66 



NA TURE 



[November i8, 1909 



primary feature. The three great divisions of man- 

 kind obtained in this way are subdivided according 

 to stature or the shape of the head. Whether this is 

 the ideal method of classification or not, it serves as 

 a basis for the orderly description of the various 

 known races. The description of the supernatural 

 beliefs, weapons, houses, &c., of the Oceanic peoples 

 is especially full and complete. 



The latest views on the .\frican races and their 

 relations to each other are clearlv set out. The 

 native races of Asia are described, though an unduly 

 large proportion of the treatise appears to be devoted 

 to Indian races. The description of European races 

 is comparatively superficial. So little appears to be 

 known about the physical characters of the native 

 races of the American continent that the author adopts 

 a geographical classification, which makes it some- 

 what difficult to realise the physical relations of these 

 races to each other. Some of Dr. Haddon's views on 

 the relations of races to each other would be disputed 

 by the latest authorities ; for example, the view that 

 the Tasmanians belonged to the same race as the 

 Papuans would hardly, we think, be accepted by 

 Prof. Sollas. 



There are ten plates of representative members of 

 leading races, and a very useful glossarv of ethno- 

 logical terms at the end of the book. The value of 

 the book to a beginner in ethnology would have been 

 considerably enhanced if it had contained a few maps. 

 This little book is a welcome contribution to anthropo- 

 logical literature, and contains much valuable and 

 accurate information not otherwise easily accessible. 



(i) Dcr menschliche Organismus uiid seine Gcsunder- 

 haltung. By Dr. A. Menzer. Pp. 159. (Leipzig : 

 Quelle and Meyer, 1909.) Price 1.25 marks. 



(2) Uiisere Sinnesorgane und ihre Fiinktion. By Dr. 

 R. Mangold. Pp. vii+147. (Leipzig: Quelle and 

 Mever, 1909.) Price 1.25 marks. 



(3) ^'c moderne Chiriirgie fiir gebildete Laien. By 

 Dr. H. Tillmanns. Pp. iv+156. (Leipzig: Quelle 

 and Meyer, 1908.) Price 1.25 marks. 



(4) Die Gcschlechtskraiikheitcn, ihr ]Vese>i, ihre Ver- 

 breitung, Bckdmpjung und Verhiitung. By Prof. 

 .Schumburg. Pp. vi + 102. (Leipzig: B. G. Teub- 

 ner, 1909.) Price 1.25 marks. 



These four little books are examples belonging to two 

 series of publications, which embrace a number of 

 works on religion, philosophy, literature, art, history, 

 geography, science, &c. They give a clear, concise 

 and popular exposition of the various subjects with 

 which they deal. From our insular standpoint in some 

 instances certain subjects are discussed in a more open 

 manner than we are accustomed to. 



In the first book on the list, after a brief description 

 of the anatomy, histology, and physiology of man, the 

 various subjects of the causation of disease, infectious 

 diseases, clothing, food, and general hygiene are 

 simply and adequately described. 



In the second book, the various organs of the 

 special senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, 

 are described, and the mechanism of their ,-iction, so 

 far as is known, is detailed. In "Modern Surgery" 

 the reader is introduced to surgical theory and' prac- 

 tice as regards the Rontgen rays, anaesthesia, arrest 

 of haemorrhage, sterilisation and antiseptics, prepara- 

 tion for operation, microorganisms, and their relation 

 to disease, inflammation, burns, wounds, cancer, &c. 

 The book would form an excellent little text-book for 

 nurses. 



The fourth book deals in a very outspoken manner 

 with the subject of venereal diseases, their conse- 

 quences, spread, and prevention. The diseases are 

 briefly described, the various measures of prevention 

 detailed, and the social evils of prostitution and their 

 NO. 2090, VOL. 82] 



remedy are discussed. We should consider it hardly 

 advisable to place such a book in the hands of the 

 general educated public, unless the reader had actual 

 need to study the question with which it deals. .Ml 

 the books are clearlv printed and freely and adequately 

 illustrated. ' ' R. T. H. 



Plant Galls of Great Britain. A Nature-Study Hand- 

 book. By Ldward T. Connold. Pp. xii + 292. 

 (London : Adlard and Son, 1909.) 

 This volume will certainly prove to be of great use to 

 all students of insect and plant life. The author's 

 previous works, viz., " British Vegetable Galls," pub- 

 lished in 1901, and "British Oak Galls," published in 

 1908, are already well known. The present book is 

 intended for the pocket as a guide in the field to 

 botanists and collectors. The descriptions are con- 

 densed and brief, but Mr. Connold has not forgotten 

 the value of good illustrations, and each description is 

 accompanied by an excellent and typical photograph of 

 the gall described. .\s the author points out, the 

 systematic study of all British plant galls is as yet 

 by no means complete. The subject offers a wide and 

 interesting field for further research. This volume is 

 well adapted to create an interest in these interesting' 

 vegetable structures, and to encourage the beginner 

 to pursue his studies further. 



The opening chapters give ample directions as re- 

 gards the time when, the place where, and the manner 

 how, to collect and study the various galls. The gall- 

 producers, their habits and the principles of gall form- 

 ation, are also adequately dealt with. 



The list of English and Latin names of the host 

 plants mentioned in the volume will be found of great 

 use in the field. The various nomenclatures are be- 

 coming a vexed question, and a useful list of synonyms 

 of gall producers has, therefore, been included, and 

 at the end a very full index is given. The book can- 

 not fail to serve its purpose as a field companion for 

 the practical student of nature. 



Tlie Rhodesian Miner's Handbook. By F. P. Mennell. 



Second edition. Illustrated. Pp. 1(37. (Buluwayo : 



Ellis .Mien, 1909.) Price 5s. 

 Tins is the latest of a series of books issued from the 

 Rhodesia Museum. They are presumably intended to 

 interest and instruct the settlers in the country, and 

 to promote the prosperity of the industries of 

 Rhodesia. Looked at in this light it may be that the 

 book under review was well worth producing, and 

 will be useful to its readers, but it is of little interest 

 except to a prospector who has had no scientific train- 

 ing. It contains chapters of an elementary character on 

 geology, mineralogy, ore deposits, prospecting, &c., 

 and a quantity of miscellaneous information as to the 

 present condition of the mining industry in Rhodesia. 

 This is divided into sections, under the heads of pre- 

 cious metals, base metals, precious stones, and coal. 

 The relative importance of the industries is indicated 

 by the fact that in 1907 the gold represented nearly 

 94 per cent, of the total mineral production, and 

 amounted in value to 148^ 15^. per head of the white 

 population, as compared, for example, with about 

 100/. per head in the Transvaal, and 261. per head in 

 Western .Australia. 

 Los Mitodos de Integracion. By Carlos Wargny. 



Pp. 234. (Santiago de Chile : Cervantes, 1907.) 

 It is interesting to find that Spanish students in Chile 

 study the integral calculus : otherwise this compilation 

 calls for no special remark. It contains a collection of 

 elementary examples of indefinite integration, many 

 of which are worked out in elaborate detail. On pp. 

 12S-9 Gregory's series and the expansion of arc sin x 

 are given, without proper indication of the limits of 

 the integrals from which they are derived. 



