EEYIEWS. 
75 
right positions and with their proper names. Then he describes the several 
animals, in most cases very fully, and he gives numerous examples of both 
fossil and recent animals and illustrations of the two to satisfy the most 
acute student of his work. We note, also, that in many cases he adopts the 
classification and definition of the most recent authors. Thus, for instance, 
in his description of the two sub-orders Eurypterida and XipJiosura of the 
Met'ostomata, he follows the definitions which have been given by Mr. 
Henry Woodward, which must unquestionably be the best. We have 
observed this tendency of the author in many other instances. 
In palaeobotany he has not done so well. The space devoted to the fossil 
plants is evidently too small ; and besides the character of the book is 
absent here, for he has not placed the living beside the dead. Indeed, this 
section bears evidence that the author is not a botanist, and we cannot but 
regret the fact that so excellent a plan as he has followed in the greater 
portion of his volume should have been avoided here. However, even in 
this place, we find him giving Mr. Carruther’s opinion on the Sigillaria as 
opposed to Dr. Dawson’s, and this shows us that he has not been unmindful 
of the recent disputes between these two palaeontologists. Next in order 
follows his sketch of historical palaeontology, which is really not palaeonto- 
logy at all, but purely physical geology with a very slight addition of 
palaeontological matters of interest. And, lastly, comes his glossary, which 
will, we doubt not, be found useful by the younger student. It is a toler- 
ably extensive list of palaeontological terms, briefly explained, and extends 
over more than twenty pages. Altogether, the book has pleased us well; 
and we are the more glad of this, because we have been obliged before to 
give a somewhat unfavourable criticism of one of Dr. H. A. Nicholson’s 
books. Of the present we can only say, we wish it all the success it 
undoubtedly merits. 
HANDBOOK OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.* 
W E believe that in the present volume, which is the fpurth of the 
series. Dr. J. D. Everett has completed his labours, and has trans- 
lated the whole of M. Deschanel’s work. We only regret that he did not 
give what we expected, and what would have conferred a great advantage 
on the book, an alphabetical index. It is, of course, of little use for the 
ordinary student, who has to travel regularly through the volume ; but, to 
the man who only takes up the volume to read a particular portion, it is 
immensely troublesome and annoying. Besides, it is not a mere student’s 
book. Professor Everett has taken it out of that category by his numerous 
and important additions, in some cases amounting to entire chapters. We 
hope, therefore, that the publishers will, in the event of their binding the 
volumes together, take the trouble of adding an exhaustive index. This 
volume seems to be the best of the whole — certainly better than the first 
* Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy.” By A. Privat Des- 
chanel. Translated by J. D. Everett, M.A., D.C.L., F.R.S.E. Part IV. 
London : Blackie & Son. 1872. 
