84 



SCIENCE GOSSIP. 



NOTICES BY JOHN T. CAKRINOTON. 



Insects Part II. By David Sharp, M.A., M.B.. 

 F.R.S., etc. xii.+626 pp., gin.xej^^in., with 293 

 illustrations. (London and New York : Macmillan 

 and Co., 1899.) 17s. net. 



This, being Volume VI. of the Cambridge Natural 

 History, contains the Hymenoptera continued from 

 Part I., Coleoptera, Strepsiptera, Lepidoptera, 

 Diptera, Aphaniptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, 

 and Anophera. The work is preceded by the 

 "Scheme of Classification" adopted by the 

 author in its pages. There is the usual modern 

 tendency to individuality in arrangement of species ; 

 but we are pleased to note in Lepidoptera that the 

 Rhopalocera or butterflies still precede the Ileterocera, 

 though some authors have placed them in the middle 

 of the moths. As a whole, we imagine Dr. Sharp's 

 arrangement will find approval. The Coleoptera or 

 beetles naturally occupy an important portion of the 

 book, and will command attention on account of the 

 author's known speciaHsm in the order. The work is 

 beautifully illustrated, numbers of the drawings being 

 new, and admirably adapted for exhibiting the par- 

 ticular points intended. Dr. Sharp's pleasant literary 

 style and knowledge of his subject make this a valuable 

 addition to the naturalist's library. 



The Centtiiy Dictionary. Edited by Professor 

 William Dwight Whitney. Over 7,000 pp. in 

 8 volumes, I2in. x 9in. x 2iin. thick, with about 

 7,50oillustrations. " The Times " Edition. (London: 

 The '-Times" Office, 1899.) ^13. 



The system adopted by the "Times" newspaper in 

 enabling persons to whom a large payment down is a 

 consideration, to have the whole work delivered in 

 advance, will do much to promote a more exact 

 knowledge of things, so generally deficient among 

 Englishmen. This very tendency to inaccuracy 

 among people generally, is one of the greatest 

 misfortunes of our time, and largely helps to delay 

 true progress. The issue under such important 

 auspices as the "Times," of that splendid book of 

 reference "Encyclopaedia Britannica," cannot have 

 failed to extend a general knowledge on many subjects. 

 Now, under the same auspices is appearing the best 

 of all English Dictionaries, the "Century Diction- 

 ary." The history of this remarkable work is most 

 interesting, as the management has produced a unique 

 dictionary in which the latest words are included up 

 to the date of issue, and it therefore contains many 

 words not found elsewhere in dictionaries. To effect 

 this result upwards of ^200,000 was spent on literary 

 research under the direction of Professor Whitney, 

 by a staff of some 500 specialists, before anything was 

 committed to print. This was commenced 15 years 

 ago by the Century Company. No other dictionary 

 goes more deeply into the history, etymology, changes 

 and value of words, or contains more synonyms, 

 allied words, and general philological study, than this 

 fine work for reference. The illustrations are 

 admirably chosen, so that they may convey meaning 

 to English-speaking persons in every part of the 

 world. So fully treated are the words that this 

 becomes an encyclopaedia as well as a dictionary, 

 being indeed more valuable, as it goes further than 



mere articles. The student or science, no matter of 

 what branch, will find the "Century Dictionary" 

 invaluable, because few words met with in scientific 

 literature are omitted, and not any in general use. We 

 give as an example, selected at random, of the treat- 

 ment of words " hemlock" just as it appears with its 

 illustration. 



hemlock (hem'lok), n. [<ME. hemlol\ also 

 written liumloh, humlohe, homdolc, irreg. < AS. 

 hemVic, In/mcJic (gen. iiemlices), also hi/niHce (gen. 

 In/nii'icftii), oldest form liiimbVicac, hemlock ; appar. 

 <hrm-, hi/iii-, oi unknown origin. -\- -lie, -hce, a 

 termination supposed to be identical with that in 

 AS. ccrlie, E. eliartoc'', and late AS. hcierUc, E. 

 ■ bar/fi/ : see /larh'i/'^l 1. A poisonous plant, Coniiiin 

 maciilatiim, of the natural order Vmbelliferae 

 It is a t«all, erect, branching biennial, with a smooth, shining, 

 hollow stem (usually marked with purplish spots), elegant 

 much-di^dded leaves, and white flowers in compound umbels 

 of ten or more rays, surrounded by a general involucre of 

 from three to seven leaflets. It is found throughout Europe 



Floweringf Umbels and Leaves of Hemlock {Coniuiii 



/itaculatwii). 



a, flower; h, fruit; c, hemicarp cut transversely. 



and temperate Asia in waste places, on banks, and under 

 walls. It is said to be fatal to cows, while horses, goats and 

 sheep may feed upon it without danger. The poison 

 administered to Socrates, and in common use for the execu- 

 tion of criminals in ancient Athens, is supposed to have been a 

 decoction of it, though some think that this potion was obtained 

 from water-hemlock {Cictita viro.s^i). Hemlock is a powerful 

 sedative, and is used medicinally. The extract is con- 

 sidered the best preparation. It is often ser\iceable as a sub- 

 situte for or an accompaniment to opium. Ithasbeen found 

 very useful in chronic rheumatism and in whooping-cough, 

 and in allaying the pain of irritable sores .and cancerous ulcer's. 

 The virtues of hemlock reside in an alkaline principle teiined 

 Conine or co""/, which is most abundant in the fnlit and seeds. 

 See coriltie. 



Round about the caldron go ; 



J n the poison' d entrails throw, . . . 



Root of htmlock digg'd i' the dark. 



Shak.f Macbeth, iv. 1. 

 As touching liendnchp., it is also a ranke poyson, witnesse the 

 publike ordinance and law of the Athenians, whereby male- 

 factor's who have deserved to die were forced to drinlie that 

 odious potion of h'-iiuocke. 



JInlland, tr. of PUny, x-xv. 13. 

 Beneath an emerald plane 

 Sits Diotima, teaching him that died 

 Of hemlock. 



Tennyson, Princess, iii. 



2. The hemlock-spruce. — Hemlock stork's-bill, 



the stork's-bill, Krodmrn cicutarium • so named because the 

 dissected leaves resemble those of the hemlock. 



