SCIENCE GOSSIP 



X5 



Before closing this notice the writer may till a joke 

 against hinisclf in connection with the " Century 

 Dictionary." Having occnMon to refer to a word for 

 its exact value, he as usual consulleil the "Century 

 Dictionary" and found the (|Ucitalion to ^how its 

 application was taken from an article written liy John 

 T. Carrington ! We strongly recommend our readers 

 t(i get this work. Its po.ssession may he attaiited by 

 an act of daily self-denial to the extent of a few pence, 

 until the indehtedness for the dictionary is liquidated ; 

 though the volumes will he delivered on signing the 

 order and pa\'ing the tirst guinea deposit. 



Instcis, tliiir Sinii/iire anil !.if<-. By (".l.:nRi;F. 11. 

 Caki'KNTIck, H.Sc.I.ond. x. +404 pp., 75ln. x 5111., 

 ivith 183 illustrations and a pedigree diagram. 

 (London : J. M. Dent and Co., iSgg.) 4s. 6d. net. 



Mr. Carpenter's useful little hook bears as a sub- 

 title the announcement that it is a Primer of 

 Entomology. In his preface Mr. Carpenter only 

 claims that his book is a compilation. This to some 

 extent is necessarily so and we should be apt to dread 

 the subject-matter within its covers, were it otherwise. 

 -Still, there are compilations well worth attention, and 

 this is one of them. The author tersely, and with 

 much judgment, tells the story uf Entomology in a 

 pleasing fashion, which is sure to obtain many recruits 

 to the study of insects. .Vmong some orders of 

 Insecta we note changes of arrangement, for instance 

 in the Order Lepidoptera, the chapter opens with the 

 words "Moths and Buticrtlies" and so they are 

 arranged by Mr. Carpenter. He tells us that "the 

 popular division of Lepidoptera into butterflies and 

 moths is nuite unscientific." Indeed, these are hard 

 times for the beginner. Take this statement, which 

 is (|uitc true, in conjunction with I)r. Sharp'sauthori- 

 tative work we have just noticed, and let the 

 uninitiated judge between them. It is enough to 

 drive him to postage-stamps. In the two books the 

 arrangement of orders are difl'erent, that of the 

 families in the orders is often different, as arc 

 frequently the names of species. Both authors 

 are men whom we can respect, and each knows what 

 he is writing about, yet ihe result is — apparent chaos. 

 Nevertheless, we can recommend Mr. Carpenter's 

 little work as one well worth perusal, and one likely 

 to be useful to its readers whom we trust will in good 

 time be able to judge for themselves, and even 

 propound new theories to vex the next generation of 

 entomologists. The book is liberally illustrated, and 

 prettily produced, though we should have thought for 

 a book of this class, intended ratlier for everyday 

 work than to be put uncut on the library shelves, there 

 might have been less straining after the antique and 

 fewer rough edges and uneven pages. 



Bacteria. By Gkorge Newman, M.D., F.R.S.E., 

 D.P.IL, XV. -f 351 pp., 8Jin. X 6in., with 23 plates 

 and 6t illustrations in text. (London : John Murray, 

 1S99.) 6s. 



This work is one of the Progressive Science .Series 

 and deals with a subject, which thtiugh comparatively 

 new is recognised as of the highest po.ssible impor- 

 tance to the human race and its domesticated animals. 

 Dr. Newman, who is the Demonstrator of Bacloriology 

 in King's College, London, places the subject before 

 his readers lucidly and with a simplicity indicating a 

 thorough knowledge of his subject. His first chapter 

 deals w ith the biology of bacteria, which will prove a 

 most useful treatise for those desiring a better know- 

 ledge of these low organisms. This chapter includes 

 a description of their culture, and the apparatus 

 necessary, which is fully illustrated. In the next 

 chapter dealing with bacteria in water, more apparatus 

 for their study is figured. The same applies to the 



third chapter describing air-borne species. This is 

 followed by an article on the bacteria of fermentation. 

 Bacteria of the soil are then treated, as are those in 

 milk and other foods. The remainder of the Ixxik 

 deals with bacteria in connection with disea.ses, 

 iMnnmiity and anti. toxins. The book closes with a 

 valuable chapter on disinfection. 



Fauna of Sltiopshiix. By H. Kdwahd Kokki'.st, 

 XV. -f- 24S pp., illustrated by numerous plates and 

 portraits, 8in. X S'n. (Shrewsbury : L. Wilding, 

 l.ondcm : Terry and Co., 1899.) 7s. 6d. 



The author of this elegantly pioduce<l little work is 

 an Hon. Local Secretary of the Caradoc and .Severn 

 \'alley Field Club. As in<licated by the title of the 

 work, it is entirely of a local character, but never- 

 theless contains a great deal of information, useful 

 beyond the boundaries of the County. Although 

 bearing the title of the " Fauna of Shropshire," 

 Mr. I'orrest does not go beyond the vertebrates, 

 confining him.self to the mammals, birds, reptiles, and 

 fishes. There are many interesting little notes .sprc-rd 

 thoiugh the pages, which will repay the subscribers 

 who have a.ssisted the author in bringing out his book. 

 Perhaps, however, the most valuable chapter is that 

 referring to stmie past Shropshire naturalists, who.se 

 portraits are given with biographical notices, such 

 being always u.seful to County historian.s. The 

 illustrations are generally successful, though many of 

 them are taken from animals preserved in museum 

 cases. 



Inipyessiots of Aiiiei-ica. Bv T. C. Pok'I'KK. M.A., 

 F.C.S., F.R.A.S., K.P.S. xxi. + 341 pp.. 9in.X6in., 

 with 57 ilhistration.s. (London : C. Arthur Pearson, 

 Ltd., 1899.) los. 6d. 



This book has all the appearance of originality. 

 I'irsl it is tied with crimson ribbon, and as some of 

 the plates are stereoscopic, there is appended in a 

 little case within the binding, a small stereoscope, for 

 the better examination of the views, which are often 

 mounted in duplicate for this purpose. There is 

 rather an elaborate explanation of the use of this little 

 instrument, but its perus;tl will enable the reader to 

 get a better appreciation of its necessity. The author 

 h.as had excellent opportunities, of which he has fully 

 availed himself, the result being a remarkable 

 pictorial collection of the wonders of American 

 scenery, with some good descriptive wiiting. At the 

 end of the book are several interesting appendi<-es, in 

 which there is some scientific matter, especially with 

 regard to physical geograph)-. a new theory of gey.sers, 

 and an explanation of the apparent, but not ex.ict, 

 breadth of the American Fall at Niagara. There is 

 much to interest one, and some pleasing illustrations. 



Chals Ahont the Microstope. By Henky C. 

 SHEt.i.EY. loi pp., 7iin. X 5in., with frontispiece 

 .and 30 illu.strations. (London : The Scientific Press, 

 Ltd., 1899.) 2.S. 



The title of this little book fittingly describes its 

 contents. It is .scarcely a volume that would be of 

 service to the experienced microscopist or naturalist, 

 but is written with a view to inculcate in the casu.al 

 wayfarer a love of nature, especially in those minute 

 forms that re(|uire the microscope for their investiga- 

 tion and even for their observation. To this end it is 

 well adapted, and might serve as a very elementary 

 introduction to the use of the microscope. Slight in 

 iteatmenl, it alludes briefly to such well-known forms 

 of microscopic life as \'olvox, Hydra, and Daphnia, 

 the Desmids, the Diatoms, etc. It touches on, 

 rather than explains, the elementary use of the 

 micro.scope and the necessary methods of mounting. 

 The illustrations are clear and characteristic of their 

 subjects. — F.S.S. 



