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LXXI. Notices respecting New Books. 



A Practical Manual of Tides and Waves. By W. H. Wheeler, 

 M.Inst.C.E. With illustrations. London : Longmans, G-reen 

 &Co. 1906. Pp. x + 202. 



^HE aim of the author of this book has been " to give as practical 

 -*- an account as possible, and free from all mathematical demon- 

 stration, of the action of the sun and moon in producing the tides ; 

 and also of the physical causes by which the tides are affected after 

 their generation, and of their propagation throughout the tidal 

 waters of the earth." In this object we think the author has suc- 

 ceeded admirably; and although here and there there is a looseness 

 of diction which one might like to see removed, the book as a whole 

 is admirably fitted for the practical and non-mathematical class of 

 reader for whom it is primarily intended. After an introduction 

 containing a sketch of the history of tidal science, the author con- 

 siders the effects of the sun and moon as tide-producing agents, 

 the propagation of the tidal wave, tidal currents, the mean level of 

 the sea and the range of the tides, the effects of wind and atmo- 

 spheric pressure on the tides, river tides, wind waves, seismic and 

 cyclonic storm-waves, and tidal bores in rivers. The concluding 

 chapters deal with tide-tables and tide-gauges, secondary undu- 

 lations and storm warnings, and the tides regarded as a source of 

 power. The numerous appendices contain, besides various data, a 

 comprehensive bibliographical list. 



Pedogenesis. Von Dr. C. Doelter, O. Professor der Mineralogie 

 und Petrographie an der Universitat Graz. Mit einer Licht- 

 drucktafel und 5 eingedruckten Abbildungen. Braunschweig : 

 E. Vieweg und Sohn. 1906. Pp. xii + 262. 



Lsr this little treatise, which forms ]STo. 13 of the series bearing the 

 general title of Die Wissenschaft, the author gives a clear and inter- 

 esting account of the present state of our knowledge regarding the 

 origin of rocks. In the opening chapter, the various rival theories 

 regarding the state of the earth's interior and the nature of volcanic 

 eruptions are passed in critical review. Then follow accounts of 

 the structure, chemical and physical characteristics and relative 

 ages of rocks of volcanic origin. Of particular interest is the 

 chapter dealing with the artificial production of rocks, a subject to 

 wiiose development the author himself has largely contributed by 

 his experimental researches. The remaining portion of the book 

 treats of slates, chalks, flints, sandstones, saline deposits, &c. 



The work is based on the modern methods of physico-chemical 

 research as well as on geological observation. It should form 

 an excellent guide for the geologist, mineralogist and chemist ; 

 and will be found by no means devoid of interest to the general 

 reader. 



