Reviews 



that of Kufu, who is supposed to. have reigned B.C. 3969-3908. 

 Case J in the Prehistoric Room contains a lump of iron 

 rust (hydrated oxide) found by Professor M. Flinders Petrie 

 with a mirror and copper tools dating from the Sixth 

 Dynasty, 3300-3100 b.c 



These discoveries suggest that iron was known in Egypt 

 as early as bronze or copper. "The word for iron occurs 

 in the Pyramid texts of Unas, and in the paintings of the 

 time of the ancient Empire weapons and tools are painted 

 blue or black, the hues in which this metal is always 

 represented. Iron plays a prominent part in ancient 

 Egyptian myths, the firmament of heaven being described 

 as a rectangular iron plate : and its Egyptian name is 

 baa en-pet, " metal of heaven," evidently in allusion to the 

 meteoric form in which it may first have been known. 

 The Chinese, too, are thought to have been acquainted 

 with iron at least as early as 1000 b.c." (see " Guide to the 

 Antiquities of the Bronze Age," p. 2). 



REVIEWS. 

 Natural History of our Shores. 



In a former issue we alluded to Miss Newbigin's book on 

 the Seashore, published by Messrs. Swan, Sonnenschein. 

 We have much pleasure in bringing to the notice of our 

 readers another capital book on the same subject by Mr. 

 Joseph Sinel, 1 recently published by the same firm. 



The author is an expert in marine zoology, and has pre- 

 sented his readers with a very graphic account of what he 



1 " An Outline of the Natural History of our Shores," by Joseph Sinel, of the 

 Zoological Station, jersey, Associate of the Marine Biological Association of 

 Great Britain. With chapters on collecting and preserving marine specimens, 

 methods of microscopic mounting, &c, and on the marine aquarium. Illus- 

 trated by 120 photographs from Nature and numerous diagrams. Pp. xvi., 

 344, 8vo, cloth, 7s. 6d. post free. London: Swan, Sonnenschein and Co., 25, 

 High Street, Bloomsbury. 



