232 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[Sept., 1905. 



Half-Hours with the Microscope, by Edwin Lankester, M.D. 

 (C. Arthur Pearson ; fcap. Svo, pp. iiS ; is.).— This is another 

 reprint of a book which has been very popular in its day, but 

 the same criticisms as to paper and printing apply also to this 

 volume. Moreover, the book, dealing as it does in part with 

 the microscope itself, shows its antiquity ver>' markedly, though 

 the publishers refrain from giving any direct information on 

 the matter. For instance, on page 5 a microscope is illustrated 

 which contains almost everj- feature that the amateur would 

 be warned against now, and on pages 26 and 27 are two 

 " illustrations " which are so worn as to be little better than 

 shapeless smudges. The eight original plates of various objects 

 are in much better condition, and the accompanying letter- 

 press will still interest anyone who has just become possessed 

 of a microscope and is eager to use it. — F.S.S. 



Microscopes and Accessories: How to Make and Use Them, 

 edited by Paul N. Hasluck iCasscll and Co., Limited ; 

 pp.160; IS. net). — It is difficult to know what to say of a book of 

 this sort. It is one of a series of '• Work " Handbooks dealing 

 with such multifarious matters as beehives, boot-making, 

 bamboo-work, &c. It professes to be a " comprehensive 

 digest of the knowledge of microscopes and accessories, 

 scattered over twenty thousand columns of ' Work,' a journal 

 edited by the editor of this book. We have a great sympathy 

 with amateur hobbies, and for all attempts to make things 

 instead of buying them; but we do not think the microscope' 

 is a suitable instrument for home manufacture, and this little 

 book, however praiseworthy in intention, confirms us in this. 

 It would be easy to criticise the design and details of the 

 suggested microscope, but we feel that any amateur who is 

 capable of making even such a microscope as is described 

 here, and of fitting it, moreover, with an elaborate iris diaphragm 

 also of his own manufacture, is himself to be humbly admired 

 rather than criticised. Instructions are also given on how to 

 make " an improved mount for a cheap microscope," the 

 result being such as may one day grace the collection of the 

 Royal Microscopical Society as a curiosity, and give rise to 

 much discussion; whilst in Chapter VII. very detailed instruc- 

 tions are given as to how to make a turntable for ringing slides 

 (ordinarily bought by unambitious workers for a few shillings), 

 to fit it with cog-wheels derived from an old egg-beater, 

 and to make also an electric motor to drive it ! About fifty 

 pages of the book are, however, devoted to really useful 

 elementary instructions as to collecting, preparing, and 

 mounting objects for the microscope.- V. S. S. 



Modem Theory of Physical Phenomena, by Augusto Righi. 

 Translated from the Italian by Prof. Trowbridge. (Mac- 

 millan, 5s. net.) The mere title of this little work and the 

 name of its author are quite sufficient to arouse an interest 

 and to give promise of the volume being one worth careful 

 perusal. The author describes it as " an entirely unpretentious 

 book," but it is, nevertheless, one which will appeal to a large 

 number of readers, and will, we feel sure, satisfy their require- 

 ments. The chapters on Electrolytic Ions and Electrons ; 

 Electrons and Light; the Cathode Kays; Ions in Gases and 

 Solids ; Kadio-Activity ; and the Constitution of Matter, 

 which are described in such a pleasant, simple way, arc just 

 such as are in much request at the present time. A "biblio- 

 graphy," or list of papers on the subjects treated of, forms a 

 valuable appcndi.x. 



British Bird Life, by W. Percivall Westell (London : Fisher 

 Unwin, iijos). — The number of books which have appeared on 

 British Birds is appalling ; and of these only a very few can 

 be regarded as really good of their kind. What excuse there 

 can be for the appearance of the present work we fail to see. 



According to the author it presents a series of popular 

 sketches of every species of bird now regularly nesting in the 

 Hritish Isles. But many of the birds included in this list are 

 all but extinct as breeding birds and are nowhere common. 

 (Jn the other hand, a host of birds that are plentiful enough 

 during certain parts of the year find no place in this volume 

 at all, simply because they do not remain to breed. 



Of the numerous illustrations .scattered throughout these 

 p.iges we can speak favourably only of the photographs from 

 life, some of which are very good ; the original drawings are 

 bad, without exception. Many can only be described as 

 caricatures. W.P.P. 



Six Months In the Sandwich Islands, by Isabella L. Bird (Mrs. 

 Bishop) (London: John Murray, 1905 [Popular Edition] ; 



2S. 6d.). — This is the companion volume to " L'nbeaten Tracks 

 in Japan," and it is written in the same charming style. 

 The first letter of the series appears to have been penned on 

 January ig, the last on .Vugust 6, 1S75. They contain vivid word 

 pictures of earthquakes and tidal waves, human sacrifices, 

 scenery, and domestic customs. Among the last we may 

 specially refer to the practice of lomi-loiiii. or massage as fol- 

 lowed by the Hawaiians. "The first act of courtesy to a 

 stranger in a native house is this (massage), and it is varied 

 in many ways ; now and then the patient lies face downwards, 

 and children execute a sort of dance upon his spine ! " 



Keen powers of observation, and a peculiarly happy style 

 of recording what was observed are evident in every page. 



Astronomers of To-day, by Hector Macpherson, Junr. (Gall 

 and Inglis); price 7s.6d.net. This collection of biographies, 

 accompanied by 27 portraits, should prove of interest to all 

 interested in astronomy, including as it does, an account of 

 the principal doings of many of those, foreign as well as 

 British, of the present day who have made a name for them- 

 selves in this branch of science. The series is by no means 

 complete, however, for such names as those of Sir W. Christie, 

 Astronomer Royal ; Professor H. H. Turner, Savilian Professor 

 of .Astronomy ; Mr. W. H. Maw, President of the Royal Astro- 

 nomical Society; and Mr. Crommclin, President of the R. A. A., 

 are conspicuous in their omission, and there are others that 

 might well have been included, but it is, of course, most diffi- 

 cult to decide on where to draw the line in such a list so as to 

 include the biographies within a handy volume. 



Publications of West Hendon House Observatory, Sunderland. 



(T. W. Backhouse.) — We lia%e recei\ed \'ohiino III. of the 

 West Hendon Observatory publications, containing observa- 

 tions of 49 variable stars made in the years 1S66 — 1904 by the 

 author. In most of these observations, except in the case of 

 T Coron:e, the variable differs much in colour from the com- 

 parison stars ; this makes the probable error greater than in 

 the case of stars of the same colour. In the catalogue given 

 the stars are arranged in order of their Right .Ascension, the 

 positions being given for epoch 1900. Then comes the average 

 colour and degree of redness, the spectrum type according to 

 Kriigcr, and the comparison stars examined. 



Pyrenean Geology. Part IV., "The Structure of the Pyrenees ; 

 PartV'., " Engineering Geology in the Pyrenees; " price fid. each 

 part. By P. W. Stuart-Menteath, Associate of the Royal School 

 of Mines. Eight parts in all are in preparation, the last to be 

 entitled "The Convictions of the Monkey Mind," the connec- 

 tion with Pyrenean geology being at present somewhat obscure. 

 When speaking from his own experiences in geology, the 

 author is readable, but we cannot see the necessity of intro- 

 ducing into what purport to be geological works personal 

 squabbles and acrimonious remarks concerning those who 

 differed from the author. 



A Scheme for the Promotion of Scientific Research, by Walter 

 B. Priest (Stevens). — In this small book a project is set forth 

 in detail whereby an inventor may obtain a public grant for 

 the completion of his discovery. This idea in general is most 

 desirable ; but we fear that in practice there would be ex- 

 treme difficulties in carrying it out. Applications are, accord- 

 ing to this suggestion, to be referred to the Board of Trade for 

 consider.ation. This department, wc are inclined to think, 

 would have to be very greatly enlarged to bo able to cope with 

 the thousands of applications that would certainly be sent in, 

 and the amounts applied for would undoubtedly run into 

 millions of pounds. We quite agree with the writer, sup- 

 posing such a scheme could be satisfactorily arranged, in 

 (juestioning" whether money so employed would not iiltiiiialcly 

 promote more effectually public interests than much of that 

 now devoted to educational purposes which entail so gre.it a 

 national expenditure." 



The Country Gentlemen's Hstate Book, lOO.?. Edited by William 

 Broomhall (The touiitry Gentlemen's Association, Limited; 

 price los. fid.). This is the third issut of .an annual hand- 

 book which should prove of the greatest use to those owning 

 property in the country. It gives interesting articles and infor- 

 mation on the man.agement of estates, farming, gardening, 

 forestry, sport, and many other useful topics. It is a large 

 book of over 400 pages with many illustrations. 



