76 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
come nearer the mark aimed at than any we have yet observed. There is a 
charming simplicity of style in this little book, which cannot fail to develop 
an interest in the teachings of nature in the minds of the little folk to whom 
its pages are addressed. The Second Master of the Tettenhall Proprietary 
School has a very happy method of explaining away the difficulties which 
geological problems are calculated to suggest to the youthful mind ; and if, 
in the course of his every-day duties, he displays the same aptitude in 
popularisation, we can only say that his pupils are lucky indeed in the 
possession of such a teacher. Starting at that point in geological chronology 
at which the earth is supposed first to assume its present spheroidal outline, 
Mr. Steane leads his little pupils through the several stages of the world’s 
history, up to the period of the mammoths and the hyjcna caves. In describ- 
ing the typical varieties of fossil forms, he invariably employs untechnical 
names, most of which are original and as they are direct translations of the 
roots from which the scientific terms are derived, they deserve to be generally 
used by popular writers. Of examples of this species of vernacular termi- 
nology, we may give the following : — The Wing-fish (Pterochthys), Berry- 
bone (^Coccosteus), Wedge-leaf (^Sphenophyllum), Hand-beast 
Gigantic dreadful beast {I)inotherium g{ganteum\ &c. We think it a 
pity that allusion is made to the collision-points of Scripture and geology ; 
but we suppose in the case of children there was no help for it; and, under 
the very difficult circumstances of the case, Mr. Steane has adopted the 
ingenious modes of conciliation which have from time to time been suggested 
by writers on Science and Theology. On the whole, we have to speak in 
high terms of praise of the author’s labours, and we cordially recommend 
his book to all little folk who desire to understand the nature and signifi- 
cance of fossils. 
SUN-VIEWS OF THE EAETH.* 
W E have been taught by experience to 'regard Mr. Proctor not only as one 
of our best popular writers on Astronomy, but also as an earnest stu- 
dent of the heavens, and we are always glad, therefore, to have a new work 
announced as from his pen. The pleasure with which we heard of the issue 
of a new work by him has been fully justified by the character of the work 
itself. There is a peculiarity about the essays of this author which deserves 
to be noted. In all his books, Mr. Proctor aims at removing those stumbling- 
blocks which beset the ordinary student’s path. The difficulties he has 
himself had to encounter, he strives to obviate or diminish for future workers. 
This is a great point, and if we mistake not, it is one very fully appreciated 
by the large class of amateur star-gazers. We believe that the attempt made 
in this last work of Mr. Proctor’s will be as successful as that made in the 
publication of his excellent star maps, and we shall be much surprised if 
both professional and dilettante astronomers do not find these Sun- views of 
the Earth of the utmost service in facilitating their observations. The author 
* Sun-Views of the Earth ; or the Seasons Illustrated, &c.” By 
Bichard A. Proctor, B.A., F.B.A.S. London : Longmans. 1867. 
