388 Literary Notices. 



The Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin Messenger of Mathe- 

 matics, ~No. X. (Macmillan.) — As the title page informs us, this 

 serial is " supported by junior mathematical students of the three 

 Universities," and. edited by William Allen Whitworth, and five 

 other gentlemen well known in their respective circles. From the 

 contents of the part before us, we have no doubt mathematical 

 students will appreciate this publication, and find in it matter that 

 might not be otherwise accessible. 



The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist. (Montreal, Daw- 

 son; London, Bailliere.) — Successive numbers which reach us of 

 this publication show that it maintains a high character as a scien- 

 tific magazine ; and many of the papers on local subjects will have 

 a permanent value that naturalists and geologists will not fail to 

 appreciate. 



A Few "Words on the Choice of a Microscope. By J. J. 

 Plumer, Esq., M.A. With illustrations. (Churchill.) — This reprint 

 from the Quarterly Journal of Microscopic Science describes the 

 principal forms of microscope in use, and the author's conclusion is 

 that if a purchaser can afford it, he had better obtain one of the 

 first-class instruments by one of the best makers. 



Geology and History : A popular exposition of all that is 

 known of the Earth and its Inhabitants in Prehistoric times. By 

 Bernhard von Cotta, Professor of Geology at the Academy of 

 Mining, Freiberg, in Saxony. (Trubner.) — Mr. R. R. Noel presents 

 the English public with a translation of the lecture by Professor 

 Cotta, on the evidences that man is an old inhabitant of this globe, 

 and on kindred subjects. It is more pretentious than explanatory 

 to call a single short essay an explanation of all that is known of the 

 earth and its inhabitants in prehistoric times ; but Professor Cotta's 

 lecture contains a good sketch of some of the principal facts relating 

 to these questions, and forms a convenient little book for the general 

 reader. 



Man Considered Socially and Morally. By George Sparkes, 

 Esq., Madras Civil Service. (Longmans.) — Mr. Sparkes tells us 

 that for many years he has been in the habit of jotting down the 

 most noteworthy opinions on social topics which he heard or read; 

 and the present neat little volume is a resume of his collections, 

 united together with original matter in a shape that will be accept- 

 able to those who may have neither the knowledge nor the oppor- 

 tunity for the extended literary researches which the author carried 

 on for the gratification of his own mind. 



Practical Chemistry. By Stevenson MAdam, Ph. D., F.R.S.E., 

 F.C.S., Lecturer on Chemistry in the Medical School, Sur- 

 geons' Hall, and to the School of Arts, Edinburgh. Illustrated by 

 woodcuts. (Chambers.) — Although we fully appreciate elaborate 

 works, which must necessarily be expensive, we rejoice at the 

 valuable efforts made by Messrs. Chambers, and other excellent pub- 

 lishers, to bring scientific information within the reach of large 



