I3 6 Analyses of Boohs . [February, 
westward of the present Australian continent, and that the three 
southern floras — the Antarctic, Australian, and South African — 
may all have been members of one great vegetation which may 
once have covered an area as large as that of Europe. 
It is interesting to notice that, as far as Australia is concerned, 
the epoch of subsidence in the southern hemisphere has passed 
its maximum, and that elevation has been traced at various 
places along the coast. 
It must not, however, be supposed that the entire work is 
devoted to stricftly scientific considerations. Both as regards 
Australia and the smaller islands we have full accounts of the 
progress of discovery and colonisation, of commerce, agriculture, 
and mining. 
In the account of Borneo Mr. Wallace once more pays a well- 
merited tribute to the memory of the late Sir James Brooke, and 
triumphantly refutes the vile calumnies that have been again 
vented against him, both in and out of Parliament. Never 
before was a ruler, alien in race, language, and religion, so be- 
loved by his subjects. He has left behind him, as Mr. Wallace 
truthfully observes, “ over the whole of northern Borneo, a repu- 
tation for wisdom, for goodness, and for honour, which will dig- 
nify the name of Englishman for generations to come.” 
Our author, it must be noted, is — not without reason — some- 
what sceptical as to the propriety and prudence of suddenly 
forcing our civilisation upon simple and ignorant populations. 
The general results of such attempts is that a few merchants 
and planters accumulate large fortunes, whilst harmless races 
are “ improved off the face of the earth.” 
Perhaps the only point upon which we must differ from Mr. 
Wallace is where he, arguing from Java to England, recommends 
irrigation. He forgets, we fear, that in our climate— where eva- 
poration as compared with rainfall is at a minimum water, 
instead of being, as under the brilliant suns of tropical or semi- 
tropical regions, the one thing needful to ensure fertility, is with 
us, in average seasons and for our most important crops, the 
great cause of the farmer’s troubles. 
We need proceed no further with our survey of this most 
valuable book. Were we to notice even a tithe of the important 
fadts which it contains we should fill up an entire issue of the 
“Journal of Science.” It may truly be said of Mr. Wallace 
that “ Nihil tetigit quod non ornavit .” The present work will 
only extend and enhance the reputation he has already won. 
A Treatise on Chemistry. By H. E. Roscoe, F.R.S., and C. 
Schorlemmer, F.R.S. Vol. II., Metals (Part 2). London : 
Macmillan and Co. 1879. 
We have already reviewed two parts of the work which concludes 
with the volume before us, and we can only repeat what we then 
