1886.] Recent Literature. 873 
newspaper made the statement that gold dust had become an 
article of traffic at Sutter's fort; but on May 29 the “ Califor- 
nian” had to suspend publication in that city, for all the composi- 
tors and printers had run off to the new Eldorado. The Ameri- 
can troops having been disbanded, most of the soldiers also went 
to the gold fields, and in the absence of police, insecurity took 
hold of the coast regions. The yield of the precious metal had 
become so bountiful that one miner in May, 1848, once averaged 
twenty-five dollars a day for sixteen days. The volume concludes 
with the organization of California as a State and its adoption 
into the Union by Congress; the bill was approved and signed 
by President Fillmore on Sept. 9, 1850. Separate chapters deal 
with the social life of that country and its physical aspects, as 
geography, geology, botany and zodlo 
Mr. Hittell has made conscientious use throughout of the 
original documents at his disposal, and invites scrutiny by fre- 
quent quotations, especially from the State archives and Junipero 
Serra’s biographer, Palou. His style is as free from cumbersome- 
ness as it is from dryness or obscurity; everywhere we perceive 
a striving after authentic information and historic truth. It is to 
be hoped that the author will in a third volume bring the history 
of the State down zo our own days —A, S. Gatschet. 
Packarp’s First Lessons IN Zootocy—In addition to the 
two text-books on zoology which he has already written, Dr. 
Packard has now prepared a third, which is intended as an ele- 
mentary course for very young pupils, The “First Lessons” 
ought to be used supplementary to the study of specimens, and 
should not be used without them. 
€ plan of the work seems to be well carried out, and the 
book: will prove a valuable addition to the number of text-books 
already in use, 
The author has possibly over-estimated the powers of those 
for whom his book is written. It ought properly to be made 
= Sen more elementary than it is, to be brought to the comprehen- 
_ Mon of young pupils. To adapt the book for younger scholars 
€ author suggests certain omissions, which the teacher may 
advantageously follow. 
“ The book may well be used in combination with a well-chosen 
__Spitome collection” or “ synoptic collection,” but always sub- 
_ Ordinate to the study of nature herself. 
a Portion of figures of those common animals which the pupil 
— find daily, and an omission of the cuts of several animals 
. Which Many naturalists have never seen and which the largest 
Museums do not possess. 
‘First Lessons in Zoölogy. Adapted for use in schools. By A. S. PACKARD. New 
% H. Holt & Co., 1886. 12mo, pp: 290. $1.00. _ 
VOL, Xx.—no, x. 58 
