28o 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Galilei, and while looking over the pages devoted 

 to his life, one is reminded how new, after all, is 

 man's intelligent civilization. The recent dis- 

 covery in the Vatican of one of his condemned 

 MSS., and the order for its publication given by 

 the present Pope of Rome, shows how opinion has 

 changed during the past two hundred years. 



NOTICES BY JOHN T. CARRINGTON. 



Photo-micvography. By Edmund J. Spitta, 

 L.R.C.P.Lond., M.R.C.S., F.R.A.S. vi. + 163 

 pp. 11 in. x 8J in. with 104 illustrations. (London: 

 The Scientific Press, Ltd., 1899.) 12s. 



Photo-micrography is now such an important 

 hand-maiden to various branches of science, that 

 earnest students should at least know of the best 

 means of reproducing micro-organisms. Such is 

 the object of the handsome book before us. We 

 have latterly, since the use of the sensitive dry 

 plates, learned to expect beautiful results, yet these 

 are not attainable without proper instruction and 

 guidance in the apparatus necessary. All this is 

 set forth with ample illustrations, so that anyone 

 residing in the most out-of-\vay places may know 

 what to purchase on commencing. The work is 

 divided into three heads, low-power work, medium- 

 power work and high-power work. There is also 

 a chapter on illuminants. The author has followed 

 well-beaten tracks in this ; though he might have 

 noticed some of the newer, especially where 

 accuracy of detail is essential with high magnifica- 

 tion. The book is to be highly recommended, and 

 is beautifully produced by the publishers. The 

 illustrations are excellent. 



Handbook of Insects injurious to Orchard and Bush 

 Fruits. By Eleanor A. Ormerod, F.R.Met.S. 

 x. + 286 pp. 8| in. x 5:7 in., with numerous illus- 

 trations. (London : Simpkin Marshall and Co., 

 Ltd., 1898.) 3s. 6d. 



Miss Ormerod's latest addition to economic 

 entomology in Britain should be in the hands of 

 every person possessing a garden or orchard ; then 

 there would be a more general knowledge of the 

 pests that trouble fruit growers, and the prevention 

 of their ravages. Miss Ormerod's experience of 

 this important branch of horticulture is among 

 the best in this country, and her readers may fully 

 Tely upon what she states in her book. We re- 

 produce, by permission of the author, one of the 

 many illustrations which will be found so useful 

 to those who try to understand the insect enemies 

 of our fruit trees. 



A Short History of Astronomy. By Arthur 

 Berry, M.A. xxi. + 440 pp. 7J in. x 5 in. with 104 

 illustrations. (London : John Murray, 1S98.) 6s. 



Although so unpretentious in title, this is quite 

 an important book, well written and illustrated. 

 It is one of Mr. John Murray's University Exten- 

 sion Manuals, the series being edited by Professor 

 Knight. The author is Fellow and Assistant 

 Tutor of King's College, Cambridge, and Fellow of 

 University College, London. The work is a care- 

 fully compiled history of astronomy from the 

 earliest gropings after truth in the darkest ages 

 up to its practice as an exact science, with modern 

 instruments of precision. The illustrations are 

 happily chosen, particularly the portraits of the 

 early fathers of the science. They are well 

 printed, and form an interesting gallery in them- 

 selves. One of the best pictures is that of Galileo 



White Woolly Scale on Currant Bran h. 

 From Miss Ormerod's "Handbook of Orchard Insects. 



