SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



» T 5 



NOTICES BY JOHN T. CAHIUNUTON. 



The Text Book of Zoology. By Otto Schmeil. 

 Part I., Mammals, vii + 138 pp., 9§ in. x 6^ in. 

 Part II., Birds, Reptiles, Fishes. vi + 166pp., with 

 numerous illustrations. (London: Adam & Charles 

 Black, 1900.) 3s. 6d. each part. 



This work, which is largely used in the schools 

 and colleges of Germany, is treated from a bio- 

 logical standpoint. It has been translated from 

 the German by Rudolf Rosenstock, M.A., and is 

 edited by J. T. Cunningham, M.A. Considering 

 the range of the subjects included in these parts, 

 and the room occupied by the many illustrations, 

 the author has fairly covered the subjects. In the 

 earlier portion of the work 'will be found physio- 

 logical details, and these are followed by classifica- 

 tion, commencing with the anthropoid apes. The 

 classification is by no means the most modern, and 

 this is unfortunate, as the general appearance of 

 the work and low price will cause a wide circula- 

 tion. The nomenclature is in the same category, 

 which is surprising, considering the English editing, 

 where opportunity occurred to bring it even with 

 modern works. The two parts will be followed by 

 one on Insects, the three constituting a complete 

 volume. 



Pre-Historic Times. By the Right Hon. Lord 

 Avebury. Sixth Edition, revised, xxxii-t- 616 pp., 

 with xl plates and 243 illustrations. (London : 

 Williams & Norgate. 1900.) 21s. 



The fact that this well-known standard work has 

 reached a sixth edition is evidence of its value to 

 general readers, as well as to ethnologists and 

 archaeologists. The present issue has been revised 

 and brought up to recent knowledge, but the 

 general plan of the work is maintained. This is 

 explained by its full title — viz. " Pre-Historic 

 Times as illustrated by Ancient Remains and the 

 Manners and Customs of Modern Savages." The 

 many and beautiful illustrations are most helpful 

 in better understanding the plain but accurate 

 letterpress. Lord Avebury is to be congratulated 

 on this new edition, which is sure to further popu- 

 larise a fascinating subject for investigation by 

 cultured people. 



The Antarctic Regions. By Dr. Karl Fricker, 

 xii + 292 pp., 9J in. + 6^ in., with 12 plates, maps, 

 and 46 other illustrations. (London : Swan 

 Sonnenschein & Co., Limited, 1900.) 7s. 6d. 



The recent revival of antarctic exploration has 

 naturally brought forward new literature of the 

 subject. Among the modern books on the Southern 

 ice regions, with accounts of attempts to penetrate 

 the great frozen cap, one of the best we have seen 

 is that now before us. It gives an extensive review 

 of what has been done in times past towards the 

 exploration and investigation of the flora and 

 fauna of those regions. The book is divided into 

 sections — I. Position and Limits ; II. History of 

 Discovery; III. Conformation of the Surface and 

 Geological Structure; IV. Climate; V. The Ice; 



VI. Faunaand Flora ; VII. TheFutureof Antarctic 

 Discovery; YIH. Bibliography of the subjeel 

 The illustrations are very striking, and doubtless 

 give a good Idea to the reader of the fantastically 



wild character of the ice-shapes and mure stnMr 

 land-contours. This hook should have a wide 

 circulation, as within the oexl few years we shall 

 doubtless hear much from the Antarctic. 



TJie Lepidoptera 'of tJie British Islands. By 

 Charles G. Barrett, F.E.S. Vol. VI. 388 pp., 

 9 in. x 6 in. (London: Lovell Reeve & Co., 



Limited. 1900.) 



We have already on several occasions noticed 

 this extensive work. The present volume includes 

 the remainder of the Trifidao, following with the 

 families Sarrathripidae, Gonopteridae, and Quadi i- 

 fidae, the Deltoides, the Brephides, concluding 

 with the commencement of the Geometrina, which 

 are carried as far as genus 9, Halia. There is an 

 appendix of additions and corrections to the former 

 volume as well as the present. 



Experimental Farms. Reports for 1899. 143 pp., 



lOin. x 6^ in., with many plates and illustrations in 

 text. (Ottawa: S. E. Dawson. 1900.) 



Dr. William Saunders, LL.D., F.R.S.E., F.L.S., 

 the Director of the Canadian Experimental Farms 

 and editor of these reports, is much to be con- 

 gratulated upon their fulness and usefulness, ex- 

 tending even beyond the Dominion, whose Govern- 

 ment publishes them. The year's work which these 

 reports summarise has evidently been successful 

 and voluminous. Among the more interesting 

 articles is one on hybridisation in the genus Pyrus, 

 with the object of obtaining a hardy apple-like 

 fruit that will stand the intense cold of winter in 

 the North-West Territories. There are several 

 plates of the trees and the fruit which has resulted 

 from these experiments. The whole report teems 

 with interest in scientific agriculture and horti- 

 culture, subjects that have been for many years 

 past successfully investigated under the direction 

 of Professor Saunders. 



Year-Booh of Photography and Amateiufs Guide 

 for 1900. 674 pp., 7 in. x 4 in., with numerous 

 plates and other illustrations. (London : " Photo- 

 graphic News " Office, 1900.) ls.net. 



The editor, Mr. E. J. Wall, F.R.P.S., is to be con- 

 gratulated on the excellence of this year's issue. 

 It is really a marvel of usefulness and cheapness. 

 The illustrations alone are worth far more than 

 the cost of the whole book. Its literary pages are 

 full of valuable hints for amateurs, and there are 

 a number of most instructive articles. The whole 

 production shows evidence of care and judgment 

 in its preparation. 



First Stage Botany. By Alfred J. Ewart, 

 D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S. vii + 252 pp.. 7 in. x 5 in., illus- 

 trated by 236 figures. (London : W. B. Clive, 

 1900.) 2s. 



This is another volume of the " Organised Science 

 Series," and its intention is to be a guide for the 

 elementary stage of the Science and Art Depart- 

 ment. It refers only to the flowering plants. Dr. 

 Ewart's reputation, formed while he was Deputy 

 Professor of Botany in the Mason University 

 College, and later as Extension Lecturer of the 

 University of Oxford, is a sufficient guarantee of 

 the correctness of these early lessons in structural 

 botany. We can recommend it to any of our readers 

 who are commencing to take an interest in the 

 organisation of plant life. 



