450 Recent Literature. ‘[May, 
digestion experiments, in which artificial digestion is resorted to 
in order to determine the value of feeding-stuffs. 
G The whole report is one of which the board of. control may 
well feel proud, and we trust that the director and his corps of 
_ able assistants may be enabled to continue with increased facili- ° 
_ties the lines of investigation so excellently begun.— Charles E. 
Essey. 
SCHMIDT’S MAMMALIA IN THEIR RELATION TO PRIMEVAL TIMES." 
f, —Although Dr. Schmidt, who has died since the publication of 
this book, was not a special student of the mammals, he was the 
author of a useful work on comparative anatomy, and well fitted 
by his general studies for preparing the present interesting sketch. 
The book is mainly of interest to the American student for its 
discussion of the fossil mammals of the old world. It is very 
As to the origin of the monkeys and apes, Schmidt suggests 
. that the American group may have descended from the Insectiv- 
ora, and the old world forms, with the apes, from the Pachyder- 
mata, certainly a novel view. As to the origin of man from suc 
a source, he thinks we are justified in postponing any such dis- 
_ cussion, “as the study of anthropology can in no way boast of 
having made any definite progress during the last ten years. 
_ GEIKIE’S CLASS-BOOK oF Grorocy.2—This is an excellent piece 
_of work, both literary and scientific. In very readable form, with 
_ most excellent illustrations, paper and press-work; it is a pleas- 
-` ure to turn over the pages. Everything has been done to mas 
_ the book and subject attractive to the beginner. We have looked 
- with most care over the early part of the volume, for in phys! 4 
-geology the author is at his best. His treatment of rocks an 
_ in this country; it is so clear simple and attractive. The woot 
cuts being also unusually well drawn and engraved. aca 
-~ Weare a little disappointed with the fourth part on historica: 
1D. Appleton & Co., New York, $1.50. . 
3 Class-book of Geology. By ARCHIBALD GEIKIE, LL.D., F.R.S. London, 
millan & Co., 1886. 12mo, pp. 516. _ : 
_ minerals is excellent, better than anything we know of published 
2 e E Nin EN w 5 s 
