New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-18
SCIENTIFIC BOOKS.
Nee Publications for Students and
Practical Men.


X Gilbert OF The United States Geological Sur
vey. follows up Mr. Muir's earlier account of
the glaciers with the story OF his own obserVa-
tions and conclusions comparison IS made
between TIE size and condition OF these rivers
Of ice as previously reported and as they e&-
istec in 1879 thus affording indications OF recent
changes and furnishing the basis for future
study. Professor Gilbert was especially alert
too. to phenomena which would throw light on
the gIacation Of the eastern part OF the United
States many thousand years ago The papers
OF, Geology and Paleontology' Nolume IV)
were contrib uted by I'VE different experts, three
OF whom accompanied the expedition, the others
having discussed material submitted for exam
nation DR.. William II. Dali, Dr. B. X. Elmer
son and Or. Charles Palache conducted their re-
searches in person. Inasmuch as Mr.. Hartman $
steamer merely skirted the coast. geological IN
vestigation was necessarily fragmentary SO
incomplete is existing knowledge about Alaska,
though, that every addition counts one Of the
noteworthy results achieved was the correlation
Of states and shales in three widely separated
regions and the determination of their age
as early Jurassc. Another was the discovery
of nolluscan fauna in Eocene rocks, IN locality
that was the scene of volcanic activity in early
Tertiary time. The observations of living cryp-
togarnic plants-fungi. lichens, alge. Inosses'
sphagnurs, liverworts and ferns-were made by
are embodied in Volume Y CBotany). No less
than 16l6 species We're found in all. and their
relationship with others elsewhere has been
carefully worked out An entertaining account
OF the utilization Of plants by the natives is
contained IN DR.. Treleases introduction
biologists need acquaintance not only with
the structure, tissues and organs Of an animal
;n youth and maturity, but also with the stages
OF development which pTecede birth. That kind
OF knowledge is even more useful 70 the physl-
clan and surgeon Aside from the light which
the evolution Of the individual may possibly
throw upon the evolution of species. embryology
IS q branch OF natural history whose Importance
IS recognized more fully to-day than formerly
Inasmuch as most college textbooks devoted to
81 are large and cumbersome. Dr. Albert Moore
Reese has undertaken the preparation Of con-
else work of this character in AN Introduction
20 Vertebrate Embryology" &C. P. Putnams
sons. It contains only POI pages, and is based
almost exclusively on studies Of the frog and
chick. The essential facts are outlined fully
enough to meet the requirements Of most stu
dents. but instructors are at liberty, of course,
10 amplify any point in their lectures. DR..
Reese's presentation is helped by well chosen
Illustrations
So well established are the general principles
which control the classification Of animal forms
ingly original in the 'Synoptic Textbook OF
Zoology" which has been bought out by the
Macmillan Company. The author. Arthur w.
Weysse instructor IN the Massachusetts lnstl-
tute Of Technology has conformed closely 10
precedent however. and thus justihes the conf
dence OF those Who may be disposed to use the
work in college or high school. Perhaps its
strongest recommendation is TO be found in the
concluding chapters, which are philosophical
r1,fvar 1srflz M
to date The disputes which have arisen among
biologists over questions incidentally related to
evolution for instance, presented intelli-
gently and judicially. Thus il is made clear
that the chief doctrine OF Charles Darwin
touched upon the influences which favored the
perpetuation OF some species and the suppress
sion OF Others. Though he inclined somewhat 10
the views Of Lamarck that variation, neces-
sary precedent to natural selection. resulted
from differences Of environment, the latter idea
was not original with him. nor was it es-
sential feature Of his teaching. The views Of
weissmann, who explains variation in a differ
ent fashion. and the partial confirmation they
obtain from MendeIs law. 50 receive apprecia-
tive attention.
Except under temporary conditions, like those
created by a miners strike petroleum cannot
compete successfully with coal in the northern
and eastern portions Of this country. The re-
verse is true in Texas. California and in GER
tain foreign lands. Hence. II an elaborate study
OF the value Of oil and the apparatus required
for burning it has comparatively little mme-
diate importance for some parts Of the world it
is calculated to render good service in others
The subject has been treated extensively by
w. Il Booth. IN Liquid Fuel and Its Combus-
ton &C. p. Dutton & Coz and, though the
author is an Englishman, a large part Of his
material is derived from America Professor
DentOn's tests OF Texas OIL the series of expert
nents conducted by the United States Navy
and the rules Of underwriters on this side OF
the Atlantic to regulate the storage Of fuel oil
receive attention. Many Of the devices en-
ployed for atomizing oil and injecting it under
boilers, and described by Mr.. Booth. originated
IN this country.
When steam is conveyed for a considerable
distance either for running small engines or
warming buildings in cold weather, there is al
ways certain loss Of heat through radiation
The amount is variable and depends on sew
eral things-the temperature Of the surround
ing air, the character OF the covering 0f there
be any and other influences. Charles P. Pauld-
ing, NJ Z, has discussed the matter for the
benefit OF engineers IN Condensation OF Steam
IN Covered and Bare Pipes Cd Van Nostrand
Company The work is largely mathematical
IN character, but the formulas supplied are rea-
sonably simple. A portion Of the book is based
on the computations Of American experts
among whom are Barrus. Jacobus Brill and
Norton The larger part OF the volume how
ever. is devoted TO a translation OF Pellets
Theory and Experiments on the Transmission
OF Heat Through Insulating Materials"
Francis Moore for MANY ,,aore -.