744 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 74» 



IntrodiLction to the Barer Elements. By 

 Philip E. Browning, PLD., Assistant Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry, Yale University. 

 Second edition, thorouglily revised. New 

 York, John "Wiley & Sons. 1908. Pp. 

 X-I-20Y, 2 plates. 



The first edition of this book was reviewed 

 in these columns in 1903.' After five years it 

 has been revised, much new material being 

 added. This is especially the case in regard 

 to the radio-elements, the excellent chapter 

 upon that topic being contributed by Professor 

 Boltwood, a colleague of the author. 



While the book is teeming with informa- 

 tion, it does not pretend to be a compendium. 

 However, one feels the lack of proportion 

 when he observes that forty-nine double chlor- 

 ides of esesium (p. 11) are mentioned and only 

 one oxide of rubidium is named. The state- 

 ment is made (p. 63) that metallic prseseo- 

 didymium and neodidymium have not been 

 separated. Muthmann accomplished this very 

 cleverly several years ago and his method 

 has been applied successfully in the review- 

 er's laboratory. Good crystals of metallic 

 thorium have also been obtained by another 

 method, namely, reduction by aluminium, 

 published in the Year Book of the Carnegie 

 Institution. It is not mentioned. A satis- 

 factory method for separating zirconium and 

 aluminium (p. 78) published fifteen years ago 

 is not incorporated. Nor is the only good 

 method for separating zirconium and titanium 

 (by hydrogen dioxide) given. The chapter on 

 the uses of the rarer elements is in much 

 need of revision. The recent work on 

 scandium is not included. 



The colored plate of the spectra is a good 

 illustration of the printer's art, but the small 

 plate on the absorption spectra is poorly 

 chosen, in fact, is incorrect Additional plates 

 would be helpful, as well as a general discus- 

 sion of some of the principles involved in the 

 fractionation of these " complexes of ele- 

 mental matter," as Crookes put it. There is 

 an index, but it is inadequate. 



The book must have served a good purpose 

 and every library of chemical works should 

 have a copy, for the term "rare earth" does 

 ^ Science, N. S., XVIII., 497. 



not frighten teacher or student quite as badly 

 as formerly. This is due in large part to a 

 book of such rightness of purpose as is this 

 one. Chas. Baskeeville 



College City or New Yobk 



SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND ARTICLES 

 The American Museum Journal for March 

 contains the following articles : " The Darwin 

 Celebration," with views of the bust of Dar- 

 win presented to the museum by the New 

 York Academy of Sciences ; " New Habitat 

 Groups of North American Birds," six in all, 

 with an illustration of each. These groups 

 mark the highest point reached in presenting 

 to the public an accurate idea of the bird life 

 of various parts of our country; they have 

 been made possible by the liberality of a num- 

 ber of friends of the museum and of the 

 public. A notice of " The Annual Meeting 

 of the Trustees " notes that the present endow- 

 ment fund is $2,048,156, and that last year the 

 museum expended $115,488, and the city $159,- 

 930. There is a letter from Mr. Stefansson, 

 on " The Stefansson- Anderson Arctic Expedi- 

 tion," and an account of "Recent Purchases 

 of Eossil Vertebrates." 



The Museums Journal of Great Britain for 

 February has an article on the " Victoria and 

 Albert Museum," reviewing the recent report 

 on its rearrangement, classification of its ma- 

 terial, relations of the national museums to 

 one another, and on the general policy of the 

 institution. Most interesting is the account 

 given by Eev. J. S. Whitewright of " Pioneer 

 Museum Work in. China." The models, dia- 

 grams and maps, many of them large and 

 elaborate, were made on the spot by Chinese 

 artisans. The number of visitors — there were- 

 69,745 in thirty-six days — shows the success 

 of the work. Eobert Standen tells how to 

 make and use " Glue and Turpentine Cement 

 for Alcoholic Mounts." There are the cus- 

 tomary reviews and notes. 



SPECIAL ARTICLES 



A LITTEK OF HYBRID DOGS 



Several years ago the writer had the oppor- 

 tunity of observing the results of a cross be- 



