232 Literary Notices. 



in several more, and the list of " Comets whose orbits have not been 

 computed," published originally in our pages, reappears, without any 

 acknowledgment of its previous issue. " The Starry Heavens " 

 supply themes for eleven chapters, which include a catalogue of 

 variable stars, and some other useful lists. Astronomical instruments, 

 and the mode of adjusting and using them usefully, occupy nine 

 chapters, after which comes a " Sketch of the History of Astronomy," 

 and remarks on meteorites, and the book concludes with a series" 

 of astronomical tables. From this sketch of contents, the utility of 

 the work will be apparent, though it is defective in many particulars, 

 and exhibits rather a plodding industry in extracting from other 

 books, than any originality of conception or power of exposition. 

 Its chief merit is that it supplies a gap, and we could not indicate 

 any one volume, extending over the same range of subjects, and 

 compiled with the same regard to the average wants of amateurs. 



At page 35, the reader will notice a long passage on the comparative 

 sizes of the sun and planets, and of the orbits of the latter, taken almost 

 verbatim from Sir J. Herschel's Outlines, without acknowledg- 

 ment ; and the explanation of the harvest moon, at page 80, is copied 

 in the same way, and printed as if it were original. There are many 

 other appropriations without adequate confession. At page 502, 

 nebulae are spoken of as "probably all stellar," thus ignoring the 

 important discoveries of Mr. Huggins. Mr. Chambers speaks of 

 his not being quite satisfied with the illustrations of nebulas, etc., and 

 we believe he made the same observation in the first edition of his 

 book. Some are tolerable, and others so bad, that they ought not to 

 have reappeared. In Plate xxiv. is a most preposterous view of the 

 cluster 47 Toucani, stated to be " drawn by Sir J. Herschel." This 

 cluster is figured in the Cape Observations of the distinguished astro- 

 nomer, whose name is thus made use of, but his figure, in its main 

 features, bears no resemblance to the remarkable object which Mr. 

 Chambers supplies. We feel it is right to make great allowances 

 for popular works that endeavour to figure delicate clusters and 

 nebulae, as they are extremely difficult to engrave satisfactorily, but 

 no artist and no compiler can be justified in issuing, on the au- 

 thority of a great observer, such a pure invention and fiction as the 

 plate we complain of. 



Annual Report of the Board .of Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, showing the Operations, Expenditures, and Condition of 

 the Institution for the year 18G5. Washington, 1866. — In a former 

 number we gave an account of the " Smithsonian Institution," and 

 of the valuable character of its labours. The present report shows 

 that much good work was done in the period to which it refers. 

 The publications embrace A Description of Magnetic Observations 

 untile at Giranl College; Paleontology of the Upper Missouri;' Creta- 

 ceous Reptiles of the United States ; Astronomical, Magnetic, and 

 Meteorological Observations within the Arctic Circle ; an Investigation 

 in /<> the Orbit of Neptune . These are quartos, and the octavo series 

 com prises a lievieiv of American Birds in the Smithsonian Collection ; 

 Researches upon the Hydrobriinw ; a continuation of the Synojms of 

 American Land and Fresk-icatcr Shells, etc. From the Secretaries' 



