2 44 



SCIEXCE-GOSSIP. 



which, while differing in many structural details, still 

 agree so closely in their essential points of structure 

 and development as to show close relation to each 

 other. The word has been applied to these plants 

 because the female reproductive organ, or archego- 

 nium is closely alike in all of them. A marked 

 feature of the whole group is the alternation of 

 sexual and non-sexual stages, in which they vary 

 much in size and complexity. All this is very folly 

 explained in the first chapter of Dr. Campbells 

 book. We are glad to note in the preface the 

 author considers that " in view of the unsettled 

 state of botanical nomenclature at the present 

 time it was thought best to adopt a somewhat 

 conservative attitude, and for the most part the 

 names " used are those familiar to the botanical 

 student. We are glad he has taken this position, 

 for we always feel on finding a familiar name 

 disappear much as we do when an eminent 

 politician retires to the peerage, and sinks from 

 public knowledge in his new title. Some alterations 

 are necessary in classification, as might be certain 

 when we remember the amount of general research 

 and the author's especial study of the group. With 

 such a scientific book as this for our guidance, 

 there no longer remains any excuse for not more 

 fully acquainting ourselves with the characteristics 

 of many common plants which have been too sadly 

 neglected by the larger number of botanists ; not 

 perhaps from carelessness, but rather from want of 

 a trustworthy book for guidance. 



Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New 

 South Wales, for 1894. Vol. xxviii. Edited by the 

 Honorary Secretaries. Pp. xxv. and 368 large 8vo., 

 and 46 plates. (Sydney: Published by the Society. 

 London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co., 

 Limited, 1895.) ^° price given. 



This volume contains the President's address, 

 twenty-eight articles, and various proceedings. In 

 the former are some interesting remarks upon the 

 poison of Platypus. The President, Professor T. 

 P. Anderson Stuart, M.D., says, notwithstanding 

 repeated denial, Ornithorhynchus develops at least a 

 seasonal powerful poison. The males fight very 

 fiercely while in the water, in the pairing season. 

 Their scratches are mostly on the underside of the 

 tail by the spurs in which the poison is secreted. In 

 cases where dogs have been ' ' stung " it is usually on 

 the cheek. The effects follow quickly as in the sting 

 of a bee, the swelling being indicated within a couple 

 of minutes ; it becomes very extensive, and lasts as 

 long as thirty-six hours in the first instance. 

 Repeated attacks reduce the length of time and 

 extent of the swelling. It is not infrequently fatal, 

 and always provocative of sleepiness and much 

 pain. This volume is varied and contains several 

 valuable papers on sundry subjects, some of which 

 are fully illustrated. 



Elementary Inorganic Chemistry : Theoretical and 

 Practical. By A. Humboldt Sextox, F.I.C., F.C.S. 

 Fourth Edition. 366 pp. 8vo, illustrated with 63 

 figures. (London : Blackie and Son, Limited. 

 Biackie's Science Text Books, 1895.) Price 2s. 6d. 



The principal changes in this edition are to bring 

 the work in unison with the 1895 Syllabus of the 

 Science and Art Department. The chapter on 

 "Organic Chemistry" is omitted, and chapters 

 are inserted on those non-metals which were not 

 treated in the former editions ; thus fitting the 

 book for candidates for the London Matriculation 

 and other similar examinations. 



Hidden Beauties of Nature. By Richard Kerr, 

 F.G.S. 250 pp. 8vo, with 59 illustrations. (London: 

 The Religious Tract Society, 1895.) Price 3s. 6d. 



Like all the voluminous literature issued by the 

 Religious Tract Society, this work is of an elevating 

 character. Mr. Kerr has been happy in his selection 

 of subjects, which are well illustrated. The book is 

 pleasantly and simply written, and will form a nice 

 present for any young person who shows a taste for 

 enquiry- about the other inhabitants of this world. 

 The book is well produced and a credit to the 

 publishing department of the Society. 



A Popular Handbook to the Microscope. By Lewis 

 Wright. 256 pp. 8vo, with 186 illustrations. 

 (London : The Religious Tract Society. 1895.) 

 Price 2s. 6d. 



This is a popular work for the early beginner in 

 working with a microscope. It will be found 

 most useful, and, we hope, be the means of inducing 

 many young people to take up microscopic work. 

 When issued by a society such as the publishers, we 

 naturally expect, and rightly so, a religious tone to 

 pervade the work, but we think the opening part 

 of the introduction might have, with advantage, 

 been omitted, or at least been more generously 

 treated. Such paragraphs are more calculated to 

 repel than otherwise, and only draw attention to 

 what the author, rightly or wrongly, desires to 

 condemn. The rest of the book will be useful to 

 a beginner, who will have the satisfaction of know- 

 ing he is being instructed by a first-class authority 

 in microscopy. It is a good sound book. 



Consider the Heavens : A Popular Introduction to 

 Astronomy. By Mrs. William Steadman Aldis. 

 224 pp. 8vo, illustrated with 29 figures. (London : 

 Religious Tract Society, 1895.) Price 2s. 6d. 



Mrs. Aldis has succeeded in giving us a brightly 

 written work on popular astronomy. She does not 

 attempt more than can be understood by the people, 

 and it cannot fail to produce a greater interest 

 among man y who now only gaze ignorantly at the 

 stars. The book is nicely illustrated and pleasantly 

 compiled. 



Food and its Functions. A Text-book for Students 

 of Cookery, by James Kxight, M.A., B.Sc, F.C.S., 

 F.G.S. 2S6 pp., with one coloured plate and 35 

 illustrations. (London : Blackie and Son, Limited, 

 1895.) Price 2s. 6d. 



We suppose its devotees rank cookery as among 

 the sciences, but it is only when we get such a book 

 as this that we are reminded how easily the art 

 may become a science. The author's object is to 

 prepare the enlightened cook with a knowledge of 

 the bodies he or she is going to feed ; also for the 

 diseases to which those bodies are heir, so as to 

 avoid their aggravation through ignorance in the 

 preparation of food. These chapters are really the 

 outcome of lectures given before schools of cookery, 

 they are of much importance to the scientific cook 

 and may be read by others with advantage. 



Earth-Knowledge. A Text book of Physiography, 

 by W. Jerome Harrison, F.G.S. and H. Rowland 

 Wakefield. Part i., ninth edition, 274 pp. 8vo, 

 illustrated with 123 figures. (London : Blackie and 

 Son, Limited, Biackie's Science Text Books, 1895.) 

 Price 2S. 



The preface to this edition states that the 

 alterations in the syllabus for physiography, lately 

 made by the Science and Art Department are such, 

 that this edition is much extended, and the figures 

 have been more than doubled in number. 



