78 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



summer, is chiefly made up of the astonishing work of Schiaparelli, 

 and those inspired by him. It has given us elaborate topo- 

 graphical maps distinguished by the unique features known as 

 channels (catiaux) and has satisfactorily proved that many of 

 these sometimes appear doubled and otherwise strangely modi- 

 fied to the point of entirely disappearing. It has also sown the 

 seeds of theories which are now springing up in rich profusion 

 and confusion. 



To history the author devotes 490 pages and 268 illustrations. 



The remaining 100 pages are devoted to the conclusions which 

 the author regards as proved beyond controversy. The last two 

 chapters, treating of the channels, rivers, continental areas, water 

 circulation and conditions of life on the planet, will naturally 

 excite the most interest and criticism. w. b. 



3. Investigation of the Coral Reefs of the West Indies. — A 

 letter from Prof. Alexander Agassiz of December 3, states 

 that he will soon start on an exploring trip of three months 

 among some of the islands of the West Indies — the use of a yacht 

 for the purpose having been generously tendered him by the 

 Hon. John M. Forbes of Milton, Mass. He will study the reefs 

 of the Bahamas and vicinity and those also of the north shore of 

 Cuba from Cape Mayzi to Havana, and probably visit also for 

 the same purpose the Bermudas. Mr. Emerton and a son of 

 Prof. Mayer of the Stevens Institute will accompany him as 

 draughtsmen. Mr. Mayer has been studying at Cambridge for 

 the last two years and is especially interested in the Jelly Fishes. 



4. Gelatine slides for lantern projection. — Prof. W. J. Wag- 

 genee states that he has been very successful in making dia- 

 grams and pictures for projection by the magic and the solar 

 lantern by printing the same, with the ordinary printing press 

 and engraved blocks, on sheets of transparent gelatine. By this 

 means excellent lantern slides from diagrams and engravings of 

 nearly if not quite all kinds can he made and multiplied as rapidly 

 and almost as cheaply as paper prints. The extreme of cheapness 

 in the production of the pictures can be reached by assembling- 

 many engraved blocks together and printing all at once on large 

 sheets of gelatine or celluloid, which can be afterward cut into 

 pieces of suitable size. 



5. Transactions of the Texas Academy of Science. Vol. I, 

 No. I, 44 pp. 8v.o, Nov., 1892, Austin, Texas. — This first num- 

 ber of the Transactions of the Texas Academy contains short papers 

 by A. Macfarlane, E. T. Dumble, W. F. Cummins, W. H. von 

 Steernwitz, G. Everhart and G. W. Curtis. 



6. Die JZlassiker der exaJcten Wissenschaften, herausgegeben 

 von W. Ostwald (W. Engelmann, Leipzig). — Attention has been 

 called repeatedly in these pages to the issues of this valuable 

 series. Nearly forty numbers have now been published and the 

 service thus done to the student of Physics and Chemistry can 

 hardly be overestimated. All of the volumes are scientific clas- 

 sics which the worker often wishes to consult, and yet as given 



