May 1, 1897.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



117 



carried out in a proper way, is one of the most difficult and 

 sportsmanlilve pursuits, to mere butchery. The art of wild 

 fowling cannot be learnt from a book — experience bought 

 by many a bitter failure must be the teacher — but it is 

 very valuable to be able to supplement our own experience 

 by a study of so accomplished a wild fowler's methods. 

 Besides the hints on the way to obtain the birds, there are 

 many valuable observations on their haunts and habits, 

 and many interesting reminiscences of days and nights 

 spent by the author in his favourite pursuit. The illus- 

 trations are for the most part excellent, and prove that the 

 author, notwithstanding bis modesty, is no mean artist. 



SHORT NOTICES. 



ir/iu's M7w, IS'M . Edited by Douglas Sluden. ( London : Adam 

 & Charles Black.) 3s. 6d. This is the first number of the new 

 series of an old friend, introduced with due formality by Mr. SL'\den. 

 It is, of course, inevitable that such a work slioidd exliibit a considerable 

 selection of more or less obscure items, but a cursory glance tliroui;h 

 its pages reveals many improvements in its method as well as in its 

 manner. Several bulls are perpetrated, as is proper, in regard to 

 Ireland, where we fiiul that Mr. Justice Eoss is made to combine the 

 labours of a Member of Parliament with tlie recreations of the Irish 

 Judicial Bench, a quite impossible combination ; Prof. McNeil has 

 been converted into a Parnellite member; while the County Monaghan 

 (north division) is credited with the wrong member altogether. 

 Among the omissions we may mention tlie President of the Institute 

 of Bankers, the Chairman of the London County Council, the President 

 of the Anthropological Institute, Mr. Walter Sickcrt, and the 

 President of tlie British Astronomical Association. Yet the book is 

 withal a valuable companion, especially to those whose unhappy fate 

 it is to wrestle with the columns of the daily press. 



T/ie Liferan/ Year-Book, IS97. Edited by F. G. Allalo. (London : 

 George Allen.) Illustrated. This is an altogether disappointing 

 book, having regard to the scope and interest of its subject, and we 

 can only hope that its imperfections may at least have the utility of 

 pointing the way to something better next year. That no year-book 

 of literature has presented itself for our guidance before should urge 

 its editor to make his book worthy the occasion. 



European Architecture : a Sistorical Study. By Russell Sturgis, 

 A.M., Ph.D., F.A.I.A. (Macmillan.) Illustrated. 18s. A history 

 of architecture in Europe, ranging from prehistoric times to the close 

 of the last century, is an undertaking of vast magnitude ; but such a 

 survey reveals to the mental vision a spectacle of surpassing beauty — 

 of noble endeavour. Such a book is this. By the aid of a vigorous 

 and scholarly pen, Mr. Russell Sturgis conducts us through the varied 

 changes and developments of his subject, 50 that his volume may be 

 read with pleasui-e, and studied with profit, from the first page to the 

 last. The book is furnished with a descriptive glossary, together with 

 an index, and is beautifully illustrated with some two hundred and 

 fifty views, many of them taken from the leading works on the subject. 

 There are also ten plates inserted, mainly consisting of views of famous 

 cathedrals, such as Florence, Antwerp, Salisbury, etc. 



Ireland. By R. Barry O'Brien. The Children's Study. (London : 

 T. Fisher Unwin.) With Map. 23. 6d. This admirable narrative of 

 Ireland's evcntfid story may be commended to children of a larger 

 growth than the young people it is intended to interest. Mr. Barry 

 O'Brien has skilfully woven the leading episodes in his country's 

 history around some central figure in tlie ever-changing scene, and 

 the thrilling stories of Shane 0'Neil,of Art Macnuirrougli, and Owen 

 Roe O'Ncil, in earlier times, combined with the eloquence and pathos 

 of later years, should fire the youthful student to a more extended 

 acquaintance with the men and the movements which have made 

 Irish history. In I his pursuit he will not find a better guide than 

 Mr. Barry O'Brien. 



Wkat to do in Cases of Poixonlng. Murrell. Eighth Edition. 

 (H. K. Lewis, Gower Street, W.C. 1807.) This handy book of 

 emergency, not only to medical men, but also in every household, 

 has proved its utility by reaching the eighth edition. In country 

 houses and in the i-olonies it should form one of the books in (he 

 medicine chc^t, and then, whether a doctor is in call or not, cannot 

 fail to be helpful in any sudden cases of poisoning. 



We have received three sjiecial parts of Poems for the Hchoolroum 

 and the Scholar {Review of Sevieivs Olfice ; each sixty-four pages 

 and wrap]ier, Id.), and we cinnot too highly c immend these wonderful 

 liltle books to the use of teachers as well as scholars in elementary 

 schools. 



Elements of General Philosophii. By George Crooni Robertson, 

 late Grote Professor, Fniver.-ity College London. ICdited by Mrs. 

 C. A. F. Rhys Davids, M.A. " (London: John Murray.) 3s. 6d. 



This is one of the invaluable University Extension Manuals issued by 

 Mr. Murray, and forms a companion volume to Robertson's " Elements 

 of Psychology." In editing these two volumes of lectures for the use of 

 students, Mrs. Rhys Davids has rendend available a most comprehen- 

 sive as well as a very suggestive survey of the whole field of thought. 

 Now that the touring season is apprcaching, it is fitting that due 

 precaution be taken to secure the fullest advantage of available 

 opportunities. The finely illustrated catalogue just received by us 

 from Messrs. Watsou & Sons is a timely reminder that amateur 

 ])hotography is, perhaps, the most pleasing diversion when visiting 

 interesting loca'ities. because the perpetuation of the scenery in one's 

 own practical work is generally associated with many it:cident,^ which, 

 so to speak, invest the past with a new lease of life. The " Acme " 

 camera seems a really good, light, portable, and compact instrument, the 

 means for focussing anil general adjustments being patterns of 

 ingenuity in mechanical contrivances. We note also the " uiotorgraph," 

 which affords the advantages of being able to record by photography 

 street scenes, in which the animate subjects move exactly as in real life. 

 i • I 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



First Principles of Natural Philosophij. By A. E. Dolbcar, 

 Ph.D. (Ginn & Co.) Illustrated. 4s. 6d. 



War, Famine, and Our Food Supply. By R. B. Mardou. 

 (Sampson Low, Marston, & Co.) 2s. 



Inorganic Chemistri/. By G. H. Bailey, Ph.D., and W. Briggs, 

 M.A. (Clive.) lUus'trated. 2s. 



Smithsonian Institution — Report of the Board of Rer/ents, ISUI. 

 (Government Printing OITice, Washington.) 



The Literari/ Year. Book, IS97. Edited by F. G. Afialo. Portraits. 

 (London : George Allen.) 



Who's Who, IS'jr. Edited by Douglas Sladen. 3s. 6d. (London : 

 Adam & Charles Black.) 



Earlii Essays. By John Stuart Mill. 3s. 6d. (London; George 

 Bell & Sons.) 



First Principles of Mechanical and Enyineeriny Drawing. By 

 II. Holt-Butterfill, M.E. (Chapman & Hall.) Illustrated. 7s. 6d. 



Results of Metenrolor/ical and Magnetic Observations, Stonyhurst 

 College Observatory, IS'JG. (Parkinson & Blacow, Clitheroe.) 



Picture Lessons in Natural History. Three wall charts on one 

 rol'er. (Bacon.) 



Geology of North -East Durham. By D. Woolacott, B.Sc. (Hills 

 & Co. , Sunderland. ) Illustrated. Is. 6d. 



Ancient Tolcanoes of Great Britain. By Sir Archibald Geikie. 

 (Macmillan.) Illustrated. Two volumes. 36s. net. 



Practical Plane and Solid Geometry. By Thomas Jay Evans 

 and W. W. F. Pullen. (Chapman & Hall.) illustrated. 9's. 



The Elements of Electro-Chemistry. By Dc. Robert Liipke. Trans- 

 lated by M. M. Pattisou Muir, M.A. (Grevel & Co.) Illustrated. 

 7s. 6d. 



♦ 



jl cttcr g. 



[The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions or 



btatementa of correspondents.] 



• 



STAR SYSTEMS. 

 To tlie Editors of Knowledge. 

 Sirs, — In reply to Mr. Backhouse I take the following 

 proper motions from llerz and Strobl's revision of the 

 Catalogue of Auwers : — 



Motiou M.iUiiu Velocity 



^^■"'- ill R.A. ill Decl. (Vogel). 



^ Ursie Majoris -1-OOOJ8 ... •f0 039 ... -182 



V UrjiB Miijoris +0-0110 ... +0 003 . -16-5 



S UrsiC Ma'jnrii +0-0146 .. -0003 Notgiven. 



f Ursic Majoris +00131 ... -0035 -188 



C Ur,s;e Ma'joris ... +0-0113 ... -0-027 ... -19-4 



The proper motions above given agree very closely with 

 those ia the Pulkova Catalogue, and therefore may be taken 

 to represent the results of observation up to the present. 

 I think the agreement is not close enough to ali'ord any 

 satisfactory evidence of physical connection, and the motions 

 are too small to be determined with accuracy. When I 

 spoke of exceptional motions I was referring to quantity. 

 There is sufficient variety in the motions of the stars in 

 almost every region of the sky to prevent the directions of 

 the motion of particular stars from presenting anything 



