HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



57 



feather, hold the under surface downwards, separate 

 two barbs, and lift the one nearest the quill of the 

 feather over the other one, and they will both adhere. 

 If they are simply put together they will not adhere. 



Space will not allow me to write more, but much 

 more could be written on the subject. Probably the 

 superior umbilicus (see Fig. 41) allows air to pass into 

 each feather, making them weigh very little. Light- 

 ness is proverbial and characteristic of feathers. A 

 little vascular papilla fills the inferior umbilicus. 

 The feather is inserted into a sac, to which muscles 

 pass. By contraction of these muscles the feather is 

 erected. Filoplumes may be regarded as feathers 

 with a degenerated or stunted stem, giving them the 

 appearance of a row of hairs on the end of a small 

 quill. Traces of barbules are seen on some of them. 



NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. 



/ RINGER Prints, by Francis Galton (London : 

 J- Macmillan). This is one of the most original 

 and suggestive physiological and psychological 

 books issued for some years past. All readers of 

 Mr. Galton's new books expect something original, 

 and they will find it in this volume. Even supersti- 

 tions have a basis of truth, however scanty, and it 

 would seem that the medieval " science of palmistry," 

 as well as "reading the lines" among modern 

 gipsies are not exceptions to that rule. Perhaps the 

 criss-crossing on the formal red seals of deeds and 

 wills really represents those of the human skin at the 

 finger-tips. Mr. Galton's work is a genuine and 

 hard-worked contribution to scientific research, and 

 appears as a very handsome and attractive volume. 

 Characteristically enough, the illustration on the 

 title-page is that of the finger-tips of the author, 

 from the markings of which we can hardly doubt 

 character as well as suggestiveness. 



Castorologia ; or, the History and Traditions of the 

 Canadian Beaver. By Horace T. Martin (London 

 ed., Stanford). A capital monograph of this rapidly 

 acceleratingly extinct, and interesting creature, beau- 

 tifully illustrated, and described by a sympathetic 

 naturalist. The beaver never received such good 

 treatment before. Everything that can be said of it 

 — palseontologically, zoologically, or from a purely 

 natural history and economic point of view — has been 

 carefully and diligently gathered together in this 

 volume of fifteen chapters. 



The Building of the British Isles — a Study in 

 Geographical Evolution, by A. J. Jukes-Browne, 

 second edition (London : George Bell & Sons). 

 We had the sincere pleasure of commending the first 

 edition of this interesting and valuable work. Mr. 

 Jukes-Browne occupies a high position among 

 modern English geologists, as being one of their 

 most diligent and conscientious workers, and every- 

 thing he publishes is accordingly read. We need 



hardly do more than state that this "second edition" 

 brings the whole subject up to date. 



Charles Darwin, by Francis Darwin (London : 

 John Murray). This is the best " working " life 

 of the great naturalist, told by his son, autobio- 

 graphically (that is, really in a selected series of 

 letters, etc.), which has yet been issued. Its title-page 

 is faced by a photo-gravure of the grand old man — 

 the "Newton" of biologists. His son's opening 

 chapter of his life is frank, affectionate, and simple. 

 The connective letters are breezy, cheerful and 

 suggestive all over. This life of Darwin ought to 

 find a place on every naturalist's book-shelf, as we 

 have no doubt it will, thanks to its moderate price. 

 Mr. Darwin has so impressed his strong individuality 

 on us, that we are all longing to know more of the 

 simple, and truthful, and altogether lovely life he 

 lead at his Surrey home. This volume is practically 

 an abbreviation of the "Life and Letters of Charks 

 Darwin," published in 1887. 



Strange Survivals, by S. Baring-Gould (London : 

 Methuen & Co.). The author is well known as 

 historian, essayist, novelist, etc. His literary power 

 and indefatigability are enormous, his keen and 

 original observation no less marvellous. In this 

 beautifully printed and well got up book we read 

 pleasantly and profitably all about foundations, 

 gables, ovens, beds, strike-a-lights, umbrells, dolls, 

 ballads, riddles, holes, and even the gallows. It is a 

 delightful book to peruse. 



How to make Common Things, by J. A. Bower 

 (London : S.P.C.K.). A delightful boys' book. 

 With this and a half-sovereign chest of tools, a lad 

 could make most common things himself, teach 

 himself the use of his fingers and thumbs, and the 

 important principles of natural philosophy without 

 knowing it. The illustrations are all original, 

 numerous, and good. So is the letter-press and 

 general get up of this half-crown book. We cordially 

 commend it. 



Our Country's Birds and haiv to know them, by J. 

 Gordon (London : Day & Son). We have much 

 pleasure in noticing this little volume. It is a clear, 

 concise, 'methodical and brief scientific classification 

 of our feathered world. Each chapter is set apart 

 for its own special monograph. Thus the first is 

 "The Names of the Birds," and therein we find an 

 alphabetical English list of them, and to each one is 

 affixed its Latin cognomen. The next chapter is 

 devoted to their local and popular names. A 

 scientific list gives the families, genera, and species, 

 but Mr. W. J. Gordon has been careful throughout 

 to give the English name as well as the Latin, which 

 the young ornithologist finds more useful and com- 

 prehensive. Thirty-two coloured plates at the end 

 of the book (which comprises in all thirteen 

 chapters) are taken up with a short and precise 

 account of the various families, genera, and species, 

 together with the size, etc., of the bird, and its egg. 



