320 Notices respecting New Books. 



different ways at the will of the writer. Mr. Cooley proceeds as 

 follows : — He excludes Descriptive Geography, and all that relates 

 to organic life, and to the history of previous conditions of the 

 surface; at least, if notice is taken of these subjects, they come in as 

 episodes. By way of introduction he gives a sketch of Mathe- 

 matical Geography, and so much Astronomy as is needed for its 

 exposition, aud then takes so much of Physical Geography as 

 relates to what is frequently called the "inorganic life" of the 

 earth. To use his own words, Physical Geography " is the de- 

 partment of science which embraces the course of physics reigning 

 on the earth's surface over land, sea, and air." It will be seen 

 from this that our author takes a view of the limits of his subject 

 different from that taken by most writers. No objection can be 

 raised to his doing this in a subject so extensive that an accurate 

 acquaintance with both the excluded and included parts can rarely 

 be acquired by one man. He also differs from other writers in 

 another way. They commonly assume their readers to be ac- 

 quainted with the physical principles which are exemplified in 

 terrestrial phenomena. Mr. Cooley, however, thinks it better to 

 include an account of these principles in the course of his work. 

 The consequence is that their discussion is not sufficiently full to 

 meet the wants of learners, and is unnecessary for others ; besides, 

 the need of brevity in the exposition of these incidental matters 

 has apparently led, in some cases, to what is, at best, inexact 

 statement. 



The twelve maps with which the work is illustrated are, as might 

 be expected, maps of Isothermal, Isobaric, Cotidal, Isogonal, and 

 Isoclinal lines, of regular winds and rains, and of Oceanic Currents. 

 They are all well drawn ; and the six of Isothermal and Isobaric 

 lines are very elegant maps, and very distinct, though on so small 

 a scale that they are printed with a good margin on an octavo page. 

 It is to be regretted that maps of this land are not printed in such 

 a manner as to indicate approximately the degree of confidence 

 that can be placed on the several lines. In Europe and elsewhere 

 they are fairly trustworthy ; but in some cases the data must be 

 very insufficient, and in others a bold distinct line is continued 

 through districts where for 1000 miles at a stretch not a single 

 observation has ever been made ; e.g. in the map of Isothermal 

 lines for July the southern Isotherm of 60° passes through Southern 

 and Western Australia about midway between the tracks of Mr. 

 Eyre and Colonel Warburton, and the southern Isotherm of 80° 

 goes through the middle of New Guinea nearly along its length. 



A work like the present embraces a wide range of facts ; and of 

 course there is a proportionately great risk of errors occurring here 

 and there. We have compared a considerable number of Mr. 

 Cooley's statements with those of other writers ; and we see no 

 reason to doubt their general accuracy. But we think his book 

 can hardly be regarded as a work of authority. We have noted 

 several points in which his statements are either inexact, or liable 

 to be questioned. We will give a few instances. 



