NORICES- OF BOOKS. 
<—<———SS 
Rapport a M. le Ministre de Instruction Publique sur une 
Mission aux Iles Philippines et en Malaiste (1879-1881), 
par M. le Docteur J. MONTANO. Paris, HACHETTE, 
1885. 
Every contribution to the scientific literature of the Philip- 
pines is of value, for though these islands have been under 
European dominion for over 300 years, itis astonishing how 
much there is still to be learned about them. There is no 
complete work which embraces the whole subject of the geology, 
geography, and natural history of this group. One has to look 
for the botany in old Fray Bxianco’s work, or pursue it 
through the voluminous pages of A. pE CanpoLLE’s Prodro- 
mus. A valuable illustrated work on the forest flora of the 
Philippines has been lately published at Manila by Sefor 
Vipat. But both works are incomplete. The geology of the 
island may be sought in the various papers supplied to the 
Boletino del Carte Geologico di Espaia, a work now extending 
to many volumes. M. Jacor has given many valuable details 
in his Reisen in den Philippinen (Berlin 1873), a work which 
has been translated into Spanish, French, and English. There 
is also an Appendix by J. Roru on the geology of the islands. 
Baron RicutTHOFEN has published some observations on the 
nummulitic limestones of Binangonan. Finally, M. Vinat 
has published (Madrid, 1874) a Memoir on the mountains of 
the Philippines. : 
In the numerous works published by the monks about their 
missions, which are very voluminous, there are scattered notices 
of geology and natural history, which have more value than one 
would imagine from the imperfect state of scientific knowledge 
when they were written. In these may be found many interest- 
ing details of hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. 
The history of the Dominican Mission in the Philippines is in 
