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LITERARY NOTICES.
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from an ancient cemetery in southern Peru, by J. H. Blake; on archæological explorations in Tennessee, by F. W. Putnam; on crania from the stone graves of Tennessee, by L. Carr; and on the tenure of land among the ancient Mexicans, by Ad. F. Bandelier.

First Annual Report of the United States Entomological Commission. Washington: Government Printing-Office. 1878. Pp. 800, with Maps and Plates.

We have here in full detail the first year's labors of the United States Entomological Commission, appointed by Congress to study the best methods of preventing the ravages of the Rocky Mountain locust. The habits of the insect, its geographical distribution, and many other points in its natural history, have been pretty satisfactorily determined by the Commission; and, if the Commission has not succeeded in discovering the method of getting rid of the pest, it has at least indicated many ways of lessening its violence, and of partially staying its advance.

Seventh Report of the State Entomologist on the Noxious and Beneficial Insects of the State of Illinois. By C. Thomas, Ph. D., State Entomologist. Springfield, Illinois: D. W. Lusk print. Pp. 290.

The most elaborate paper in this report is one entitled "Notes on Corn Insects, or Insects injurious to Indian Corn." The author has been investigating this special subject for a long time, and his results, as here stated, are eminently worthy of the attention of the farmer. These "Notes" occupy the first one hundred pages of the report; the remainder is devoted to miscellaneous notes and observations on different species of noxious and beneficial insects.

Progressive Japan: A Study of the Political and Social Needs of the Empire. By General Le Gendre. San Francisco: A. L. Bancroft & Co. 1878. Pp. 380.

In this study of the social and political needs of Japan, General Le Gendre has sought mainly from the history of the Japanese people the aid which others might perhaps have preferred to ask solely from abstract Western sciences. "It is," he writes, "by interpreting a people's traditions, by carefully listening to the mysterious teachings of the wise men who, in remote ages, guided its infancy, that one is apt to discover the early promise of its future." Therefore, in the reconstruction of the political state of Japan, care must be taken not to do violence to the national genius by prematurely introducing Western institutions. The author treats at great length of "Reconstruction," and points out the direction which, in his opinion, it must take in order to produce the largest measure of good for the Japanese people.


PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

The Historical Poetry of the Ancient Hebrews, translated and critically examined. By Michael Heilprin. Vol. I. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1879. Pp. 243. $2.

Report of the Chief Signal Officer to the Secretary of War, 1878. Washington: Government Printing-Office. Pp. 680, with Plates and Charts.

The Silk Goods of America. By William C. Wyckoff. New York: D. Van Nostrand. Pp. 120.

Laboratory-Teaching, or Progressive Exercises in Practical Chemistry. By. C. L. Bloxam. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1879. Pp. 261. $1.75.

An Introduction to Commercial Organic Analysis. By A. H. Allen, P. C. S. Vol. I. Same publishers. Pp. 374. $3.50.

Geological Survey of Indiana, 1878. By E. T. Cox, State Geologist. Indianapolis: "Journal" print. Pp. 541, with Maps.

Report of the Chief Engineer of the Philadelphia Water Department, 1878. Philadelphia: Markley & Son print. 1879. Pp. 111.

Tovey's Brewers' Directory for 1879. New York: A. E. Tovey, 24 Park Place. Pp. 115.

Sketch of Dickinson College. By C. F. Hines, Ph. D. Illustrated. Harrisburg: L. S. Hart. 1879. Pp. 155.

Around the World with General Grant. By J. R. Young. Published in 20 Parts, at 50 cents each. Illustrated. New York: American News Company,

Chemistry, Theoretical, Practical, and Analytical. Parts 36 to 40. 50 cents each. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.

Twelfth Annual Meeting of the Free Religious Association, 1879. Boston: The Association. Pp. 80.

Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Part 7. New York: Macmillan & Co. $1.25.

Brentano's Aquatic Monthly and Sporting Gazetteer. New York: Brentano. Monthly. $4 per year.

Future Development of the New York State Library. Albany: Van Benthuysen & Sons. Pp. 48.

Lake Chautauqua Illustrated. Buffalo: Peter Paul & Bro. Pp. 60.

The Chaco Cranium. By W. J. Hoffman, M. D. Washington: Government Printing-Office. Pp. 25, with Plates.

Explorations and Surveys in the Department of the Missouri. By E. H. Runner, Engineer