62 Literary Notices. 



consulted, looking down the descriptions until one is found to fit. 

 Then the list of species is resorted to in the same way. Mr. Not- 

 cutt appears to have compressed a great deal of information into a 

 small space, and his method is clear. 



Archives of Medicine. Edited by Lionel S. Beale. Vol. IV. 

 (Churchill.) — The most important papers in this number relate to 

 the controversy raised by those who dispute Dr. Beale's statements 

 that nerves never end in free extremities, but always form closed 

 circuits. We have in former numbers expressed our admiration of 

 Dr. Beale's skill as a microscopical manipulator and observer, and 

 we believe that his main positions will be sustained by fair investi- 

 gation. Those physiologists, however, who employ very inferior 

 methods of preparation, and examine their objects with powers 

 bearing no comparison with his superb lenses by Powell and Lea- 

 land, are really not entitled to be heard against him. Before they 

 ask us to attach any importance to their not seeing what he sees, 

 they must put themselves in a condition in which seeing what he 

 describes becomes possible. 



Astronomical Investigations. The Cosmical Relations of the 

 Lctnar' Apsides. Oceanic Tides. By Henry F. A. Pkatt, M.D. 

 (Churchill.) — We are always desirous that a fair hearing should be 

 given to those who controvert received opinions. The progress of 

 science involves the constant discovery of truths that contradict pre- 

 conceived ideas, and we all know that submission to authority has been 

 the frequent means of prolonging error. Still, when any one comes 

 forward to deny certain elementary facts which scientific men con- 

 sider abundantly proved, they cannot expect that students will 

 devote nuich time to their elaborate arguments, unless they show 

 themselves right with regard to the postulates of the case. Now, 

 Dr. Pratt seems to us, upon insufficient grounds, to deny the 

 correctness of the received opinions concerning the flattening of our 

 globe at the poles, and the ellipsoidal character of its orbit ; and 

 we therefore do not feel bound to attempt to follow him in his 

 various hypotheses. The " moon controversy " has brought promi- 

 nently into notice the fact, that many men of considerable talent 

 and knowledge have not the faculty of appreciating a particular 

 line of argument, just as certain other persons cannot hear par- 

 ticular sounds or see particular colours. With due respect for 

 Dr. Pratt's ingenuity and attainments, we should place him in this 

 category, and should despair of appreciating the grounds of his 

 discordance with all our best mathematicians and physicists. 



Bacon's Historical and Archaeological Map of England and 

 Wales, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. (Bacon and 

 Co.) — We are glad to find this map published at a price which will 

 bring it within the general reach of students. It is coloured so as to 

 show the boundaries of the political divisions of England in Anglo- 

 Saxon and Danish times, and the divisions of Wales before its 

 subjugation. The map is thickly studded with names, and will be 

 a great assistance in realizing incidents of British history. 



Malcolm's Genealogical Tree of tue Royal Family of Great 



