November 1, 1898.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



257 



Text-Book of Xoolofiy. By H. CI. Wells, b.Sc. (lond.), 

 F./.S., F.c.p. Revised and enlarged by A. M. Davies, 

 ]:.sc. (LOND.) (London : W. B. ('live.) Gs. Gd. The 

 changes which have taken place during the five years since 

 Mr. Wells wrote the llrst edition of his " Text-Book of 

 Biology " — changes not only in the way in which several of 

 the subjects dealt with in the book are regarded, but also 

 in the syllabus of the Intermediate Science Examination 

 of the London University — have made an extensive revision 

 of the volume desirable. This work has been entrusted 

 to Mr. Davies, a teacher who has had great experience in 

 preparing students for the particular examination the 

 requirements of which the book is designed to meet. 

 While keeping to the original plan and method, Mr. Davies 

 has re-written large parts of the book and superintended 

 the re-drawing of the illustrations. Though written for 

 one examination, and consequently somewhat brief in its 

 exposition of important and interesting questions, the book 

 provides a satisfactory introduction to zoology, and with 

 the help of the remarkably clear iigures an intelligent 

 student should find his task easy. 



SHORT NOTICES. 



The Pi-orexs of Creailon Discoivreil. By James Dunbar. (Watts 

 & Co.) 7s. 6(i. We fear that Mr. Dunbar's treatise has lengtli 

 without breadth. After brushing aside the nebuhir and meteorite 

 hypotheses as false, baseless, incapable of demonstration, an 1 ground- 

 less fictions, he enunciates " the new theory of evolution," in which 

 " the only elements employed or necessary in the formation of the 

 sun, solar system, and universe are those composing atmospheric air 

 and water-^the two distinct forms of matter which nature iuvariablv 

 employs in all its works, from the largest sims to the smallest 

 asteroids that exist." Our author has devoted ten years to the 

 formation and suitable presentation of his views on this debatable 

 and interminable subject of the evolution of worlds. Those who 

 have plenty of leisure and sufficient curiosity may extract lively enter- 

 tainment out of Mr. Dunbar's mental somersaidts. 



Wireless Telegraph i/. By Eichard Kerr, F.&.s. (Seeley cSt Co.) 

 Portraits. Is. At present a widespread interest prevails in wireless 

 telegraphy, and therefore any readable literature on the subject in 

 handy form is welcome. The book before us has been prepared for 

 busy people who have time to do no more than catch a glimpse of the 

 new inventions which are from time to time subordinated to the 

 routine of daily life. A very vivid picture is given of the unique 

 career of Lindsay, who anticipated by half a century the mode of 

 telegraphy which is now attracting so much attention. The merits of 

 the book from a purely technical jioint of view may be easily con- 

 jectured when it is stated that Mr. Preece has contributed an 

 admirable preface, in which he gives a brief history of the latest 

 discovery of electrical science. 



What is Science .' By the Duke of Argyll. (David Douglas.) 

 Like many other writers on this subject, the Duke of Argyll recognizes 

 the humiliating limitations of scientific knowledge. Although we 

 may revel in so-called great discoveries, and regard with feelings of 

 pride the wonderful advances made during the nineteenth century, we 

 have after all to reconcile ourselves to the fact that we are as far away 

 from the real divination of Nature's phenomena as were our fore- 

 fathers — our new positions being only so many blind alleys. The 

 reader who likes occasionally to ponder over and compare the known 

 and the unknown will find the Duke good company, and at the same 

 time see by what means our author arrives at the conclusion that the 

 ratio of oiir scientific knowledge to the fund of information locked up 

 in Nature's casket is as the one grain of sand is to the number of 

 grains of sand on the earth's surface. 



Astronomy for the Young. By W. T. Lynn, B.A., p.r.a s. (Stone- 

 man.) Illustrated. 6d. It is doubtful whether such a pamphlet 

 as this would make interesting reading to cliildren. The author 

 endeavours in the space of about sixty very brief pages to make clear 

 to young people the elements of astronomy. When we point out 

 that the earth, the moon, the sun, the planets, comets and meteors, 

 and the stars all come in for a share of this restricted territory, it 

 will be apparent how infinitesimal ia the first aid here given to the 

 comprehension of so vast a subject. The day has, we think, gone 

 by when the young could be tempted with such a thin intellectual 

 beverage as Mr. Lynn here offers. 



Studies in Plant Life. By Eleanor Hughcs-Q-ibb. (Griffin & Co.) 

 Illustrated. 2s. 6d. An endeavour is here made to treat Botany from 

 the optimistic side, and, as such, the book will afEord real assistance to 

 those who cr.n derive pleasure from the study of Nature in the open. 

 Technical terms are studiously avoided, and the reader is taught to 

 look upon a llower as a kind of friend. Such a book as this will tend 

 to rouse in the mind that feeling of awe which the wonders of Nature 

 generallv inspire when revealed by a teacher who knows how to 

 present facts to the student. The literary style of the book is 

 commendable, and the volume will be found easy reading to all 

 classes of knowledge-hunters. 



Teachers who are in the habit of imparting instruction by the aid 

 of natural objects would do well to acquaint themselves with some 

 cabinets of animal, vegetable, and mineral produce put together for 

 this purpose by Messrs. Cox .t Co. These cabinets contain from two 

 to three hundred, or more, good specimens of the elements, ores, food- 

 stufl^s, manufactured articles, oils, gums, and so on, which are of daily 

 use in life, and each of which, with the aid of notes supplied in a 

 handbook, is sulficient for a lesson. By this arrangement a large 

 amount of material is neatly and orderly stowed away in a presentable 

 case, portable enough to be easily carried about — a system in pleasing 

 contrast with tl'.e higgledy-piggledy way in which food for the mind 

 is heaped up in some seminaries. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Celestial and Terrestrial Globes, in case. (Philips.) 12e. 6d. 



The Secret of the Poles. By H. Champion. (White & Pike.) 

 Illustrated. Is. net. 



Diet and Food. By Alexander Haig. (Churchill.) Illustrated. 2s. 



Practical Mechanics. By S. H. Wells. (Methuen.) 38. 6d. 



Provident Societies and Industrial Welfare. By E. W. Brabrook. 

 (Blaekie.) 2s. 5d. 



The Structure and Classification of Birds. ByF. E. Beddard, P.E.s. 

 (Longmans.) Illustrated. 2l3. net. 



Aids in Practical Geology. By Prof. Cole. (Griffin.) Illustrated. 

 10s. 6d. 



Eclipses of the Moon in India. By Eobt. Sewell. (Sonnenschein.) 

 10s. 6d. net. 



Second Stage Mathematics. By W. Briggs. (CUve.) 3s. 6d. 



The Discharge of Electricity through Gases. By J. J". Thomson, 

 P.B.s. (Constable.) 4s. 6d. net. 



The Living Organism. By Alfred Earl. (Macmillan.) 63. 



Social and Political Economy. By Thos. Judge. (Simpkin.) 

 3s. 6d. 



Skiagraphic Atlas. By John Poland. (Smith, Elder.) 5s. 



Carpentry and Joinery. By F. C. Webber. (Methuen.) Ss. 6d. 



Seismoloiiy. By John Milne, F.E.3. (Kegan Paul.) 53. 



Qualitative Chemical Analysis. By Chapman Jones. (Mac- 

 millan.) 6s. 



The Illustrated Annual of Microscopi/. (Percy Lund & Co.) 

 25. 6d. 



The Reliquary and Illustrated Archceologist. (Bemrose.) l'2s. 



Skertchlys Geology. Revised by J. Monckman. (Murby.) Is. 6d. 



Heport of the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, 1S9S. 



THE SMELL OF EARTH. 



By G. Claeke Nuttall, b.sc. 



A BRIGHT fine evening after a day of rain is one 

 of Nature's compensations. The air is peculiarly 

 sweet and fresh, as though the rain had washed 

 all evil out of it. The mind, relieved from the 

 depressing inliuence of continuous rain, is exhila- 

 rated, and, above all, the strong smell of the earth rises 

 up with a scent more pleasing than many a fragrant essence. 

 In the town, indeed, this earthy smell is often obscured by 

 the bricks and mortar which cover the land, and by the 

 stronger, less wholesome, odours of human life, but in the 

 country it has full sway, and fills the whole air with its 

 presence. Even a slight shower, particularly after drought, 

 is sufficient to bring out the sweet famiUar smell of the 

 laud and thrust it upon our notice. 



