﻿206 Notices respecting New Boohs. 



or to 



-sfK'{w,|,(i) + ^,&(i) + ...} + ^>, 



which is of the form 



W£ 2 + ... +M 12 ^ 2 f.f 2 + ... 



the coefficients L 1? M 12 , &c. being independent of t. 



This justifies the introduction of " mutual induction " 

 terms into the equations of motion, and the analogy to 

 currents. 



If c is not much larger than the velocities, then L 1? M 12 , 

 &c. are not truly constant. 



XXII. Notices respecting New Boohs. 



The Call of the Stars : a popular introduction to a knowledge of the 

 Starry Shies. By John E. Kippax, M.D., LL.B., Author of 

 Comets and Meteors, Churchyard Literature, &c. 418 + xviii 

 pp., 9 in.x5| in. 54 illustrations. Gr. P. Putnam's Sons, 

 New York and London : Knickerbocker Press. 10s. 6d. net. 



f PHE author aims at " a concise and accurate story of the starry 

 ■*- heaveus, together with the legendary lore that time and fancy 

 have associated with them. " The backward gaze indicated in the 

 second object prepares us to find that the most modern work 

 receives very little attention : for instance, the studies of stellar 

 movement, which have engrossed so much attention of late, are 

 dismissed with a few words in the opening chapter ; and very little 

 is said about modern solar research. Since the author has col- 

 lected his information chiefly from other text-books, this feature 

 might perhaps be ascribed to the fact that he must necessarily be 

 behind them in date ; but it is a pity that he did not consult, for 

 instance, Darwin's " Tides, " which has been a classic for many 

 years now. Apart from this defect, the book is a well-written 

 and interesting account of the main facts ; and it can do no 

 possible harm to be reminded, alongside the modern account of 

 Saturn, of the mythology and worship of the associated deity in 

 times past. The illustrations are excellent; and there is a good 

 collection of poetic references. There are a few slips, as when the 

 " isothermal layer " of oar atmosphere is called a " reversing layer " 

 p. 312; but on the whole the information is remarkably accurate 

 and sound ; and the index has been made with care. 



