easily to discern where my descriptions are accurate, and where they are only designed as approximations to the true geology of any point named." They are devoted principally to the geological structure of parts of Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri. They contain much of general and economical interest, and may prove a valuable source of information to geologists who shall undertake thorough surveys in this part of the country. The author also touches upon the age of Niagara and other rivers, and the phenomena of erratic blocks. The pamphlet is accompanied by five lithographic plates of fossils, and a large chart of sections.

4. Boston Journal of Natural History, vol. v, No. 4.-This number, the last of vol. v, contains the following papers :—

Art. xxxiv. JEFFRIES WYMAN and T. S. SAVAGE :-Notice of the external characters, habits and osteology of Troglodytes gorilla, a new species of Orang from the Gaboon River; the osteology by Dr. Wyman; p. 417, with 4 plates.

XXXV. N. M. HENTZ:-Descriptions and figures of the Araneides of the United States; p. 443, (continued from p. 370,) with 4 plates. Xxxvi. S. KNEELAND, Jr. :-Dissection of Scymnus brevipenna, Leseueur; p. 479.

xxxvii. J. D. WHITNEY:-Description and analysis of three minerals from Lake Superior; p. 486.*

XXXviii. SAMUEL CABOT:-The Dodo, a rasorial and not a rapacious bird; p. 490.

5. Elements of Meteorology; by Prof. BROCKLESBY.-This work is designed by its author to introduce the study of Meteorology as a branch of common education in schools and academies. To this end the style is plain and direct, as devoid of technicalities as possible, and the theoretical views presented in a simple manner. He divides the subject into six parts.-I. The Atmosphere, embracing a description of the barometer, thermometer and hygrometer. II. Aerial phenomena-of Winds in general, of hurricanes, of tornadoes or whirlwinds, of waterspouts. III. Aqueous phenomena—of rain, of fogs, of clouds, of dew, of hoar frost and snow, of hail. IV. Electrical phenomena-of atmospheric electricity, of thunder-storms. V. Optical phenomena-of the color of the atmosphere and of clouds, of the rainbow, of mirage, of coronas and halos. VI. Luminous phenomena-of meteorites, of shooting stars and meteoric showers, of the aurora borealis. These several heads are treated of in a lucid and interesting style, well calculated to arrest the interest and attention of the minds of pupils.

6. Lead Diseases; by Dr. S. L. DANA.-If people are poisoned by lead-pipe, the fault will not lie at the door of Dr. Dana. Several years since he made a report to the City Council of Lowell, on the chemical

* See this volume, page 269.

Elements of Meteorology, with Questions for Examination, designed for the use of Schools and Academies. By John Brocklesby, A.M., Prof. of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Trinity College, Hartford. (Illustrated.) 12mo, pp. 240. New York: Pratt, Woodford & Co., 1848.

Lead Diseases; a Treatise from the French of L. Tanquerel des Planches, with notes and additions on the use of Lead-pipe and its substitutes. By Sam'ĺ L. Dana, M.D., LL.D., &c. &c. Lowell, 1848. Bixby & Co. 8vo, pp. 441.

action of lead-transmitted water on health. The result of this report was the abandonment of lead-pipes for conveying water, by city ordinance. Since that time he has on various occasions called public attention to this important hygienic subject in the daily journals. The late enquiries set on foot by the City Council of Boston, have called out a large amount of experiments and speculation upon this subject; and the aid of both chemical and medical science has been invoked, to enable the New England metropolis to make a wise decision, as to the material in which they shall distribute the beautiful water of Lake Cochituate, now to be introduced in a few months by their new and costly aqueduct. The experiments on this subject are understood to be still in progress, and their full results are not yet made public. Enough however has transpired to convince the public that in all probability the Boston authorities will authorize the use of lead-pipes. Opposed to this decision, are the opinions and facts of Dr. Dana and others, who cannot be convinced that the experience of years of observation has deceived them in the results to which he and they have arrived, hostile to the use of lead as the means of conveying water for human consumption. In support of his views, and with a view to the diffusion of a correct knowledge upon this subject, he has translated and condensed the great work of Tanquerel on lead diseases-a work the very title and existence of which is doubtless unknown to most intelligent readers in this country. That this work is one of unquestionable reputation, is abundantly shown by the fact that its author was rewarded by the Royal Academy of Medicine at Paris in 1841, by the Montyon prize of 6000 francs. The committee consisted of Roux, Magendie, Serres, Larry, de Blainville, Savart, Breschet, Dumeril and Double. It is comprehensive and complete in its design and execution, extending to all the arts and employments of man in which lead is employed or manufactured, and describing in full all known forms of lead disease, as well as cognate diseases produced by the poisonous influences of other metals. Dr. Dana has certainly performed a most acceptable service in presenting to the public this able work. We cannot now pause to analyze and review it as we could wish; this task must be referred to another occasion. An appendix contains numerous results obtained by Dr. Dana and others in this country, and proofs of the injurions effects of lead-conveyed water in numerous instances.

7. Genera Illustrata :—Illustrated Genera of American Plants; by ASA GRAY, M.D., illustrated by figures and analyses from nature, by ISAAC SPRAGUE, &c.*-The study of natural science is encumbered with many difficulties arising from the wide extent of the subject, the great number of objects embraced, and the unavoidable minuteness and technicality of description. Illustrated works are often therefore an indispensable resource. The beginner may find the desired aid in part supplied by the well-stored mind of his teacher, to whom all doubtful points can be referred. Yet finished illustrations make a more definite and permanent impression, and in many points are better than an instructor. Those who have become versed in science are so fully satisfied of the necessity of such aids that they usually have

* The full title is given on page 450, vol. v, ii ser. of this Journal.

their libraries abundantly furnished with illustrated works. Prof. Gray, in view of this necessity, projected, in connection with Mr. Sprague, the work above referred to, of which the first volume has just been issued.

The object of the work is to illustrate each genus of plants growing in the United States, by giving along with descriptions, figures of a species representing in detail the foliage, inflorescence and fructification. Concerning the plates, the preface remarks as follows:

"The figures in all cases are drawn directly from nature, by Mr. Sprague, and from the living plant whenever that is practicable. In almost every instance, the whole plant, or a branch or smaller portion, in flower, and often also in fruit, is delineated of the natural size; and the microscopical analyses, as numerous as the compass of an octavo page will allow, are so chosen as to display the principal floral characters of the genus, from the æstivation of the flower-bud to the fruit, the seed, and the embryo. When needful, on account of size or of subgeneric diversity, two plates are devoted to the illustration of a single genus. On the other hand, characters which are uniform or nearly so throughout a whole order are not repeated upon every plate."

The arrangement adopted, is that generally received at the present time among botanists. The volume issued, the first of the ten in preparation, commences with the Ranunculaceæ or Ranunculus family, and continues through the Portulacaceae. Each genus is taken up in succession, its description given with fullness, accompanied by synonyms, references, etymological remarks, a brief statement of medicinal properties, observations on geographical distribution, &c.

The author's name is a sufficient guaranty for the science of the text. The illustrations by Mr. Sprague occupying 100 octavo plates, are correct and chaste in style, and of high scientific excellence, satisfying the desires both of the eye of taste and of scrutinizing science. Prof. Gray observes in his preface

"The higher character of the later as compared with the earlier executed analyses, as well as the further improvement which will be manifest to the experienced botanist in the second volume,-now in an advanced state of preparation,-is attributable to the increasing botanical knowledge of the self-taught artist who is associated with me in the work. And, although I am alone responsible for the text, I must in justice add, that whatever of original value these illustrations may be found to possess is largely owing to the scientific insight and the careful investigations of Mr. Sprague, as well as to his skill and accuracy in delineation."

As the plants selected for illustration belong to typical species, they serve to convey to the mind a general idea of each group, and thus they accomplish more than the most detailed description.

The "Genera Illustrata," is American in subject; and the name of Prof. Gray has long been associated with American botany. The publication of such a work with so numerous plates, must have been attended with much labor and expense; and it remains for the American public to sustain the authors in their great undertaking. Public libraries, and all teachers of the science should possess the work; and the student SECOND SERIES, Vol. VI, No. 17, Sept., 1848.

39

will find his studies greatly promoted by connecting it with the Botanical Manual.

8. Manual of Mineralogy, including Observations on Mines, Rocks, Reduction of Ores, and the application of the Science to the Arts, with 260 illustrations; designed for the use of Schools and Colleges; by JAMES D. Dana, A.M., &c., 430 pp. 12mo. New Haven: Durrie & Peck. 1848.-This Manual is intended for instruction in scientific and practical Mineralogy, and especially for the American student. The usual introduction on structure and physical and chemical characters, much simplified, occupies the first seventy-five pages, after which commence the descriptions of species. The work embraces all American minerals and such others as are of importance; while the rarer species are only briefly noticed in smaller type. The arrangement adopted, places the ores of the same metal together. This order is required by the practical mineralogist, and considering the convenience of it for conveying economical information, it has many advantages for the ordinary purposes of instruction. The descriptions of the ores of a metal are preceded by a paragraph giving briefly their general characteristics; after the descriptions, there are remarks on the distribution of the more important ores and mines,-the modes of assay and reduction, the uses of the metal-besides other facts of a historical and statistical nature. In describing other minerals also, and the various rocks, their applications in the arts are mentioned, and as far as practicable in a small manual, the modes of use are explained.

The descriptions of the species of minerals are followed by a chapter on rocks-a catalogue of American localities of minerals brought down to the present time, convenient for the mineralogical tourist-a brief notice of foreign mining regions-description of mineralogical implements-values of American and foreign weights, measures and coinsand tables for the determination of minerals.

The Manual contains also a glossary, and a full Index.

9. The British Desmidiea; by JOHN RALFS, M.R.C.S., &c., with drawings by EDWARD JENNER, A.L.S. 1 vol. 8vo. pp. 226, with 35 colored plates. London: 1848.-This beautiful volume should be in the hands of all lovers of the microscope. Every page of it bears evidence to the zeal and accurate research of its author, who is already most favorably known by his able papers on the Diatomacea and Desmidieæ, published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. It is not a work of merely local interest, but owing to the cosmopolite character of the Desmidieæ, it will be as serviceable to the American as the British student. It includes figures and descriptions not only of all the British species, with their localities as far as known in Europe and America, but in order to make the work as complete as possible, de Brebisson and Kützing have contributed their recent discoveries with regard to the European forms, while figures and descriptions of many curious American species never before published, have been supplied by Prof. Bailey. The plates which adorn this volume are far superior in their execution to any thing of the kind which has yet appeared; and in addition to representations of the different species in various positions, they contain highly interesting figures of the sporangia recently detected by the author. In the introduction to the work will be found

a full account of the conjugation of the Desmidieæ; an able argument in favor of their vegetable nature, together with directions for collecting and preserving specimens. We cordially recommend the volume as one of rare merit. J. W. B.

10. The Patent Office Report for the year 1847. Referred to the Committee of Patents, March 3, 1848. 662 pp. 8vo. Washington.The Patent Office Report has become a voluminous document, stored with valuable information of recent date bearing upon science and the arts. The volume issued during the present year under the auspices of Hon. Edmund Burke, Commissioner of Patents, contains, besides records of various patents, information relative to the crops of the past year in this country and Europe, various articles on practical agriculture, the growth and treatment of the sugar cane, flax, rice, silk, &c.; herds of cattle, sheep, making of butter; indeed, a thousand things important to the agriculturalist. There is besides an excellent account of the German Agricultural schools, their modes of farming, wool culture, best merino sheep, &c., illustrated with figures, besides plans of buildings, sheep stables, &c., prepared by C. L. Fleischman, Esq., as the result of observations during a visit to Germany in 1844, '45. The volume closes with statistics relating to the agriculture and commerce of different parts of the United States. In the preceding pages we have made some citations from this volume.

T. L. MITCHELL: Journal of an Expedition into the interior of Tropical Australia. 8vo, pp. 454, with illustrations. London. Cloth. 12s.

REPORT of the Seventeenth Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Oxford in June, 1847. London, 1848.

R. CHAMBERS: Ancient Sea Margins, as memorials of Changes in the relative level of Sea and Land; by Robert Chambers, Esq., F.R.S.E. 338 pp. 8vo, with maps and illustrations. Edinburgh, 1848.

H. B. LEESON: On Crystallography, with a description of a new double refracting Goniometer and Crystallonome. 75 pp. 8vo. London, 1848.

MARY SOMERVILLE: Physical Geography; two vols. London, 1848.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, vol. vii.—Mr. Hopkins on the Geological Structure of the Wealden District—Mr. Bain on Fossil Remains in South Africa-Professor Owen on the Dicynodon-Mr. Kaye and Prof. E. Forbes on the Cretaceous Fossils of Southeastern India.

ERMAN, A. Archiv für wissenschaftliche Kunde von Russland. vol. iv, 8vo. SCHEERER, TH.: Lehrbuch der Metallurgie. 8vo.

COMBES, M.: Traité de l'Exploitation des Mines. 3 vols. 8vo, with a folio atlas. SAINT-CLAIRE DEVILLE: Voyage Geologique aux Antilles. 4to.

L. AGASSIZ et E. DESOR: Catalogue Raisonné des Familles, des Genres, et des Espéces de la Classe des Echinodermes. 168 pp. 8vo, with a large plate. (Extrait des Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 3e. ser., Tomes vi, vii, et viii.)

DE KONINCK: Recherches sur les Animaux Fossiles. 1re partie, Monographie des genres Productus et Chonetes, prepared for publication.

M. SPRING: Monographie de la famille des Lycopodiacées.

ZANTEDESCHI: Raccolta Fisico-chimica Italiana, Venise, 1846, 1847. This is a volume of memoirs on various subjects connected with physical and natural science; on Astronomical, by Plana, Santini, Colla; on Electricity and Magnetism, by Marianini, Botto, Fusinieri, Zamboni, Zantedeschi,-and other distinguished savants on other topics. A second volume is announced as in the press.

FR. VON KOBELL: Die Mineralogie leicht fasslich dargestelt mit Rücksicht auf das Vorkommen der Mineralien, ihre technische Benutzung, ausbringen der Metalle, etc.: 8vo, 211, Taf. 1. Nürnberg, bey Schrag. 1847.

F. BERGE: Taschenbuch für Käser- und Schmetterlings-Sammler. 8vo, pp. 360, pl. 2. Stuttgart, bey Hoffman. 1847.

C. RECLAM: De plumarum pennarumque evolutione disquisitio microscopica. 8vo. 36 pp. tab. 3. 1846.