‘Marcu 3, 1923] 
i Ni tt ee 
NATURE 
285 

tales must not be essa too far as evidence of pre- 
historic or ancient life. They have wandered too much 
to be distinctive of special types of culture—what is 
permanent is the incident, which is combined in many 
ways according to the fancy of the story-teller. The 
book, as a whole, is interesting and suggestive, and 
supplies excellent reading for children. 
Marine Works: a Practical Treatise for Maritime 
Engineers, Landowners, and Public Authorities. By 
E.Latham. Pp. xii+174. (London: Crosby Lock- 
wood and Son, 1922.) 16s. net. 
Tue scope of Mr. Latham’s book is fairly wide, as may 
be seen from the following brief list.of subjects treated : 
waves, maritime structures, tidal berths, pile-driving, 
marsh lands, coast defence, navigable rivers, scour 
and deep-water quays. There is also an appendix 
on legal aspects of maritime engineering. The treat- 
ment of these subjects is a little uneven. Some parts 
of the volume are detailed and contain much useful 
information, particularly in regard to unit cost prices 
of work actually carried out. Elsewhere, there is a 
superficiality a little out of keeping with the title of 
“ Treatise.” For example, in the first chapter the 
author states that ‘‘ the theory of wave action is of 
little practical value,” and dismisses the matter with 
some scanty reference to certain writers who would 
scarcely claim that their contributions to the literature 
of the subject are as weighty and authoritative as 
those by others whose names are ignored. This rather 
slighting allusion to theory is scarcely justified by the 
facts. There are other opinions and views expressed, 
to which exception might be taken, but apart there- 
from, there is much that is useful as an addition to 
technical knowledge. The book is stated to be the 
outcome of sixteen years’ professional practice, and as 
such should be of value to practical engineers. 
(1) Second Year College Chemistry. Pp. xit+311. 155. 
net. (2) Second Year College Chemistry : a Manual 
of Laboratory Exercises. Pp. vii+115. 7s. 6d. net. 
By Prof. W. H. Chapin. (New York: J. Wiley 
and Sons, Inc. ; London: Chapman and Hall, Ted, 
1922.) 
(1) Pror. Cuaptn’s book has, for English readers, a 
somewhat misleading title. It is not an elementary 
treatise on inorganic chemistry, but a clear and very 
interesting introduction to general and physical 
chemistry—‘ the general principles which are the 
framework of our science.” The gas laws, atomic and 
molecular theories (including the periodic system, 
radioactivity and the structure of the atom), solutions, 
equilibrium, and electro-chemistry, are all reviewed 
from the modern point of view, and the result is a 
readable, accurate, and stimulating book for junior 
students in universities. 
(2) This is a companion volume to the ‘“‘ Second Year 
College Chemistry.” The experiments include an ele- 
mentary course in practical physical chemistry, and 
some of them are new. Although the practical courses 
in English institutions are differently arranged, Prof. 
Chapin’s book will be found useful by teachers in the 
physical chemistry laboratory, as well as by lecturers 
on this subject. 
NO. 2783, VOL. 111] 
Secret Sects of Syria and the Lebanon; a Consideration 
of their Origin, Creeds, and Religious Ceremonies, and 
their Connection with and Influence upon Modern Free- 
masonry. By B. H.Springett. Pp. 351. (London: 
G. Allen and Unwin, Ltd., 1922.) 12s. 6d. net. 
MR. SPRINGETT?’s aim is to show that the rites of Free- 
masonry are derived from the mystic religions of the 
East. These, in turn, he holds, can be traced through 
the ancient religions of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the 
stellar and solar cults of prehistoric times. He attempts 
to prove his case by a statement of the esoteric beliefs 
to which initiates were introduced by a regular grada- 
tion in such early cults as the Eleusinian mysteries, 
Mithraism, Zoroastrianism, the doctrines of Pythagoras, 
the Gnostics, and the Manicheans, as well as in Moham- 
medanism and its various sects. He suggests that 
Freemasonry can be connected with these beliefs 
through the Knights Templar who, he holds, had 
probably adopted the tenets of the "Manicheans and 
had been influenced to a considerable degree by the 
Ismzli, the followers of the Old Man of the Mountains, 
known to the medieval world as Assassins. It may be 
pointed out that in many cases our knowledge of these 
secret tenets is of doubtful accuracy, while the evidence 
against the Templars is of little value. Owing to the 
author’s lack of archeological knowledge, many of his 
arguments will not bear critical examination, while 
they embody a number of errors in matter of detail. 
Quimica Experimental. By Prof. Roman Galarza. 
I: Mineral. Curso de Quimica Cientifica, con los 
Principios Recientes de la Fisico-Quimica, para Uso 
de las Escuelas Normales y Colegios Nacionales. 
Pp. 128. (Cérdoba: Angel Alvarez, 1922.) 
Tue volume before us is an introductory treatise on a 
very original plan. There is a full account of laboratory 
arts, with many useful recipes and practical hints ; a 
very interesting historical narrative, which embodies a 
good deal of material not usually met with; and a 
description of some of the common elements, including 
physical chemistry. The book would be found very 
interesting and useful by chemical students learning 
Spanish. There are some trifling errors: Newton 
“nacido en Voolsthospe,’ which reminds one of the 
English Alchemist ‘“ Germspreiser ” [James Price] of 
Figuier. 
More Beetles. By J. Henri Fabre. Translated by 
A. Teixeira de Mattos. Pp. vilit+322. (London: 
Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., 1922.) 8s. 6d. net. 
Tuts is the fourth and last volume on beetles in the 
collected English edition of Fabre’s entomological works. 
It is of special interest in containing the complete 
account of the habits of the dung-beetle Minotaurus 
typheus, which, almost alone among insects, presents 
the phenomenon of the male collaborating for many 
weeks with the female in providing accommodation and 
provisioning the larder for the offspring. In several 
chapters Fabre’s scorn of the theory of evolution is 
strongly in evidence, notwithstanding that he adduces 
numerous instances of exquisite adaptations of struc- 
tures to the habits of individual species, and at least 
one of sexual selection. 
