OcTOBER 2, 1902] 
NATURE 
547 
“The little which European inquiry has hitherto been 
able to teach us of the real condition of Japan in the 
ancient times shows that the historical representation of 
this period in the ‘ Kojiki’ and ‘ Nihongi’ (upon which 
rest all the later statements of the Japanese) is most 
profoundly penetrated by false principles. The newer 
relations, partly developed from later material, partly 
influenced by Chinese culture, are reflected back upon 
the oldest without due distinction, and the result is a 
confused picture in which the critical inquirer can, it is 
true, frequently separate what is original from subsequent 
additions, but must often let fall his hands in despair.” 
The earliest part of the “ Nihongi” consists of myths, 
pure and simple, and while it is necessary to sift the mass 
of legendary tales which it recounts for the grains of 
truth which it contains—and the grains are there—its 
value is enhanced by the poems of undoubted antiquity 
which are constantly introduced. This mythological 
period extends to the fifth century, and it is upon this 
portion of the history, with extracts from the “ Kojiki,” 
that Dr. Florenz has based his present work. 
Japan is a land of myth. Of a more imaginative race 
than the Chinese, and enriched with the stores of legend 
gathered from the Malay Peninsula and the northern 
mainland of Asia, the Japanese have through all history 
revelled in the weird conceptions of the imagination, and 
even at the present day, unchecked by the veneer of 
civilisation which they have adopted, they see elves and 
fairies on every hill and in every valley, and recognise 
elfin foxes in moments of heightened fancy. 
According to the “ Nihongi,” the creation of the world 
was after this wise, and here again we trace the influence 
of Chinese thought. In the beginning the universe was 
in a state of chaos, out of which bya process of dis- 
integration the lighter and finer portions separated 
themselves from their surroundings and rising upwards 
formed the skies, while the more substantial constituents 
resolved themselves into the world. These two elements 
formed the male and female principles of Nature and | 
begat certain deities, two of whom, Izanaki and Izanami, 
were the first to divide the land from the waters. We 
are told that these deities 
“stood on the floating bridge of heaven and held counsel 
together, saying ‘Is there not a country beneath?’ 
Thereupon they thrust down the jewel spear of heaven 
and groping about therewith found the ocean. The 
| of squared paper for plotting 
Kushi-nada-hime is the lovely maiden whom he rescues 
from the fangs of the serpent or dragon. 
To the comparative mythologist Prof. Florenz’s work 
will be invaluable. But, as it professes to be, it is essen- 
tially a book for the student of folk-lore. By such it will 
be found full of suggestive matter, while it is much 
to be feared that to the ordinary reader it will Be but a 
weariness to the flesh. 
OUR BOOK SHELF. 
An Introduction to Chemistry. By D. S. Macnair, 
Ph.D., B.Sc. Pp. xii + 187. (London: George Bell 
and Sons, 1902.) Price 2s. 
WHATEVER may be thought of the use of text-books in 
teaching elementary science, there can be no doubt as to 
the improvement which has taken place in the character 
of such books in recent years. The change is particularly 
noticeable in volumes dealing with the rudiments of 
chemistry and physics. Instead of the descriptive 
style formerly in vogue, we have now courses of prac- 
tical work connected with a few explanatory paragraphs, 
and the whole constructed upon a plan which aims at 
making the pupil do things for himself and so far as 
possible arrive at his own conclusions. 
Dr. Macnair’s book is based upon this method, and as 
a representative of a good type it deserves a welcome 
from teachers of science. Beginning with simple obser- 
vations and experiments on solubility, the author paves 
the way to the study of the rusting of iron, the atmo- 
| sphere, water, chalk and a few other common bodies, 
| following in a general way the course suggested by Prof. 
Armstrong, which is now followed in many schools, with 
results encouraging both to teachers and pupils. 
As to the educational value of work of the kind 
described by Dr. Macnair, no one who has tried it with 
young pupils desires to go back to the old method of 
teaching chemistry by test-tubing in the laboratory and 
startling experiments in the lecture room. Quantitative 
work which was formerly postponed until pupils were 
able to make an analysis of a simple salt is now taken 
up at the beginning of a course, and early use is made 
results. Dr. Macnair, 
for instance, shows on his twelfth page how solubility 
curves should be constructed from results of experiments. 
To anyone familiar with the excellent work now being 
| done in schools, by the practical study of common proper- 
brine which dripped from the point of the spear coagu- | 
lated and became an island, which received the name 
of Onogoro,” 2.2. self-curdled. 
This legend is interesting as reminding us of the 
Greek myth of Délos, z.e. Manifest, which was so called | 
from its suddenly emerging from the sea. Délos was, as 
will be remembered, the centre or hub of the Cyclades, 
which derived their name, do kvkNov, from the wheel. 
Another and a still more striking parallel is furnished by 
the account which relates that “‘ Poseidon with one blow 
of his trident made the island surge from the bottom of 
the ocean.” In other lands besides Greece we recognise 
this legend under varying forms, and, indeed, on almost 
every page of Dr. Florenz’s work we find traces of world- 
wide myths. One of the most widely spread of these is 
that of St. George and the Dragon. Sosa no wo no Mi- 
koto in this case represents the Christian St. George and 
NO. 1718, VOL. 66] 
ties of matter, the book adds little that is new, and 
many of the experiments will be recognised. But this 
does not make the book any the less useful as a practical 
manual containing a course of work suitable for intro- 
ducing pupils to methods of scientific study. 
A Tentative List of the Flowering Plants and Ferns 
Sor the County of Cornwall, including the Scilly Isles. 
By F. H. Davey. Pp. xvi+276. (Penryn: F. Cheg- 
widden, 1902.) 
THE spirit in which Mr. F. H. Davey has taken up the 
| task of preparing a “Flora of Cornwall,” which shall 
rank with Druce’s “ Flora of Berkshire” and other similar 
handbooks bodes well for success. In two years and a 
half this tentative list has been formulated, and as one 
looks through the list of species and records there is 
ample proof of excellent work. The principle of the 
book is to give the first record for each species, besides a 
complete list of localities for species and varieties. Also 
it is sought to amplify the published list of plants found 
in Devon, but wanting in Cornwall, and to obtain details 
of local peculiarities of growth, as well as local names or 
any plant lore which can be unearthed. In the book 
