268 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. VIII. No. 191. 



The present volume includes those processes 

 that are induced by bacterial organisms. A 

 prospective volume will take up such changes 

 as are caused by the higher fungi. 



While the general purpose of the present text 

 is to consider bacteriology in its applied phases 

 (other than medical), still the general biological 

 student will find much that will interest him. 

 The exceedingly well-proportioned and thor- 

 oughly digested chapters on the historical de- 

 velopment of bacteriology, as well as the gen- 

 eral biology of bacteria, will be appreciated by 

 all biologists. Technical chemists, fermenta- 

 tion physiologists and students of agricultural 

 bacteriology will also find the book a great help 

 in their work. 



One striking feature of the work is the thor- 

 oughness with which the literature has been 

 sifted. Dealing as it does with such a diversity 

 of subjects, the la,bor of gathering the data 

 from a multitude of technical as well as sci- 

 entific journals has been very considerable, and 

 the successful manner in which this has been 

 accomplished adds materially to the value of 

 the work. 



It seems incredible, however, that the trans- 

 lator should allow the book to be presented to 

 English readers without an index, even though 

 the original lacked this necessary adjunct to 

 usefulness. Another undesirable feature is that 

 the copious bibliographical references are not to 

 appear until the second volume is published, 

 thus handicapping the utility of the book for a 

 considerable time at least. 



H. L. Russell. 



The Story of Extinct Civilizations of the East. By 

 KoBEET E. Anderson, M.A., F.A.S. New 

 York, D. Appleton & Co. 1897. 12 mo. 

 Pp. 213. 



We have here a useful little book, compiled 

 with more knowledge and discretion than are 

 usually discoverable in such pot-boilers. The 

 author takes up in turn Babylonia, Egypt, the 

 Hittites, Phenicians, Arabs and ancient Per- 

 sians. He chooses his authorities judiciously, 

 not being either tedious or frivolous. 



The introductory chapter on the ' Origin and 

 Races of Mankind ' is the least satisfactory of 

 the volume. He prefers Cuvier's classification 



into three races, on the color line, which has 

 never been accepted outside of France and is 

 inadequate to our present knowledge. He uses 

 'race' in the loosest senses, 'white race,' 

 'Aryan race,' Slavic race,' etc. But these are 

 slight blemishes, and inappreciably mar the 

 merit of the whole. 



D. G. Beinton. 



Nests and Eggs of North American Birds. By 

 Oliver Davie. Fifth Edition, Revised, Aug- 

 mented and Illustrated. Columbus, 1898. 

 The first edition of this book, issued in 1885, 

 comprised but 77 pages of pica type ; the pres- 

 ent issue contains over 500 closely printed 

 pages. While devoting particular attention to 

 the nesting habits and eggs of North American 

 birds, the book contains a large amount of in- 

 formation concerning the distribution and life 

 histories of birds and includes a chapter on 

 ornithological and oological collecting. Al- 

 though current ornithological literature has 

 been freely drawn upon by the author, he has 

 also avail<;d himself of the work of a large num- 

 ber of active field ornithologists who have 

 placed at his disposal their notes on the eggs, 

 nests and nesting habits of various species. 

 The full citation of the numerous authorities 

 adds greatly to the value of the work, which 

 should retain the popularity accorded it since 

 its first appearance. 



F. A. L. 



NEW BOOKS. 



Psychology for Teachers. C. Lloyd Moegan. 

 With a Preface by Heney W. Jameson. 

 New York, Charles Scribner's Sons. 1898. 

 Pp. xi+240. $1.00. 



Proceedings of the Society for the Promotion of 

 Engineering Education. Vol. V. Published 

 by the Society. 1898. Pp. xxii4-337. 



New York State Museum. — Fiftieth Annual Report 

 of the Regents. 1896. Vol. I., Report of 

 Director, Botanist and Entomologist. Al- 

 bany, The University of the State of New 

 York. 1898. 



Special Report of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture on the Beet Sugar Industry in the United 

 States. Washington, Government Printing 

 Office. 1898. Pp. 230. 



