i88o.] 
Analyses of Books. 
209 
Memoirs of the Science Department , University of Tokio , Japan. 
Vol. I., Part 1. By E. S. Morse. Tokio : published by 
the University. 
This volume is devoted to an examination of the shell-mounds 
of Omori. These mounds, in addition to shells, contain bones 
of monkeys, deer, boars, wolves, and dogs, and give plain evi- 
dence of the former prevalence of cannibalism. 
The author has also deterted the jaw of a large baboon-like 
ape, possibly a Cynopithicus, which now occurs in the Philip- 
pines. Japanese tradition tells of monstrous apes formerly found 
in the islands. 
We may mention that the paper, the letter-press, and the illus- 
trations have all been produced by native labour. 
Lecture Notes on Physics . By Charles Bird, B.A., F.R.A.S., 
Second Master in the Bradford Grammar-School. London : 
Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. Bradford : T. Brear. 
This little book is essentially examinational. More than one- 
third of its bulk consists of a list of the “ questions set in the 
Science and Art Examinations ” from the years 1867 to 1879 
inclusive. Thus both those who are performing and those who 
are undergoing the operation known in polite circles as “ preparing 
for an examination”— but described by horrid, plain-spoken people 
in a word of one syllable— may form a tolerably accurate notion 
of what they may expert. It must not for a moment be sup- 
posed that we attach any blame to Mr. Bird. He is merely 
accommodating himself to existing circumstances. Unless he 
arts thus his pupils might possibly “ know,” but they would fail 
to “ pass,” and he himself would suffer in reputation accordingly. 
He therefore does what we must all do more or less until we 
become enlightened enough to make a clean sweep of the whole 
system. Will this be done before it has quite eaten out the 
intellertual life of the nation ? 
The notes are clear, intelligible, and accurate, and, if properly 
filled up with details and illustrated with the necessary experi- 
ments, will form a good course on physics. 
VOL. II. (third series). 
Q 
