REVIEWS. 
185 
A YEAR-BOOK OF FACTS.* 
M R. TIMBS’ “Book of Facts” comes out annually, with a considerable 
stock of interesting matter, and in the number which recounts the 
doings of 1869, it is not behind its predecessors. Nevertheless, it is nothing 
more than what its name implies. It is a book which contains many facts in 
relation to the year’s scientific progress. It is divided into a number of 
sections, corresponding to the several branches of physical and natural 
sciences, and under these it supplies us with cuttings from a limited number 
of English periodicals. Indeed, if we were to erase from its pages the 
extracts from the Illustrated London News , the Athenceum , and the 
Mechanic's Magazine, we should have very little matter remaining. We 
note also, that the compiler has exercised little judgment or discretion, and 
that he has aimed rather at filling his book than at the selection of facts 
which really, in each division, represent the actual progress of science. We 
are sorry to observe, too, that in some instances the source of the “ cutting” 
is not stated, although to the scientific man its origin is at once apparent. 
Not the least important part of the volume is the obituary notice at the 
end. This contains not a few errata; but, on the whole, it is well compiled. 
The engraving, or frontispiece, represents the present Constructor of the Navy, 
Mr. Reed. 
SECONDARY FOSSILS AT CAMBRIDGE. t 
A TROUBLESOME but very useful labour has been performed by Mr. 
H. G. Seeley, in preparing a Catalogue of the Aves, Ornithosauria , and 
Reptilia of the Secondary System, which are in the Woodwardian Museum 
of Cambridge. Only those who have had to wander from case to case in a 
large Museum, in utter despair of ever finding the specimen they were in 
search of, can realise the time spent by Mr. Seeley in preparing this Catalogue, 
and the great benefit that the book will confer on working palaeontologists. 
The plan of the Catalogue is similar to that of the collection it describes, and 
is so convenient, that a student wishing to ascertain and see what specimens 
of any particular genus the Museum possesses can do so with very little loss 
of time or trouble. We cannot but concur in the words of the venerable 
Geologist who has written the preface to this work, when he says, 11 Of the 
value of the work the readers of the Catalogue — those especially who read 
it in our Geological Museum with the arranged specimens before them — 
will be the best judges; and that it will be of great use to the Academic 
student I cannot for a moment doubt. He may see the specimens, one by 
one and side by side with the printed lists, and be enabled in that way to 
* “ A Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art, &c.,” by John Timbs. 
London : Lockwood, 1870. 
t “ Index to the Fossil Remains of Aves, Ornithosauria, and Reptilia. From 
the Secondary System of Strata arranged in the Woodwardian Museum of 
the University of Cambridge,” by H. G. Seeley, with preface by the Rev. 
A. Sedgwick, LL.D., F.R.S. Cambridge : Deighton, Bell & Co. 
