370 



SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



NOTICES BY lOHX T. CARRINGTON. 



Flowers of the Field. By the late C. A. Johns, 

 B.A., F.L.S. 29tli Edition. Re-written by G. S. 

 BouLGER, F.L.S. , F.G.S. Hi. +926 pp., 7 in. 

 x5 in., with numerous illustrations. (London: 

 Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1899.) 

 7s. ed. 



A new flora of British plants is welcome. 

 Although this is the 29th edition, it is practically 

 new, as Professor Boulger has re-written and revised 

 the entire volume. It is also enlarged and some- 

 what altered. It thus becomes, under Professor 

 Boulger's charge, a book to be relied upon, which could 

 hardly be said previously. In its new form " Flowers 

 of the Field " will be found a useful book for the 

 beginner in the study of field botany and for the 

 lover of plants generally. We dislike to find fault, 

 but in trying to get conciseness the author has 

 carried that generally desirable quality almost too 

 far in his omission of the distribution of plants ; 

 there is hardly any indication in what British region 

 some very local plants may be found. 



The Story of Life's Mechanism. By H. W. 

 Conn. 219 pp., 6 in. x 3I in., with 50 illustra- 

 tions. (London: George Newnes, Limited, 1899.) 



IS. 



As an example of the present condition of public 

 opinion this small book is instructive. Even within 

 our own lifetime the publication in shilling form of 

 the information contained herein would have raised a 

 \'iolent protest from those who arrogated to them- 

 selves the direction of that which was to be read by 

 the young. The author deals largely with the lower 

 forms of life, embryology and evolution. 



Sexual DiviorpJiism in the Animal Kingdovt. By 

 J. T. Cunningham, M.A. xi. -f3i7pp., 9 in. x 

 6 in., with 32 illustrations. (London : Adam and 

 Charles Black, 1900.) 12s. 6d. net. 



In this book Mr. Cunningham, so well known for 

 his investigations airiong our marine fishes, has worked 

 out the theory of the evolution of secondary sexual 

 characters. To quote from the introduction: "The 

 essentials of animal existence are the acquisition of 

 food, the escape from enemies, and the generation of 

 offspring. Under dift'erent conditions these objects 

 are attained in different ways. In the most familiar 

 animals we observe in the bodily structure striking 

 ■ and complicated mechanisms for attaining them. 

 Such co-ordinated structural adjustments are called 

 adaptations. The study of the modes in which the 

 structure of the bodies of animals enables them to 

 maintain their existence leads to two great questions : 

 (i) Is everything in structure essential or advan- 

 tageous to the maintenance of life ? ; (2) What is the 

 cause by which adaptations are produced ? " This is 

 the basis of Mr. Cunningham's inquiry. He extends 

 it to the differences between closely allied animals 

 and even individuals of species. This brings us to 

 the reasons for deviations in kinships which go to 

 form species and sub-kingdoms. The title of the 



book thus indicates its object. It is a thoughtful 

 work, and if only a fragment on account of the future 

 literature of a ^reat subject, it forms a sound basis 

 for the commencement of a valuable course of study, 

 and one that may be pursued by most intelligent 

 persons. 



A Treatise on Zoology. Edited by E. Ray 

 Lankester, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S. Part III. 

 Echinoderma. By F. A. Bather, M. A., assisted 

 by J. W. Gregory, D.Sc, E. S. Goodrich, M.A. 

 viii. -I- 344 pp. , 9 j in. >: 6 in. , with 30S illustrations. 

 (London : Adam & Charles Black, igoo.) \y. net. 



This is the first volume issued of what promises to 

 be an admirable library in itself relating to the 

 subject of zoology. Under the able supervision of 

 Dr. Ray Lankester, the Director of the British 

 Museum of Natural History, such a work cannot 

 fail to be of the highest authority. It is to be 

 issued in parts, as written, and the portly volume 

 before us forms an excellent specimen from which to 

 judge the prospects of the work in full. We have 

 already promised by the publishers : Part I. , Intro- 

 duction and the Protozoa ; Part II., General Discus- 

 sion of the Metazoa — The Porifera— The Hydro- 

 medusa — The Scyphomedusa — The Athozoa— The 

 Ctenophora ; Part III. , the volume under notice ; 

 Part IV., The Mesozoa— The Platyhelmia— The 

 Nemertini. Very wisely, the publishers intend 

 issuing the parts as ready, and without waiting for 

 sequence. The design of the work seems to be 

 admirable, the terminology the most recent, the 

 illustrations well chosen, and at the end of each 

 division is a bibliography that enables anyone desiring 

 further information to save much time in literary 

 research. The parts of this splendid work should be 

 secured as they appear for every public library in the 

 kingdom and Colonies. Private students will find it 

 a necessity. 



Lessons in Elementary Physiology. By Thomas 

 H. Huxi.EY, LL.D., F.R.S. Enlarged and Re- 

 vised Edition, xxiv. -f6ii pp., 6j in. x 4 in. , with 

 187 illustrations. (London and New York : Mac- 

 millans. 1900.) 41. 6a'. 



A revised edition of this standard book will be 

 useful to many persons as well as to young students 

 at large. Dipping into its pages recalls the charm of 

 the late Professor Huxley's style, which is always a 

 pleasure to read. " 



Scientific Study of Scenery. By John E. Marr, 

 M.A., F.R.S. X. -t368 pp., ^\ in. x 5 in., with 

 21 illustrations and 80 diagrams. (London : Methuen 

 & Co. 1900.) 6s. 



In introducing this work to his readers, Mr. Marr 

 very properly points out that the natural sciences are 

 too frequently regarded from a purely philosophical 

 or a merely economic standpoint, and that their 

 aesthetic side is too generally ignored ; though this is 

 a valuable means of education. A scientific study of 

 the causes that have left the earth's surface in its 

 present varied form and those which continue to 

 change the scenery of every district is within the 

 power of every person, even those without previous 

 instruction on the subject. This possibility is gained 

 through such a book as that before us. To fully 

 attain aesthetic culture and consequent pleasure 

 through full appreciation of scenery, we should have 

 at least a general knowledge of its origin. In the 

 twenty chapters constituting this book, Mr. Marr 

 clearly explains in easy language the natural phe- 

 nomena that brought about earthly change on its 

 surface and what have been, or will be, the results. 



