SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



H3 



the Humanitarian League. They consequently 

 appeal rather to the heart than to that cold, 

 critical unbiassed mind which approaches science 

 or sociology only for truth's sake. 



The Flora of the Alps. Bv Alfred W. Bennett, 

 MA.. B.Sc.F.L.S.. Svo. Vol. i.. Parts iii., iv., v. 

 and vi., with 64 coloured plates. (London: John 

 C Ximmo, 1S97.) Price 2s. 6d. each, net. 



We have already had the pleasure of recom- 

 mending this work to our readers (in May and 

 June numbers of Science-Gossip) as a most 

 useful book for Alpine travellers, whether botanists 

 or not. Part iii. continues L^guminosae, proceeds 

 to Rosaceae, Saxifragaceae, Crassulaceae, etc ; 

 there being seventeen coloured plates. In Part iv. 

 are thirteen plates, devoted in part to Umbelliferae, 

 Caprifoliaceae, Rubiaceae, Campanulaceae, etc. 

 Part v. contains Compositae, Vaccineaceae, and 

 Ericaceae. These natural orders are represented 

 in this part by eighteen coloured plates. Part vi. 

 has sixteen plates, including Gentianaceae, Con- 

 volvulaceae. and some other orders of plants. 

 The work fully maintains its useful character as 

 it proceeds. Part iv. completes half the work, 

 which, by the cost being spread over monthly 

 payments of half-a-crown, comes within the reach 

 of every lover of Bowers, whether traveller or 

 otherwise. 



British Game Bird; and Wild Foul. By Beverly 

 R. Morris. M.D. Revised by W. B. Tegetmier, 

 P.Z.S. Parts v. and vi. Super royal Svo, with 

 coloured plates. (London: John C. Ximmo, 1897.) 

 Price 2s. 6d. per part, net. 



Part w. of this work, to which we have previously 

 referred, contains four coloured plates, including 

 those of the great plover, golden plover, dottrel 

 and woodcock. They are followed in Part vi. by 

 a couple of plates, one of the great snipe and the 

 other of the common snipe. 



A Short Synopsis of English History. By J. C. 

 Wright. 63 pp. 8vo. (London: Relfe Bros., 

 Limited. 1897.) Price 6d. 



This book certainly takes the palm for concise- 

 ness, but as we have frequently remarked in our 

 notices of text-books generally, conciseness coupled 

 with the modern system of cramming for public 

 "linations is not education in the true sense. 



- the purpose for which it is intended this little 

 book will doubtless find purchasers, as it appears 

 to be correct as far as it goes. 



Pictorial Instruction Object Lessons. By G. Colomb, 

 141 pp. small 410. (London: Relfe Bros., 

 Limited. Paris Armand Colin et Cie, 1897.) Price 

 is. od 



This book, which is by the Assistant Director of 

 the Botanical laboratory of the Faculty of Science, 

 l, has been adapted into English by Seymour 

 J Gdbb, B A. It is one we can recommend for 

 young children after they have learned to read. It 

 f little lessons of only two or 

 three lines each, upon the most common obje 

 which we see around us In daily life. These little 

 lemons are illustrated by 650 drawings, each of 

 which leads the child to enquire for the answer, 

 which is foun'l acb drawing. They are 



arranged in subjects which are agail 



showing the raw condition of common material] 



and their adaptation to 014 ■ either 



bv man* I urork '1 bl 



will be found in aid I 

 leaching 



The Evolution 0/ the English Alphabet. By Henry 

 Geo. Taylor Jones, B.A. (London : Relfe Bros., 

 Limited, 1S97.) Price 6d. 



This is a diagram, arranged upon a piece of stiff 

 cardboard 14 inches by 11 inches in size, indicat- 

 ing for educational purposes the evolution of 

 the letters of our alphabet. The changes in form 

 — from the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians over 

 two thousand years before Christ, through the 

 hieratics, or abridged forms of hieroglyphics, to the 

 Phoenician characters, and on to Greek, Ancient 

 Hebrew, Latin, and thence to our familiar 

 capitals and smaller letters — are traced for the 

 benefit of scholars. At the back of the card are 

 explanations and notes upon the origin and pro- 

 gression of each of the twenty-six letters constitut- 

 ing our alphabet. 



Smithsonian Institution. Annual Report to July, 

 1895. 837 pp. large Svo, with illustrations and 

 maps. (Washington : Government Printing Office, 

 1S96.) 



This massive volume, as it is usual with these 

 reports, is of a highly interesting character. It 

 seems a pity, however, that these volumes are so 

 far behind the date of the material printed, 

 especially is this so with regard to the extracted 

 articles from other journals, which always form a 

 feature of the Smithsonian Reports. As an 

 instance, we would mention that the opening 

 address on "Oceanography, Bionomics, and Aqui- 

 culture " at the Ipswich Meeting of the British 

 Association, in 1895, by Dr. Herdman, F.R.S., is 

 included in the volume received in September, 

 this year. It happens, perhaps, that we notice 

 such articles in consequence of our familiarity with 

 them ; but referring to some others of about the 

 same period which we had not previously seen, they 

 come to us with the freshness of recently published 

 information. Among the general articles in the 

 appendix are three upon the relation of life and 

 the atmospheric air which supports it. These are 

 the result of the competition for prizes given out of 

 the Hodgkin's Fund of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 The first is entitled "Air and Life," by Dr. Henry 

 de Varigny, of Paris ; " The Atmosphere in Relation 

 to Human Life and Health," by Francis Albert 

 Rollo Russell, of London, and "The Air of Towns,'' 

 by Professor J. B. Cohen, of the Yorkshire College, 

 Leeds. These articles are of great importance, and 

 it would be well if the Board of Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution could see its way to 

 publish for sale these Papers as an independent 

 book. We believe the issue would command con- 

 siderable attention and many readers. In this 

 report they occupy about 280 pages, with some 

 Interesting plates. Among other subjects is 

 "Zoology since Darwin," by Professor Ludwig 

 ■■ liich is the well-known discourse he 

 delivered before the Imperial Royal 1 Charles Francis 

 University, November 4th, 1895. ' l ''as been 

 translated for these pages, and is illustrated by a 

 not very good copy 01 the ll"ii J - . 1 1 1 1 t ollier's 



portrait of Darwin at the Linnean ! ty, or 



its replica at the National Portrait Gallerj 



'■■ rchacological paper-, in thi'. volume are 



particularly interesting, is are also those on 



Anthropology Among the plates i a reproduction 



of Mr. Collier's 1 >> .n r.-ii t of his father fn law, the 



!. Henry Huxley It illustrates 



.•1 memoi Huxley .ni'l his work, by 



1 1 1 uai 14th, ] io, befon 



the scientific societies of w.i bin 



