No More Learning

of Scots, by Elizabeth O'Neill ;
Moritura,' reprinted from The Nation, are
Organic
The letters themselves are interesting, though
included. We commend its solidity of reason-
Chemistry, by Prof. J. E. Cohen; The Principles
rather as giving fresh and amusing illustration
ing, its generosity and justice of feeling, and
of Electricity, by Norman R. Campbell ; Pure
of well-known traits in the character of
hope that its circulation will fulfil the expecta-
Gold, a Choice of Lyrics and Sonnets, by H. C.
Frederick than as affording much that is new.
tions of its promoters. No. 1 of the Persia
O'Neill. ; Roman Catbolicism, by H. B. Coxon ; Committee Pamphlets.
Science.
The Science of the Stars, by E. W. Maunder ; Sanders (T. W. ), Window Gardens, id.
Shakespeare, by Prof. C. H. Herford ; and
Agricultural and Horticultural Association
Caillet (Albert L. ), Traitement Mental et Culture
Women's Suffrage, a Short History of a Great One of the One and All Garden Books.
Spirituelle, 4fr.
Paris, Vigot Frères
Movement, by M. G. Fawcett, bd. net each. These booklets, fertile in suggestion and
This book covers an extraordinarily large
T. C. & E. C. Jack advice, ought to be welcomed by the public.
area, for it contains some mention of the
For notice see pp. 248 and 249.
They are condensed and scientific, and at the
histories and the teachings of the distinguished
Rees (Sir J. D. ), Current Political Problems, with same time not overburdened with irrelevant
psycho-therapeutists of all countries ; while
Pros and Cons, 5/ net.
Edward Arnold information
special attention is given to Yoga methods and
We think the author might have dispensed
the subject of mesmerism. The author of a
with his afterword of " pros and cons," which
FOREIGN
volume which deals with so many aspects
represent the popular short cuts to thinking.
of one subject cannot be accused of having an
Though he investigates the Persian question,
Fine Art and Archæology.
axe to grind, as is often the case with writers
he does not so much as mention the objections Lasteyrie (R. , de), L'Architecture religieuse en
on these topics, and it is satisfactory to find
to the policy of absorption. In short, he has France à l'Époque romane, ses Origines, son
the use of hypnotism strongly discouraged
produced a handbook for the Conservative Développement, 30fr.
Paris, Picard
a somewhat curious prohibition in view of
partisan to“ get up" the normal controversial An exhaustive and monumental study of
the lengthy expositions of mechanical and
answers to the programme of his adversaries.
other methods of suggestion.
Romance architecture in France by the hand
Neugebauer (Dr. Paul V. ), Sterntafeln von 4000
Royal Statistical Society, Journal, February, 2/6 of a master. It embodies the quintessence of
vor Chr. bis zur Gegenwart. Leipsic, Hinrichs
The Society
M. de Lasteyrie's lectures at the Ecole des
Ruskin (John), The Political Economy of Art;
Chartes during the last thirty years, and brings
This work--to be completed in three parts,
of which this is the first is intended as an aid
Unto this Last ; Sesame and Lilies ; The Crown
us from the earliest origins of Christian archi-
to historians and students of literature who
of Wild Olive, 3/6 net.
Macmillan
tecture down to the dawn of the Gothic era.
The two lectures dealing with The Political
Admirable by reason of its broad treatment, its
are not themselves astronomers, but need to
Economy of Art' first appeared in 1857,
luminous attention to detail, and the way
check chronological statements by a reference
to astronomical data. In a series of tables it
* Unto this Last' in 1862, and Sesame and
in wbich it brings out the great lines of
gives the position of 518 stars, century by
Lilies' in 1865. They are here reissued to-
development, it cannot fail to mark an epoch
gether, well printed and got up, with a biblio-
in the study of the period. It is beautifully
century, for six thousand years. The two
graphical note. But
following parts will give : (1) tables for sun,
· Sesame and Lilies
illustrated by more than 700 plates.
moon, and planets for the same length of time;
has been issued so many times that we hardly Livres à Figures de l'École allemande des XVe. and (2) tabulated statements of such other
see the need of another edition. The volume et XVIe. Siècles : Catalogue LXXXI. , avec astronomical facts as are useful for work in
is one of the Library of English Classics.
une préface, une table des artistes, une table history and letters.
as


## p. 257 (#203) ############################################

No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
257
Literary Gossip .
nounce
invented this doctrine, the reformers of the author has been to record various
the Zoroastrian religion borrowing it matters of public interest contained in the
from him three centuries later, or whether century covered by a father and a son
the Jews, as Prof. Moulton evidently -Samuel Thornton, Admiral, 1797–1859,
LAST WEEK there were sold in Edinburgh thinks, acquired it during the Babylonian and Percy Melville Thornton, 1841-1911,
two volumes described in the auctioneer's captivity, and carried it with them when for seventeen years M. P. for Clapham-
catalogue as Burns's Common-Place
sent back by Cyrus. In the latter case, members of the family of Thorntons of
Books,"
"*" in the handwriting of the poet. " what became of it between the days of Birkin in Yorkshire, and allied to the
Both were purchased by Mr. Hugh Hop- Cyrus and those of Philo?
Rices of Mothvey in Carmarthenshire.
kins of Glasgow for 651. each. The A MEETING of those favourable to the MR. JOHN GALSWORTHY is publishing
volumes originally formed part of the formation of a Bibliographical Society through Mr. Heinemann his first book of
Whitefoord Mackenzie collection, sold in in Glasgow was held in the Council Room poetry, entitled Wild Oats: Moods,
Edinburgh in 1886. At that sale one was of the Royal Philosophical Society there Songs, and Doggerels,' which will be
bought for Sir Robert Jardine of Castle- on Thursday, February 22nd. Dr. David ready on the 21st inst. Uniform with
milk for 310 guineas, and the other for Murray occupied the chair. After this volume will be "The Lure of the
Lord Rosebery for 270 guineas. The a statement by the chairman showing Sea,' by Mr. J. E. Patterson, whose
purchasers found, however, that the
that the the need for
a body of the sort vivid autobiography, 'My Vagabondage,'
catalogue statement to the effect that the mainly designed to cover the West of
we noticed last autumn.
thirty-three pieces in the volumes were Scotland, it was agreed to form the society,
Miss MARGARET B. CROSS has a new
unpublished was misleading, as they were and a large and influential committee
not the composition of Burns, but merely was appointed to draft the necessary rules Windus next week. The book is entitled
novel appearing with Messrs. Chatto &
transcripts of verse which was in print and constitution. Over fifty have already Up to Perrin's,' and, as the title implies,
before his day. In these circumstances intimated their intention of becoming the scene is laid in the West Country.
the volumes were returned to the Misses members. The interim secretary is the
Mackenzie, who have since died. The Rev. W. J. Couper, 26, Circus Drive,
Messrs. Chatto & Windus also an-
writer of a special article in The Glasgow Glasgow.
a cheaper issue of Sir Walter
Herald of February 24th gives good
Besant's four topographical books—Lon-
reasons for the contention that the volumes
MR. S. B. JEVONS has been appointed don,' • Westminster,'' East London, and
are not even the holograph of Burns.
literary adviser to the publishing house 'South London. ' The new edition will
of Sampson Low, Marston & Co.
Caution is needed in such cases. Some
contain all the original illustrations.
verses of similar origin were sent to us THE PASSING OF WAR,' a new book by ONE LOOK BACK,' the latest book
recently, and described as not in the Canon W. L. Grane, will be published by by Mr. G. W. E. Russell, is a volume
published works of Burns. That was Messrs. Macmillan & Co. next Tuesday. of reminiscences, not a collection of mis-
true, but the sender did not take the The work is in some sense the complement cellaneous essays, and it covers the
trouble to ascertain that they had been of 'The Great Illusion,' by Mr. Norman greater part of the social and political
familiar as the work of a well-known Angell, and is based on the author's changes witnessed by Mr. Russell during
contemporary and admirer of his for a belief that the cult of blood and iron will his life. It will be issued by Messrs.
century or so.
only be exchanged for that of national | Wells Gardner & Co.
fraternity by the growth of moral forces.
PROF. HOPE MOULTON delivered the
PICKWICK,' as is well-known, contains
first of his course of Hibbert Lectures on
PROF. J. B. BURY's new work, The
lapses, oversights," contra-
* Zoroastrianism' at the University of Eastern Roman Empire from the Fall rieties, &c. , owing to the haste and
London on Tuesday last. The course, as of Irene to the Accession of Basil I. boisterous spirit of the writer. No true
announced in the syllabus, covers the (A. D. 802-867),' will be ready shortly. Pickwickian would wish a single one away.
early history of the faith only, and the While it is an independent work, it Messrs. Gay & Hancock are issuing a col-
lecturer further announced that it would continues on a larger scale the Pro- lection of these oddities, gathered by
stop at the period of Alexander the Great. fessor's History of the Later Roman Mr. Percy Fitzgerald, who has already fur-
In his first lecture Prof. Moulton took the Empire. ' Messrs. Macmillan & Co. are nished some six treatises on Pickwick. '
view, now common among philologists, the publishers.
CANON R. L. OTTLEY's new volume
that the original home of the Aryan or
Indo-European race was in Europe, whence
MR. EDWARD CARPENTER's new book, for Lent, entitled 'The Rule of Faith
'The Drama of Love and Death :
they migrated to Asia, and there split into
a and Hope,' is announced for immediate
two peoples, one stopping short in Persia, Study of Human Evolution and Trans- publication in Mr. Robert Scott's “Library
where they became the ancestors of the figuration, will be published by Messrs. of Historic Theology. ” This work is an
Iranians, while the other proceeded to George Allen & Co. next Friday. The exposition of the Apostles' Creed from
India, and founded the Sanskrit
literature. earlier chapters will be a kind of continua- the devotional standpoint, the subject
This separation, he thought, migħt be dated of Age, while the latter part deals with the Incarnate Life,' The Reality of
This separation, he thought, might be dated tion of the author's Love's Coming headings including The Mysteries of
as early as the second millennium B. C.
the problems of death and the world Redemption,' and 'Mysticism and Prayer.
In the course of his lecture Prof. beyond. Throughout copious reference
Moulton expressed his entire dissent from is made to recent discoveries in physics, carelessness which attributed in our last
OUR apologies are tendered for the
the late James Darmesteter's theory that biology, and psychical research.
the Gâthas, now supposed to be the
issue Mendelssohn's setting of the words
oldest part of the literature of which the
MESSRS. LONGMANS are bringing out a Watchman, will the night soon pass ? ”
Zend-Avesta forms part, owed much to sixpenny edition of Dr. J. Ñ. Figgis's to Handel—a slip which more than one
borrowings from Philo of Alexandria, Hulsean Lectures, which, as was antici- correspondent has already pointed out.
generally called Philo Judæus. The re- pated in our columns, have had a remark. In answer to others we may say that
semblance between the Powers of Philo, able success. The new edition will contain The Athenaeum of April 24th, 1909 (p. 496),
whom he makes intermediate between a reply to criticisms. The same firm will contains the verses, a quotation from
God and the world, and the Amshaspands shortly publish the lectures delivered by which concluded our article on Industrial
or archangels of the Zend-Avesta, is too Dr. Figgis last spring at Harvard, which Unrest. '
close to be accidental, and affects besides will be called 'Civilization at the Cross-
BEGINNING with next week, we propose
nearly all the religious speculation of the Roads. '
to follow our 'List of New Books' with
first Christian century. There does not 'Some Things we have Remembered,' a List of Forthcoming Books, particulars
seem enough evidence to decide definitely by Mr. P. M. Thornton, will also be pub- of the dates of which we shall be glad to
whether Philo, as Darmesteter thought, I lished by the same firm. The object of receive as early as possible.
C
some


## p. 258 (#204) ############################################

258
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
not easy, for even geographers fail to convives, and eating-sticks seemed to lie
SCIENCE
remember the relative positions of towns
on the table merely out of deference for
or districts when they are not familiar time-honoured convention. It was curious
with their names. The simplest plan is to significant effects of that great historical
to recognize in such changes small but
imagine the scene of work as a great movement of Chinese reform’ to which
tive of Explorations in Central Asia and horseshoe set in the heart of Asia, with the Russo-Japanese War has given the final
tive of Explorations in Central Asia and the open end to the East ; the area impulse. ”
Westernmost China. By M. Aurel Stein. enclosed is mainly desert, the Takla-
2 vols. (Macmillan & Co. )
From Kashgar, by way of Khargalik
makan to the West, and Gobi to the East and Kökyar, the Kuen-lun range was
As some authors publish their works first The toe of the shoe is the vast range of explored and Khotan was reached ; the
in parts and afterwards in book-form, so hills, the Roof of the World, about the
oases are reported as extending into the
recent important contributions to geo- Pamirs, and the sources of the Oxus. desert further than they did five years
graphical science have usually been pre- From them the drainage of the western before, the result of improved irrigation,
ceded by shorter popular versions. Thus sides flows towards the Sea of Aral; which has led to expansion of towns and
Sir Sven Hedin issued Adventures in that from the eastern slopes forms the increased population.
The mountains
Tibet' before his monumental Scientific Tarim or river, which, passing through were again entered, special attention being
Results,' and 'Trans-Himalaya' before the Takla-makan with ever-diminishing given to the upper basins of the Kara
another great work which has yet to volume, is eventually lost in the terminal Kash and Yurung Kash rivers. Here Dr.
appear. So also Dr. Stein sent forth and migratory lake known as Lob- or
Stein was close to where Schlagintweit
Sand-buried Ruins of Khotan' before Lop-nor. The northern boundary of the had passed, it is stated, in 1862; the date
his Ancient Khotan,' and
now he horseshoe is formed by the T'ien Shan; seems to require verification, for 1857 is,
presents two massive volumes prelimi- the southern by the Kuen-lun and the according to Chambers's Encyclopædia,
nary to a
Detailed Report. '
The Altin Tagh, which bound Tibet on the the year in which Adolf Schlagintweit
procedure is sound because there are north and extend to the
rangęs near Su- crossed the ranges and was put to death
many readers for a well-told tale of travel, chou and Kan-chou. The best-known by Yakub Beg. Hermann as well as
and few, comparatively, who would or towns in the enclosure are Kashgar, Adolf seems to have penetrated into the
could wade through the detailed works. where Great Britain and Russia have Kuen-lun range, which in 1865 was crossed
But, unless great care be taken,
the popular representatives ; Yárkand, the commercial by Johnson, a surveyor whose route Dr.
story is apt to exceed reasonable limits capital; and Khotan. Ak-su and Kara- Stein wished to verify.
and encroach on the domain of the record shahr on the north side are the gates
As winter approached, hill surveys
on which it is based.
towards Russia.
were abandoned, and excavation of ruins
The object of the present book is to
Dr. Stein approached this country by in the desert was begun: first, near Khotan,
a route nowadays unusual, though one and then westwards to Keriya, Endere,
“furnish the general reader with a personal whereby Greek influence and Buddhism Charklik, &c. , names familiar to readers
explorations which, during the years 1906- | entered. He left Abbottabad late in of Sir Sven Hedin's and Dr. Stein's
former
1908, I carried out under the orders of the April, 1906, and marched through Swát books. Relics of the usual sort were
Government of India in remote parts of and Dir to Chitral and Afghan Wakhán, found, including inscribed tablets with
Central Asia and Westernmost China. " where he was well received and taken care
seals showing classical origin, which,
In recognition Dr. Stein received the of by order of the ruler, whose liberality strange to say, old manure heaps yielded
Founder's Gold Medal of the Royal Geo- deserves recognition. Here he reached in the greatest profusion. To the lay mind
graphical Society; his detailed report, the Oxus near the part visited by Olufsen this would not seem testimony to their
we are told, must take years to compile. (Athenæum, November 25th, 1911), but value ; indeed, in view of the destruc-
and for many reasons be inaccessible to on the opposite bank, and made his tion resulting from war and fanaticism,
the general public whose interest he way by its sources to the Pamirs; thence treasure - hunting, and age and natural
desires to enlist. We hope he may suc-
he descended by Sar i-kol to Kashgar. causes, it is a marvel that anything
ceed, for his labour and judgment justify The description of this journey, fills a is left. The winter of 1906–7 was thus
a favourable result ; but many persons hundred pages, and is full of interest, spent not far from the routes of Hsüan-
will have difficulty in tackling the 1,038 recalling many events connected with tsang and Marco Polo ; at a site marked
pages of this book, whilst
others, frightened frontier expeditions, such as the Edwardes Miran many interesting discoveries were
at its size, may avoid the task.
and Fowler episode of 1895 and the siege made, the most remarkable being frescoes
The work was undertaken in favourable of Chitral.
of winged figures, and a fresco frieze in
circumstances
with the prestige of official
At Kashgar final preparations were
a Buddhist shrine, representing, accord-
patronage. The Indian Survey Depart- made, and a Chinese secretary, by name ing to Prof. Foucher, a portion of the
ment provided men and money for the
field Yin Ma Chiang, a Ssă-yeh " or candidate legend of King Vessantara, which is
operations, the results of which are shown for office, like the “ ummedwar” of India, related on p. 490 of vol. i.
in the creditable maps attached to the
was engaged. His help throughout was
Before passing from Miran and Abdal,
volumes. The Sappers and Miners sup-
of great value, and is suitably acknow it is interesting to note that, in the records
plied a Sikh corporal, Ram Singh (of ledged. Here also Chinese hospitality discovered, the name Nob seems to supply
whom more hereafter), who developed was enjoyed; the Tao-ta’i entertained the phonetic link between Na-fo-po, used
photographs, drew plans, and was in Mr. Macartney, and Dr. Stein to lunch, a by Hsüan-tsang, and Lop, by Marco
general a handy man.
small, informal feast of eighteen courses,
Polo, to describe the district. In Yule's
It is impossible to mention the names " but all so neatly served and relatively Marco Polo' (ed. Cordier, i. pp. 197–
of all the distinguished experts who wholesome that my apprehensions as to its 203 fn. ) an excellent note about the
have helped Dr. Štein, but a few may results on one long accustomed to simple diet locality of the lake usually called by
be given: Prof. A. Foucher of Paris proved wholly unjustified. . . . . At his table English geographers Lob-nor will be
assisted in Græco - Buddhist art; . Sir Chinese official class in the New Dominion
I first realized how much the attitude of the found. From Abdal Dr. Stein went west-
Arthur
Church in analyzing materials; towards Western, in this case specially ward to Tun-huang, otherwise Sha-chou,
M. E. Chavannes and Dr. Hoernle in the Russian, customs and imports had changed and on the way there first saw the remains
investigation of ancient Chinese and during the few years since my previous of the Great Wall, with its watch-towers,
Indian Brahmi records ; and Dr. Francke visit. There were clean well-ironed napkins, and the site of the Jade Gate," the barrier
in Tibetan matters.
instead of the damp hot towels, for use of the pleasant valley,” where dwelt the
Examination of the scientific results of during the meal. My conservative feelings officer in command of the fortifications.
Dr. Stein's discoveries must be deferred received a shock when I was asked to seat
Returning from the desert, he ex-
till details are published ; for the present colour of mourning formerly tabooed on all plored the cave temples of the “ Thou-
some account of his journeys must suffice. festive occasions. Knife and fork were sand Buddhas. ” They are still a place of
To make this clear without a map is' handled with perfect familiarity by our pilgrimage, so that archeological activity


## p. 259 (#205) ############################################

No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
259
as
man
on
has to be restrained, and near them is
wind and wave, but holds that land com.
the sanctuary of the crescent lake, with
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
munication is generally essential for the
the famous rumbling sandhill.
In one
transmission of terrestrial and freshwater
Men and Measures : a History of Weights forms of life. If certain
of the temples a library, in rolls of and Measures, Ancient and Modern, by originated in a particular area, and are now
groups have
manuscripts, mostly Chinese, was dis- Edward Nicholson (Smith & Elder), is a found scattered in isolated colonies far
covered, and how Dr. Stein overcame the perfect monument of industry, and teems distant from their original centre, it seems
scruples of the priest in charge and became with information on out-of-the-way points fair to argue from their present discon-
possessed of many beautiful paintings on connected with the history of weights and tinuous distribution as to the former position
silk showing scenes from the life-story of
measures of all kinds and in all countries. of land over which they must have migrated.
Buddha, figures of Bodhisattvas, &c. , is The author holds that there are no arbitrary This is what the author has done, in many
well described. The manuscripts have that all have a directly scientific basis, or a
cases with great ability and not without
some boldness.
not yet been, nor will they soon be, trans- lineage reaching, perhaps far back, to
lated, as they filled twenty-four cases, such a basis.
It must not, however, be overlooked
Proceeding on these lines,
which, with five more of paintings and Co! . Nicholson goes on to unfold the history that in the reconstruction of ancient geo-
graphy many authorities will demand
art relics, are now in the British Museum. of measures of length-the story of the
and the history of measures of physical as well as biological or distribu-
Some of the paintings are reproduced in cubits; and the history of measures of
colour, Plates vii. and IX deserving capacity and of weight the story of the glacial times there was probably land
special commendation.
Egyptian times, through their transforma- through what are now Scotland, Iceland,
communication between Europe and America
At Yárkand Dr. Stein reduced his camp, tions in Greek and Roman times, down to Greenland, and Labrador ; but the author,
sold his camels, and went on to Khotan, their modifications introduced into
arriving on June 9th, 1908. There he Britain, and the modern
world generally: another land-bridge across the Atlantic,
while recognizing this connexion, throws
packed his collections, but had not been the earliest measures werd undoubtedly, stretching from Lapland to North Greenland
ſong in the place when Naik Ram Singh, those of length, but Col.
Nicholson has a by way of Spitzbergen. Whilst the Atlantic
the
was thus shut off from the Arctic Sea, the
work, returned hopelessly blind. This with which measures of a definite length on
the earth's surface (the meridian mile, as
Pacific was also closed northwards by land
Sikh, with the courage of his race, after he calls it) could have been made sixty southern shores of these great land-bridges
across Bering Strait. It is held that the
losing the sight of one eye, persevered centuries ago. Not until the time of
would be under the influence of comparatively
with his work; the other eye soon failed, Eratosthenes, in the third century B. C. ,
warm ocean-currents, thus supporting Dr.
but still he remained at his post in hope would it have been possible to determine Scharff's contention' that, from biological
of recovery. That proving desperate, he such a length with any approach to modern evidence, the Glacial period was not one of
rejoined at Khotan, but still believed he accuracy, and a very little experience in extreme cold. Such a view has been occa-
would regain his sight, and for reasons of the unsoundness of the view held on this writers, but it can hardly stand against the
sionally held by certain other scientific
caste he insisted on cooking his own food, point by the author.
in spite of burns and other accidents.
strong body of opposing evidence which the
The chapters on measures of valueglacial geologist can bring forward.
But his case was hopeless, and he was
the
history of currency and
taken to his native village, near Firozpur. measures of time are full and interesting.
He lived for a short time on a pension, There is an obvious misprint on p. 195,
ALREADY known as an enthusiastic student
which, in part, has been continued to his where the date of full moon in November, of evolution by his epic entitled 'Nebula
widow and daughter.
1912, should be November 25, not“ 17” as to Man, Mr. Henry R. Knipe now sends
A final expedition to the sources of the printed; and we are amazed at the statement forth Évolution in the Past (Herbert &
Kara Kash and
Yurung Kash was under- find the Epact useful in reckoning the moon's
same page) that agriculturists Daniel), which is planned on practically the
same lines as its predecessor, but this time
taken, and Dr. Stein had the misfortune
age. We should rather expect the farmer in sober prose. It is a comprehensive work,
to get frostbitten ; he had to be carried to to exclaim with Bottom the weaver,
“A giving a popular yet accurate account of the
Leh, some 300 miles distant, where an calendar, a calendar!
look in the long procession of living forms which have
operation was performed. It has, happily, almanac. ” We note another misprint on appeared upon the earth throughout the
proved successful, and he hopes
p. 198, in the chapter on 'Measures of ages of the Past, and seeking to show the
Heat and of Density,' where, in the directions relationship between the successive forms
as that the gate will open for work in those for converting Fahrenheit
degrees into and their forerunners.
centigrade, “ double the degrees should The subject is one of much fascination
calling me ever since my youth, and which read halve' the degrees. The final chapters for the inquirer, but obviously needs
still remain unexplored. '
(on the metric system) are of such a
for its successful treatment a wealth of
Such is the story, greatly condensed, of character as to detract from the value of the palæontological knowledge. Fortunately the
some two and three-quarters years' work, work as an impartial and scientific survey author has shown himself not ill-equipped
The
of the entire field of its subject.
.
and on the whole it is well told. There
book itself, which demonstrates in would perhaps not have been lessened by the
are, however, defects, some rather annoy- / full and able manner the complexity and omission of the tabular Chronology of the
ing, such as the introduction of foreign multiplicity of existing systems of weights Earth, which stands at the beginning of
words when English equivalents are avail- and measures, might surely be used as an
the volume. It needed a bold pen to write
Surface
able and references in one volume to maps argument in favour of simplification and such words and figures as these :
of the Earth so far solidified as to support
and plates or figures in another, and to unification in these matters.
vast seas, 100,000,000 B. C. ”; or the following
ruins by letters and numbers nowhere to be
item : “ Foundational Ages extending over
found on the maps, while the maps them- IN 1908 Dr. Robert Francis Scharff 70,000,000 years. ” Where so much is pure
selves are on easily torn paper, and bound delivered in London a course of Swiney speculation and the opinions of the highest
into volumes which weigh four pounds Lectures on 'The Geological History of the authorities are subject to serious modifica-
apiece. The spelling of Oriental words American Fauna. ' These lectures, rewritten tion as science advances, it seems rather
seems in cases to be odd, but a note in an expanded form, and including brief dangerous, notwithstanding safeguards, to
references to the American flora, constitute make any attempt at numerical precision
pared) intimates that the system adopted Distribution and Origin of Life in Amrica in a work intended for the layman. The
pared) intimates that
the system adopted (Constable). The title is, perhaps, rather physical side of the volume is, however, but
by the International Congress of Oriental- | misleading, inasmuch as the work does not slight; its strength lies in its palæontology
ists has been followed. The illustrations, discuss the profound problem of the “Origin To any one who desires to read the story of
333 in number, are admirable, well chosen, of Life,” nor among the living things that are life upon our planet as revealed by the
and well reproduced ; besides these, there described is any place found for Man. But record of the rocks, and interpreted in the
are coloured plates, panoramas, and the
even with this limitation the work is suffi- light of evolution, it would be difficult
maps. Dr. Stein's work is a valuable ciently extensive : it evidently represents to recommend a safer or more pleasant
contribution to our limited knowledge of
a great amount of research in the literature guide than Mr. Knipe. His story is illus-
of zoology, palæontology, and zoogeography, trated by many excellent plates, mainly by
a country abounding in interest, in which
and it is rich in interest to the geologist. Dr. Miss Alice Woodward, who happily unites
extremes of rigour are met alike on the Scharff is not a great believer in the acci- much scientific knowledge with artistic
hills and glaciers and in the sandy desert. dental dispersal of organisms by means of ability,
a
66


## p. 260 (#206) ############################################

260
No. 4401, MARCH 2, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
are
whitish at the top, which is attributed to dog infested at the same time with tapeworms
SOCIETIES.
the action of the weather in dissolving the iron and mange.
The author then discussed the
and depositing it lower down. Implements from systematic position of these cestode larvæ.
ROYAL. -Feb. 22. - Sir Archibald Geikie, Presi-
this
horizon
whitish, while those at Le claimed that he had found Tylocephalum
dent, in the chair. —The Bakerian Lecture was a lower depth are yellowish or brown, according ludificans in specimens of the Ceylon pearl-
delivered by Prof. H. L. Callendar, 'On the to the colour of the gravel. At the base the oyster in Dr. Kellart's collection in the British
Variation of the Specific Heat of Water, investi- implements usually have a double patination, Museum, and had considered the possibility
gated by the Continuous Mixture Method. '
caused by ferruginous matter being deposited of their being concerned with pearl production,
The experiments of Callendar and Barnes 'On more on one side than the other. Implements and dismissed the theory as untenable, pre-
the Variation of the Specific Heat of Water of various forms occur at all depths. At the viously to Prof. Herdman's original departure
between 0 and 100° C. by the Continuous Electric Kimbridge Pit there is a preponderance of the for Ceylon.
Method' (Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. , A, 1902), with rough ovate implements to which the name of
The second part of the paper dealt with the
platinum thermometers, agreed with those of “ Chelles " has been given, while at the Dunbridge structure and formation of the shell and of pearls.
Lüdin by the method of mixture with mercury Pit there are found remarkably fine pointed The various repair-substances, which replace the
thermometers more closely than with those of implements,
not water - worn, and with a white ordinary shell - substances under abnormal or
any previous observers, but gave results nearly patina. Photographs of the sections were shown, pathological conditions, were described, their
1 per cent lower than Lüdin's over the range 60° and it was suggested that at Dunbridge, where relations to the normal substances of the shell
to 90° C. Within the last year the results of the gravel rests on Bagshot sands and clays, the discussed, and their occurrence in the pseudonuclei
Lüdin have been very closely reproduced by gravel may have been deposited under sub-glacial of pearls dealt with. The “ calcospherules " which
W. R. and W. E. Bousfield (Phil. Trans. , A, conditions. Some of the implements seem to have Prof. Herdman regarded as free concretions, and
1911), employing a Dewar calorimeter electrically been made on the spot, while others must have as the cause of “muscle pearls," were considered
heated by a mercury resistance, the rise of travelled far.
to be in fact minute pearls, composed of the hypo-
temperature being observed by means of mercury
thermometers standardized to . 01° C. every 5º.
Mr. L. Salzmann read a paper on 'Excavations stracum, or special shell - substance to which
The present investigation was designed to verify
at Selsey in 1911. ' The earthwork at Selsey is the muscles are attached. This conclusion had
a roughly circular work about 250 ft. in diameter, been reached independently by Rubbel, in Marburg:
the results of Callendar and Barnes by a new and consisting of ditch and vallum, evidently thrown The author said that his observations on the real
Mixture Method.
up to protect the entrance of the harbour. Exca- cause and mechanism which led to the formation
vations undertaken last year showed that the
Dr C. Chree read a paper on a 'Short Index vallum rests on a deposit of black earth 2 ft. in
of pearls in the Ceylon pearl-oyster were still too
incomplete to communicate ; but he maintained
to Reports of Physical Observations-Electric, thickness. As this black earth contains pottery, that, as he had already laid down in his 1902
Magnetic, Meteorological, Seismological-made not only of the Roman period, but also of the paper, the real cause of pearl production would
at Kew Observatory. '
type usually ascribed to the fourteenth century, have to be sought, not in the nuclei or pseudo-
Messrs. R. T. Lattey and H. T. Tizard read a and in the case of one small fragment possibly as nuclei of pearls, but rather in the pathological
paper · On the Velocities of Ions in Dried Gases. ' late as the sixteenth century, it is clear that the conditions under which the tissues of the mollusc
The authors have determined the velocities of vallum is of comparatively late construction. gave rise to the pearl-sac. It was only in a few
positive and negative ions in dried hydrogen and The whole evidence points to the truth of the cases, like the trematode pearls in the common
carbon dioxide.