364 Scientific Intelligence. 



in different regions on the earth's surface, and shows how they 

 react more or less definitely to such variations. At the close of 

 the volume he discusses the significance of light measurements in 

 horticulture, agriculture and forestry. a. w. b. 



6. Chemie der Uoheren Pilze: eine Monographie / von Dr. 

 Julius Zeli.ner. Pp. iv + 257. Leipzig, 1907 (Wilhelm Engel- 

 mann). — This volume is a compilation of the entire literature on 

 the chemistry of the higher fungi up to September, 1907, and 

 should appeal strongly to those interested in fungi chemistry. 

 The subject matter is condensed and yet the more important 

 desirable details have been given. Beginning with a considera- 

 tion of the mineral constituents of the fungi, the more important 

 chapters are as follows : fats, lecithins, alcohols, acids, amino 

 acids, urea and purine bodies, bases, carbohydrates, coloring mat- 

 ters, terpenes, proteins, ferments, toxines and the food value of 

 fungi. Numerous tables are also presented dealing with the 

 quantitative aspects of the subject. F. P. ITnderhiix. 



V. Miscellaneous Scientific Intelligence. 



1. Library of Congress. Report of the Librarian of Con- 

 gress and Report of the Superintendent of the Library Building 

 and Grounds, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907. Pp. 167. 

 Washington, 1907. — The Library of Congress, under the able 

 management of Mr. Herbert Putnam, has become so prominent a 

 leader to the other libraries of the country in matters of admin- 

 istrative detail, large and small, that this report will be read with 

 interest by all those concerned in such work. As of more imme- 

 diate interest to the general public in the report is to be noted 

 the account of the library of Mr. G. V. Yudin, of Krasnoyarsk, 

 Siberia, recently acquired. This comprises upwards of 80,000 

 volumes relating to Russia and Siberia, all but about 12,000 in 

 the Russian language. This is much the most complete collec- 

 tion of works on Russian history, literature, and institutions in 

 the countiy, surpassing the J. Sumner Smith collection at Yale 

 of 12,000 volumes, which has previously held the first rank. The 

 Yudin library was obtained for a sum hardly more than one- 

 third of what the owner had expended in its accumulation, 

 extended over a period of thirty years, the owner having desired 

 to do this great service to the American people. The Library 

 has also, through the efforts of Dr. Asakawa, recently acquired 

 some 9,000 works relating to Japan. 



2. The Metric and British Systems of Weights, Measures 

 and Coinage; by F. Mollwo Perkist. Pp. 83, with 17 dia- 

 grams. London and New York, 1907 (Whittaker & Co.). — This 

 is a brief account of the metric system in its relation particularly 

 to English units ; it is presented in a form suitable for the ele- 

 mentaiy student. Its scope is widened by the addition of chap- 

 ters on specific gravity, temperature, measurements, and the use 

 of the balance. 



