Anthropology, by Dr. Paul Topinard, translated by Dr. Bartley (Chap-
man and Hall), is a volume of the Library of Contemporary Science, a course of publications appearing simultaneously in France and England, which have for their object the popularisation of different branches of science, each number being a monograph for all but advanced students. The well-known name of Dr. Topinard is sufficient guarantee for accuracy of information and fullness of treatment, and it is, moreover, issued under the editorial care of M. Broca, the Secretary of the Societ6 d'Anthropologie, who writes a preface. This book supplies a real want in England, where anthropological students are fewer numerically than those of other scientific pursuits, possibly from a dearth of text-books. it is a masterly exposition of the subject, and we congratulate the translator on the skill with which he has presented it in an English dress.—Biology, by Dr. Letourneau, translated by William s Maccall is a well-arranged treatise on the fundamental truths of biological science. The student will derive from it a clear knowledge of principles and broad generalisations on nutrition, growth, generation, and the nervous system of organised matter. We warn him, however, against the theory of spontaneous generation which Dr. Letonrneau adopts, and the conclusions it involves. The worst feature of the book is the translation. The chemical portion needs an entire revision, by a person with some knowledge of chemical nomenclature and symbolism. We were staggered by the forranho,—Az If3, and Ph., for N 113 and P. ; and wherein " chlorure " is superior to " chloride," " anorganio " to "inor- ganic," " vegetal " to "vegetable," we confess we cannot see. We hope to see this serious drawback to the utility of the book amended in a future edition.
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