December, 1905.] 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



307 



Arabs formed the original basis of the thoroughbred strain ; 

 but Barb stock, in the author's opinion, is also to be detected 

 in the EngHsh Shire horse, as indeed in most of the dark- 

 coloured breeds. With the general scope of these conclu- 

 sions, most naturalists will, we think, be disposed to agree; 

 but in regard to the place of origin of the Barb-Arabian 

 stock, and the now extinct wild form from which it is 

 derived (on which latter point the author is in the main 

 discreetly silent), there may be two opinions, and the question 

 will have to be solved by paheontological evidence. As to 

 the value of Prof. Ridgeway's work — to those capable of read- 

 ing between the lines — there can be no question. 



Religion for all Mankind, by the Rev. Charles Voysey (Long- 

 mans, Green, and Co. ; is. net). Religion, in its wide sense, 

 is a subject usually of the most polemical nature. The 

 belie\ers of one pursuasion are never in agreement with the 

 expositors of another system. Statements in the Bible and in 

 other code books are frequently called in question by those 

 not imbued with the sentiment that binds them to that par- 

 ticular creed. Vet here is propounded a religion '• based on 

 facts which are never in dispute." The tenets of the Theistic 

 Faith have long been known, but Mr. Voysey, wisely enough 

 from his point of view, desires to instil into the minds of his 

 fellow-men more evidence of the reasonableness of the 

 principles which he propounds. He keeps himself absolutely 

 clear of all so-called " Divine Revelation " as authority, and 

 by so doing can give offence to none. Many of the true and 

 beautiful words of the Bible are quoted, but only as illustra- 

 tions, not as a basis of belief. Compared with the dogmatic 

 assertions of some religious writers, who, in their narrow 

 minds, presuppose that their readers must believe every word 

 they are told, the simple statements here given are a pleasure 

 to read. " It is the right and duty of every man to think for 

 himself in matters of religion," is the first article of Theistic 

 Faith, and whatever form of religion we may happen to 

 adhere to, we must agree that such a sentiment is perfectly 

 correct, and this is typical of the book. We find throughout 

 but little that can be objected to. There may be many who 

 will not wax enthusiastic over these teachings ; but, we think, 

 all will agree that the author's words are fair and straight- 

 forward, and that to carefully peruse such a book tends to 

 make us better men. 



How to Know the Starry Heavens, by Edward Irving (Fisher 

 Unwin; priceSs.6d.net). — This is decidedly a good book. Its 

 title and style are unassuming. One might have expected it 

 to be a mere guide to the constellations, and, being by an 

 American, one would not have been surprised had it referred 

 to other matters entirely, but it is very much more than that. 

 To call a small book of 300 pages a complete work on Astro- 

 nomy would of course be a little too much, but in these pages 

 there is very little of importance, to the man-in-the-street, that 

 is left out. The wording is simple and explanatory, and due ex- 

 pression is given to the wonders described. Some pages digress, 

 perhaps, too much into the fanciful. We are taken a trip into 

 space "in the chariot of imagination," and, when half-way to 

 the nearest star, we are told that " the scene is grand beyond 

 the power of language to describe." Why it should be any 

 grander than the view from our humble little earth on a 

 clear night we do not know. We are then taken to visit 

 " one of the stars." But a description follows which applies 

 right enough to our Sun, as far as we know it. But do we 

 know that any other star has " a glowing surface or photo- 

 sphere, which has the appearance of being dotted over with 

 still brighter specks like rice-grains " ? And so on. Even 

 the planets circling around it are in turn described. Why 

 not call the Sun the Sun ? Useful comparisons and similes 

 are given to impress upon our mind the relative dis- 

 tances of heavenly bodies. It is thoroughly characteristic 

 of the author's nationality not merely to point out that it 

 would take 5000 years to travel by express train to Neptune, 

 but also to add that "the railway fare, at one cent a mile, would 

 be nearly $28,000,000 — this makes a railroad impracticable ! " 

 The book is most admirably illustrated, not only by reproduc- 

 tions of some of the beautiful photographs now available, but 

 also by several coloured plates. 



Results of Rain, River, and Evaporation Observations made in 

 New South Wales during 1901-2. — For many years past an 

 annual volume containing the results of the rain, river, and 

 evaporation observations made in New South Wales has been 



published, but owing to the economies recently enforced by the 

 State Government, the volumes were suspended for some time. 

 The results for the two years icjoi and 1902 have now been 

 issued in one volume. Mr. H. C. Russell, F.R.S., the Govern- 

 ment Astronomer, has been successful in getting together an 

 army of over seventeen hundred voluntary rainfall observers. 

 The annual volumes have become extremely valuable as so 

 many interests are dependent upon the rainfall in the Colony. 

 The two years igoi and 1902 were marked by severe 

 drought. In the year 1902 the average rainfall for the whole 

 State was only i4"09 inches, which was the lowest average on 

 record, with the exception of 1888, when the rainfall was i3'40 

 inches. The year 1S88 was, however, followed by a series of 

 years having plentiful rainfall, while 1902 on the contrary 

 was the eighth consecutive year of drought. The drought was 

 most intense in the western country, where dust and sand 

 storms prevailed, caused by persistent dry winds. Sand 

 storms proved a most destructive agent in the back country; 

 drift sands and light dead weeds were carried over the plains 

 until stopped by fences, where the banked-up sand formed 

 dunes. The eftect of the drought was most severely felt in the 

 sheep-rearing industry. Mr. Russell says: " During the seven 

 years ending 1901 the number of sheep grazing in the Western 

 Division had dwindled from 16,000,000 to about 5,000,000. 

 Taking into consideration the value of the sheep as a wool- 

 producer, and the possible natural increase had there been 

 no drought, this represents a loss to the State of at least 

 /"30,ooo,ooo. In the case of Momba Station, which is one of 

 the largest in the State, the biggest shearing in one year was 

 420,000 sheep; in the year 1902 this number became reduced 

 to 70,000." The effect of the drought is shown in a peculiar 

 manner by the decrease in number of voluntary observers ; 

 in previous years these had shown a steady annual increase, 

 from 96 in the year 1878 to 1719 in the year 1901, but this 

 number fell to 1650 in the year 1902, which was brought 

 about in a large measure liy owners being compelled to 

 temporarily abandon their homesteads. 



Results of Meteorological Observations in New South Wales 

 during 1900, 1901, and 1902.— This volume contains the daily 

 observations made at the Sydney Observatory, and the 

 monthly results from about fifty stations in various parts of 

 the Colony. 



Successful Negative Making, by T. Thorne Baker, F.C.S., 

 P'.K.P.S. (F(it((S office. Harp Alley; price 6d.), is a simple little 

 book of 40 pages, which puts clearly and concisely, yet quite 

 fully, all about dry plates, in theory and practice, exposures, 

 and developments. It is quite a good practical guide, but 

 would certainly have been the better for a list of contents and 

 an index. 



Pattern Making, by Joseph E. Dangerfield (Dawbarn and 

 Ward ; 6d. net), is one of those useful and thoroughly prac- 

 tical little guides included in " The Home Worker's Series," 

 which will be found of great assistance to those entering upon 

 such work. 



Problems of the Future, by Samuel Laing, is now issued in a six- 

 penny reprint published by Messrs. Watts and Co. The book 

 is already very well known, and we can only advise those who 

 have not read it to make a point of acquiring it and spending 

 a few odd half-hours among the realms of the fascinating 

 mysteries of science. The book has been revised and brought 

 up to date by Joseph McCabe. 



Thermometers and Pyrometers. — Messrs. John J. Griffin and 

 Sons have issued a catalogue of their instruments for measur- 

 ing temperatures from —200"^ C. to 4000'^ C, which include 

 almost every variety of mercury thermometer and electrical - 

 resistance pyrometers. 



Science Data and Diary is an excellent little pocket-book, 

 issued by Messrs. Philip Harris and Co., of Birmingham, and 

 is replete with useful information on physical and chemical 

 matters, together with a diary, cash account, &c. 



We have received from Messrs. Hirschfeld Bros, a set of their 

 Stay Cahndar for 1906, price is. net. This consists of 4 cards, 

 suitable for hanging up, on which a rough but clearly marked 

 map of the constellations "as seen in the northern hemisphere 

 in January, February, and March," (or other three months) is 

 given. There is also a calendar for each month, and a list of 

 planets with the constellations in which they are to be found 

 during the month. 



