508 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
The author has availed himself of every legitimate source of informa- 
tion," in addition to his own experience, and has spared no pains to bring 
his treatise up to the latest date. 
As our readers will have observed from these few remarks, we do not 
regard this as a popular work on astronomy in the general acceptation 
of the term ; it is one that is likely to find favour in schools of every 
description, more especially do we recommend it to teachers in science 
classes. 
The Common Sights of the Heavens, and how to see and know them. By Capt. 
Drayson. Chapman & Hall. 
A LITTLE work which professes to give “a simple description of the 
various sights which can be viewed in the heavens during the day 
and night.” This task is accomplished in a very creditable manner. 
The writer treats successively of the Sun, the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, 
Mars, Saturn, the rest of the planets, the fixed stars, comets, and meteors. 
He describes graphically the appearances presented to the naked eye, and 
those which are brought within our reach by the telescope. In explaining 
the changes and motions which distinguish each of the heavenly bodies, 
he uses language which is singularly clear and simple. He imparts an 
additional charm to the subject by comparing the probable climatic or 
other conditions of the various planets, &c., as indicated by the obliquity 
of their axes, and the period of their rotation with the similar conditions 
now existing on our own earth. Thus he shows that great extremes of 
heat and cold obtain successively over the larger portion of the surface 
of Venus; whilst Jupiter has an exceedingly equable climate. Bj' means 
of diagrams many important astronomical truths are elucidated. The 
illustrations consist of carefully-drawn chromo-lithographs ; the heavenly 
bodies being represented on a blue ground, a system which has of late 
found considerable favour, being employed in both the works already 
noticed, and very successfully in Keith Johnson’s “Atlas of Astronomy. ”f 
With regard to the work under consideration, we may remark further, 
that it describes easy modes of discovering the position of the chief planets 
and fixed stars for many years to come. In short, it is a work admirably 
.adapted for exciting the interest of the young in some of the many 
wonders which are the province of astronomy, and for explaining its 
chief laws in a lucid and agreeable manner. 
It is, however, very much to be regretted that the author has given free 
license to his speculations. The book abounds in theories with regard to 
the origin of the worlds and their present condition, very many of which 
are merely fanciful, whilst not a few are unfortunately at variance with 
the present state of scientific knowledge. Thus he thinks the sun may 
Amongst other authorities Mr. Chambers draws very judiciously upon 
Galbraith and Idaughton’s “ Manual of Astronomy,” recently published 
by Messrs. Longman, one of a well-known and serviceable series, edited 
by the two learned Professors at Dublin University, 
f Edited by Hind. Blackwood. 
