n8 Notices of Books, [January, 
not only be a learned scholar and a good teacher, but he must be 
an investigator, capable of entering upon original researches 
and of solving practical problems. He must be able to ‘add to 
the sum of human knowledge,’ and to supply the many serious 
omissions and correct the many important errors with which 
text-books abound wherever they touch the practical side of their 
subjects. ” If the American people will put such men in the 
professorial chairs of their technical schools the industrial future 
of their country is secured. 
The Annual Report of the Queensland Philosophical Society, 
1877, with the President's Address. Brisbane : Beal. 
This Report contains little to cheer those who take an interest 
in the progress of Science in general, and who wish in particular 
that the treasures of fadt which Nature offers in such regions as 
Queensland should not continue to lie unobserved and unrecorded. 
The Council complain that “ the number of papers read has 
been very small [only three !] , and it is a matter for regret that 
so little interest is taken in the Society, as is evinced by mem- 
bers not bringing forward either interesting papers for discussion 
or any objedts of interest which they may possess for exhibition.” 
The names of the three members who have done their part for 
the credit of the Society are — Mr. G. Bennett, who contributes 
a paper on the “Mammalia of Australia;” Mr. Diggles, who 
produced a memoir on “ Some New and Rare Specimens of 
Australian Birds,” in which he describes four species new to 
Science ; and Mr. Thorpe, who has urged the importance of col- 
lecting Meteorological Statistics. 
As regards the Presidential Address, without in the least 
calling in question the ability displayed, we must point out that 
it is devoid of local character, and might have quite as appro- 
priately been delivered in London, Paris, or Berlin. We submit 
that a general outline of the immense and varied harvest of 
phenomena w'hich only awaits earnest reapers to be brought into 
the world’s garner would have been more than the somew r hat 
metaphysical disquisitions into which Sir James Cockle has 
thought proper to enter. 
Preliminary Report of the Field-work of the JJ.S. Geological and 
Geographical Survey of the Territories for the Season of 
1877. Washington : Government Printing-Office. 
This issue gives merely a general sketch of the. ground w r orked 
over, without entering into a detailed account ot results. We 
