40 
are therefore recommended, and have indeed been adopted by 
many of the County Councils. Mr, Webb's concluding sum- 
mary and his cbservations on methods of training teachers, 
which are the outcome of many years’ practical experience, 
may be commended to all interested in the subject. Much good 
is hoped to result from the Nature-Study Exhibition to be held 
in London in July. Educationists will then ‘‘ be enabled to 
compare the results of the efforts to promote ‘ nature-study ’ 
which are now being made in many directions and under varied 
conditions, and in this way an opportunity will be afforded to 
shape and to consolidate opinion upon a branch of our edu- 
cational economy which has escaped hitherto that concentrated 
attention so necessary for its development.” 
THE May number of the Contemporary Review contains two 
articles upon scientific subjects. 
the present state of our knowledge of different forms of radio- 
activity and Mr. J. B. Carruthers deals with a subject of a more 
immediate economic interest, perhaps, viz. plant sanitation. 
After an explanatory introduction, necessary to introduce the 
general reader to the terms he afterwards employs, Prof. Ramsay 
gives a historical sketch of the work done in the direction of 
perfecting our. knowledge of radiation, from the time of Davy 
down to the present day. He explains the general character- 
istics of ultra-violet, kathode and X-rays, and proceeds to treat 
in more detail the work of Poincaré, Henry, Curie, Debierne, 
Schmidt, Rutherford, Becquerel and others. In conclusion, 
Prof. Ramsay points the moral upon which NATURE has always 
insisted—‘*‘ Whatever be the true explanations of these mysteries, 
it cannot be denied that they form the beginnings of what may, 
and almost certainly will, affect the material future of the human 
race... . It is true that investigators like Hertz, Lenard, 
Becquerel and the Curies do not make practical applications of 
their discoveries ; but there is never any lack of men who dis- 
cover their practical value and apply them to ends useful to 
mankind. All the more reason, therefore, that every encourage- 
ment should be given to the investigator, for it is to him that 
all our advances in physical and material well-being are ulti- 
mately due.” Mr. Carruthers urges that if the same care were 
taken with plants as has been done to eliminate disease in men 
and animals, there would be many fewer plant troubles than the 
agriculturist has to contend with at the present time. He 
pleads for the introduction into this country of the means taken 
by the State in America, continental countries and some of our 
colonies, to discover and eradicate disease in plants. 
WE have received the ‘‘ Year Book of New South Wales,” 
which contains much useful information intended mainly for those 
wishing to settle in the country. The history, physical features, 
soils, minerals, water-supplies, trade and commerce, crown 
lands and many other subjects are dealt with. 
Tue Yorkshire Geological and Polytechnic Society gives 
abundant evidence of its flourishing state in the last number of 
its Proceedings (new series, vol. xiv. part li.), which contains no 
less than twelve papers and twenty-eight plates. We are glad 
Prof. W. Ramsay describes | 
NATURE 
| sists of twenty cards, measuring 28 x 20 inches. 
| May 8, 1902 
WE have received the sixth set (reduced copies) of Blackie’s 
South Kensington drawing cards, which portrays ‘‘ plant forms” 
in the shape of leaves, fruits and flowers. Each full-sized set con~ 
As the previous 
set deals with advanced ornament, the present series might with 
advantage have been more complex ; also the comparison of the 
natural object and the same conventionally treated would have 
been instructive. As the reduced copies present the objects full 
size, it would be possible to combine the natural and the 
conventional on the same card without unduly diminishing the 
proportions. 
Tue bibliography of the literature of psychology and cognate 
| subjects, issued annually under the title of the ‘‘ Psychological 
Index” by the Psychological Review, is a very serviceable 
publication. The index for 1901, compiled by Prof. H. C. 
Warren, with the cooperation of Messrs. J. L. des Bancels, 
L. Hirschlaff, C. D. Isenberg and W. H. R. Rivers, has just been 
received, and it contains an orderly and comprehensive cata- 
logue of French, German and English psychological publications 
issued during the year. There are nearly three thousand titles. 
THE third edition of Prof. Erdmann’s comprehensive ‘‘ Lehr- 
buch der anorganischen Chemie”’ has been published by Messrs. 
F. Vieweg and Son, Brunswick. The original work was 
reviewed in these columns nearly three years ago (vol. Ix. p. 
289), and the new edition does not differ materially from it, 
though its value has been increased by revision and by the 
addition of about thirty new pages—bringing the total number 
up to 788 pages. The first part of the book is concerned with 
elementary chemical principles and methods, the second with 
non-metallic elements and the third with the metals. A long 
section at the end deals with the periodic law and some aspects 
of physical chemistry. 
THE additions to the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the 
past week include a Sooty Mangabey: (Cercocebus fuliginosus) 
from West Africa, presented by Miss Frost; a Long-eared Owl 
(Aszo otus) European, presented by Miss Kate M. Hall; two 
Kestrels (Z¢nunculus alaudartus) British, presented by Mr. 
Austin; a Black Francolin (7vamcolinus vulgaris) from the 
Coast of Syria, presented by Commodore Winsloe, H.M.S. 
St. George, a Short Python (Python certus) from Borneo, 
presented by Mr. L. Wray ; a Macaque Monkey (acaczs cyno- 
molgus), a Bungoma River Turtle (Zmyda granosa) from India, 
two Grey Monitors ( Varanus griseus) from North Africa, a 
Anaconda (Hunectes notoeus), a Western Boa (oa occzdentalis) 
| from Paraquay, ten Tessellated Snakes ( 7ropzdonotus tessellatus)s 
to note a contribution fromithe pen of Prof. McKenny Hughes, | 
on the physical geography of the district around Ingleborough, 
There are papers on glacial drift, on Carboniferous fishes and 
other subjects, and we may call special attention to a ‘‘ first 
paper,” by Mr. Robert Kidston, on the flora of the Carboniferous 
period, illustrated by thirteen excellent photographic plates of 
coal plants, There is also a memoir, accompanied by a portrait, 
of the late Mr. W. Percy Sladen. 
In Appendix iv. to the Kew Bulletin is given a list of the 
staffs at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and at such other 
botanical establishments at home, in India and the Colonies 
as are in correspondence with Kew. 
NO. 1697, VOL. 66] 
two Dahl’s Snakes (Zamenis dahii), a Leopardine Snake (Coluber 
leopardinus), three AZsculapian Snakes (Coéuber longissimus), a 
Lacertine Snake (Coluber monspessulana), a Dark-green Snake 
(Zamenzs gemonensis) European, a Pel’s Owl (Scotopelia peli) 
from Africa, a Many-zoned Hawk (Medierax polyzonus) from 
Morocco, deposited ; a Brown Capuchin (Cebus fatuel/us) from 
Guiana, ten Common Teal (Querguedula crecca) European, a 
Black-pointed Tequexin (7wpinambis nigropunctatus) from 
South America, purchased; a Barbary Wild Sheep (Ovés 
tragelaphus), two Mouflons (Ovis mustmon), a Rufous-necked 
Wallaby (Macropus ruficoliis) born in the Gardens. 
OUR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 
CHANGES ON THE Moon’s SURFACE.—That the moon is a 
dead planet, devoid of water-vapour and air and consequently 
lacking any form of life, either of the animal or vegetable world, 
has long been the belief of astronomers. New light upon the 
history of our satellite is, however, beginning to dawn, and it 
seems that the imagination of Mr. H. G. Wells, which illustrated 
so vividly the seasonal changes on the moon’s surface and the 
appearance of vegetation of rapid growth, is supported by actual 
