Miscellaneous Intelligence. 271 



8. National Antarctic Expedition, 190 1-190 L£, Album of 

 Photographs and Sketches with a Portfolio of Panoramic Views. 

 Pp. 303, 4to ; 165 plates and 2 maps. London, 1908. (Pub- 

 lished by the Royal Society and sold by Harrison & Sons, St. 

 Martin's Lane, W. C, and Oliver & Boyd, Tweeddale Court, 

 Edinburgh.) — The two volumes giving the results of the meteor- 

 ological and physical observations made by the National 

 Antarctic Expedition were noticed in the December number 

 (p. 588). We have now an additional volume presenting in most 

 attractive form views of the life and scenery of the region visited. 

 The photographic work was in charge of Lt. Skelton, and most 

 of the admirable views here reproduced were taken by him ; the 

 name of L. C. Bernacchi is also frequently associated with his. 

 The volume and accompanying portfolio contain 165 plates, of 

 w r hich 128 are from photographs. The life of the southern ocean 

 is well shown in the interesting series of photographs of the 

 Adelie and Emperor penguins, also of the seals, whales and 

 albatross. The scenic views present a vivid impression of the 

 striking features of the land and ice of the Antarctic, particularly 

 of its capes and lofty mountains. Especial interest attaches to the 

 photographs of the Great Ice Barrier, the abrupt cliffs of which ex- 

 tend for many miles from King Edward VII Land to Ross island. 

 The height is as great as 280 feet at some points, and the surface 

 comes down at others to within 18 i'eet of the water level. This 

 Great Barrier sheet moves northward at the rate of 45 yards per 

 month, but in consequence of its recession by breaking up the 

 sea face is now some 10 to 15 miles farther south than sixty years 

 ago. A special portfolio contains an interesting series of sketches, 

 largely panoramic, due to the artistic work of the Junior Sur- 

 geon, Edward A. Wilson. 



9. The Chemical Constitution of the Proteins; by R. H. 

 Aders Plimjier, D.Sc. In two parts. Part I, pp. xii + 100; 

 Part II, pp. xii-f 66. London and New York, 1908 (Longmans, 

 Green and Co.). — The development of biochemistry as a sepa- 

 rate department of study has been so rapid and fruitful that the 

 entire field is already too large for exhaustive treatment in a 

 single volume. The unique importance of the proteins has 

 always made them favorite subjects for investigation. In recent 

 years particularly, the literature on these compounds has increased 

 to an extent that makes timely an exhaustive compilation like 

 Dr. Plimmer's. The monographs are concerned with the chem- 

 ical composition of the protein molecule and the chemical charac- 

 teristics of its component units, rather than with the behavior of 

 individual protein substances. The organic chemist as well as 

 the physiologist will have occasion to consult such a review, in 

 considering the historic development of the study of the amino- 

 acids as well as the interesting attempts at the synthesis of com- 

 plex protein-like compounds (with which Part II especially 

 deals). In accord with the intent of this series of monographs, 

 an extensive bibliography is published in each part. l. b. m. 



