REYIEWS. 
199 
SHOBT NOTICES. 
Catechism of Zoology. By the Bev. J. F. Blake, M.A., F.G.S. London : 
Longmans, 1873. — If we admit the adyisability of making zoology into a 
catechism, doubtless this attempt is not a bad one, especially for the very 
young. But we confess we have a decided dislike to this form of book. It 
is associated in our mind with that abominable habit of “ cram.” It is likely 
that a fellow who studies hard at this book may get enough of zoology into 
his unhappy brain to pass, let us suppose, a medical examination for the 
Navy in India — to pass and to forget it all completely in a few months. 
But we ask who else could read such a book as the present one ? Assuredly 
not a boy, unless, indeed, the cane were frequently employed. How could 
he feel the smallest particle of interest in such a cut and dry method ? Most 
assuredly the author is not imacquainted with the grinding ” system, but 
we very much doubt his powers as a successful teacher. For cramming ” 
we doubt not his skill. He seems, too, in some passages to be not very well 
acquainted with Anatomy, for he tells us that the “ atlas ” is a hollow ” 
bone : what does he mean ? And again, is there not some obscurity in the 
answer for the Lyencephalaj that “ none of the lohes of the brain are over- 
lapped by the cerebrum.” 
The Story of Creation as told hy Theology and hy Science. By 
T. S. Ackland, M. A. London : Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 
1873. — The author of this little brochure evidently means well. He has 
attempted a reconciliation of Scripture and Science. He admits Darwinism, 
and even the evolution of man from the Quadrumana. But he will have it 
that the Bible must be right. On the various matters of science he urges the 
scientific value of evidence to its furthest steps. On the theological he thinks 
his conclusions are to be accepted with as much force, although there is no 
evidence whatever in the same aspect. This we need not say is manifestly 
unfair. We must in any argument use the same test for the witnesses on 
both sides. One must not be bound by a serious oath, and the other allowed 
to give his evidence without any guarantee as to its accuracy. Yet this is 
what characterises the present interesting little work. 
A Year-book of Facts in Science and Art. By John Timbs. London ; 
Lockwood and Co., 1873. — We have almost universally had to condemn 
this book as a useless summary of a few ill-assorted paragraphs from various 
scientific and popular journals. We are sorry to be compelled to say the 
same thing of the present volume. Its engraving of Dr. Carpenter is good 
as a picture, very good indeed, but as a likeness it is imperfect. The upper 
part of the face is like the original, but the lower part is not at all like. 
The best thing in the volume is the sketch of Dr. Carpenter’s life, which, 
though brief, is an admirable outline of this physiologist’s labours. 
The Astronomical Almanack for 1873. By W. Hollis, Ph.D., F.B.A.S. 
London : Simpkin and Co., 1873 — is of course much smaller than the Nautical 
Almanack. Still it will be a useful book for amateur astronomers, as it con- 
tains the various events which are to occur in every day stated with dis- 
tinctness. 
