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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
out the entire essay. Of course, this being the third edition of the work, 
we shall not be expected to pass it in review before the reader. We 
may, however, just allude to one or two points in it which strike us as 
being of special importance. And these are the chapters on Marriage and 
on Language. Those which deal with the question of nuptial ties are of 
excessive interest, and they carry out the purpose intended by the author, 
that of showing us that almost all ideas of marriage, however differently the 
several bonds may be established, have yet a certain amount of unanimity 
among them, even if we compare our own system with that of the King of 
Ashantee, who u always has 3,833 wives.” The chapter on the origin of the 
names Father and Mother are very well worthy of being studied; for they 
show us that about 150 different languages, exclusive of those derived from 
Sanskrit, have nearly the same names for the two parents. Indeed, on this 
subject, that of languages, the author points out many facts which show us 
that the habit of enumerating is one which exists -to a very slight extent 
among savage races, some of whom, he mentions, are unable to count as high 
as ten, while others are absolutely reduced to counting two. He shows how 
universal is the habit of counting on the fingers, though he does not mention 
that our own Roman numerals are on the same principle, 12 3 4 being the 
four fingers, and 5 the V, which simply represents the hand extended, the 
four fingers being on one side, the thumb on the other; while in the 
same way, with the two hands up, from 6 to 9 are formed, and 10 is 
simply the two hands placed wrist to wrist. He states that “ the Zamuca 
and Muysca Indians have a cumbrous but interesting system of numeration. 
For 5 they say, ‘Hand finished;’ for 6, ‘one of the other hand;’ that 
is to say, take a finger of the other hand. For 10 they say, “ Two hands 
finished,” or sometimes more simply, “Quicha,” that is, foot, &c., &c. 
Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of this volume is the appendix, 
which contains the author’s reply to the Duke of Argyle’s speculations. In 
this Sir John Lubbock has cautiously expressed the fallacies of the Duke’s 
arguments, and in a foot-note to the last page but one expresses himself in 
justifiable sarcasm on the somewhat anomalous position accepted by his Grace. 
This is a book to be read only by the careful student, who will find that 
he is well repaid for the time expended in formulating some of the con- 
clusions of the author. 
ECLIPSES, PAST AND FUTURE. * 
I F this work had been limited to eclipses, it would have met with our 
approval, as a useful book; though we fancy there are few who care much 
about partial eclipses visible in England at distant future dates. But the 
second half of the book spoils it. In dealing with celestial objects for a 
small telescope Mr. Johnson shows neither literary skill, nor clearness in 
explanation, nor originality of ideas. Moreover, one would suppose that 
others had done nothing in this line, so completely does Mr. Johnson ignore 
* “Eclipses, Past and Future ; with general Hints for Observing the 
Heavens.” By the Rev. J. Johnson, M.A., F.R.A.S. Parker & Co., Oxford 
and London. 
