1881.] Scientific News. 597 
The Student's Manual of Histology, by Charles H. Stowell, M. 
D., pp. 279, Detroit, 1881.—This modest book is really one of 
the most useful of recent publications. After a brief chapter on 
the microscope and mounting apparatus and reagents, some twenty 
chapters are given upon the microscopic anatomy of the various 
organs of the body, with an additional chapter on tumors and one 
upon starches. The descriptions of the tissues are concise, pithy 
and clear, and abundantly illustrated by nearly two hundred wood- 
cuts. The directions for preparing and examining the various tis- 
sues are not loaded down by a great variety of untried methods, 
but are confined to a few methods which are in very general use 
or have become favorites with the author. Altogether the book, 
while not competing with the large manuals for use by scholars 
and teachers, is a most excellent handbook for the student, 
whether in the study or in the laboratory. Much credit is due 
for the care taken to add a statement of the magnifying power to 
the engravings, but it is to be hoped that other authors will go 
still further, and that, ere long, no engraving will be considered 
worth copying which lacks this essential feature. 
Prizes FoR MicroscopicaL Essays.—The Boston Society of 
Natural History offers a first prize of from $60 to $100 and a sec- 
ond of $50 forthe best memoirs in English upon the following 
subjects: The occurrence, microscopic structure and use of North 
American fiber-plants ; treating especially of the fibers employed 
by the Native Races; and original, unpublished investigations re- 
Specting the life-history of any animal. Prizes for papers on 
the first subject will be awarded in April, 1882, and on the 
second subject in April, 1883, provided the papers offered are 
deemed of adequate merit. Further particulars can be obtained 
from Edward Burgess, secretary of the society. 
70: 
SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
— Dr. J. J. Bigsby, well known as a writer on the geology of 
British America, and author of Thesaurus Siluricus, and founder 
of the “Bigsby Medal,” died in London, Feb. 10, 1881. The 
death of Dr, Barnard Davis, the distinguished _craniologist, 
occurred at Hanley, England, late in May. He was joint author 
with Thurnam of “Crania Brittanica.” His collection of skulls, 
Said to be the largest in existence, has recently been purch 
