90 
POPULAR SCIENCE EEYIEW. 
its own branch of literature, and we have much pleasure in commending 
it to the careful perusal of our readers. 
Philocalia. By Wm. Purton, M.A. (London : Whittaker, 1865). Mr. 
Purton strives to explain what poetry and art are. He adopts Aristotle’s 
views, and supports them with much force. To us he seems to be correct in 
believing that both poetry and art are eminently imitative, and we confess 
that the following definition, which Mr. Dallas has given, appears very like 
well-expressed nonsense : Poetry is “ the imaginative , harmonious , and un- 
conscious activity of the soul .” 
The Food , Use , and Beauty of British Birds. By C. 0. G. Napier, F.G.S. 
(London : Groombridge, 1865), is a little volume with bad print, worse paper, 
and a very obscure photograph, illustrative of nothing in particular. The 
writer clearly estimates himself at no small mark. The matter of the book 
is sound, and embraces a variety of information relating to the food of British 
birds, which can hardly be found elsewhere. It is worth reading. 
A Treatise on Solar Action. By Thomas Ayers (Yarmouth : Nall, 1865). 
This is a curious little brochure embodying some of the more recent dis- 
coveries, and displaying a good deal of original thought and a few errors. 
British Association Reports (Hardwicke, 1865). The Proceedings of the 
Birmingham meeting are here reported, and form a convenient volume for 
reference. This Report has the advantage of being published earlier than 
the official one, and of containing a much fuller report of the papers read . 
The Magic Lantern. By A Mere Phantom (Houlston & Wright), will be 
found a most useful companion by those who employ the instrument either 
for amusement or instruction. 
The Atlantic Telegraph (Day & Son, 1865). This beautiful volume shall 
be noticed in our next number. 
Cholera Prospects , by Tilbury Fox, M.D. (Hardwicke, 1865). Dr. Fox 
was in Egypt during the epidemic of cholera which broke out in the spring 
of last year. He gives a most graphic account of the sanitary condition of 
the notorious cholera-haunts of Africa and Asia, and shows that the 
pilgrims to Mecca are the medium through which the disease is propagated. 
These worshippers of Mahomet he styles cholera-conductors. His pamphlet 
deserves to be read, and is indicative of the high claims which the author 
possesses to be ranked among our cholera investigators. 
