REVIEWS. 
59 
geometry and geometrical projection are nearly useless branches of the art, 
and the little encouragement that is given is almost monopolised by 
them.’ 
In many, probably in most cases, time might be more usefully spent 
in making measured drawings from actual working objects, when once the 
elements of plane geometry have been mastered, than in solving the most 
ingeniously contrived examination puzzles in projections. This view of the 
subject appears to prevail in France, judging from the albums exhibited at 
the late Universal Exhibition, containing drawings made in the schools 
attached to the larger collieries, smelting and mechanical engineering works. 
There the works done by children from about twelve years of age upwards were 
for the most part representations of objects in common use in the works, from 
the simplest elements to tolerably complicated combinations, such as small 
steam-engines or simple tools, but in all cases the drawings were made from 
the real objects. 
BELFAST LOUGH.* 
A BOOK on the natural history of Belfast by a Robert Patterson, and 
dedicated to the memory of Robert Patterson, ought to be of 
interest to naturalists ; and the volume before us on the Birds, Fishes, and 
Cetaceans frequenting the fine inlet of the sea which bears the name of 
Belfast Lough, will interest many readers. Mr. Patterson, indeed, does not 
pretend to be writing a profound scientific work : his work contains observa- 
tions on the habits of the inhabitants of the Lough, made by him during 
the excursions of many years, and deals rather with the habits and manners 
of the animals referred to than with their description and classification. 
It is, in fact, especially as regards the Birds, a very pleasant, semipopular 
treatise, which may be perused with both entertainment and profit by the 
i general reader, while at the same time, like so many other local books, it 
contains numerous bits of information which will make it welcome to the 
Naturalist. The statements as to fishing in the Lough are of much 
interest. 
NORTH AMERICAN SEALS. t 
J UST three years ago (P. S. R. January, 1878, p. 81) we called attention 
to the publication of Dr. Elliott Coues’ monograph of North- American 
Mustelidse ; Mr. Allen’s work on the Pinnipedia is a still more elaborate 
and valuable production. Seals, from their very nature, have, in many 
* The Birds, Fishes, and Cetacea, commonly frequenting Belfast Lough. 
By Robert Lloyd Patterson. 8vo. London : D. Bogue, 1880. 
t History of North American Pinnipeds, a Monograph of the Walruses, 
Sea-Lions, Sea-Bears, and Seals of North Amenca. By Joel Asaph Allen. 
— U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, Miscellaneous 
Publications, No. XII. 8vo. Washington : * Government Printing Office, 
