Oct. 28, 1886] 
NATORE 
615 
(8) rational fractions ; (9) continuation of theory of num- 
bers (Lambert’s theorem) ; (10) irrational functions ; (11) 
arithmetical theory of surds; (12) complex numbers ; 
(13) ratio, proportion, variation; (14) on conditional 
equations in general (elimination, transformation) ; (15) 
variation of a function ; (16) equations and functions of 
first degree (determinants, contour lines) ; (17) equations 
of the second degree; (18) general theory of integral 
functions (Newton’s theorem, Lagrange’s interpolation 
formula, maxima and minima); (19) solution of pro- 
blems ; (20) arithmetic, geometric, and allied series ; (21) 
logarithms ; (22) theory of interest and annuities. There 
"isa large collection of exercises: with regard to these, 
after reading the address, we are prepared to find that 
the author deprecates the idea of a reader’s working 
through all these at the first reading: they are given for 
the sake of variety, and to be worked at different times of 
reading. Answers are given at the end. We have put 
the writer’s own words in the forefront, that our readers 
may be reminded of what he has said in the past and 
informed of what he has now attempted to do. ‘The 
result is a work of singular ability and freshness of treat- 
ment. It follows no previous leader, it will give rise to 
shoals, possibly, of imitators, but it will bear boiling down 
by the “fifth-rate workmen” whom the Professor lashes. 
It is not a book for our elementary classes, but it will be 
an excellent work to put into the hands of some of our 
sixth-form pupils. It is admirably adapted for thoughtful 
students at our Universities who have not the dread of 
examinations before their eyes, but can afford to go 
deeper into the subject than the ordinary run of our 
students do. The book is excellently printed and is of a 
handy size. We hope the second part is well advanced. 
THE MAMMALS OF CENTRAL AMERICA 
Biologia Centrali-Americana. Mammalia. By Edward 
R. Alston. With an Introduction by P. L. Sclater, 
M.A., F.R.S. 4to. (London: R. H. Porter, 1879-82.) 
ape progress of various portions of the great work 
upon the fauna and flora of Central America 
undertaken by Messrs. Salvin and Godman has been 
from time to time noted in our columns. Each section 
of the extensive and almost exhaustive mass of material 
which the industry and liberality of the projectors and 
editors of the work have accumulated, has been placed in 
the hands of some one specially qualified to render them 
available for the purposes of science. No one could 
have been found more fitting to undertake the description 
of the mammals than the late Edward R. Alston, whose 
lamented and untimely death deprived zoology of one 
whose careful and conscientious method of work gave 
promise of a career of great benefit to the progress of the 
special branch to which he had devoted himself. He 
was unfortunately unable even to complete the work 
under review, which owes its finishing touches to the pen 
of Mr. Sclater. 
Compared with the general mammalian fauna of the 
world, that of the region treated of by Mr. Alston is 
rather limited. 181 species are enumerated, of which 52 
are Bats, and.60 Rodents. Of the P77ates, 10 species 
of Cebide and 1 of Hapalzde are described, all forms 
proper to the Neotropical region. Their extension 
into. Central America is a subject of much interest 
which has been particularly investigated by Mr Sclater , 
whose observations are extended or confirmed by Mr. 
Alston. One species only (Afe/es vellerosus) is known to 
inhabit Mexico, reaching as far north as the 23rd parallel. 
The /zsectivora are represented only by 5 small species 
of Soricide. The Carnivora are more numerous. The 
felide comprise the southern Jaguar, Ocelot, Margay, 
Eyra, and Jaguarondi, the widely distributed Puma, and 
the northern Bay Lynx. The dogs are all northern 
forms, viz., Canis lupus, C. latrans, and Vulpes virgint- 
anus. The Mustelide are well represented by both Neo- 
tropical and Nearctic forms. The two North American 
Bears, Ursus horribilis and U. americanus, both extend 
as far as Northern Mexico, and are therefore included 
within the scope of the work. But the most interesting 
of the Carnivora are the curiously generalised group of 
Procyontde. Of 8 recognised species of this family, 
7 are included in the limits of Central America, the 
Brazilian Masuwa rufa being the one exception. Of 
special interest are the rare and little known Bassaris 
astuta and B. sumachristi (of which a new figure is given), 
and Bassaricyon gabbi. The Ungulata are, as is well 
known, very poorly represented in the actual fauna of the 
American continent, though so abundant and varied in 
former ages. Four deer of the genus Cardzacus, the 
northern Big-Horn and Prong-buck, two Peccaries and 
two Tapirs are all that can be mustered as denizens of 
the Central American region. It should be mentioned 
that the distinguishing cranial characters of Dow’s Tapir 
are carefully worked out and figured. A fair proportion 
of the essentially Neotropical Edentates and Marsupials 
extend beyond the Isthmus of Panama, including the 
three modifications of the Anteater type, an Armadillo, 
three Sloths, and seven Opossums. 
The Cetacea of the coast are not included in the work, 
but there is a full notice of the Manatee, containing 
copious extracts from Dampier’s quaint but graphic de- 
scription of the habits and distribution of the animal in 
his time. As in so many other cases, the correct scien- 
tific designation of this creature is a matter of consider- 
able perplexity. We quite agree with Mr. Alston in 
keeping Manatus for the generic name, but azstralzs can 
hardly be accepted for any of the species at present dis- 
criminated. It was originally applied to a combination 
of the African and American forms, as opposed to dovealis, 
the northern Manatee or Rhytina, and if retained should 
belong to the former, as the African habitat is mentioned 
first by Gmelin (1788) and Tilesius (1812), and is the only 
one given by Shaw (1800). Cuvier (1809) first distinguished 
the African from the American species by their osteo- 
logical characters, calling them respectively “ Lamantin 
du Senegal” and “ Lamantin d’Amérique,” which names 
were subsequently Latinised by Desmarest (1817) into 
M. senegalensis and M. americanus. This last name 
is therefore certainly preferable to 47. australis for the 
West Indian animal. In a recent monograph of the 
genus, Dr. C. Hartlaub (Zoologische Jahrbuch, Bd. 1.) has 
carefully investigated the synonymy, and admits two 
species as inhabitants of the New World, JV. datirostris 
(Harlan) and M. znunguis (Natterer), M7. americanus 
being suppressed as a compound of the two. The Central 
American form is referred by Hartlaub to J. /atzrostris, 
