i88 3 .] 
Analyses of Books. 
355 
Light Science for Leisure Hours. Third Series. Familiar 
Essays on Scientific Subjedls, Natural Phenomena, &c. By 
R. A. Proctor, B.A. Camb., Honorary Secretary of 
the Royal Astronomical Society, &c. London : Longmans 
and Co. 
We have here a collection of essays and reviews, reprinted from 
various journals. Their subjects are, as might be expected, for 
the most part astronomical, and among these six of the most 
important are devoted to solar eclipses and their lessons. “ The 
Earth in Meteoric Shadow” we have already noticed on occasion 
of its first appearance in “ Longman’s Magazine.” The paper on 
“ Lottery Schemes” is selected as here admissible on account of 
the mathematical considerations involved. 
“ Conduct and Duty” is a brief critique on Mr. Leslie Stephen’s 
“ Science of Ethics.” Mr. Proctor contrasts the point of view 
taken by Mr. Herbert Spencer with that adopted by Mr. Leslie 
Stephen, and expounds the criterion of the latter ethicist. 
“Under the title ‘Vivisection,” we find a short and favour- 
able notice of Professor Owen’s “ Experimental Physiology.” 
Mr. Proctor, though he occasionally writes for the “ Spectator” 
and the “ Echo,” does not prophesy smooth things to the 
Bestiarians, and will accordingly be from time to time treated to 
missiles similar to those with which we are saluted : — 
“ Jam fasces saxaque volant.” 
“The American Tariff” is a subject upon which we cannot 
legitimately enter. At the same time, we cannot but think it 
hard that the Americar savant and student should be called upon 
to pay import duties upon foreign scientific books, upon geo- 
logical, or biological specimens and apparatus, and upon 
apparatus. 
The “ Origin of our Race” has a somewhat equivocal title. 
We expedted to find a disquisition on the origin of mankind ; but 
the “ race” in question is, it appears, that sub-sedtion of humanity 
which now occupies Britain. Concerning this race the author 
takes the very rational view that complexion, type of features, 
and shape of head form a more trustworthy evidence than lan- 
guage, and that the views of certain historians, based upon 
traditions and upon linguistic points, must be rejedted. That our 
language is essentially Teutonic no one will care to dispute ; 
but that in blood we belong very largely to a dark race seems 
even yet more plain. The only escape from this conclusion is 
the theory that as any nation advances in culture its complexion 
takes a more southern type. Some contend that this process is 
no less marked in France than in Britain. It must be remembered 
that, according to Roman authorities, the Gauls were no more a 
dark-haired people than were the ancient Germans. 
