October 12, 191 1] 



NATURE 



481 



and on its intestinal flora, are all treated. Finally, to 

 every section or subdivision of a section a description 

 of the physical, chemical, and biological methods of 

 investigation is appended. 



That we have much yet to learn concerning many 

 1 of the natural processes involved is apparent from a 

 perusal of such a section as that on the heating and 

 firing of hay. This appears to take place in three 

 Bages, a first in which the temperature rises to 

 45-50 C, a second in which the temperature rises 

 from 50 C. to 70 C, and a third which proceeds 

 above 70 C. The first two stages are caused by the 

 activities of micro-organisms involving processes of 

 decomposition and oxidation ("thermophilic" bacteria 

 being active between 50 and 70 C), but the cause in 

 the third stage of the production of heat above 70° C. 

 and ultimately culminating in ignition is not so 

 obvious. It is probably a physico-chemical process due 

 to the production of carbonaceous and other matters 

 which adsorb, condense, and oxidise the hydrogen, 

 marsh and other inflammable gases, which have 

 resulted from decomposition in the earlier stages, and 

 cause their ignition, much in the same way as spongy 

 platinum causes the ignition of hydrogen. 



Nor is the subject-matter strictly confined to " bac- 

 teriological " details, but if others are of importance 

 in relation to the general treatment of a subject, they 

 are included. Thus, as regards milk, not only is the 

 importance of streptococci discussed, but the nature 

 and significance of the cellular elements which are 

 constantly present in less or greater number are re- 

 viewed. These cellular elements when in small 

 numbers have generally been considered to be leuco- 

 cytes, when in large numbers as pus cells and to be 

 abnormal, but investigation has shown that under 

 normal conditions and with perfectly healthy cows 

 these cells are occasionally present in enormous 

 numbers; all this is summarised. 



Considerable space is also devoted to the chemistry 

 of the changes and decompositions which occur in the 

 various processes, and while the vegetable micro- 

 organisms claim most attention, some reference is 

 made to the protozoa and higher animal organisms, 

 e.g. earth-worms and their importance. Had the 

 work been compiled later, doubtless more space would 

 have been devoted to the protozoa, the treatment of 

 which as it stands is too brief. 



The book, which is not illustrated, is clearly printed 

 on good paper with numbered lines for facility of 

 reference, and concludes with very full and complete 

 indexes of authors and subjects. 



(2) This little book, by the same author as the pre- 

 ceding, gives in the briefest outline a general account 

 of bacteriological methods followed bv a series of 

 simple practical lessons on the bacteriology and bio- 

 chemistry of milk, manure, and soil. The student 

 who works through these lessons will certainly gain 

 a considerable amount of knowledge of the subjects 

 treated, and will be ready to undertake more advanced 

 work. Many illustrations are given, most of which 

 are good and appropriate, though the methods of in- 

 oculating tubes given in Figs. 19 and 24 seem clumsy 

 and archaic. R. T. H. 



NO. 2189, VOL. 87] 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



British Rainfall, 1910. On the Distribution of Rain 

 in Space and Time over tlie British Isles during the 

 Year 1910, as recorded by nearly 5000 Observers 

 in Great Britain and Ireland, and discussed with 

 Articles upon Various Branches of Rainfall Work. 

 By Dr. H. R. Mill. The fiftieth annual volume. 

 Pp. 112 + 328. (London: Edward Stanford, 1911.) 

 Price 10s. 



The author remarks in his report to the trustees that 

 the chief object of the rainfall organisation is to pre- 

 sent the results of the labours of the observers in the 

 best and most useful way. An inspection of the volume 

 under review leaves no doubt that this desirable aim 

 has been fully attained. As in former years, the work 

 is divided into three principal sections, including, inter 

 alia, (1) organisation and special articles, (2) monthly 

 and seasonal rainfall and its relation to the average 

 and heavy falls of rain (see Nature, February 2), 

 and (3) general table of annual rainfall and number of 

 rain-days at 4874 stations. The cartographic treat- 

 ment has been carried further than in previous 

 volumes ; the maps referring to heavy falls on rainfall 

 days are of exceptional interest, and include a series 

 of remarkable thunderstorms which occurred chiefly 

 in the south of England from June 5 to 10, with a 

 coloured map (as frontispiece) showing the distribution 

 of torrential rains in the Thames valley on June 9. 



The most laborious of the changes this year is the 

 more satisfactory arrangement of the stations of the 

 general table for England and Wales in river basins, 

 although for convenience of reference the counties 

 are retained as the units. This forms the subject of a 

 special article, illustrated by maps of each division 

 showing the county boundaries and watershed lines. 

 The treatment of the stations in Scotland and Ireland 

 has been postponed. Another laborious piece of work 

 has been the introduction of a new rainfall average 

 based on the thirty-five years 1875-1909. For the 

 British Isles generally and for Ireland this makes 

 practicallv no change, so far as the annual totals are 

 concerned, from the thirty years' average. For Eng- 

 land the new average is 5 per cent, less, in Wales 

 3 per cent, less, and in Scotland 4 per cent. more. 



In a special article on the greatest rainfall which may 

 occur on the wettest day of the year it is shown that 

 during the last forty-seven years falls of 4 inches have 

 occurred in a great number of counties, even exceed- 

 ing- 6 inches in a few. Another useful article on the 

 rain-gauge in theorv and practice will remove several 

 of the difficulties usually experienced by beginners of 

 rainfall observations. We cannot conclude this notice 

 without expressing regret that this very valuable 

 organisation is not self-supporting, and that a con- 

 siderable financial burden has to be borne by the 

 director. 



Partridges and Partridge Manors. By Captain A. 



Maxwell. Pp. xii + 327. (London : A. and C. 



Black, 191 1.) Price 7s. 6d. net. 

 What the author accomplished with the assistance of 

 Mr. George Malcolm in 1910 for the grouse he has 

 succeeded in doing single-handed for the partridge in 

 191 1, and the praise we felt bound to accord to his 

 former effort we have pleasure in re-echoing in the 

 case of the present beautifully illustrated volume. It 

 contains, in fact, practically all that the sportsman 

 oug-ht to know with regard to the plump brown game- 

 bird of our stubbles, and much that ought to interest 

 the ornithologist. For Captain Maxwell appears to 

 be a good field observer himself, and has likewise 

 availed himself Iarsfelv of the stores of information 



