354 Analyses of Books. [June, 
and he considers, in succession, monocular vision, binocular 
vision, and some disputed points in the latter. 
As regards the defers of the eye now so frequently met with, 
he points out an error in the popular notion of presbyopy, the so- 
called long-sightedness of old age. Such an eye sees distant 
objeCts precisely as does the normal eye. Its focus of parallel 
rays is not behind, but on the retina. There has not taken place 
any flattening, but the power to adjust for near objects has been 
lost. Short-sightedness is a structural defeCt which does not 
disappear with advancing age ; presbyopy is a functional disorder. 
The true opposite to myopy (short-sightedness) is the unusual 
defeCt of hypermetropy. Persons in this state, even when young, 
see near objeCts imperfectly ; when old they fail to see either 
distant or remote objeCts with clearnesss, and require two kinds 
of glasses — one for near, and one for distant objeCts. 
We find a notice of Stanley Hall’s recent theory of colour- 
perception. He argues that colour is perceived by the cones 
alone, that different parts of the same cone vibrate with different 
degrees of rapidity, and that the conical form is adapted for this 
purpose. In an occasional reference to instinCt we are glad to 
find so eminent and well-tried an observer declare it to be 
“ inherited experience.” 
A peculiarity of the work before us is that the author pro- 
nounces the normal eye a master-piece of Nature, and infinitely 
superior to the microscope. Certain modern writers take a 
decidedly different view, and pronounce it not nearly so good as 
the objectives of our best microscopes. There is here scope for 
a not uninteresting discussion. 
In the last chapter we find the comparative physiology of 
binocular vision regarded as a gift bestowed upon the highest 
animals only, and not impossibly connected with the development 
of the higher faculties of the mind. 
One feature of this book strikes us as in need of explanation. 
Though printed in London, we find in it those peculiarities in 
orthography which have been adopted in the United States. 
The Americans have, of course, the right to spell as they please, 
but we surely may put in a similar claim, and must protest 
against having “ fiber ” and “ center ” insinuated into a bock 
published in England, and to be read by Englishmen. 
Note-Book of an Amateur Geologist. By John Edward Lee, 
F.G.S., F.S.A. London : Longmans and Co. 
This work consists of a large assortment of plates executed from 
the sketches made by the author in the course of his geological 
^nd archaeological rambles, and of accompanying descriptions. 
