SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



NOTICES BY JOHN T. CARRINGTON. 



Ferments and their Actions. By Carl Oppen- 

 heimer, M.D., Ph.D., translated by C. Ainsworth 

 Mitchell, B.A. (Oxon.), F.I.C. xii + 343 pp., 

 8 in. x 5£ in. (London : Chas. Griffin & Co., 

 Limited. 1901.) 7s. 6d. net. 



The translation of this work is even more 

 valuable than the original German edition, be- 

 cause Mr. Mitchell has, at Dr. Oppenheimei's 

 request, introduced into the text the results of 

 various investigations which have been made since 

 the author's edition appeared One of the improve- 

 ments is an outline of the phenomenon of rever- 

 sibility of the action of a ferment, first recorded 

 by Hill in the case of diastase, and recently con- 

 firmed by Kastle and Loevnhart in their researches 

 on lipase. This the translator thinks will modify 

 the author's view, that a ferment can never effect 

 a synthetic process. Perhaps Dr. Oppenheimei's 

 opinions on this matter constitute the weak point 

 in the work ; but, with the translator's additions, we 

 imagine the English edition will avoid what might 

 otherwise be misleading. Mr. Mitchell's position 

 as an authority on ferments renders the edition 

 before us exceptionally valuable, as we have with- 

 in its covers not only the great experience of the 

 author, but also that of the translator. 



The Descent of Man. By Charles Darwin, 

 M.A., F.R.S. xix+ 1,031 pp., 8 in. x 5 in. New 

 edition with illustrations. (London : John Murray. 

 1901.) 2s. 6d. net. 



Some time since we noticed two others of 

 Darwin's works, brought out by Mr. Murray in 

 cheap form. This edition is all that can be desired, 

 well printed and good from every point of view. 



The Origin of Species. By Charles Darwin, 

 M.A., LL.D., F.R.S. xxi + 432 pp., 8 in. x 5£ in. 

 (London: John Murray. 1901.) ls.net. 



Whatever may be the motive of Mr. John 

 Murray in issuing this extraordinarily cheap 

 edition of " The Origin of Species," he is in con- 

 sequence a benefactor to the cause of education 

 of the people. How we envy the youth of English- 

 speaking parents who can get such a work for a 

 shilling when we remember the price and difficulty 

 of obtaining such books in our youth. Because 

 cheap, it is not in any way nasty ; in fact, the 

 volume is beautifully produced, though in paper 

 covers. Neither has it been cut down. The title- 

 page describes it as the " Popular Impression of 

 the Corrected Copyright Edition, issued with the 

 Approval of the Author's Executors." Any one can 

 now read Darwin, and that for a shilling. 



Text- Booh of Zoology. By G. P. Mudge, 

 A.R.C.Sc.Lond., F.Z.S. vi + 41(5 pp., 7| in. x 5 in., 

 with 2 coloured plates and 100 illustrations. 

 (London : Edward Arnold. 1901.) 7s. 6d. 



This is an important educational book written 

 by a teacher of wide experience, as a lecturer on 

 biology in various London medical and other 



schools. Comparative anatomy dominates the work, 

 which is well arranged and profusely illustrated. 

 It is a working manual which we can recommend. 

 The Booh of Old- Fashioned Flowers. By Harry 

 Roberts, v + 111 pp., 7| in. x 5 in., with 9 plates. 

 (London and New York : John Lane, 1901.) 2s. 6d. 

 This is No. iv. of JfJr. John Lane's artistic series 

 of handbooks of Practical Gardening, edited by 

 the author of this volume. In it, Mr. Roberts 

 appeals to those who grow flowers to give more 

 attention to the familiar plants that have so 

 long graced the cottage forecourts of England ; 

 such as fritillaries, columbines, foxgloves and the 

 like. In glancing through the pages one cannot 

 help remarking on the association of these old- 

 fashioned flowers with the wild flora of these 

 islands. We agree with many of the author's 

 opinions, but think his tirade against " bedding- 

 out " is rather unnecessary in these clays of wide 

 borders. Carpet-bedding has wellnigh disappeared 

 excepting from our public gardens and other suit- 

 able places, where colour in masses is effective. 



The Booh of Bulbs. By S. Arnott, F.R.H.S. xv + 

 114 pp., 7f in. x 5 in., with 11 plates. (London and 

 New York : John Lane. 1901.) 2s. 6d. net. 



Mr. Lane's fifth volume of the " Handbooks- of 

 Practical Gardening " is seasonable at this period 

 of the year, and will be found most useful to 

 those who like brilliant flowers. We wonder larger 

 numbers of persons do not cultivate bulbs for in- 

 door decoration. Wherever grown, however, the 

 "Book of Bulbs" will help the amateur, as it is 

 written by an experienced gardener, though him- 

 self one of the leisured class. 



The Practical Electricians Pocket-booh ; for 1902. 

 Edited by H. T. Crewe, M.I.Mech.E., lxx + 216 

 pp. and diary, 5| in. x 4| in. (London : S. Rentell 

 & Co., Limited. 1901.) Is. 



This useful little accessory for the electrical 

 engineer, annually shows signs of improvement. 

 The volume before us has been carefully revised 

 and brought up to the present state of knowledge. 

 It is portable and bound especially for pocket use. 

 Practical Hints for the Field Lepidopterist. By 

 J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. 108 pp., 8^ in. x 5£ in. 

 (London : Elliot Stock. 1901.) 5s.6d.net. 



Much of the matter in this volume has appeared 

 already in the "Entomological Record," but it is 

 useful to have it collected within covers, though 

 only of paper, which is surprising, considering the 

 comparatively high price. The hints are most 

 valuable to young collectors, and cannot fail to- 

 be productive of much success in adding to their 

 knowledge and collections. 



The Sacred Beetle. By John Ward, F.S.A. 

 xviii + 122 pp., 8f in. x 5| in., with 16 plates and 

 72 illustrations. (London : John Murray. 1902.) 

 10s. 6d. net. 



As the author points out in his introductory 

 pages, every educated person is supposed to know 

 " what is a scarab." This is, however, by no 

 means the case, and this popular work upon the 

 Egyptian scarabs in art and history is welcome. 

 They are carved imitations in stone of dor-beetles. 

 These sacred or historical records of a very early 

 civilisation are of the highest interest and value 

 to students of far-away bygone times. Probably 

 used in the earliest periods as amulets, they 

 eventually became sacred emblems, appertain- 

 ing to the monarchs as heads of the Church in 

 Egypt. It was probable, that the habit of the 



