The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-11-23
Recent Publications.

THE FORMS OF WATER, by Prof Tyndall.
At the present time, when so much atten-
ton is being directed to scientific matters and
people seize greedily upon any book that
promises to give the coveted information, the
inception of plan that shall furnish strictly
reliable instruction in an attractive form is
cause for sincere congratulation. Such a
project is the International Scientific Series,
the various numbers of which will be supplied
by the foremost thinkers of Europe and Amer
lea, each treating of the subject to which he
has devoted the most particular attention,
and on which he may consequently be sup
posed to be ample authority. We cannot too
warmly commend this design, and we trust
that it will meet with such success that the
numerous pretenders to scientific knowledge
may be driven from the field of teaching, and
discredt cease to be cast upon the idea of
popularizing science.
In this, the initial volume of the series,
Professor Tyndall presents, in very clear
and ineligible style, the main facts and the
ories with regard to the forms Of water in
clouds and rivers, ice and glaciers, the greater
part of the book being devoted to the consid-
Grafton of glaciers, subject on which no
man is better informed than our noted auth
or.
We regret, however, that our criticism can
not be altogether favorable. The series, if we
understand its design, is not intended to be
juvenile in its character; but Professor Tyn-
dali addresses himself to children in their ear
ly teens. Now we venture the prediction
that, although nine out of ten adults who
roo tba vol,,p,o xull 6pI II unpn fon al =
ary for them, their pleasure will be impaired
by repeated references to their immaturity
which however applicable to their scientific
attainments are to say the least, annoying
Then, too, the editor, Prof. Youmans,
while congratulating himself and his readers
upon securing so distinguished scientist for
the opening volume, feels compelled to apollo
gize for its brevity which is due to the short
time given to its preparation. Though we
greatly want reliable scientific books, we GER
tainly can afford to wait until the men that
can write them have time to do their very
best.
An admirable likeness of Tyndall serves as
frontispiece to the book, and we earnestly
hope that the publishers will follow out this
plan all through the series, the value of which
will be vastly enhanced by good portraits of
Huxley, Lubbock, Spencer, Bernard, Vir-
chow, Whitney, Flint and the host of other
scientific celebrities who are to contribute.
Published BY Appleton, and for sale by
Bailey & Noyes.
Town GEOLOGY. BY the Rev. Charles
Kingsley.
1t is refreshing thing-and happily less
infrequent thing nowadays than formerly
to find clergyman who has faith enough in
his religion to be willing to have it viewed in
the light of science. Tn hor of this
neat little volume is such man. His plea
for the study of physical science,-not only
geology, of which he is an enthusiastic stu
dent, but all the branches--is strong,
healthy, vigorous statement of the case that
we wish every one might read The book
has grown out of course of lectures to
young men, and a good idea of its scope may
be obtained from its table of contents. The
soil of the field, the pebbles of the street,
the stones in the wall, the coal in the fire,
the lime in the mortar, and the states on the
roof, have chapter each. The style is live
" and entertaining, and the author CONVEYS
strong impression that he knows what he
is talking about. published by Appleton.
and for sale by Bailey & Noyes.)
WAGNER's CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY. Trans
lated from the eighth German edition hv
William Croker, f. r. S.
This is work of great interest to all who
are engaged in any of the departments Of
manufacturing industry where chemistry
plays an important part. The original has
long been standard handbook, and the ed
itor has Incorporated into this translation
the improvements in chronological processes
that have been made since the publication Of
the last German edition, thus bringing the
work well up to the present time. 1t is a