1881. | Recent Literature. 305 
time, appropriations for such work would not be needed: the Gov- 
€rn nent need only to foster such investigations, give them a start, 
and when the work is well advanced, leave it to State and indi- 
vidual action. We leave to another occasion the needs of an in- 
vestigation of disease-germs, plant-fungi, in connection with rust, 
smut and mildew, and of cattle diseases, and would say a word in 
reference to applied entomology. This work cannot be done 
by one or several entomologists confined the year around to the 
Agricultural Department at Washington, where there are no 
extensive ficld or garden crops and forests. There might be 
uals for the diffusion of a genuine knowledge of insects, of 
The Academy of Natural Sciences of this city, has filled 
two more of the chairs, which it created four years ago, with 
competent professors. The two courses of lectures, on inverte- 
brate paleontology, and mineralogy and stratigraphic geology, 
are an important acquisition to the educational facilities of the 
city, and will also serve to strengthen the scientific back-bone 
of the Academy. The institution is to be congratulated on 
having made such an important advance, and in having given 
Such merited recognition to Messrs. Heilprin and Lewis. 
‘0: 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
Watrace's Istanp Lirr.t—After the publication of his work 
a “The Geographical Distribution of Animals,” Mr. 
allace devoted four years’ additional thought and research in 
*T land Life or the Phenomena and Causes of Insular Faunas and Floras, pigs 
a non and attempted solution of the Problem of Geologic:! Climates. 
FFRED Russet WALLACE. New York, Harper & Brothers, 1881. 8vo, pp. 522- 
