17 JANUARY 1880, Page 22

The Telephone, Microphone, and Phonograph. By Count du Moncel. (C.

Kegan Paul and Co.)—Du Moncel is the chief authority in France upon the subjects here discussed. He has mastered each development of these new inventions directly it has been accom- plished. The present volume is a translation from the original French, with additions and corrections by the author ; it is illustrated by a large number of woodcuts, showing very clearly the con- struction as well as general appearance of the most important forms of telephone, microphone, and phonograph. At the end of the book, Faber's wonderful speaking-machine is described, a diagram of the chief features of its construction being given. An appendix contains brief accounts of such novelties as were of too recent introduction to be included in the body of the work. We commend this volume, as containing a full and clear historical account of the remarkable inventions to which its pages are devoted.