368 Notices respecting New Books. 



The alluvial and so-called diluvial deposits are described in the 

 second and third chapters ; in the latter, organic remains are not 

 very numerous in the environs of Tokio : there are plant-remains 

 of surviving species, aud land, freshwater, and marine Mollusca of 

 existing Japanese forms. The remains of mammals are rather 

 limited : bones of Deer and Cetacea occur ; also two species of 

 Elephants, which are referred to Elephas meridionalis and E. anti- 

 quus, forms belonging to the Glacial and Preglacial fauna of Europe. 



The succeeding chapters (4-7) treat of the Tertiary deposits of 

 Oji, Tokio, Yokohama, and other parts of Japan, and of the Mol- 

 lusca found in them, which are all living species ; many, however, 

 are not now found in the neighbourhood of Japan, nor even in the 

 Pacific. In many respects, Dr. Brauns says, the Japanese shell- 

 layers have the greatest resemblance to the Crag, and, next to it, 

 to the younger Subapennine deposits, while the rocks resemble 

 very closely the European Faluns. 



With the memoir are given some sections and a sketch map of 

 the environs of Tokio, and six plates of fossil shells, which are 

 highly creditable to the Japanese artist, Mr. H. Hirauchi, who 

 designed the illustrations. 



The Theory of Equations ,■ with an Introduction to the Theory of 

 Binary Algebraic Forms. By W. S. Btjrnside, 21. A., and A. W. 

 Paxtok, M.A. Longmans, Green, and Co. : London. Pp. 387. 

 Students of Mathematics are greatly indebted to the authors of 

 this work for having combined in one volume the substance of the 

 best standard books on the subject, with the improvements and ex- 

 tensions it has received at the hands of modern investigators, whose 

 memoirs have hitherto been chiefly contributions to various Mathe- 

 matical Journals. The first ten chapters comprise all the essential 

 propositions included in the best treatises on the Theory of Equa- 

 tions. In the more advanced portions of the subject, Chapter XL, 

 on Determinants, and Chapters XIV. and XV., on Covariants and 

 Invariants, are distinguishing features of the work. To beginners 

 these chapters are of the greatest value, not only on account of the 

 simple and lucid manner in which they are written, but the care 

 which has been taken to place before the student the most recent 

 improvements in this Calculus. 



The book is unusually well got up in every respect. The type, 

 which is of various kinds, is remarkably clear : and the book 

 altogether a triumph of the printer's art. 



Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes. By the Bev. T. W. Webb, 

 M.A., F.B.A.S. Fourth Edition, 493 pp., with numerous 

 figures. London: Longmans, Green & Co. 1881. 

 This excellent book, every page of which teems with information, 

 is unquestionably not only the best and handiest companion for the 

 observatory, but also for the amateur who studies astronomy for 

 mere amusement. The questions, AVhat is to be looked for ? and 

 How is it to be looked for ? are abundantly answered in its pages. 



