88 Reviews — Dr. Clowes on Inflammable Gases. 



valuable Bibliography of the Authors was noticed in January, 1889; 

 and the First Part of the still more elaborate Index in August, 1894. 



The two Parts, in 429 pages, contain at least 20,000 published 

 names of the genera, species, and noticeable varieties of Foraminifera ; 

 and pages 480-5 are full of additions and critical corrections, due in 

 great part to the enthusiastic research and kind help of Mr. F. W. 

 Millett, of Marazion. This friendly aid, as well as the assistance 

 given by other sympathizers in this important work, is thankfully 

 and cordially acknowledged by the author in the Introduction to 

 Part II. 



A general idea of the value of such a synoptical and alphabetical 

 catalogue of the multitudinous names given to these microzoa — often 

 duplicate or triplicate, and to be found, in many instances, only in 

 some rare or obscure periodical — can certainly be formed by any 

 biologist, after even a short consideration of the circumstances. In 

 actual experience, however, a monographist, desirous to do full 

 justice both to species and species-makers, can estimate its real value 

 by the saving of time and labour, which would have had to be spent 

 in various libraries, often far apart, whilst hunting up references, 

 often dubious and disappointing, and following professed clues, 

 whether to real, or probable, or merely possible good results, or 

 to the desiderated author or species. 



Like the rest of Mr. C. I). Sherborn's bibliographic work, this 

 Index is industriously complete and conscientiously exact, as far as 

 circumstances have permitted. It is to be hoped that Mr. Sherborn, 

 either by himself or with othei'S, will carry on his work of ploughing 

 up this wide field of nomenclature, and turn up both the rich soil 

 and the troublesome clods, old and new, ready for the student, and 

 open to the light of criticism. 



V. — The Detection and Measurement of Inflammable Gas and 

 Vapour in the Air. By Frank Clowes, D.Sc, etc. With 

 a Chapter on the Detection and Measurement of Petroleum 

 Vapour, by Boverton Eedwood, F.E.S.E., etc. 8vo, pp. xii and 

 206, one plate and 49 diagrams. (London : Lockwood and Son.) 



COAL and petroleum are of great interest to the geologist in 

 many ways, and have been carefully studied as to their natural 

 occurrence, their probable origin, their special localities, the means 

 by which they are obtained, and the methods of their use : and 

 geologists have had much to say on Ihese points. Of course, the 

 combustibility of coal and petroleum give these substances their 

 peculiar value to the world at large ; and, on account of the dangerous 

 explosive powers of their derivative gases and vapours, these latter 

 have had to be carefully studied by chemist and physicist. 



The best methods of determining the presence of such gases in 

 the air is the object of this book, which gives a carefully con- 

 sidered resume ot what has been done in this line of research. 

 I'he inflammable gases concerned are Methane (Marsh-gas or 

 Fire-damp), Coal-gas, Water-gas, Hydrogen, Carbonic Oxide (Choke- 

 damp), Ethylene, and Acetylene; and their conditions of explosion 



