13 JUNE 1868, Page 20

CURRENT LITERATURE.

Ile Ocean World. By L. Figuier. (Chapman and Hall.)—This beautifully illustrated volume is a compilation from several popular works by M. Figuier, with additions gathered from various sources. M. Figuier himself is, of course, a compiler ; and he shows in the present volume how keen is his appreciation of the many interesting facts con- cerning the animals of the sea, and how extensive and varied are the stores which he has ransacked for material. The present work is in -many respects so excellent that we much regret that it cannot be pro- nounced accurate as well as popular, interesting, and artistic. In saying this we make every allowance for the origin of the book, and for the fact of its being a translation. We, therefore, pass over its occasional awk- wardness of style, its repetitions, its verbal inaccuracies, and its often incompatible and unsatisfactory explanation of natural phenomena and processes. The popular aspect and uses of the book need not have been abandoned if a sacrifice had been made of the fabulous pictures and descriptions occasionally given by M. Figuier. Some of these are very strong meat indeed, too strong for the digestion of the English editor, who adds here and there a note of mingled doubt and excuse, deprecating cri- ticism. "The Argonaut sailing in the open sea "is the frontispiece to the volume; it is pictorial, but, pretending to represent a reality, absurd; and is actually proved absurd in the text at page 464; it should be unhesitat- ingly suppressed. Why not replace it by one of the illustrations of the coral or oyster fisheries from pages 141 or 335, or by one of the beautiful plates of sea nettles, p.241? But the absurdity of the Argonaut is surpassed by that of the "Gigantic Cattle Fish caught near Teneriffe," plate xxiv., p. 459. Very properly the editor hero, in a note, asks, "Is it necessary to say that even this account—apparently so well authenticated, not to speak of the representation drawn on the spot—should be taken cum gran° sails?'" Yes, we answer, it is necessary to give such a caution in a book whic'i is intended to make science popular, and which ought not to disseminate fables. But the omission of the narrative would have been the better course. Notwithstanding these defects, how- ever, we do not hesitate to recommend its attractive pages for general perusal and study. For here one may read about most of the interesting animals and animal products of the sea, and at the same time delight the eyes with the graceful forms of corals, sponges, and medusas in the numerous drawings which give a special charm to the present work.