Miscellaneous Intelligence. 345 



The memoirs forming the bulk of the volume are four in number. 

 The first by H. Blink is on the winds and sea currents in the 

 region of the small Sunda islands ; a second by H. Hergesell on the 

 change in the planes of equilibrium of the earth caused by the 

 formation of the polar ice masses and the resulting changes in sea 

 level ; a third by the same author on the influence which a change 

 in the geoid can have upon the relative heights of a plateau and 

 on the fall in a stream bed ; a fourth by E. Rudolph discusses 

 submarine earthquakes and eruptions, as to their phenomena, dis- 

 tribution and cause, with a catalogue of observed occui*rences of 

 this kind. 



2. IClima und Gestaltung der Erdoberflache in ihrer Wech- 

 selwirkung dargestellt von Dr. J. Probst. 173 pp. 8vo. Stutt- 

 gart, 1887, (E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagshandlung, E. Koch.) — 

 The author's discussion of this subject falls into two parts. The 

 first embraces the consideration of the climatic conditions of the 

 successive geological periods, and the second takes up the modi- 

 fications and mutual relations between. the climatic development 

 and the form of the earth's surface. The peculiar features of the 

 climate of the early geological periods are discussed with their 

 causes, and a close similarity traced between this and the true 

 ocean climate of the present day in its greater uniformity, greater 

 warmth and peculiar distribution. The consideration of the later 

 periods follows with an attempt at an explanation of their climatic 

 conditions. This portion of the work offers a number of points 

 of interest with less that admits of criticism than the following 

 part. It is hardly possible to accept the author's estimate of the 

 effects upon the fundamental development of the earth's features 

 of the contraction caused by the unequal cooling of portions of 

 the underlying earth's crust by the cold currents which form part 

 of the sea's circulation. 



3. Beobachtungs-Ergebnisse der Norvoegischen Polarstation 

 Bossekop in Alten von Aksel S. Steen. I Theil, Historische 

 Einleitung, Astronomie, Meteorologie, 100 pp. with 4 plates. 

 Christiana, 1887. (Die Internationale Polarforschung 1882-83). 

 — This volume is one of numerous contributions made to science 

 as the result of the labors at the International Polar Stations 

 established in 1882. The Norwegian station was at Bossekop at 

 the end of the Altenfjord, 69° 28' K lat. and 23° 15' E. long. 

 The observations made extend over the subjects of astronomy and 

 meteorology and are given in full detail in a series of tables ; the 

 daily cause of the air-pressure, temperature, moisture, wind veloc- 

 ity, and cloudiness are given on the closing plates. 



4. The Asteroids, or Minor Planets between Mars and Jupiter ; 

 by Daniel Kirkwood. Lippincott & Co., Philad. 1888. 12°, 

 pp. 60. — A very convenient summary of facts and a collection of 

 tables of the small planets. These are followed by a discussion 

 of the various facts shown by the tables. 



5. A Manual of Descriptive Geometry ; by C. A. Waldo. 

 Heath & Co., Boston. 8°, pp. 77. — A book of suggestions, defi- 



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