120 



NATURE 



[Feb. 2 2, 1872 



ourselves the first germs of the various developments. 

 The only thing wanting in this respect is an index, into 

 which the various facts and names of the book might 

 have been collected with much advantage to the reader. 



Another point of interest in the book is the prominence 

 given to the graphical method of representing truth. The 

 Isothermal and Adiabatic curves are largely dwelt upon, 

 and their usefulness in leading us to detect new properties 

 of bodies is well pointed out. We are glad to think that 

 the importance of such graphical representations is be- 

 coming well recognised in many departments of science. 

 Even in pure mathematics, if we have occasion to calcu- 

 late a series of numerical values from a formula, by 

 plotting them upon curve-paper we shall discover at once 

 by the eye if we have made a mistake in our calculation. 

 In like manner, if we plot the result of a series of careful 

 experiments after the manner of Regnault and others, we 

 shall probably be able to determine from the appearance 

 of the curve whether or not we may trust to the accuracy 

 of our determinations. 



Finally, by a series of lines similar to those exhibited 

 by Prof Maxwell, we come to see witli great ease the re- 

 lation that exists between the various properties of bodies ; 

 for instance, we see at once and as a direct consequence 

 of the definition, that the ratio between the two specific 

 heats is the same as that between the two elasticities. 



We cannot close this review without remarking upon 

 the good English in which this excellent book is written ; 

 and this, we trust, will go far to convince the scientific 

 public that the most profound and original treatment of 

 physics is not inconsistent with purity of language. 



B. Stewart 



OUR BOOK SHELF 



Queen Charlotte Islands: A Narrative of Discovery 

 and Adventure in the A'orth Pacific. By Francis 

 Poole, C.E. Edited by John W. Lyndon. (London : 

 Hurst and Blackctt, 1872.) 

 Mr. Poole enjoys the distinction of being the only edu- 

 cated Englishman who has ever lived on Queen Charlotte 

 Islands, where he spent two years in an endeavour to de- 

 velop the mineral resources of the country. The volume 

 therefore necessarily possesses the interest attaching to a 

 narrative of a residence in an almost unknown country. 

 We miss, however, those touches which add so much to 

 the charm of books of travel, which indicate that the 

 writer has visited many men and many cities, and is 

 capable of contrasting the natural products or the habits 

 of the people of one part of the world with those of 

 another. The attraction for the author to these islands was i 

 the presence of copper, to work which a company was 

 formed in 1862. There can be little doubt that cop- 

 per-veins, and probably other minerals, do exist in 

 the islands in quantities that would amply repay the in- 

 vestment of labour and capital in their working. The 

 climate appears to be equable and agreeable, the harbours 

 are magnificent, and the soil is rich and productive, so 

 that we may hope that at some future time Queen Char- 

 lotte Islands will become a valuable dependency of the 

 British Crown. If Mr. Poole's volume succeeds in draw- 

 ing to their capabilities the attention of those who are 

 competent to develop their resources, it will have per- 

 formed good service. 



Hints and Facts on the Origin of Man, and oj his Intel- 

 lectual Faculties. By Pius Melia, D.D. (London : 

 Longmans and Co., 1872.) 

 The writer of this little book states in his preface that 

 "he has brought together systems, facts, statements, and 



reasons, taken from all available sources, with the view of 

 elucidating several important truths about man, which are 

 at the present day either called in question or absolutely 

 denied." The extent to which he has consulted, or the 

 accuracy with which he has quoted from, original sources, 

 we gathered from the fact that he entirely passes over, as 

 unworthy of notice, the systems of Goethe and Oken, 

 and from the statement that the " Philosophie Zoologique " 

 of G. B. Lemarck {sic) was published in 1830. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 



[ T/ie Editor does not hold liimsetf responsible for opinions expressed 

 by /lis eorrespondetits. No notice is taken of anonymous 

 comniunicatioHs.\ 



A Zoological Station at Torquay 

 The article on "The Formation of Zoological Stations," by 

 Anton Dohrn, which appeared in Nature of the 8th inst., was 

 read at the meeting of the Torquay Natural History Society on 

 the 14th inst., and was the subject of an animated conversation. 

 I am happy to add that the scheme met the warm approval of 

 the members, and that if a station be established at Torquay, the 

 cordial co-operation of the society may certainly be reckoned on. 

 W. Pengelly, Hon. Sec. 

 Museum, Torquay, Feb. 17 



The Chicago Observatory 



A LETTER, signed by one of the Professors of the University 

 of Chicago, commenting on the impoverished state of the Chi- 

 cago Observatory since the great fire in tlrat city, having had an 

 extensive circulation through the Press, I have to request the 

 favour of the insertion in your columns of the following state- 

 ment on the subject, just received by the Secretary of the Royal 

 Astronomical Society from the Director of the University, Prof. 

 T. H. Saflbrd. Edwin Dunkin, 



If on. Sec. to the Royal Astronomical Society 



Royal Obsers'atory, Greenwich, February 22 



" Dearborn Observatory, Chicago, Jan. 29, 1S72 



" Dear Sir, — As the enclosed article from the London Daily 

 A'tTc.r (see also London Times of January 9) might convey the 

 impression that the Observatory is to be closed, permit me to 

 state exactly the facts. 



" The Observatory — whose funds are separate from those of 

 the University — has, during the few years of its existence, accu- 

 mulated a large stock (perhaps too large) of unpublished and 

 only partially discussed observations, especially upon stars between 

 35" and 40^ of declination, in conection with the German Astro- 

 nomical Society, on Argelander's plan. A few months before 

 the fire arrangements had been in progress by which it would 

 gradually acquire the means to discuss and publish these obser- 

 vations, and these arrangements have been interrupted. 



" So far, then, as the City of Chicago is concerned, nothing 

 further is to be expected for the present, and, perhaps, the 

 coming year ; but as business has revived, it is expected that 

 the difficulty of providing means will not be permanent. 



" For the present it is necessary for me to give a portion of 

 my time to geodetic and geographic-astronomical work for the 

 United States engineers, who are conducting large operations in 

 the central portion of the country ; and the publication of our 

 observations will be in consequence delayed. 



" It is but fit that I should here acknowledge the indebtedness 

 of the Observatory to the Hon. J. Young Scammon, at whose 

 sole expense the Dearborn Tower and the Meridian Circle Room 

 were built, and ujion whom the support of the Institution has 

 mainly depended. 



" Our thanks are especially due to those scientific friends 

 who have so kindly given their works. Were it not for the 

 Greenwich and other star-catalogues received by past donations, 

 I should have found myself in no condition to accomplish the 

 work which I am now doing for support. 



"T. H. Safford, 

 ' ' Director of Dearborn Observatory 



" To the Secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society." 



