The Portland daily press., 1876-06-10
Recent Publications.

Recent Publications.
| TEMATIC. For the use of Schools and Colleges
By James OrtoD, A. NJ, Professor Of Natural His
tory in Vassar College. New York: Harper &
| Brothers For sale by Loring, Short & Harmon.
The need Off work upon Comparative Zoolo-
| gy that should not be beyond the comprehen-
sion of beginners, and yet should contain
something besides definitions and technicali-
| ties has long been felt by students. The sub
| ect is so vast and the mass of material so
| great that scientists are either tempted to mi
mute elaboration, or in despair confine them
selves to the merest rudiments. In either case
they fail to interest the large majority of stu
dents in the first place by offering too much,
in the latter too little and that the drudgery of
the study. Professor Ortoa has held his course
admirably between these two extremes He
has devoted short introductory chapter to a
definition of Zoology and its subdivisions,
structural, systematic, distributive &C., also
giving short account of its history These
definitions are remarkable for their clearress
The book is divided into two pats, the first
Zoology. 1t is written throughout in concise
straightforward style that can not fail to be
understood. Besides an abundance Of illustra-
tons there are few well chosen notes ap-
pended that aid the text. And what is also
valuable to those desirous of pursuing the
study in any of its by-paths, a list of works
and authors is given under the head of The
Naturalists Library.
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS: A Handbook for Tray
elers. Boston: j. R. Osgoca & Co. For sale by
Bailey g. Noyes.
The merits of the series Of handbooks for
travellers which Osgood & Co. are issuing are
great and striking, and are bringing the vol
umes into deserved and constantly increasing
notice. They are comprehensive, thoroughly
reliable, excellently written, and convey pre-
cisely the information which the tourist most
desires. Their form is convenient, and the
maps and plans which accompany them are
well executed. The latest in the series is the
White Mountains handbook, by far the best
guide book to that region ever published Con
trary to custom it is net written from the gas
tconomic standpoint, and takes little care to
tell us where there is something good to eat,
though the hotels in the mountains are de-
scribed with care. The routes are fully ex-
plained, requisite data for the calculation of
expenses are given, and the descript ions of
scenery leave nothing TO be desired. The book
is, as it purports to be- a faithful guide to
the peaks, passes, and rlvines of the White
Mountains of New Hampshire, and 10 the adj
jacent railroads. highways, and villages; with
the lakes and mountains of western Maine
also, Lake Winpepesaukee, and the upper Con-
necticut Valley"
EARLY MAN IN EUROPE. By Charles Rau. New
York: Harper s. Brothers. For sale by LoriDg
Short & Harmon.
This volume embraces the sketches of pre-
historic man which appeared in Harpers Mag.
azlne last year. The sketches excited SO much
attention and praise when first published that
it has been thought judicous TO bring them
out in book form. They arc certainly deserv-
ing Of their new ard subs ,antial DRESS for they
are admirably suited to the requirements Of
those who desire to obtain general knowl-
edge Of the subject of which they treat (and
everyone does in this science affecting age)
bat who have no leisure to peruse the more ex-
tensive works upon the primitive condition of
man. Much information is conveyed in-the
volume in very attractive manner, and its
profuse Illustrations materially elucidate an
already clear text
THE FALL OF THE STUARrs, AND WESTERN EU-
ROPE FROM 1878 TO 1897. BY the Rev. L. Hale
New York: Scribner, Armstrong s. Co. For sale
by Lorng, Short and Harmon.
This volume is valuable addition to the ex-
cellent Epochs of History series, and gives
resume, clearly and ente1tainingly written,
of the affairs in Europe from the Peace of MINI
wegen to the Treaty of Ryswick. Nothing
necessary to comprehension of the period is
omitted, and the story is simply and effectually
told. Very wisely the author gives informa-
tion regarding those points that historians
generally, presumably thinking the nforma-
tlon superf1uous, omit to touch upon, but that
happen to be points about which we are all
curious Much value is given to the volume by
the maps and plans which accompany the
text.
COMIC HISTORY CT THE UNITED STATES. BY
Livingston Hopkins. New York: G. w. Carlton
s. Co. For sale by Bailey s. Noyes.
1t may be the fault of the subject and not of
the author that this history is so far from
funny production. Occasionally page is en-
liveped by bit of humor, but for The most
part the volume is as dreary and not half as
instructive as patent Office report. The il
lustrations are however decidedly more enter
tanning than those which appear in the gov
ernment volume, and some of them are really
milth provoking. However it is safe to pre-
dict that the book will have a ready sale, for
the '.jokes' are of that description which gen.
tie dullness ever likes, and which commands
attentive perusal in tae so-called illustrated
funny papers.
THE MoDEL Town AND THE DETECTIVES. By
Allan Pinkerton. New York: G. W. Carleton &
Co. For sale by Bailey & Noyes
This book will doubtless find readers among
those who swear by the New York Ledger and
Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. The little Sketch relates
how demoralizcd Western town was reclaimed
from its wckedness by Pinllerton's detectives
aud established as model town. The incl
dents arc exciting and the story is told well
enough. The Hard Life of the Detective, is
the title of another sketch that will be eagerly
read by those youths who have not fully decid-
cd to hunt Indians, and gold and bufraloes.