lO 



SCIENCE 



[Vol. XVI. Ko. 387 



of the International Geological Congress as erroneous. In the 

 June number of the American Geologist, p. 386, will be found an 

 accurate print of the oflScial type-written notes of that meeting 

 by the secretary, Professor H. S. Williams, signed by him, and 

 sent to me with the request for my vote on the question of ap- 

 pealing to the bureau to change the place of meeting. This oflB- 

 cial statement establishes, first, that of those present, PoweU, 

 Dutton, Gilbert, Hague, Marsh, Walcott, and Williams were oflS- 

 cers of the United States Geological Survey, and Cope, Hall, Les- 

 ley, Stevenson, Whitfield, Winchell, and Frazer were not. The 

 above comprised all who were present. Of those who were not 

 members of the United States Geological Survey, Lesley, Steven- 

 son, Whitfield, and Winchell voted for the submission of the 

 question to the bureau. 



Capt. Dutton of the United States Geological Survey did not 

 vote. If the vote was as stated, 9 to 3, who constituted the nine? 

 Professor Lesley rightly says Hall, Cope, and Frazer voted "no." 



So much for the vote being carried by the members of the 

 TJnited States Geological Survey. 



Major Powell moved that "it is the opinion of the committee 

 that the place should be changed" (see the secretary's ofBcial 

 notes). I was also present at the meeting, and can testify to the 

 accuracy of the secretary's notes. Major Powell did not oppose 

 the selection of Washington, but remained silent while it was 

 voted. 



Only after the meeting was it given out that Major Powell did 

 not wish the congress to come to Washington. He certainly did 

 not urge "that nothing be done by the committee to cause such 

 an action abroad" (i.e., the change). 



Both Major Powell and the writer of the above note emulated 

 Shakspeare's Julius Ctesar in putting off the crown, but, like that 

 Iiero, ended by accepting it. Peesifor Frazer. 



Sea Girt, N.J., June 30. 



BOOK-EEVIEWS. 



A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy. II. In- 

 struments and Practical Astronomy. By George F. Cham- 

 bees. 4th ed. New York, Macmillan, 1890. 8". $5.25. 



Probably at no time have there been so many amateur astrono- 

 mers with good telescopes as at present, and for all these would-be 

 astronomers this book on astronomical instruments and their use 

 will have an interest. 



Chambers's "Astronomy" calls for no introduction to public at- 

 tention at our hands, as the fact that this is a fourth edition testi- 

 "fies; but it may be well to repeat, what we announced when no- 

 ticing the first volume of this new edition some weeks since, that 

 the revision this time will result in the production of several dis- 

 tinct volumes, each treating of some special phases of astronomi- 

 cal science. It is thus that the present volume is limited to in- 

 struments, then- employment in observations, and the proper 

 mounting and housing of them. 



Every one who knows the possessor of a good telescope knows 

 how desirous this possibly happy personage is to have his instru- 

 ment where it can be used. To meet this very want, our author 

 has introduced a number of plans for small observatories, suggested 

 not only by his own experience, but also by that of several of his 

 professional friends. We feel sure that these will be eagerly 

 sought by the amateur astronomers of this country, as well as by 

 those of Great Britain, for whom they are specially intended. 



But it must not be supposed that America has been neglected, 

 for good descriptions are given of some of our newest and best 

 observatories. 



One chapter is devoted to a history of the telescope, which gives 

 a completeness to the work, and is likely to furnish answers to the 

 queries of many a questioning visitor. 



The use of the spectroscope in astronomical work, which has led 

 to so many important results, and which has so much fascination 

 for those who have not the time to follow up the older astronomy, 

 is cared for in several chapters. 



We commend this book, and trust its use may help a few on 

 this side of the water to a more intelligent use of their time and 



their opportunities, so far as they have available instruments, in 

 developing some really important investigation in astronomical 

 physics. The play of seeing more clearly than with the naked 

 eye the features of the "man in the moon" soon ceases to give 

 pleasure, and bears no proportion to the real delight of securing 

 some small addition to the world's stock of knowledge, which can 

 be had as the result of some intelligent work. Let those who 

 wish for this delight secure a copy of the book here noticed, that 

 they may know moi-e of what is within their reach. 



The True Grasses. By Eduaed Hackel. Tr. by F. Lamson- 

 Scribner and E. A. South worth. New York, Holt. 8°. 

 11.50. 



This is a good translation of Professor Hackel's valuable con- 

 tribution to Die nati/rlichen Pflanzenfamilien, that great German 

 publication on the natural families of plants edited by Dr. Engler 

 and Dr. Prantl. As Professor Hackel stands among the foremost 

 agrostologists, his work, expressing as it does the latest and most 

 authoritative views upon the subject, is especially valuable; and, 

 as it contains so much that is of practical importance, we are glad 

 to see it made available to English readers. 



The work embraces the grass family as a whole, and enumer- 

 ates the best-known economic species and their uses. It discusses 

 the structure and morphology of the grasses and their arrange- 

 ment into tribes and genera, and points out their characters in a 

 manner that will enable one to classify readily any grass that may 

 come into his hand. For the benefit of persons unfamiliar with 

 botanical keys, an illustration of the manner of using the keys of 

 analysis is given in a brief introductory chapter ; and a full glos- 

 sary and index are appended, adding much to the usefulness and 

 value of the work, especially for private students and general 

 readers. The illustrations, of which there are upwards of a hun- 

 dred, are mainly reproductions from the originals in the German 

 work, though a few were drawn especially for this translation. 



The Elements of Machine Design. 11th ed. By W. Cawthorne 

 Unwin. New York and London, Longmans, Green, & Co. 

 16°. |2. 



This admirable and unique treatise on the elements of the work 

 of the mechanical engineer designing machinery has now been in 

 use in schools and offices on both sides the Atlantic for some years, 

 and has been repeatedly revised and continually extended, until, 

 from a little volume of perhaps three hundred pages, it has grown 

 to two volumes of larger extent; and a third part is more than 

 half promised by its distinguished author. It is attempted by its 

 writer to give a fairly complete account of the methods of propor- 

 tioning parts of machinery, and especially of that representative 

 machine the steam engine, such as are in use in the best practice 

 of the most successful builders, and such as are at the same time 

 sanctioned by the best scientific authority. The work is in some 

 respects, in English, a counterpart of that of Reuleaux in the Ger- 

 man ; but it is more directly adapted to the needs of the practi- 

 tioner, and the custom and practice of the shops. It is a success, 

 as is well indicated by the extent to which it has been adopted as 

 a handbook and as a text-book, and by its rapid sale. 



It gives a concise account of the materials used by the engineer; 

 describes the various straining actions met with in machines; ex- 

 hibits the results of research and experience as to straining action 

 in sti'uctures and elements of machines; summarizes the results of 

 latest experiments upon the strength of the several kinds of riv- 

 eted joints, as used in boiler-work; determines the proportions of 

 bolts, keys, and other connecting pieces, of journals and pina, and 

 shafts and gearing. The principles of friction are applied in the 

 determination of the proper proportions of bearings, and to the 

 measurement of the efficiencies of machinery; while belting and 

 rope transmission are given extended study. The second volume 

 will deal with the details of parts of engines and machinwy, and 

 is promised for some time during the coming season. The third 

 part will be devoted to the design of complete machines. 



The book is brought up to date in a very satisfactory manner. 

 The chapter on riveting is given large extent, and includes the re- 

 sults of the experiments of its author on riveting, as reported to 

 the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. That on friction is the 



