468 Scientific Gleanings. 



Educational purposes, and all are more or less imperfect, partly 

 because the classification in many departments is in an unsettled 

 state, and partly because the true arrangement of the animal 

 kingdom is probably not capable of accurate representation on a 

 plane surface. For these reasons in the more modern zoological 

 representations, as for instance in the admirable series of figures 

 by Patterson, issued by the Department of Science and Art in 

 England, the attempt to represent the classification to the eye bas 

 been abandoned ; and instead, we have merely each group illus- 

 trated by an appropriate example. Mrs. Redfield, undeterred by 

 past failures, has attempted to combine the form of the diagram 

 with a sufficient amount of pictorial example, and has attained a 

 very creditable measure of success. Her classification is in suffi- 

 cient accordance with the views of the best naturalists for all 

 practical purposes of instruction, and the illustrative objects are 

 well selected and represented. The method of arrangement, like- 

 wise, bas a certain degree of pictorial grace and beauty whicb 

 commends it to the eye. It will be found very serviceable either 

 for school or family instruction, more especially in giving a general 

 view of the extent and variety of the animal kingdom. 



The text-book intended to accompany the chart, is a thick 

 volume of 700 pages, with a great number of additional illustra- 

 tions, and a large amount of explanations of the classification and 

 technical terms, and fact and anecdote. It would be easy, as in 

 the case of all similar works, to refer to little inaccuracies ; but, 

 on the whole, we think the work an excellent one of its class, and 

 cordially recommend it. One merit of considerable importance is, 

 that where practicable, American examples are given, so that 

 the. teacher may often be able to refer to creatures known to the 

 pupils. 



SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGS. 



TWENTT-EIGHTH MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE 

 ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



In our last number we reprinted the greater part of the truly 

 excellent address of Prof. Owen as President of the Association. 

 Our space will not admit of our giving a detailed account of the 

 proceedings of this Congress of Science. For those who are inter- 

 ested in the progress of scientific enquiiy in its various depart- 

 ments, abstracts of the papers and observations which were the 

 subjects of discussion will be found, more or less full, in the page 



