644 Notices respecting New Books. 



passing from numbers with high initial digits to numbers with 

 low initial digits. Time must be wasted, and it is doubtful if the 

 somewhat greater accuracy in the fifth figure when working with 

 differences at either end will make up for this.-* For schoolboys 

 especially the plan is distinctly inappropriate. . To be of real 

 "service in schools mathematical tables must be as simple as 

 possible, with no traps for the unwary ; and for this reason also 

 the using of the same trigonometrical tables downwards for the 

 sines and tangents and upwards for the cosines and cotangents is 

 not to be commended. For use by a practised hand in laboratory 

 or office the book will no doubt be found of value. The table of 

 squares and cubes which may be used with care for finding square 

 roots and cube roots cannot fail to be of great service. We have 

 noticed one mistake in the logarithm of 476. The introduction 

 of the logarithms of reciprocals is a feature of merit ; but it is a 

 pity that some tables are printed down the page and others across, 

 compelling the worker to turn the book through a right angle 

 when using different tables in succession. In this respect also 

 convenience has been sacrificed for economy's sake. The book is 

 a model of clear printing. 



The Science Year Booh. Edited by Major B. F. S. Bade^-Powell . 

 London : King, Sell & Olding. 1907. 



A eew minor changes have been introduced into the present issue 

 of this year-book. Instead of a series of brief independent articles 

 on progress in various branches of science, a single summary is 

 given. All the tables which have appeared in previous editions 

 are retained, and a diary, with a full page to each day, and a 

 number of extra pages at the end for various entries, is provided. 

 The diary part of the book consists of excellent paper tastefully 

 ruled. We notice that in the biographical section Prof. Minchin 

 is described as still on the staff of the R.I.E. College, although 

 this college has ceased to exist. An attractive frontispiece, 

 consisting of a portrait of Lord Rayleigh, adorns the work. 



The Physical Laboratories of the University of Manchester. A record 

 of 25 years' work. Prepared in Commemoration of the 25th 

 Anniversary of the Election of Dr. Arthur Schuster, F.R.S., 

 to a Professorship in the Owens College, by his old Students 

 and Assistants. Manchester: at the University Press. 1906. 

 Pp. 142. 



Although this volume is primarily o£ interest to the alumni of 

 the University of Manchester and the personal friends of 

 Dr. Schuster, some matter of general interest to teachers of 

 physics will be found in the detailed description of the physical 

 laboratories and the methods of instruction there adopted. An 

 excellent portrait of Prof. Schuster forms a fitting frontispiece to 

 this tribute to his 25 years' professorial work at Manchester. 



