quantity of coke-oven tar, though constantly increasing, probably does not at present exceed 50,000 tons. It may be expected, however, that with the more general introduction of electricity for lighting purposes and the consequent diminution of the supply of gas tar, the coke-oven tar will eventually become the main source of our aromatic hydrocarbons." To this it should be added that the increasing use of 'water-gas,' in this country at least, is decreasing the supply of coal-tar, so that the time is certainly approaching when it will pay to collect the tar from the coke-ovens.

The translator expresses the hope "that this work will be found valuable not only to the technical chemist, but also to the dyer, analyst, merchant, patent agent, etc., and in fact to every one concerned with the production, handling, or use of the coal-tar colours." His hope is undoubtedly well founded. He might have added the patent lawyers, many of whom have learned to rattle off their 'ortho,' 'meta,' 'para' with a facility that would put many a modest chemist to the blush. IRA REMSEN.

Elementary Lessons in Electricity and Magnetism. SYLVANUS P. THOMPSON. New York, Macmillan & Co. 1894. Pp. 628. Price, $1.40.

The first edition of this book appeared in 1881. It at once became immensely popular, and deservedly so, on both sides of the Atlantic. The author combined in a rare degree the three principal requisites for the preparation of a good text-book. He was himself a widely known scholar and investigator in the department of science specially treated; he was more than ordinarily accomplished in the art of exposition, and he was an experienced and successful teacher. His possession of these qualifications in undiminished magnitude is evidenced in the preparation of this new edition now offered to the public, which is the original work in plan, but entirely revised and largely re

written, with an enlargement of scope sufficient to embrace the important additions to the science which have been made during the past fifteen years. To enable this to be done without undesirable condensation, the size of the volume has been somewhat increased. Indeed, one of the larger merits of the plan of the book is to be found in the conscientious retention of the long known and well established principles and facts of the science, to neglect which for the newer and more novel developments is a temptation to which too many authors of text-books in physical science have yielded. While retaining all essential 'fundamentals,' Professor Thompson has found place for the presentation of all of the essentials of recent discovery, and while this has been done with conciseness it has also been done with that clearness and logical appropriateness for which the writings of this author are justly celebrated. The wonderful results of the study of alternating currents and alternating current machinery are well presented in this edition, as are recent advances in both theory and experiment due to Hertz, Fitzgerald, Boltzmann, Lodge and others. At the end is an excellent series of questions, classified as to the chapters of the books to which they refer, which cannot fail to add much to the value of the book in use, especially for those who study without an instructor. In fact, as an all around' elementary textbook in electricity and magnetism it will be difficult to find another in the English language that is superior or even equal to this. T. C. M.

The Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, prepared under the direction of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. By WITMER STONE. Philadelphia, 1894. 8°, pp. vii+185.

Eastern Pennsylvania has long been a favorite field for lovers of birds. Audubon, Wilson, Nuttall, Cassin, Peale, Woodhouse, . Gambel, Bonaparte, Heerman, Haldeman,

Ord, Baird and Trumbull may be numbered among the contributors to its ornithological literature. Aside from general works and special or local papers, three publications have been devoted to the birds of this particular area: (1) Barton's Fragments of the Natural History of Pennsylvania; (2) Trumbull's Birds of East Pennsylvania and New Jersey; (3) Witmer Stone's Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Barton's 'Fragments' is a rare folio printed in Philadelphia in 1799, and is something of a curiosity. Trumbull's list is a carefully annotated and attractively illustrated catalogue published in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1869, and reprinted in America. Stone's 'Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey' is a large octavo published by the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club in December, 1894. It is a thoroughly modern work, abounding in exact data and authorities, and based largely on the field observations of Mr. Stone and other members of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club-evidently a very active organization. It is divided into two principal parts: An essay on the Geographic Distribution and Migration of Birds; and a Systematic Annotated List of the Birds of the region. To these are added a bibliography and an index. The chapter on Geographic Distribution is subdivided into general and local parts. The general part is weak, and in the references cited some of the more recent and important papers are overlooked. The local part is excellent and gives ample evidence of Mr. Stone's familiarity with the somewhat diverse physical and faunal characteristics of the region. Some idea of its scope may be had from the headings: The Maritime Marshes, the Pine Barrens, the Cedar Swamps, the Lowlands of Pennsylvania, the Delaware Valley, the Susquehanna Valley, the Interior Uplands, the Appalachian District, the Alleghany and Pocono Mountains. This part is accompanied by a curious col

ored map which might be termed a physicofaunal map of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The Canadian or Boreal element in the fauna is restricted in Pennsylvania to "the tops of the highest mountains and the elevated plateau region, where the deep hemlock forests, with their cool brooks and dense shade, still remain undisturbed. The passage from the Alleghanian to the Canadian zone is here, as a rule, remarkably distinct, as the more northern birds keep strictly to the virgin forest." The settlement of the region has proved particularly destructive to the Canadian species. It is melancholy to be told that "where the forest has been removed the Canadian species for the most part disappear, and judging from present indications, it would seem that this element in our fauna, which once undoubtedly extended over a much greater area than at present, may soon almost entirely disappear, as the lumbermen year by year encroach upon the forest tracts."

The chapter on Bird Migration is full of interest and replete with new information respecting the region studied.

In the Systematic part no less than 352 species are recorded on good evidence as occurring within the area embraced by the catalogue. A new departure is here introduced which more pretentious works would do well to follow. Instead of the much abused term 'Habitat' the Breeding range' and Winter range' of each species are given. Mr. Stone is to be congratulated upon the distinction of being first to inaugurate this reform, which is bound to come into general use in the near future. Another improvement that might be made in all lists of birds is the transfer of accidental stragglers from the body of the work to a special list at the end. Since such extra-limital species form no part of the proper fauna of a region, why should they be included among the regular inhabitants? C. HART MERRIAM.

Visitor's Guide to the Local Collection of Birds in the Museum of Natural History, New York City. By FRANK M. CHAPMAN. 1894. 8°, pp. 100. 15 cents.

One of the best and most attractive local bird lists that has ever appeared in America has been recently issued from the American Museum of Natural History, New York. While it bears the misleading title Visitor's Guide, only a glance is necessary to see that it is much more. It is in reality a compact treatise on the birds known to occur within 50 miles of the great metropolis.

The author, Mr. Frank M. Chapman, prefaces the list proper by 12 pages of interesting and important matter respecting the physical and faunal aspects of the region, and the birds that are found there at different seasons. The area covered by the list is unusually rich in birds, no less than 348 species being recorded as occurring within its limits. This richness, as stated by Mr. Chapman, is due in part to the circumstance that two faunas-the Alleghanian (or eastern division of the Transition Zone) and Carolinian (or eastern division of the Upper Austral Zone) meet within its boundaries, and in part to the natural advantages of the region. "Our sea-coast, with its sandy beaches and shallow bays; our rivers, creeks and ponds, with their surrounding grassy marshes; our wooded hillsides and valleys; our rolling uplands and fertile meadows, offer haunts suited to the wants of most birds. Again, our coast-line and the Hudson River Valley form natural highways of migration regularly followed by birds in their journeys to and from their summer homes."

The paper is a model of its kind and should be in the hands of all interested in the birds of New York and vicinity. It is bountifully illustrated by cuts of birds borrowed from Coues' 'Key,' to which are added several full-page plates of groups in the American Museum.

C. HART MERRIAM.

Outline of Dairy Bacteriology. By H. L. RUSSELL, University of Wisconsin. Published in Madison, Wisconsin, 1894. Pp. vi+186.

There is no better indication of the rather remarkable advance that has been made in recent years in bacteriological matters not connected with diseases than the publication of a text-book upon dairy bacteriology. That there should be demanded for classes in dairy schools a text-book describing the various phenomena connected with bacteria in their relation to dairy matters is rather surprising when we consider the fact that dairy bacteriology itself is the result of experiments of the last very few years. Prof. Russell has attempted in this little book of about 180 pages to give an outline of the present knowledge of the relation of bacteria to milk and all its products. The book is designed originally for his classes in a dairy school, and is, as its title indicates, only an outline, not involving any critical scientific discussions. As an outline, however, it is quite complete and the treatment is satisfactory. The book will be of use not only in dairy schools, but to all who are interested in matters connected with milk or butter supply. It will also be found useful to nurses and physicians who desire a knowledge of some of the recent discussions in connection with milk bacteriology and its relations to diseases.

H. W. C.

The nature and distribution of attraction-spheres and centrosomes in vegetable cells.-JOHN H. SCHAFFNER. Bot. Gaz. Nov. 1894.

The author studied centrosomes found in root tips of Allium cepa L., Vicia faba L., Tradescantia rosea L., also in the resting cells of the epidermis of Allium cepa bulb scales and in the walls of Lilium longiflorum ovaries. The usual methods for preparing and staining the material were adopted. In addition the author used a stain suggested by

Prof. Newcombe. It is called the iron

tannin-safranin stain and consists of the following solutions: 1, 1% aq. sol. of ferrous sulphate; 2, 5% aq. sol. of tannic acid; 3, alcoholic solutions of anilin-safranin; 4, aq. sol. of picro-nigrosin. The sections are placed for thirty to forty minutes in the iron solution, washed, then placed for the same period in the tannic acid solution; again washed and replaced for a few minutes in the iron sol. After washing again they are placed in the safranin for thirty minutes; then fifteen minutes in the picronigrosin. This method is said to give good

results.

The special results of the investigations may be summarized as follows: (1.) Centrosomes and attraction spheres are present in non-reproductive as well as in reproductive vegetable cells. (2.) In phanerogams there are two of these bodies for each resting nucleus. (3.) When the nucleus prepares to divide, one or both of the centrosomes migrate to take their position at the poles of the future spindle. (4.) Subsequently they immediately begin to divide. The division is complete in the prophase of the mother nucleus. (5.) After their migration the spheres remain at the poles of the nuclear spindle and do not change their position until the beginning of the following division. (6.) Centrosomes are persistent. One plate and a list of thirty-three valuable references accompany the article. ALBERT SCHNEIDER.

NOTES AND NEWS.

THE ELIHU THOMSON PRIZE.

THE Elihu Thomson prize of 5,000 francs has been awarded to Dr. Arthur G. Webster, of Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts. The history of this prize is, briefly, as follows:

In 1889 the City of Paris offered a series of prizes for the best 'electric meters,' it being required that certain conditions should

Four

be satisfied, to be determined by an exacting practical test. The first prize, 5,000 francs, was awarded to Professor Elihu Thomson, who submitted the well known Watt-meter devised by him. Wishing to encourage investigation of certain theoretical questions Professor Thomson donated the prize for the establishment of a new competition, the subjects to be considered and the prize to be determined by a committee which consisted of J. Carpentier, Hippolyte Fontaine, Hospitalier, Mascart, A. Potier and Abdank-Abakanowicz. subjects for investigation and discussion were selected, and it was announced that competing memoirs must be submitted on or before September 15, 1893. Four memoirs were submitted to the committee; one of these was written in German, one in French and two in English. The two latter, numbered respectively three and four, related to the same subject, namely, the determination of the period of electric oscillations. tions. On examining the memoirs the committee reported that it considered memoir number four to be worthy to receive the prize established by Professor Elihu Thomson,' and expressed the hope that the author will be encouraged to continue his beautiful researches.

At the same time they express their regret that they have not available another prize of the same value which they would be glad to award to memoir number three. When their desire in this respect was made known, Professor Thomson and the French and English Thomson-Houston Electric Companies joined in offering another 5,000 francs, which was awarded to the author of memoir number three. On opening the sealed envelopes containing the authors' names, it was found that memoir number four, for which the first prize had been awarded, was prepared by Dr. Webster, and number three was the joint product of Oliver Lodge and Glazebrook.

The title of Dr. Webster's memoir was 'An Experimental Determination of the Period of Electric Oscillations.'

He is to be congratulated upon so signal a success, and it is especially gratifying that an American should have come out in the lead in competition with the two distinguished Englishmen who contested with him, and especially so as their work and his were upon the same subject.

ENTOMOLOGY.

DR. MCCOOK is to be warmly congratulated on the successful issue of the third and

final volume of his 'American Spiders and their Spinning Work,' which has appeared four years after the second volume. The author is more at home in his delineation of the outdoor world than in systematic work, with which this volume is mainly concerned, yet he has applied himself to this task with commendable zeal and success and describes 123 species and 30 genera. Apparently (as the table of contents curiously shows) he had intended to carry his work beyond the 'orb weavers,' but his courage or his time gave out as he saw his work grow to portentous dimensions. We have to thank him for thirty large and careful plates of spiders colored, besides a mass of structural details; they will greatly facilitate future study. The price of the complete work is now justly advanced to $50. Unhappily the title page is marked 1893, though the preface is dated in July, 1894, and the volume was not issued until December, 1894.

MR. AND MRS. PECKHAM have given us (Trans. Wisc. Acad., X) a new series of their admirable experiments with spiders in a paper on their visual powers and color sense; they "prove conclusively that Attidae see their prey (which consists of small insects) when it is motionless, up to a distance of five inches; that they see insects in motion at much greater distances; and that they see each other distinctly up to at least

twelve inches"; they are guided by sight rather than by smell. The experimenters are further "of the opinion that all the experiments taken together strongly indicate that spiders have the power of distinguishing colors."

CERTAINLY the University of California Entomological Society has done a unique thing in issuing from Berkeley, Cal., as a Californian journal of entomology 'The Entomologists' Daily Post Card' at $2.00 a year. A card of regulation size. and color is printed on both sides in clear type, leaving a meagre space for an address. The number before us contains an editorial on note taking, part of a list of species in Edwards's last catalogue of butterflies, and a portion of a tabular key to the genera of Nymphalidæ. It is a curious.

venture.

IN a recent paper on the Siphonaptera (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., XXVI., 312– 355) Dr. A. S. Packard gives an excellent resumé of published observations on the embryology, postembryonic history and anatomy and the adult structure of the fleas, adding new data from his own preparations and numerous figures. He is led to regard them as forming a distinct order standing nearer the Diptera than any other, but with many points of relationship to the Coleoptera.

HANSEN gives in English (Ent. tidskr.' XV., 65-89, pl. 2-3) an important paper on the structure and habits of Hemimerus, a Platypsylla-like insect infesting rats in Africa, and which had previously been studied only from dried material. Saussure in particular had published a long memoir upon it, founding upon it a new order Diploglossata from its possessing, as he thought, a second labium. Hansen shows that this does not exist (it is difficult to understand how the figures of Hansen and Saussure can have been taken from the same