116 



KNOWLEDGE 



[May 1, 1895. 



twenty-five stars blazing out in the sky with a spasmodic 

 gleam, and relapsing to an extinction bordering on death 

 [the number of u-ell-authenticated cases of ' temporary 

 stars ' is much less than twenty-five. — J. E. G.] ; already 

 bright stars observed by our fathers have disappeared from 

 the maps of the sky [that any bn)/lit stars have really 

 disappeared is very doubtful. — J. E. G.] ; a great 

 number of red stars have entered on their period of 

 extinction [that red stars are really cooling down is 

 now a disputed question. — J. E. G.] " Putting aside these 

 minor blemishes, we regard Mr. Gore's translation as a 

 decided acquisition to our astronomical literature. No 

 popular book on general astronomy in the English 

 language is better illustrated, and none offer easier or 

 more interesting reading. 



A Student's Text-book of Botany. By Prof. S. H. Vines, 

 M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. Pp. 821." (Swan Sonnenschein & 

 Co.) Students of botany have for some time been looking 

 forward to the completion of this valuable test-book, which, 

 though based upon Prof. Prantl's " Lehrbuch der Botanik," 

 is much more extensive in its scope and treatment. The 

 work is hardly suitable for beginners, but advanced students 

 of botany, who are not afraid of new terms, and who want 

 to know the chief important results of modern botanical 

 researches, will fiod that Prof. Vines has admirably supplied 

 their need. Tlie morphology of plants forms the subject 

 of the first part of the worli, and this leads to Part II.. 

 in which the intimate structure of plants (Anatomy and 

 Histology) is studied. In the third part, the classification 

 of plants is dealt with, the four groups, Thallophyta, 

 Bryophyta, Pteridophyta and Phaneropamia, with their 

 different classes, being taken in order. Finally, the physi- 

 ology of plants is treated in Part IV. There are nearly 

 five hundred illustrations in the book, but few of them are 

 new. Notwithstanding this, the volume, taken as a whole, 

 will certainly rank high among the best and most compi-e- 

 hensive English manuals of botany. 



Mechanics : an Elementary Text-Book, Theoretical and 

 Practical, for CoUeycs and Schools. By R. T. Glazebrook, 

 M.A., F.R.S. (Cambridge : University Press.) This text- 

 book, belonging to the physical series of Cambridge Science 

 Manuals, is published in two separate parts, dealing 

 respectively with dynamics and statics. It differs from 

 most books on met'hanics in the fact that a larger share of 

 attention is given to descriptions of experiments to be 

 performed by the students themselves. Only by such 

 practical work can a scientific knowledge of the funda- 

 mental principles of the subject be obtained. Most of the 

 apparatus for the experiments is simple, and much of it can 

 b'3 easily constructed by the pupils. Whenever possible, 

 theoretical consequences are deduced froan the results of 

 the experiments These are the right lines to work upon, 

 and the more books in which this scientific method is 

 followed, the greater will be the advancement of natural 

 knowlec^ge. We cordially commend Mr. Glazebrook's 

 volumes to the notice of tecchers. 



An Elementary Text-Book of Hydrostatics. By W. Briegs, 

 M.A., F.C.S., and G. H. Bryan, M.A. Pp. 201. (Uni- 

 versity Correspondence College Press.) Students working 

 up for the matriculation examination of the London 

 University, could not have a more suitable text-book for 

 the portions of hydrostatics and pneumatics included in it 

 than is given in this volume. The descriptions are concise, 

 the illustrations are instructive, and the examples are 

 numerous and well-chosen. At the same time the book 

 is not a mere means for "cramming," but a good and 

 accurate volume in which results are scientifically 

 deduced from first principles, 



The Story of the Stars. By G. F. Chambers, F.R.A.S. 

 Pp. 166. (George Newnes, Ltd.) Mr. Chambers has 

 contrived to compress a mass of information on all branches 

 of sidereal astronomy into a very small compass. He tells 

 his story simply, and in a manner that should be acceptable 

 to general readers, while amateur astronomers will find 

 the book a handy and valuable record of what is known in 

 many departments of celestial science. 



Nemarkable Comets. By W. Thynne Lynn. Third edition, 

 pp. 42. (Edward Stanford.) We are glad to see the 

 third edition of Mr. Lynn's little brochure on interesting 

 comets. For the modest sum of sixpence, this slender 

 treatise provides a trustworthy account of all comets of 

 note in astronomical history. To know the contents 

 of the book is to have a liberal education in cometary 

 matters. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Practical Microscopi/. Bv George E. Daris, F.R.M.S., F.I.C. 

 Third Kdition. Illustrated. '(W. 11. Allen & Co.) 7s. 6d. 



Annual Ripnt-f, of tie Smilhsnnian Institution for the yenr ending 

 June 3"th, 1893. (QoTernment Printing Office, \\ aihington.) 

 Illustrate i. 



Chemical Analtisis of Oih, Faty. Waxes. From the German of 

 Prof. Dr R Benedikt ; revied and enlarged by Dr. T. Lcwkowitsch. 

 (.Macmillan.) 2 s. net. lilu-trated. 



3IoUusrs and Brarhiopods fRecent and Fossil). Bv Rev. A H. 

 Cooke, M..A., A. E. feliiplev, M.A., and F. R, C. 'Re.d, M.A. 

 (Macmillan.) 17s. net. Illustrated. 



A Heindhook of Si/stemitic Bntani/. By Dr. E. Warming. 

 (Fungi by Dr. K. Knohlanch.) Translated by M. C. Potter, M.A. 

 (Swan Sonnenschein & Co.) ISs. lUus rated. 



Allen's N'llu'-a'int's L'hrary : A Handbook to the Carnirora. 

 Pfirt I. By Richard Lydekker, B.A., F.R.ri. (W. II. Allen & Co.) 

 Cs. Illustrated. 



Short Studies in ynture Knowledge. By William Gee. 

 (Macmillan.) 3s. 6d. Illustrated. 



Wayside and Wnodland Blossoms. By Edward Step. Illustrated 

 7s. 6d. (Warne & Co.) 



Bain. Bivc and Mcaporaiion Ohs^r cations made in New South 

 Wales during ISd'i. By H. L', Russell, B. A., &c. (Sydney; Charles 

 Potter.) as 6J. 



Meteorological, Magnetical and Solar Obsercaiions during 1894. 

 By Rev. W. Sidgieaves. 



We understand that the Rev. W. Sidgreaves has several surplus 

 copies of this book, and he has kindly said that they are at cue 

 disposal of the subscribers to Knowledge. Readers who are 

 desirous of accep ing this kind offer should communicate to the 

 Knowledge Office. 



Transactions of the Astronomical Society of Toronto for 1894. 

 (Toronto : Rowsell it Hutchison.) 1 dollar. 



Proceedings of Societi/ for Psychical Research : March. (Kegan 

 Paul.) 23. iSd. 



Bradshnic's Dictionary cf Health Resorts. (Kegan Paul.) 3s. 6d. 



The Royal Natural Historii. Edited bv Richard Lydekker, F.R.S. 

 (Warue.) Is, Vol. III., Part 18. 



THE BALTIC STREAM. 



By RicHAJiD Beyxon. 



HYDROGRAPHICAL research presents few more 

 interesting problems than those connected with 

 the Baltic Sea and its approaches. Until quite 

 recently this vast land-locked sea was one of 

 mystery to the student of oceanic lore. Even 

 now the British shipmaster is advised that he must not 

 place implicit reliance upon the soundings and current 

 data which are laid down for his assistance when 



