422 
Notices of Books . 
[July, 
contains sixty well-drawn plates, and a number of tables. The 
book is likely to become a standard work, and it supplies a want 
which has been felt. 
Elements of Magnetism and Electricity. By John Angell. 
London and Glasgow : William Collins and Sons. 1877. 
This book forms one of Messrs. Collins’s “Elementary Series” 
of science class books. Since it was first issued it has been very 
much improved by the addition of new matter, new illustrations, 
and the examination questions which have been set at South 
Kensington since 1867 for the “ Elementary Stage.” The book 
is very cheap, and is well illustrated; if it has a fault, it is that 
the author has attempted to crowd too much matter into a small 
space, and the explanations are sometimes less full than might 
be desired; but it is quite sufficient for, and suitable to, the stu- 
dents who present themselves for the elementary stage, and it 
forms a useful class book for schools. 
The Winds and their Story of the World. Vis Inertiae in the 
Ocean. By W. L. Jordan, F.R.G.S. Hardwicke and 
Bogue. 1877. 
In the first of these works the author, in discussing the nature 
of the winds, endeavours to trace a connection between the 
vortices of Descartes and Newton’s law of gravitation. In 
the second the results of recent oceanic exploration are con- 
sidered in reference to the vis inertiae of the ocean. The main 
objeCt of the author seems to be to refute certain assertions of 
Prof. Huxley and Dr. Carpenter. 
What is Vital Force? Or a Short and Comprehensive Sketch , 
including Vital Physics, Animal Morphology , and Epidemics, 
to which is added an Appendix upon Geology ; Is the Detri- 
tal Theory of Geology Tenable ? By Richard Fawcett 
Battye. London : Triibner. 1877. 
This curious book appears to have been written with a view of 
ventilating certain pet theories of the author. Human progress 
is so rapid, and scientific workers are so numerous, that it is as 
much as most people can do to keep au courant with the result 
of real research, upon which all truth must be founded. Hence 
we do not predict for Dr. Battye’s book a very large number of 
readers, and we are afraid that we cannot class ourselves among 
them. 
