OcToBER 5, 1899] 
NATURE 
543 
have penetrated since Wolley’s time; and in collecting 
eggs they suffered almost from evéarass des richesses on 
account of the numbers that were brought in by the 
natives. One of the objects of their desire was to 
obtain a clutch of Smew’s eggs, but it was not an easy 
matter to identify these without some of the down from 
the nest. 
they thought were the right eggs ; and their acumen 
was confirmed on arrival in England by the identification 
of the specimens from the down. 
A section of the volume is also devoted to an account 
of the magnificent collection of raptorial birds main- 
tained by the late author of the first journal at his father’s 
seat, Mottisfont Abbey, Romsey. This collection, which 
is stated to be one of the finest in England, is still main- 
tained ; and the account shows how it is possible to 
keep such splendid birds in perfect condition. Alto- 
gether, the bird-lover will find much to interest him in this 
charming little volume. Rem. 
Progressive Lessons in Science. By A. Abbott, M.A., 
and Arthur Key, M.A. Pp. xix + 320. (London: 
Blackie and Son, Ltd., 1899.) 
THIS book consists of two parts—the first, by Mr. 
Abbott, dealing with the non-metallic elements found in 
animal and vegetable substances ; the second, by Mr. 
Key, on the detection and distribution of the elements in 
animal, vegetable and mineral substances. The former 
part contains a course of experimental work in chemistry 
of a kind with which many text-books have made us 
familiar. All that need be said of it is that most of the 
experiments are suitable for performance in the laboratory 
by beginners in chemistry, and that the book will assist the 
progress of rational methods of science teaching. With 
regard to the second part, though the plan has something 
to commend it, the execution is open to criticism. Mr. 
T. G. Rooper, who generously endeavours to assist the 
volume by his introduction, remarks upon the idea to 
which we refer. “The most original feature in the book 
is the set of experiments which illustrate the composition 
of food-stuffs. Starting with a table of the chief consti- 
tuents of the blood, the author proves the presence of each 
by the use of an ingeniously-devised test. He then 
traces each constituent through animal life to the vege- 
table life on which animal life is supported, and thence 
to the soil from which the plant derives it, and finally to 
the rock, by the disintegration of which the soil is 
formed.” There are several grave objections to this 
method of procedure as it is here presented. Students are 
told the tests which have to be applied to detect different 
substances, hence the experiments are not in advance of 
the test-tube practice which is fast giving place to more 
intelligent practical instruction. Moreover, the object of 
the experiments is too complicated to be of real edu- 
cational value to beginners; and, finally, very few 
students have the time to do so much experimental 
work. Originality in text-books is a very commendable 
characteristic, but the authors should know that practic- 
ability is an even more important factor to consider. In its 
present form the book may be of service to a few teachers 
of domestic science and hygiene, but we do not think 
any other useful purpose will be served by its publication. 
De la Méthode dans la Psychologie des Sentiments. By 
F. Rauh. Pp. 305. (Paris: Félix Alcan, 1899.) 
THIs is a valuable monograph the merit of which is un- 
fortunately partly concealed by a singularly obscure and 
unattractive literary style. M. Rauh’s principal object 
is to enter a warning against the growing tendency of 
psychologists to neglect the adequate description of com- 
plicated facts, and to corrupt their science in its infancy 
by excessive reliance upon over-simple metaphysical and 
psychophysical theories. Psychology, as he well points 
out, possesses as yet no such simple and universal 
generalisation as that of the conservation of energy ; in 
NO. 1562, VOL. 60] 
At length they succeeded in obtaining what, 
the present state of the science any single theoretica 
generalisation is premature ; for the full description of 
the facts of mental life we need many points of view, 
each represented by a different tentative hypothesis. 
Thus the emotions, which form the immediate subject of 
the essay, may be studied as concomitants of physiological 
changes in the organism, as embodying a gvasz-judgment 
on the part of the organism as to what is beneficial or 
harmful, as manifestations of the “will to live,” or finally 
as special phenomena calling for independent description 
and classification. Each of these points of view throws 
light upon some characteristic of human emotions, and 
none of them can be neglected in a complete psychology 
of sentiment. In the course of the argument many one- 
sided theories, especially that of Prof. James as to the 
organic concomitants of emotion, receive really trenchant 
criticism. Like most French writers, M. Rauh is par- 
ticularly happy in what may be called “ psychological 
diagnosis”; his too rare descriptions of the various 
emotional “temperaments” are subtle and illuminating. 
On the other hand, he makes occasional slips which 
partly vitiate his reasoning. In his deductions from the 
supposed existence of special “ pain-conducting ” nerves, 
for instance, he forgets to allow for the possibility that 
what the nerve conducts is the special presentative 
element, the “racking,” “stabbing,” or “burning” 
sensation rather than the painfulness of it. Again, he 
scarcely lays enough stress on the fact that our emotional 
state at any moment depends, not on isolated sensations, 
but upon the total complex of our sensations at the 
moment. And, finally, to the present writer at least, the 
conception of ‘psychical forces,” of which M. Rauh 
makes great use, is exceedingly obscure. It is a pity 
that terminology, which has led to so many confusions, 
even in dynamics, should be needlessly transported into 
psychology. AS Eyl. 
Histoire Abrégée de l'Astronomte. Par Ernest Lebon. 
Pp. vii + 288. (Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1899.) 
THIS book, as its title implies, is not intended as a com- 
plete history of the progress of astronomical science 
from the earliest day, but is devoted to rendering a brief 
account of the main steps in this progress, and at the 
same time giving us short biographical sketches of the 
chief workers in this branch of science. The subject is 
divided into three parts. The first deals with the ancient 
period which ends in the middle of the sixteenth cen- 
tury: only eighteen pages are devoted to this portion, 
so that the reader can rightly conclude that only a very 
general sketch has been attempted. The second or 
modern period, extending to the middle of the nine- 
teenth century, commences with the system of Copernicus, 
and ends with an account of the state of the science at 
the time of the death of the illustrious astronomer of 
the Kénigsberg Observatory, Friedrich-Wilhelm Bessel. 
The last, or contemporary, period is contained in 125 
pages. M. Lebon divides this portion of the book into 
ten chapters, dealing in each with the progress made in 
separate branches of the subject. Thus we find first an 
account of the advance made in celestial mechanics, 
then the progress in observational astronomy, spectro- . 
scopy, geodesy, photography, &c. Each of these reviews 
is brought well up to date, and contains a good general 
survey of the progress made. A useful addition to the 
book will be found in the biographical and bibliographical 
dictionary which follows this last portion. Besides a 
small chart of the northern hemisphere, which apparently 
has little utility in such a book as this, the illustrations 
include a set of sixteen processed reproductions of por- 
traits of celebrated astronomers. Not only should 
astronomical readers find this book a welcome addition 
to their libraries, but those interested in the welfare of 
this, the oldest, of sciences, will peruse these pages with 
advantage. 
