1879-1 
Notices of Books. 
139 
This charming work will, we are convinced, win new students 
for botany, and open out even to older observers fresh and fruit- 
ful paths. The editor has done his part well, and his preface 
and notes are a valuable addition to the volume. The work is 
illustrated with three double plates, well executed, and furnished 
with explanatory references. The general execution and ap- 
pearance of the book are pleasing, and highly creditable to the 
publishers. 
American Journal of Mathematics, Pure and Applied. Editor-in- 
Chief : J. J. Sylvester, LL.D., F.R.S.; Associate 
Editor-in-Charge: W. E. Story, Ph.D., with the co-oper- 
ation of D. Pierce, F.R.S., in Mechanics, S. Newcomb, 
F.R.S., in Astronomy, and H. A. Rowland, in Physics. 
Vol. I., No. 1. Baltimore: the Editors ; London: Triibner 
and Co. 
The appearance of this Journal is a proof of the growing- 
attention paid in the United States even to those sciences 
which do not appeal diredtly to the sentiment of utility. For 
the character of the work the names of the editors will be a. 
sufficient guarantee. The present number contains a “ Note on a 
Class of Transformations which Surfaces may undergo in space 
of more than Three Dimensions,” by S. Newcomb; in which 
the proposition is announced that if a fourth dimensiom were 
added to space, a closed material surface (or shell) could be 
turned inside out by simple flexure, without either stretching or 
tearing. Mr. G. W. Hill contributes, “ Researches in the Lunar 
Theory Dr. H. T. Eddy a paper on the “ Theorem of Three 
Moments G. Weicheld, the “ Solution of the Irreducible Case 
H. A. Rowland, a “ Note on the Theory of Eledtric Absorption,” 
in which he concludes that eledtric absorption will almost cer- 
tainly take place unless the ratio of conductivity to the specific 
inductive capacity is constant throughout the body. 
Next follows a notice by G. S. Pierce of Annibale Ferrero’s 
exposition of the method of least squares. From the pen of the 
Editor we have an “ Application of the New Atomic Theory to 
the Graphical Representation of the Invariants and Covariants 
of Binary Quantics.” This paper commences with the explan- 
ation that “ by the new atomic theory I mean that sublime 
invention of Keklule, which stands to the old in a somewhat 
similar relation as the astronomy of Kepler to Ptolemy’s, or the 
System of Nature of Darwin to that of Linnasus. Like the 
latter, it lies outside of the immediate sphere of energetics, 
basing its l^ws on pure relations of form ; and like the former, as 
