and flexible 

 method of transport can be put. 



Small Single Phase Transformers. By Edgar T. 

 Painton. (Pitman's Technical Primers.) Pp. x-H 

 95. (London : Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 

 192 1.) 2^. 6d. net. 

 The scope of this practical little volume is suffi- 

 ciently indicated by the sub-title, " Explaining a 

 Commercial Method of Design. Making Possible 

 Economy of Material and Accurate Predetermination 

 of Characteristics, and Giving Information Enabling 

 the Amateur to Design and Construct a Transformer 

 Meeting his own Requirements." The same atten- 

 tion (lots not appear to have been given hitherto 

 to effecting c((inomies in the design of very small 

 transformers as to that of large apparatus, and the 

 author's way of attacking the problem should prove 

 of use in this respect. 



