538 



NA TURE 



[October 2 i, 1922 



of its trustworthy character that scarcely any statement 

 contained in it has had to be withdrawn in the prepara- 

 tion of the new edition. The subject-matter has been 

 widened by the inclusion of further particulars con- 

 cerning alloy steels of the class frequently employed 

 in automobile construction, and by the addition of 

 sections on specifications, in regard to which the author 

 expresses decided opinions, based on a wide experience. 

 The treatise is of more general interest to the metallur- 

 gist than might be assumed from its title, since the 

 description of the materials and processes of case- 

 hardening and of the defects that may occur in case- 

 hardened objects, involves the discussion of many 

 other points of importance in the treatment and use of 

 steel. On all these subjects, the advice given is sound 

 and admirably clear in its expression. Only two minor 

 points have been noted for criticism. There is no 

 mention of nichrome carburising boxes, although these 

 are now frequently used, and justify by their long life 

 the increased cost. Plating with copper, as a means 

 of local protection against carburisation, is still spoken 

 of as unsatisfactory, although it has been practised 

 with great success in the construction of aero-engine 

 part^. 



(3) The third work on our list is an elementary hand- 

 book on iron-founding. It contains a simple descrip- 

 tion of foundry methods, and the illustrations include 

 a series of photographs of the mould for a gas-engine 

 cylinder at various stages. Moulding is considered 

 much more fully than melting, and the book is well 

 adapted to give a general idea of the processes used in 

 preparing moulds, and of the organisation of a foundry. 

 The theoretical side is weak, and some very erroneous 

 statements as to fuel and thermochemistry would have 

 been better omitted. The printing and illustrations 

 are good. C. H. Desch. 



The Snakes of Ceylon. 

 Ophidia Toprobanica, or The Snakes of Ceylon. By 

 Col. Frank Wall. Pp. xxii + 581 + 1 map. (Col- 

 ombo : Colombo Museum, 1921.) 



A GOOD deal has been written on the subject of 

 the snakes of Ceylon. Thus Gunther's " Rep- 

 tiles of British India" (1864), and Boulenger's "Fauna 

 of British India — Reptiles and Batrachians " (1890), 

 both include descriptions, and in the case of the former 

 work, remarks on the habits of many of the snakes 

 inhabiting Ceylon. There is also the " Snakes of 

 Ceylon" by Abercromby, a small popular treatise 

 which appeared in 1910. Except for the last-named 

 work, which is very incomplete, there is, however, 

 no book which deals solely with the snakes of Ceylon, 

 NO. 2764, VOL. I IO] 



apart from those inhabiting India, and Col. Wall, an 

 enthusiastic naturalist and specialist on Indian snakes, 

 in producing the volume under review has succeeded 

 in filling a long-felt want. 



The author in his work gives an account of the 

 marine snakes which may be met with around the 

 shores, as well as the terrestrial forms. A full descrip- 

 tion is given of every snake, and the determination 

 of the genera and species is often facilitated by 

 useful, if somewhat unscientific, keys. Except when 

 dealing with the sea-snakes, Col. Wall has in most 

 cases adopted the nomenclature used in Boulenger's 

 Catalogue of the British Museum. Sometimes the 

 generic and specific names have been altered. It is 

 impossible without going thoroughly into the various 

 contested points to say whether the author is in every 

 case justified in departing from Boulenger's classifica- 

 tion, although he occasionally appears to have good 

 reasons for so doing. We are not, however, always 

 inspired with confidence in Col. Wall's judgment. 

 Thus " until I am satisfied of their specific unity I 

 prefer to regard them as distinct species " is the 

 dogmatic reason he gives when advocating specific 

 distinction for certain forms of Kraits, held by Boulenger, 

 in spite of their distinctive coloration, to be only 

 geographical varieties of the same species. 



A feature of the book is the very full account given of 

 the habits of the snakes. The author has had practical 

 experience of the reptiles in their native haunts, and his 

 descriptions of their feeding and breeding habits add 

 greatly to the value of the work. There are also some 

 interesting remarks on the subject of distribution. 

 Many snakes inhabiting upland regions have a very 

 restricted habitat, neither ascending nor descending 

 beyond certain limits. The elevated ranges and peaks, 

 where the lower slopes merge into the low country, are 

 just as effectually isolated as if they were surrounded 

 by the sea. 



Much space is devoted to the subject of snake-bite, 

 for the benefit of the medical practitioner, and a 

 number of illustrative cases from the records of various 

 doctors are iriven. E. G. B. 



Japanese Social and Economic Life. 



The Foundations of Japan : Notes made during Journeys 

 of 6000 Miles in the Rural Districts as a Basis for 

 a Sounder Knowledge of the Japanese People. By 

 J. W. Robertson Scott. Pp. xxv + 446 + plates. 

 (London : J. Murray, 1922.) 245. net. 



THIS is an eminently readable book, giving not 

 only the familiar glimpses into superficial 

 Japanese life, but also treating of the economic life of 



