288 
Whilst the course suggested is in many respects 
interesting, and no doubt a great improvement 
on much that has prevailed, it does not seem to 
be better than many that are now being followed 
in this country. 
It is well known that the prominent position 
taken by Germany in chemical science is in no 
degree due to the quantity or quality of the 
chemistry in its schools. We still hear, indeed, 
from time to time, of the pronouncement made a 
score of years ago by a group of eminent German 
chemists to the effect that a classical education 
was to be preferred above all else as a prepara- 
tion for the serious study of science. “This pro- 
nouncement is akin to many that are heard in 
the world of education, and is of the nature of 
those half-truths which are so particularly mis- 
chievous. Just as in this country, so long as 
modern studies were disdained and were the resort 
of the less intellectually gifted, and so long as 
modern studies were being taught on a vicious 
model, ancient studies might well seem to be the 
best preparation for every kind of higher training. 
It will be interesting to see the face of German 
education when Dr. Scheid and his coadjutors 
have achieved their reform of its school science. 
Meanwhile it matters much less in Germany than 
here whether school science is good or bad, for 
in Germany there is plenty of education, and of 
good education, of some kind; there is a sincere 
belief in it; there is a sincere belief in science; 
and there are plenty of men sufficiently well 
trained to keep the country eminent in science 
and pre-eminent in the application of scientific 
knowledge to the welfare of the State. 
ARTHUR SMITHELLS. 
ZOOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND 
CATALOGUES. 
(1) Catalogue of the Books, Manuscripts, Maps, 
and Drawings in the British Museum (Natural 
History). Vol. iv., P—SN. Pp. 1495-1956. 
(London: British Museum (Natural History); 
Longmans, Green and Co., 1913.) 
(2) A Bibliography of the Tunicata, 1469-1910. By 
John Hopkinson. Pp. xii+288. (London: The 
Ray Society; Dulau and Co., Ltd., 1913.) Price 
I5s. net. 
(3) Catalogue of the Noctuide in the Collection 
of the British Museum. By Sir G. F. Hampson. 
Plates cxcii-cexxi. (London: British Museum 
(Natural History); Longmans, Green and Co., 
1913-) 
(4) Catalogue of the Ungulate Mammals in the 
British Museum (Natural History). Vol. 1, 
Artiodactyla, Family Bovide, Subfamilies 
NO. 2297, VOL. 92]| 
NATURE 
{ NOVEMBER 6, 1913 
Bovine to Ovibovine. By R. Lydekker, F.R.S. 
Pp. xvii+249. (London: British Museum 
(Natural History); Longmans, Green and Co., 
1913.) 
(x) HE British Museum of Natural History 
continues to issue at frequent intervals 
a series of extremely useful catalogues, guides to 
the collections, or other valuable volumes. Not the 
least welcome of these to workers in the museum, 
although probably not of general interest+to the 
public, is the ‘Catalogue of the Books, Manu- 
scripts, Maps, and Drawings.” This, under the 
superintendence of Mr. B. B. Woodward, the 
librarian, is still in course of completion, and 
vol. iv. now lies before us. Starting at P, it brings 
the entries under authors’ names down to SN. 
We learn from the director’s preface that the first 
sheet was passed for press in October, 1910, and © 
the issue of this volume marks a distinct advance — 
in cataloguing a library, the value and richness of 
which is probably known to very few of the 
public. 
(2) A catalogue of a very different nature is Mr. 
John Hopkinson’s “Bibliography of the Tuni-— 
cata,” from 1469-1910, compiled for the Ray 
Society. This was commenced for the private use © 
of its author in connection with the publication 
by the Ray Society of the late Messrs. Alder and 
Hancock's “ British Tunicata.” During the course - 
of its completion it was found to contain so many 
references not in any previous bibliography that 
it appeared to Mr. Hopkinson that if printed it 
might be useful to others—a surmise which we 
expect will prove correct, as the bibliography, 
which must have involved immense labour, has 
been very carefully prepared. 
(3) A second volume issued by the British 
Museum: contains plates 192-221 of Sir George 
Hampson’s “Catalogue of the Noctuide.” In this 
a large number of species are illustrated, the work 
having been carefully executed by Messrs. West, 
Newman and Co. The colours have been very 
well reproduced; each species is named, and a 
reference given to its habitat and the page on 
which it is described. , 
(4) The first volume of Mr. R. Lydekker’s 
“Catalogue of the Ungulate Mammals” deals 
with the cattle, sheep, goats, chamois, takin, — 
and musk-oxen. Owing to the large size of © 
most of the species and the relatively small 
number of specimens available, the work is written — 
on lines different from those governing other cata- 
logues. Real systematic detail and thorough con-— 
ciseness of description cannot be attained until a_ 
much larger series of specimens can be accumu- 
lated. Instead, although the principle of priority — 
in scientific nomenclature has been adhered to, an 
