i88i.] 
Analyses of Books. 165 
ments of Admiral Smyth, as given in the “ Bedford Catalogue,” 
and considers that Class II., i.e. double stars not previously 
measured by any other observer, are not perfectly satisfactory. 
Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria , 
Vol. XVI. Issued April 30, 1880. Melbourne : Mason, 
Firth, and M‘Cutcheon. 
This volume opens with the interesting Anniversary Address 
delivered by the President, R. L. J. Ellery, F.R.S., the Govern- 
ment astronomer. The author criticises the theory which con- 
nects the periods of sun-spots with commercial crises. He pays 
a well-deserved tribute to the merits of the Government botanist, 
Baron von Muller, with especial reference to his valuable me- 
moirs on the “ Forest Resources of Western Australia ” and on 
“ SeleCt Industrial Plants.” The President expresses a regret, 
in which we fully participate, that the biological and medical 
sciences are less cultivated in Australia than mathematics and 
physics. This is exaCtly what ought not to be : mathematical 
and physical research can be carried on as well, or better, in 
Europe ; whilst biology, ethnology, geology, &c., present many 
questions which can be successfully attacked in Australia only. 
Mr. Ellery has also contributed a memoir on the “ Relation 
between Forest Lands and Climate in Victoria.” He arrives at 
the important, and we believe sound, conclusion that “ the indis- 
criminate clearing of timbered lands invites an ever-increasing 
aridity of climate and diminishing fertility of soil.” 
Mr. A. W. Howitt gives a paper on the diorites and granites 
of Swifts’ Creek, and their contaCt-zones, with notes on their 
auriferous deposits. 
Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, F.L.S., describes the genus 
Amathia of Lamouroux, and in particular a new species, A. tor- 
tuosa , and introduces a history of the progress of our knowledge 
of the Polyzoa. 
The Rev. R. H. Codrington, M.A., contributes a paper on the 
customs of Mota, Banks Islands, many of which are fantastic 
in the extreme. It is remarkable that, though no monkeys occur 
in the Fiji Islands, yet the native language has a word for 
monkey. Through all these islands traditions of wild men, 
living in trees, are current. The author considers that the 
natives are not so wanting in moral feeling as is represented by 
Sir J. Lubbock, upon the authority of Mariner. 
The remaining papers which we notice are — “ New Localities 
for Minerals in Victoria,” by J. Cosmo Newbery; “ Notes on the 
Geology of the West Tamar District,” by Norman Naylor ; and 
