1876.] 
543 
Notices of Books . 
the method best suited for the purpose of the science student. 
It aims at supplying, without the aid of advanced mathematics, 
such explanations of the Laws of Dynamics as will prepare the 
way for their application to physical phenomena, particularly to 
those of Heat and Electricity.” 
In carrying out his undertaking, the author treats in succession 
of time and space, motion, force and motion, force and mass, 
momentum and energy, the laws of motion, the parallelogram of 
forces, moments of forces, reactions and surfaces, centres of 
gravity, energy, a system of particles, problems on energy, ma- 
chines, friction, and moments of inertia. The descriptions and 
explanations are necessarily brief, but exceedingly lucid. 
The work is plentifully illustrated with diagrams, and a series 
of questions is appended to every section. It may be safely 
recommended to students. 
Check List of the Ferns of North America , North of Mexico. 
Published for John Robinson, Salem, Mass. The Natu- 
ralists’ Agency. 
This pamphlet is simply a Catalogue of all the ferns known to 
be indigenous in the United States and the Dominion. The 
total number of species is remarkably small in relation to the 
vast extent of territory. British fern collectors and cultivators 
will be interested to find that many of their old friends — such as 
Osmunda regalis, Phegopteris dryopteris , Polypodium vulgare, 
Scolopendrium vulgare , &c.— are common to both sides of the 
Atlantic, 
Notes on Building Construction , arranged to meet the Require- 
ments of the Syllabus of the Science and Art Department of 
the Committee of Council on Education. Part II. — Com- 
mencement of Second Stage, or Advanced Course. London, 
Oxford, and Cambridge : Rivingtons. 
This second part treats of brickwork and masonry, timber roofs, 
roof-coverings, of beams and girders, of centres, joinery, stairs, 
rivetting fire-proof floors, iron roofs, plasterer’s work, and 
painting. We should think that the artizan who has fairly mas- 
tered the contents of this work — we do not say who is able to 
“ pass” in it — will very soon find the advantage, and will prove 
decidedly superior to those of his companions who are content 
to pass through life without caring at all for the fundamental 
