140 



NATURE 



[April J3, 1916 



Although an astonishingly wide range of sub- 

 jects is covered by the lectures, the book is not 

 to be regarded as a comprehensive introduction 

 to astronomy. Thus, explanations of everyday 

 phenomena, such as the phases of the moon, the 

 apparent annual motion of the stars, or the appear- 

 ance of Venus as a morning or evening star, do 

 not come within its scope. On the other hand, 

 the author has not hesitated to introduce such 

 matters as the principles of spectrum analysis, the 

 sun-spot swarm hypothesis, the selenium photo- 

 meter, the systematic motions of the stars, and 

 the spectroheliograph. But whatever the subject 

 in hand, he is generally successful in making it 

 interesting and easy of comprehension as regards 

 general principles. The treatment is at times 

 unconventional, but never dull or obscure, and the 

 interest throughout is maintained by an abund- 

 ance of appropriate stories and quaint allusions. 

 The illustrations, of which there are more than 

 130, are well chosen, and include many which 

 have not previously been seen in text-books, some 

 of them being of marked originality. We cor- 

 dially recommend the book as being likely to give 

 an intelligent interest in the fascinating investi- 

 gations of modern astronomy. 



OVR BOOKSHELF. 

 East Lothian. By T. S. Muir. Pp. viii + 117. 



(Cambridge: At the University Press, 1915.) 



Price 15. 6d. net. 

 East Lothian includes representatives of the chief 

 geographical types found in the Scottish lowlands. 

 It has a varied coast, rich plains and high moor- 

 land, and its especial geographical feature is its 

 series of Aolcanic necks, including Berwick Law. 

 The county has played an important part in Scot- 

 tish history, for in it were fought the battles of Dun- 

 bar and Preston Pans, and it was the birthplace of 

 such representative Scots as John Knox, Baird of 

 Corunna, and Moffat. Its coal mines are of his- 

 toric interest as the oldest on record, and their 

 mediaeval labour conditions lasted till little more 

 than a century ago, when the miners were still 

 serfs who were restricted to their native places 

 and w^hose children had to follow the occupation 

 of their parent. The county is mainly famous for 

 its agriculture, and owing to the exceptional 

 quality of its soils and the scientific skill of its 

 farmers, its crops are perhaps unsurpassed in 

 value. Mr. Muir tells us (p. 58) that 4/. to 5Z. per 

 acre is a common rent, and that the county, 

 though small, contains no fewer than seventeen 

 farms with an annual rent of more than lOOoL 



This volume of the Cambridge County Primers 

 is fortunate in its author; for Mr. T. S. Muir, who 

 is geographical master at the Edinburgh High 

 School, knows the county well, and describes it in 

 accordance with modern geographical ideas. The 

 work includes summaries of the geology and 

 natural history of the county, but they are treated 

 from their geographical aspects. One of the most 

 interesting sections is on the place names, which 

 are illustrated by a map showing the distribution 

 NO. 2424, VOL. 97] 



of those of Gaelic, Pictish, and Teutonic orig-in. 

 The work is well illustrated by photographs and 

 physical and geological maps. J. W. G. 



Theosophy and Modern Thought. By C. Jinara- 

 jadasa. Pp. 171. (Adyar, Madras: Theo- 

 sophical Publishing House, 1915.) Price 2s. 

 There are here four lectures — on theosophy and 

 the problem of heredity ; history in the light of 

 reincarnation ; the basis of art expression ; and 

 the search for reality. Dealing with heredity, the 

 author shows that he has been greatly influenced 

 by Prof. Bateson's Australian address. "The 

 growth from protoplasm to man, and from the 

 savage to the genius, is by a process of losing 

 inhibiting factors ; and by loss of factors faculties 

 are released." The release of the possibilities ot 

 life and growth is guided by intelligences, the 

 Deva Builders, who bring about the evolution of 

 the form side of things by producing changes 

 from the life side in each group-soul. 



The second lecture illustrates eloquently the 

 idea that as nations pass away they reincarnate 

 in other parts of the earth— the Phoenicians in 

 the Germans, for instance, and those who said 

 "Carthago est delenda " in those who say 

 "Prussia must go." The third lecture is largely 

 concerned with the doctrine of archetypes, which 

 are striving to express themselves in organic 

 evolution. Every beautiful organism is a window 

 through which man may get a glimpse of an 

 archetype, " a masterpiece of the artist of artists, 

 the Demiourgos of our world." In the fourth 

 lecture Mr. Jinarajadasa speaks of the many 

 pathways to reality and the spirit which must 

 possess those who would be pilgrims. i 



Nutritional Physiology. By P. G. Stiles. Pp. ! 

 288. (Philadelphia and London : W. B. i 

 Saunders Company, 191 5.) Price 65. net. 

 This is the second edition of Prof. Stiles 's useful ' 

 manual, the first of which appeared about three 

 years ago. Although its chief object (alimenta- 

 tion, digestion, metabolism) is expressed in the 

 title, other related portions of physiological 

 science, such as the circulation, the ductless 

 glands, and even the nervous system are con- 

 sidered briefly. The main subject is treated from 

 the point of view of energetics, and we can trace 

 throughout the influence exercised by Prof. 

 Graham Lusk, to whom the book is dedicated. 

 Lusk is one of the leading lights across the 

 Atlantic, who have successfully striven to render 

 the subject of metabolism scientifically correct 

 by such a method of treatment. W. D. H. 



Our Cottage and a Motor. By Margaret Mon- 

 creiff. Pp. 163. (London : George Allen and 

 Unwin, Ltd., 1916.) Price 35. 6d. net. 

 This chatty description of a holiday spent in £ 

 Sussex cottage, when the days were often spent 

 motoring among the lovely lanes, makes verj 

 pleasant reading. We hope the spelling Sii 

 Charles Ley all, on pp. 127 and 128, for the narw 

 of the distinguished geologist will be changed if' 

 any future edition of the book. 



