270 



NA TURE 



[January 17, 1895 



Walther, whether they are a sufficiently exhaustive com- 

 pilation to inspire thorough confidence. 



For example, the information as to the geographical 

 distribution of species is rather unequal, being detailed 

 in some cases, and decidedly meagre in others, as when 

 (ot La-^ena sulcata is given only "im Mittelmeer," and 

 when for Crania anomala the only north-west European 

 locality is the Clyde ! While, on the other hand, such 

 minute local detail is given as that Globii;erina bulloides 

 is not uncommon in the brackish water of the Dee from 

 Chester to Hilbre Island. A number of detailed criticisms 

 oftbiskmd might be made, such as the extraordinary 

 entry " Lafora, 450 faths." when several species of the 

 genus are found in quite shallow water. But probably 

 enough has been said to show that the lists are by no 

 means complete. 



The plan of the book is, brietly. as follows : first, the 

 gaps in the palxontological record, and their causes, are 

 discussed ; then the following groups are treated in suc- 

 cession : Foraminifera, Radiolaria, Spongia, Anthozoa, 

 Crinoidea, Asteroidea, Echinoidea, Holothuroidea, 

 IJryozoa, Brachiopoda, Lamellibranchiata, Gastropoda, 

 Cephalopoda, and Crustacea. A few general questions 

 are discussed. The author alludes to the well-known 

 fact that some of the most abundant groups in the 

 sea are almost unrepresented in the fossil series, 

 and that even amongst animals with hard parts the 

 fossils of a particular bed might inadequately repre- 

 sent what had been the living assemblage at that 

 spot. He quotes Edward Forbes' account of the 

 natural history of a shell-bed off the northwest of the 

 Isle of Man, and his later observations in the .Kgean 

 .Sea, to show that even the fresh dead remains of organ- 

 isms on the sea-floor do not always correctly show the 

 relative abundance of the living species. 



In each group, after a short account of the characters, 

 mode of occurrence, &c., there follows a list of genera 

 and species, with an indication of the distribution and 

 range in depth, compiled from Challenger reports, 

 monographs, and other sources ; but there is a want of 

 correlation and digestion of the facts, the nomenclature 

 is not up to date, and the same species sometimes occurs 

 several times under dilierent names ; (■..1,''. on p. 308, 

 Ophiothrix /ragilis di^'pc^ts three times under the names 

 Ophiocoma rostila, Ophiolkrix fnij^ilis, and Opiuolhrix 

 rosula, with a different range in depth each time. Occa- 

 sionally an animal is found in the wrong group altogether, 

 as, a Holothurian amongst the Asterids, and an Ascidian 

 in the Gastropods. However, Prof. Walther has brought 

 together a considerable amount of material which those 

 who are interested in the distribution of animals in the 

 sea, and the association of species to form "faunas" 

 characteristic of particular regions, will have to utilise. 

 For this the marine zoologists and the geologists will 

 no doubt be grateful, and will, with profit, confult the 

 lists ; but I fear they will :ilsi) sometimes regret that the 

 author had not taken more pains to digest his facts 

 and to correct his proofs. Many odd pieces of interest- 

 ing information arc given ; but there is still room in 

 some book on marine faunas for a detailed account of 

 characteristic assemblages of animals with as full a de- 

 scription as can be given of their physical surroundin^^s 

 and their variations. W. A. H. 



NO. 13 16, VOL. 51] 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



Elementary Qualitative Clicmical Analysis. By Prof. 



Frank Clowes, D.Sc, and J. B. Coleman. Pp. iSo. 



(London : J. and A. Churchill, 1894.) 

 Tables and Directions for tlie Qualitative Clieniicat 



Analysis of .Moderately Complex Ati.Ytures of Salts. 



By M. M. Pattison Muir, M..A.. Pp. 44. (London: 



Longmans, Green, and Co., 1S95.) 

 Laboratory E.rercise Booi- for Chemical Students. By 



E. Francis, F.C.S. (London : Blackie and Son.) 



The first of these books is an abridgement of 

 Prof. Clowes' text-book on qualitative analysis, adapted 

 for use in the laboratories of schools and- colleges. 

 For the most part, the book is like a host of 

 others of the same kind. It differs from many 

 of them, however, in the fact that the first fifty 

 pages is devoted to instructions on the preparation of 

 apparatus, to experiments illustrating the prep.iration 

 and properties of certain gases and liquids, 10 deicrip- 

 tions of analytical operations, and directions for the 

 performance of ordinary processes of chemical manipu- 

 lation. Work of this character forms by far the best 

 introduction to a course of practical chemistry, and 

 it has an educational value, which is more than can 

 be said for mere test-tubing. On account of this and one 

 or two other notable features, the book will probably 

 take a permanent place among laboratory guides. 



''These tables and directions'' (writes Mr. Pattison 

 Muir) "are intended for the guidance of students who 

 are acquainted with the principlesof qualitative analysis, 

 and who are able to make a qualitative analysis of a 

 simple salt, and of a mixture of salts containing not more 

 than a single metal in any one group, and three or four 

 of the common acids." The student who has passed 

 through an elementary course of practical chemistry is 

 frequently puzzled how to conduct an analysis of mode- 

 rately complex mixtures of salts and the commoner 

 metals and acids, or an analysis of metals and alloys. 

 Mr. Muir's book tells exactly what to do in such cases. 

 By following the directions given, it would hardly be 

 possible for the young analyst to go wrong. The pro- 

 cesses described are easily carried out, and are concisely 

 stated. A point worth noting is that the formula: of 

 solids are printed in heavy type ; of liquids or substances 

 in solution, in ordinary type ; and of gases, in italics. 

 This method of indicating the physical states of sub- 

 stances certainly possesses advantages. Altogether the 

 book is a handy and trustworthy manual for analytical 

 chemists. 



The exercise book arranged by Mr. Francis has ap- 

 parently been designed to take the place of the labora- 

 tory nole-book. It opens with a few exercises in practical 

 chemistry, the experiments being brielly-somelimes too 

 briefly described ; and blank spaces are left for the 

 entry of results. Then come a set of analytical 

 tables, and a number of blank forms in which all the 

 steps in the analysis of a mixture of two simple sails are 

 indicated, 'Spaces being left for the student to fill up 

 with his inlerences. 'I'he average student of practical 

 chemistry works like a machine now, and we have no 

 doubt that these tables will be after his own heart, for 

 they only leave him to fill in his observations as if he 

 were answering the qvicstions in a census paper. The 

 book may ser\e to drill the student into carrying out his 

 tests in the proper order, but it will not benefit him 

 mentally. 



Elements of Astronomy. By G. W. Parker, M.A. 



(London : Longmans, Green, and Co., 1S94.) 

 This is one of the books in which astronomy seems to 

 be regarded as a subject which is to be studied much in 

 the same way as one would take up an additional book 

 of Euclid. It abounds in definitions, propositions, and 



