December 1, 1897.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



299 



able to answer directly from the test, but will require time 

 to think over carefully what he has learnt, and to deduce 

 the answer by the exercise of his own reasoning powers. 

 The illustrations, too, merit a word of praise ; several of 

 the best of recent photographs and drawings are here 

 reproduced, and there are a large number of neat and 

 clear diagrams. As in " The Study of the Sky," one is 

 struck from time to time by the occurrence of a quaint 

 flash of dry humour, most unusual in a student's text-book, 

 which seems to bring one into pleasant contact with the 

 author. Thus he remarks on the recent explanations 

 of the canals on Mars : " It is better not to know so much 

 than to know so many things that are not so." There are a 

 few minor details which are open to criticism. Mr. 

 Packer's alleged photographs of the corona in fall sunshine 

 ought hardly to have been dignified by a reference. Prof. 

 \Y. H. Pickering's observations of the satellites of Jupiter 

 might also have well been omitted. There are also a few 

 slight inconsistencies. Prof. Schiaparelli's value of the 

 rotation of ^"enus is unhesitatingly accepted ; but if, as 

 Prof. Howe tells us three pages later, Venus owes its 

 brilliancy to the fact that its sky is almost totally cloudy 

 at all times, it is clear that the elements for deducing its 

 rotation period are wanting. A large amount of important 

 information is given in the appendices, but that on the 

 landmarks in the history of astronomy must be regarded 

 as decidedly incomplete, whilst a more important one — a 

 list of reference books — shows some lack of judgment in 

 one or two particulars. 



The Ascent of Man. By Prof. Henry Drummond. Sixth 

 Edition. (Hodder & Stoughton.) 3s. Gd. This book, 

 the work of the late Prof. Drummond, is too well known 

 to need many remarks here. It formed the subject of the 

 Lowell Lectures, and, as a matter of course, does not enter 

 very deeply into the subject, but as regards the marshalling 

 of facts the book is a masterpiece of English erudition. 

 The author displays a wonderful acquaintance with the 

 resources of modern science, and has contrived to impart a 

 new air and character to an old theme. Aided by a vivid 

 imagination, combined with what may be styled literary 

 diplomacy, he has evolved a singularly inoffensive pre- 

 sentment of many bitter controversial phases of so-called 

 evolution ; and it is, perliaps, not too much to say that the 

 author has attained a large measure of success in his 

 attempt to construct out of a heterogeneous jumble of 

 theories one which has some claim to be regarded as a 

 continuous and harmonious whole. 



SHORT NOTICES. 



Manila/ of Ethics. Bj Joliu S. Mackenzie. (VniversitT Corre- 

 spoadence Press.) Tliird Edition. 6i. 6d. The present edition 

 of this work has been re-cast and brought up to date. It is intended, 

 primarily, for London UniTersity students, but it is also a handy book 

 for general readers. The author endearcurs to treat of ethics with- 

 out a knowledge of metaphysics, and not uusi;ccessfally. Metaphysics 

 is a most diilicult subject to comprehend; indeed, ICant said that '' it 

 was a science that had not yet come into existence." A hasty perusal 

 of the several chapters fully convinces one as to the author's deep and 

 compreiiensive knowledge of ethical science. He gives plenty of 

 references, which, in a work of this character, are indispensable. It 

 is doubtful, however, whether the considerable additions in Book I., 

 on the develojimeut of the moral life and the moral judgment, 

 increa-e the value of this new edition, ns, in our opinion, there is 

 now too much overlapping with the kindred sciences — sociology and 

 psychology. 



'Theories of Magnetism and Electricity. By Charles E. Curry. 

 Ph.D. (Macmilla'n & Co.) 8s. £d. An effort is here made to 

 further extend the general theories of magnetism and electricity 

 put forward by Maxwell, llelmholtz, and others. The student, in 

 order to derive benefit by reading this book, must have undergone a 

 thorough trainiug in matliematical science, including the calculus and 

 higher geometry. The whole s\ibject is treated theoretically, and has 

 a very forbidding appearance. ^Naturally, the mysterious and para- 

 doxical ether comes in for a large share of Dr. Curry's attention. 



classifying different states of the ether or classes of particular 

 integrals corresponding to these states, and so simplifying the 

 ditliculty encountered in grasping the ether-agent itself. 



Elements of Chemistri/. By Rufus P. Williams. (Ginn & Co., 

 Boston and London.) Illustrated. 5s. We are infornu'd that this 

 book is the outcome of the author's wide experience with students of 

 chemical science. He endeavours to treat the subject in an interesting 

 manner, and really makes the study of ' chemistry a pleasure, and at 

 the same time a mental exercise. Such siibjects as valency, molecidar 

 and atomic weights, are made clear to the student ; but we should 

 point out that the spelling of a great many of the words is at variance 

 with the usual mode ado]>ted in the uuijority of chemical text-books. 

 We may mention that the book is not designed for .any special exami- 

 nation, but rather with tlie view of giving students in general a good, 

 practical introduction to this useful science. The volume is profusely 

 illustrated by excellent outline figures, showing arrangements of ap- 

 paratus and correct modes of manipulation. 



Practical llistologi/. By Edward Albert Schiifer, LL.D., F.R.S. 

 (Smith, Elder. & Co.) 7s. 6d. Second Edition. Dr. Schafer's 

 liook is already well known and highly esteemed. Histology may be 

 regarded as a separate branch of the science of biology — that is, 

 the microscopic study of animal and vegetable tissues — and the 

 author has borne in mind the needs of private students, and therefore 

 copious instructions are given as to tlie methods of mounting micro- 

 scopic slides, and many other details associated with the delicate 

 operations of the microscopist. A work of this character would he 

 useful to students of research, so exhaustive and suggestive are the 

 experiments, hints, and instructions here set down. The illustrations, 

 though good, are too sparsely distributed — inordinately restricted to 

 manipulation, and an almost total disregard for seeing. 



Outlines of Fhifsics. By Edward L. Nicl.ols (Maimillan & Co.) 

 Illustrated. 7s. 6d. This book is intended for beginners in the 

 science of physics. Like a great many of the present-day text-books, 

 it combines theoretical with practical work, only more minute 

 instructions are given as to the methods of conducting experiments. 

 Beginning with the subject of physical measurements, the author 

 goes on to mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism, sound, and light ; 

 the above being the order in which they are dealt with. It is now a 

 settled conviction that a course in physics is of little use without a 

 practical acquaintance with physical instruments and methods. The 

 l)ook is eminently suitable for such a course. The illustrations are 

 exceedingly well drawn, and tlie type is clear. The whole book seems 

 to be the w-ork of a sound, practical teacher, and it may, therefore, 

 be recommended to the notice of teachers and students of physics. 



Progress in Printing and the Graphic Arts during the lictorian 

 Era. By John Southward. (Simpkin, Marshall, iSc Co , Limited.) 

 2s. 6d. In this elegantly designed retrospect of the development 

 and progress of the printing and kindred arts during the past sixty 

 years. Mr. Southwarcl has contributed a most interesting and instruc- 

 tive addition to the literature of the record reign year. Perhaps in 

 no other field of industrial activity have we reaped such far-reaching 

 results as in that of the printing press, but the distance we have 

 travelled is not realized until we come to compare the periods and 

 contrast the materials, the appliances, and the workm;inship then 

 and now. Such a contrast, plainly set out and well illustrated, Mr. 

 Southward has brought before us. 



■ A curious work entitled " The Science of the Ideal " has been 

 forwarded to us. The So-called ideal here finds its expression in 

 colours, forms, and numbers, which are held to form the basis of 

 mcmorv, and to constitute the vitality of synthetic philosophy — a 

 plan of applying the ideal for the interpretation of the real. Man, 

 mind, and natiu-e, as here set forth, appear to have for their respective 

 complements, professions, thought, and the luiiverse. Colour, form, 

 and number are supposed to form a triad to which man, mind, and 

 natu'e are in some way subordinated, and the theory is so elaborated 

 that it forms a skeleton key to many diilicult problems — so we arc 

 givcn to understand. We should add that the science was " iuferated 

 by Major Davis, indicated by Prof. Wilson, and intimated by 

 F. J. Linford- Wilson." 



We have received from Messrs. William Wesley & Son a cla^tified 

 catalogue of upwards of three thousand works on botany in all its 

 branches. The value of such a list to students and teachers must be 

 apparent to all, and especially so as a means of selecting Ijook ])rizes 

 in the several departments of botanical science : while to the compiler 

 iti use as a time-saving work of refereuce will, we tliink, be universally 

 appreciated. Also similar catalogues of works on zoology and astro- 

 nomy are to hand. These lists embrace all sorts of books, old aL:d neve. 



BOOKS 



RECEIVED. 

 By 



Lessons from Life — Animal and Huma 

 millan, LL.D. (Elliot Stock ) 



The Evolution of the Idei of God. By Grant AUer 

 Richards.) 20s. net. 



Kb I, Hugh Mac- 

 (Grant 



