34o 



SCIENCE- G OSSIP, 



NOTICES BY JOHN T. CARRINGTON. 



Text-Book of Palaeontology- By Karl A. VON 

 Zittel. Translated and Edited by Charles R. 

 Eastman, Ph.D. Vol. I., ix + 706 pp., 9} in. x6in., 

 illustrated with 1,476 woodcuts. (London and New 

 York: Macmillans, 1900.) 25s. net. 



We do noi imagine there is any treatise on Palae- 

 ontology in the English language comparable with 

 the magnificent work in the German of Professor von 

 Zittel's " Grundzlige der Palaeontologie " and his 

 " Handbuc der Palaeontologie." The book before 

 us is founded on the former. Dr. Eastman — who, by 

 the way, is Assistant in Palaeontology in the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, Cam- 

 bridge, U.S.A. — has not made an exact translation of 

 the " Grundzlige " into English, as, although only 

 completed in 1895, the progress of knowledge has 

 rendered necessary the remodelling of the greater part 

 of the book. In consequence of the translator and 

 editor having submitted various sections to specialists, 

 there is a certain unevenness in the style of the work, 

 which is thus accounted for. Yet from the point of 

 scientific accuracy the result is as perfect as it is pos- 

 sible to obtain. In these alterations Professor von 

 Zittel fully agrees. Thus we have before us the first 

 volume of the most accurate work on fossils that has 

 yet been issued. The list of the editor's col- 

 laborators, with their respective subjects, is too long 

 to be given here, as they are a dozen in number, but 

 it suffices to say they are all recognised as authori- 

 tative workers in their various divisions. This first 

 volume contains only the invertebrates, and we 

 understand the second volume, which is well for- 

 ward, will be devoted entirely to the vertebrates. 

 Nearly every page is liberally decorated with illus- 

 trations, as may be understood when there are more 

 than double as many figures as there are pages. The 

 drawings, having been well executed as woodcuts, are 

 most excellent, so that we have altogether a remark- 

 able book, and one that every one interested in 

 fossils should make an effort to obtain. 



The Witness of Creation. By M. Cordelia 

 Leigh. 167 pp., y\ in. x 5 in., with 18 illustra- 

 tions. (London : Jarrold & Sons, 1900.) 2s. 6d. 



The Hon. Cordelia Leigh has previously launched 

 more than one literary production, but this is clearly 

 an advance on her previous work. This book is largely 

 a reprint of a series of articles written in a magazine. 

 They are intended to help Sunday-school teachers 

 and conductors of Bible classes. The chapters are 

 founded on the Book of Job, and deal with the forces 

 of Nature mentioned there. It is pleasing to find that 

 Miss Leigh has treated her subjects sensibly and with 

 considerable scientific accuracy. This has been veri- 

 fied by reference to several men of scientific repute, 

 who have advised the authoress. It is a book that 

 may be safely quoted by teachers, and one that will 

 interest not only their scholars but also themselves. 

 It is well produced by the publishers and nicely 

 illustrated. 



Practical Plane and Solid Geometry. By JOSEPH 

 Harrison, M.I.M.E., and G. A. Baxandall. 

 xn + 557 PP-i 7 m - 1 JV 5 i n - j wrtn about 450 figures. 

 (London : Macmillans, 1899.) 4s. 6d. 



This is a distinctly good book, and especially useful 

 to the engineering student. It is well written, and 

 the illustrations are clear. Perhaps the earlier 

 portion of the work devoted to plane geometry is 

 rather too brief ; but as a whole we can recommend 

 the volume. ' The general introduction will be useful 

 to the young student, as it contains many hints and 

 instructions that are helpful with regard to the use of 

 instruments. 



The Naturalists' Directory for 1900. 152 pp., 

 1\ in. x 5 in. (London : L. Upcott Gill, 1900.) 

 is. 6d. net. 



This useful little book is gradually growing larger 

 and more bulky in appearance, and its price is conse- 

 quently advancing. There are, however, many names 

 still to add, especially of men in the higher ranks in 

 science. It is desirable to make such a work as 

 complete as possible, and we feel sure the editor will 

 gladly avail himself of any future help he may get 

 from our readers by pointing out omissions. His 

 address is 170 Strand, London, W.C. 



Elementary Course of Practical Zoology. By the 

 late T. Jefkery Parker, D.Sc, F.R.S., and 

 W. N. Parker, Ph.D. xii + 6o8pp., 7fin. x5in., 

 with 156 illustrations. (London and New York : 

 Macmillans, 1900.) 10s. 6d. 



Shortly before his death in 1897, Professor Jeffery 

 Parker arranged with his brother, Professor W. N. 

 Parker, of the University of Wales, to produce a 

 practical text-book of elementary zoology for the 

 assistance of students in preparing for public examina- 

 tions. The result is now before us, having been 

 carried out by the latter author on the plan drafted 

 by the brothers before death separated them. The 

 book is simply arranged, quite effective as an intro- 

 duction to structural zoology, and so planned as to 

 lead to a future interest in zoology beyond the present 

 instruction to be gained from the treatise. 



A Manual of Zoology. By T. Jeffery Parkek, 

 D.Sc, F.R.S., and William A. Has well, M.A., 

 D.Sc, F. R.S. xv + 550 pp., 7 J in. >5 in., with 

 300 illustrations. (London and New York : Mac- 

 millans, 1899.) 10s. 6d. 



Owing to the death of Professor Jeffery Parker, 

 the greater labour of producing this work fell upon 

 Professor Haswell. In October 1898 we noticed in 

 these pages the large book on Zoology by these 

 authors, then published as " A Text-Book of Zoology" 

 at thirty-six shillings. The work before us has much 

 the same foundation at a more accessible price. It 

 is very fully illustrated, some of the figures in the 

 text being coloured. The authors have succeeded in 

 producing "A Manual of Zoology" for the use of 

 scholars in better-class schools, and for the junior 

 classes in Universities. The present Manual is in- 

 tended for the field naturalist as well as for the closet 

 student. 



Annual Report of Smithsonian Institute. xxvi 

 + 1021 pp., 9^ in. x 6 in., with 80 plates and 201 

 illustrations. (Washington : Government Printing 

 Offices, 1899.) 



This remarkable production could only be produced 

 by a government or wealthy institution. It really 

 extends only to the 30th of June, 1897, though 

 recently issued. The first 239 pages only are devoted 

 to the report proper, the rest being occupied by 



