i 
, 
1878.] Recent Literature. 461 
ization was simply to offer to those meritorious scientists who 
were performing volunteer labor in connection with the Institu- 
tion, positions which would enable them, each in his department, 
to develop his science, and at the same time the collections and 
publications of the Academy. Endowment, while very desirable, 
was not regarded as more indispensable now than in the past, 
which had been adorned by numerous able volunteer laborers. 
The fact that the expenses a little exceed the receipts in the case 
of the single gentleman appointed to a professorship, does not 
demonstrate, as the President thinks, that the scheme as adopted 
two years ago, cannot be realized; for his conclusion is at least 
forgetful of the gentlemen who subscribed the small deficit. 
To the latter class, the liberal citizens on whom progress so 
much depends, we would say :—that if the Academy is to oc- 
cupy the position as a means of development of the natural 
sciences which she ought to hold, it will not be by the adoption of 
the policy maintained in this report. The results of that policy, 
as seen in the collections and publications of the Academy, are , 
sufficiently well known. Endowment of original research does 
not mean creation and maintainance of show museums, or the 
building of fine houses. It can only be accomplished by putting 
right men in their right places, and furnishing them with the 
means of making the requisite collections, researches and publi- 
cations. And in order that these means be expended in profit- 
able directions, scientific institutions must be officered by scien- 
tific men. To pay salaries to unscientific men to do scientific 
work, or to pay for the publication of such reports as go to make 
up the bulk of the volume before us, is, in our estimation, a diver- 
sion of money from its proper object. 
THE Ancient LIFE History OF THE EARTH, BY Dr. NICHOL- 
sON.— This book is, as stated by its author, primarily intended 
for the student, but the style has been adapted as far as possible, 
to the wants of the general reader also. While the former object 
is quite attainable in a work like the present, the latter is more 
difficult of accomplishment. Popular paleontology implies a 
greater knowledge of zodlogy than the general reader usually 
possesses, and the subject can only be rendered intelligible by a 
greater amount of zodlogical analysis or statement, than 
we find in the present work. The excellent illustrations given by 
Dr. Nicholson do a great deal towards rendering the names in 
the text comprehensible to the reader of this class. The general 
remarks, both preparatory and final, are sound, and the references 
to the literature of the subject extend the opportunities of the 
student beyond the field to which the work is necessarily con- 
fined. We only notice two faults, viz: the omission of the strati- 
14 comprehensive outline of the principles and leading facts of Paleontological —— 
By H. AL of. Na i po 
Science. y 
. ALLYNE NICHOLSON, Prof. Nat. Hist. Univ., St. Andrews. D 
Appleton & Co. 8vo. pp. 408. s , 
