SCIENCE- GOSSIP, 



34' 



Appendices relating to the administration of the 

 museum, together forming Part I. The second part 

 is devoted to papers describing and illustrating 

 Collections in the United States National Museum. 

 They include " Recent Foraminifera," " Properties 

 of Minerals," and "Classification of Minerals in the 

 U.S. National Museum." The rest of the papers 

 are on Anthropological or Ethnological subjects ; 

 they are all interesting and beautifully illustrated. 



Life and Happiness. By Auguste Marrott. 

 90 pp., 8 in. x 5 in. (London : Kegan Paul, Trench, 

 Triibner, & Co., N.D. ) 2.r. bd. 



As the author modestly says in the preface, " you 

 will find nothing strikingly fresh in these pages." They 

 contain a series of elaborated maxims for the guidance 

 of persons for the welfare of body, mind, and con- 

 duct. The construction of this book has doubtless 

 been a happy recreation for the author, and he has 

 printed it so that others may share with him in his 

 pleasure. 



Kirkc's Handbook of Physiology'. By W. D. 

 Halliburton, M.D., F.R.S. Sixteenth Edition, 

 xx + S72 pp. , 8 in. x 6 in. , with 650 coloured and 

 other illustrations. (London: Tohn Murray, 1900.) 

 14s. 



On reference we find that it is less than a year since 

 the fifteenth edition of this valuable ami standard 

 work was issued. The fact that another edition is 

 required indicates the importance and necessity of the 

 book to medical practitioners and students. It is not 

 to them only that it appeals, as a better knowledge of 

 the human structure is much needed by the public at 

 large ; for, after all, the human frame is a mere 

 mechanical machine to be treated as would any 

 other piece of valuable mechanism. It is therefore 

 desirable in these days of heavy competition that the 

 intelligent owners should have a most accurate know- 

 ledge of its economy, so that the best possible use may 

 be obtained during its existence. 



The Flowering Plant. By J. R. AlNSWORTH 

 Davis, M.A., F.C.P. xv+195 pp., 8 in. x 5^ in. 

 Third Edition, with 70 illustrations. (London : 

 Charles Griffin & Co., Limited, 1900.) 3s. 6d. 



The present edition of this work has undergone 

 careful revision, and new illustrations have been 

 added, as has also a chapter on ferns and mosses. 

 Although the latter are, of course, not grouped among 

 flowering plants, the author has found it necessary to 

 give some account of cryptogams. This book might 

 be classed among the better type of primers ; and, 

 although so many works of a similar type have 

 already appeared, there is much in this that will 

 help a student of the structure of botany to a better 

 knowledge of the subject. The author is a Professor 

 in the University of Wales, and Examiner in Botany 

 to the Welsh Central Board for Intermediate 

 Education. 



The Advance of Knmvledge. By W. SEDGEWICK. 

 xi + 227 pp., Sin. ■ 5 in., with diagrams. (London: 

 George Allen, 1899.) 6s. 



This book is the work of Lieut. -Colonel Sedge- 

 wick, late of the Royal Engineers, and shows 

 throughout its pages that professional exactness of 

 expression resulting from a military training in the 

 scientific branch of the Service. It is a thoughtful 

 book, and one that will require careful reading to 

 enable one to fully follow the author's speculations. 

 His chapters are occupied by the consideration of the 

 doctrine of antagonism which prevails throughout 

 Nature, whether material or intellectual ; inorganic 

 evolution ; the atom ; the monad ; matter ; the 



ether ; and life. Without necessarily agreeing with 

 all the author's speculations, which are indeed in some 

 cases ultra-speculative, this work is well worth ex- 

 amination and is full of suggestiveness ; but the 

 reader must be prepared for some high flights of 

 imagination. 



Journal of Researches. By Charles Darwin 

 M.A., F.R.S. 492 pp., Sin. x 5 in., with portrait 

 and 15 illustrations. (London : Ward, Lock, & 

 Co.) 2S. 



There is no longer any excuse for not reading the 

 late Charles Darwin's classical journal made during 

 the voyage of PI.M.S. "Beagle" round the world. 

 It is now issued in the " Minerva Library "of famous 

 books at the extraordinarily low price of two shillings. 

 The book is prefaced by a biographical introduction. 

 Altogether the present issue of this book may be 

 looked upon with satisfaction. 



Object-Lessons in Botany. By EDWARD Snel- 

 grove, B. A. xiii + 297 pp., 7-J in. x 5 in., with 153 

 illustrations. (London : Jarrold & Sons.) 3s. 6d. 



This book is a manual of structural botany, with 

 numerous pictorial illustrations. We are glad to 

 notice these are taken from familiar plants of easy 

 access. The book does not differ materially from 

 others of its class, but will nevertheless be found 

 useful to teachers and private students. It is Book II. 

 of Mr. Snelgrove's series, being for Standards III.. 

 IV., and V. 



Experiments on Animals. By STEPHEN PAGET. 

 xii + 274 pp., 7} in. x 5 in., with illustrations. 

 (London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1900.) 6s. 



So much literature has been injudiciously circulated 

 by well-meaning people upon experiments on living 

 animals it is pleasing to find before us a book dealing 

 with this subject in a commonsense and accurate 

 manner. No one can have a greater abhorrence of 

 inflicting pain than ourselves ; but such a mass of 

 inaccurate statements are in existence in print that 

 it was quite time something was written that is 

 not purely sentimental. This work is accompanied 

 by an introduction by Lord Lister. The author has 

 also had the advantage of revision of proofs by 

 several gentlemen of high scientific reputation. This 

 book should be read by both sides — those in favour 

 of experiments on animals, and those of the opposite 

 opinion. 



Laboratory Note-Book. By Vivian B. Lewes 

 and J. S. S. Bra.me. 170 pp. (London: Archibald 

 Constable & Co., 1S99. ) 4s. 



The authors state in the preface that " this 

 ' Note-Book ' has been compiled without any refer- 

 ence to any particular syllabus or examination, and 

 is intended to cover such practical work as a student 

 should be familiar with, if he is to have a good 

 groundwork in the subject of Practical Chemistry." 

 The work will, no doubt, prove a useful adjunct to 

 the teacher's demonstrations, and a student who 

 works carefully through should have a good grasp of 

 Elementary Practical Chemistry. Beyond, however, 

 the last twenty or thirty pages, we do not note any 

 advantages which the present work shows over the 

 text-books in everyday use. We are sorry to read of 

 inches (p. 3), grains, and ounces (p. 165), although 

 the first two pages are devoted to an explanation of 

 the Metric System. We cannot help thinking that 

 the instructions (p. 138) to " Dis." a stick of caustic 

 soda in water will lead to a looseness in expression 

 and carelessness in work, which we feel sure Professor 

 Lewes would be the last to countenance. — H. M. K. 



