SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



75 



A Monograph of the Land and Freshwater Mollusca 

 of the British Isles. Bv John W. Taylor, F.LS. 

 Part iii. 63 pp. royal 8vo, with 90 illustrations. 

 (Leeds: Taylor Brothers, 1896.) Price 6s., or 5s. 

 by subscription. 



We gladly welcome Part iii. of this fine work, and 

 only regret that the parts do not appear more 

 frequently. The book is so valuable that the 

 slowness in the issue is much to be deplored, if it 

 is not, indeed, a source of anxiety as to the ultimate 

 date of completion. One incentive to the author 

 to let us have the work more rapidly would be an 

 increased subscription list, which would doubtless 

 enable him to give more time to its production. 

 On looking over the list of subscribers on the 

 covers, we miss many names of those who will 

 do wisely to support Mr. Taylor, if not themselves 

 actually conchologists. The number of libraries 

 should also be largely increased which include this 

 book in their catalogues. In fact it is the duty 

 of everyone interested in natural science to urge on 

 the author in this truly good work. The first five 

 pages of Part iii. completes the monograph of the 

 " shell," and ends with a lengthy bibliography of 

 the literature of the subject. The consideration of 

 the " animal " is commenced and dealt with in a 

 masterly manner. The author's treatment of the 

 sexual organs of mollusca is among the best essays 



enclature is that of the ninth edition of the London 

 Catalogue, but we are glad to observe that some 

 " species " have been relegated to sub-species. 

 The topographical range includes a portion of 

 Kirkcudbright. 



Abstract of Proceedings of the South London Entomo- 

 logical and Natural History Society for the year 1895. 

 107 pp. 8vo. (London : published by the Society, 

 1896). Price 2S. 



When we consider that the compilation and 

 editing of these " Transactions " are in the hands of 

 a committee of members who are very fully occupied 

 with other affairs of life, we think they are worthy 

 of thanks for having produced this part by 

 midsummer following the year included. We 

 are glad to see the Society still prospers and 

 is doing much to popularize natural history. 

 In addition to the Proceedings which have been 

 reported from time to time in these pages, there is 

 Mr. Thos. W. Hall's presidental address, which 

 carefully summarises the Society's work for his 

 year of office. Several papers are printed in this 

 number, which were read before the Society in 

 1895. These include " Variation of Erebia aithiups," 

 by Mr. J. W. Tutt ; "On Colias edusa, in 1895," by 

 Mr. E.M. Montgomery; "Notes on Sea Anemones," 

 by Mr. Edward Step, F.L.S. ; and a useful '• List of 



jst c I'* 



3G* 



f^ 



^ 



Half a transverse row of the lingual teeth of an adult garden-snail {Helix aspersa). 

 From Taylor's " Monograph of the Land and Fresh-water Mollusca of the British Isles.' 



we have met with on this question — now considered 

 so important in defining some obscure species, as 

 well as in general classification. The alimentary 

 system is included in this part and there are new 

 illustrations of teeth oi Helix aspersa, which are so 

 interesting that we reproduce them by permission 

 of the author. The part also contains the nervous 

 system, auditory organs, circulatory system, and 

 the morphology of the external organs, particularly 

 in reference to the tentacles. This monograph still 

 maintains its high character. 



The Flora of Dumfriesshire. By G. F. Scott- 

 Elliot, M.A., F.L.S. , F.R.G.S. Pages xl. and 219, 

 royal 8vo. (Dumfries : J. Maxwell and Son, 1S96.) 

 Price los. 6d., or 7s. 6d. to subscribers. 



This is an important addition to the list of 

 county floras. It has been carefully compiled by 

 an eminent author, in which work he has been 

 assisted by J. McAndrew, J. T. Johnstone, the 

 Misses Hannay, G. Bell, R Service, Rev. W. 

 Andson, B. N. Peach and T. Home. The book is 

 something more than a mere list of plants and their 

 stations in the county, for there are chapters on 

 Topography by Mr. Scott-Elliot ; the Habitat, 

 Flowering Period, Insect Visitors, The Aculeate 

 Hymenoptera of Mid-Solway, by Mr. R. Service; 

 Meteorology by the Rev. W. Andson and Mr. 

 Scott-ElHot ; Geology by Messrs. Peach and 

 Home. It will thus be seen that the flora has 

 been studied from other points of view besides the 

 herbarium, for all influences which regulate its 

 existence have received consideration. The nom- 



British Stalk-eyed Crustacea "by the latter gentle- 

 man, which he has compiled for the use of readers 

 of "Bell's History of British Stalk-eyed Crustacea," 

 the object being to synchronise the nomenclature 

 now used with that adopted by Professor Bell. 

 Altogether this is an interesting part of the 

 Society's "Transactions." 



A Cosmographical Review of the Universal Laiv of 

 the Affinities of Atoms. By James Henry Loader. 

 93 pp. 8vo. (London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd.) 

 Price 2s. 6d. 



The author states that this little work can by no 

 means fully argue his views of the atomic theory. 

 but he gives us enough for much speculation, no 

 matter whether we agree with him or not. What 

 he does say is clearly put and concisely argued, 

 and will form some thoughtful reading for those 

 interested in the affinities of atoms. 



Shertchlev's Physical Geography. Revised by 

 John H. Howell, B.A., twenty-eighth edition. 

 224 pp. small Svo, (London : John Murby, 1896). 

 Price IS. 



This is oneof Murby's " Science and .\rt Depart- 

 ment Text-Books," and this particular one has 

 been before the public for the past twenty years. 

 This new edition has been brought quite up to the 

 present condition of geographical knowledge, and 

 the astronomical parts of the work have been 

 re-written. There is so much that is new in this 

 text-book that it will be found useful to those who 

 are " cramming " for examination, and as a handy 

 reference for general use. 



