498 
NATURE 
[JANUARY I, 1914 
ments with the potato-beetle and Kammerer’s with 
various amphibia Mr. Bateson has _ rendered 
valuable service by subjecting the accounts of these 
and other experiments to critical examination, and 
he argues strongly against accepting any case of 
the kind yet brought forward on the evidence at 
present available 
Taken altogether, this is the freshest and 
most original book on the problem of species 
that has appeared for many a year. Whether 
the reader sees eye to eye with Mr. Bateson 
or not, there can be no question about its 
stimulative value. Even if we are further off 
from the goal than most biologists suppose, there 
is the consolation that the road to it is more than 
ever a road of adventure. 
TYPICAL GEOGRAPHY BOOKS. 
(1) A Text-book of Geography. .By A. W. 
Andrews. Pp. xii+655. (London: Edward. 
Arnold, 1913.) Price 5s. 
(2) The Upper Thames Country and the Severn- 
Avon Plain, By N. E. MacMunn. Pp. 124. 
(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913.) Price 1s. 8d. 
(3) A Leisurely Tour in England. By J. J. Hissey. 
Pp. xviii+400+plates. (London: Macmillan 
and Co., Ltd., 1913.) Price ros. net. 
(1) R. ANDREWS'S text-book is particu- 
larly important from three points of 
view. 
to maps, and to typical physical conditions. In 
reference to climate he makes great use of theor- 
etical sun-force, based upon the mid-day altitude 
of the sun, of actual isotherms, and of the periods 
in months when temperatures lie between certain 
limits, e.g. 50°—68° F. From the data which he 
supplies, the student who works through the 
exercises provided will have a definite and precise 
knowledge of the climatic facts of the world, 
arranged in a systematic way. The presentation 
is novel, but none the less valuable. The numer- 
ous maps are appropriate and useful, and the 
author emphasises the point that most maps used 
by students are better called diagrams than maps. 
It is unfortunate that the methods of shading 
employed for some of these maps makes it diffi- 
cult to follow the details closely; and even broad 
points of resemblance and contrast do not show 
with sufficient clearness; the maps which appear 
towards the end of the book are a distinct im- 
provement in this respect. 
Countries are described in turn; for example, 
Russia in Europe is considered in five pages of 
text; climate, products, and trade are briefly sum- 
marised, and the main description is given under 
the heads of the separate river basins and their 
drainage regions. This illustration will suffice to 
NO. 2305, VOL. 92| 
He has paid special attention to climate, _ 
show the main emphasis of the book, and to 
indicate that the outlook is physical, not human, 
physiographic, not economic. "This is distinctly a 
book for the teacher’s book shelves. 
(2) Miss MacMunn’s brief study is an excellent 
example of work on a definite. region. Simply 
written, it provides sufficient evidence of a geo- 
graphical kind to interest readers of all ages, and 
the general treatment is so suggestive that older 
students should be able to obtain an accurate 
knowledge of the district studied, not only from 
the text, but from the numerous maps, which are 
clear and precise in their presentation of the facts 
which they are intended to indicate. It seems 
rather a pity that opportunity was not taken to 
indicate on some of the maps the location and 
range of view of the camera for some of the more 
important photographic illustrations. |The fact 
that many readers will find it necessary to consult 
Ordnance Survey maps of the district is not in 
itself a blemish, for the older student who can use 
such maps will find that Miss MacMunn’s book 
suggests ideas which may be profitably followed 
out in connection with the multifarious detail 
which these maps contain. 
(3) Mr. Hissey’s book is a delightful record of 
a leisurely tour in search of the picturesque. He 
reaped the reward of loitering by the way, and 
found the unfamiliar in a familiar land in a pil- 
grimage by means of a trustworthy little motor-car 
through parts of rural England, than which he 
can imagine no more delightful touring ground. 
So the author speaks of his book in the preface, 
and his work breathes the calm and peaceful 
delight which he took in the pastoral scenery, the 
quiet homesteads, the peaceful villages. The charm 
of the book is increased by the numerous appro- 
priate illustrations. B. C. W. 
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, AND ONE OF ITS 
APPLICATIONS. 
(1) Organic Chemistry for Advanced Students. 
By Prof. J. B.-Cohen; F.R.S. Volo ai Pp 
vii+427. (London: Edward Arnold, 1913:) 
Price 16s. net. ; 
(2) The Volatile Oils. By E. Gildemeister and 
Ir. Hoffmann. Second edition by E. Gilde- 
meister. Authorised translation by Edward 
Kremers. Vol i. Pp. xiti+677. (London, 
Bombay, and Calcutta: Longmans, Green and 
Co., 1913.) Price 20s. net. ; 
(1) TN the present writer’s student days the 
favourite text-book of advanced organic 
chemistry was Prof. von Richter’s well-known 
work, which had just been translated into 
English. Roughly, one might express the 
difference between that. work and _ Prof. 
a 
