Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 31.djvu/729

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LITERARY NOTICES.
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carnivores, insectivores, rodents, and small marsupials; remains of a new order of mammals, the Tillodonis, quite unlike any now living. Crocodiles, tortoises, lizards, and serpents swarmed in and about the waters of the lake, while around its borders grew palms and other tropical vegetation. The picture is finished with the conception of the Dinocerata, or terrible horned, gigantic beasts, which nearly equaled the elephant in size, and roamed in great numbers on the shores of the lake. They form a well-marked order in great groups of the Ungulata, or hoofed animals. In some of their characters they resemble the Artiodactyls (Paraxonia); in others they are like the Perissodactyls (Mesaxonia); and, in others still, they agree with the Proboscidians. The points of similarity, however, Professor Marsh adds, are in most cases general characters, which point back to an earlier, primitive ungulate, rather than indicate a near affinity with existing forms of these groups. The number of species is difficult to determine. About thirty forms, more or less distinct, are recognized in the synopsis at the end of the volume; but the number might be increased, if fragmentary specimens were used as the basis for specific names. The specimens which are now in the museum at Yale College represent more than two hundred individuals of Dinocerata. Of these, not less than seventy-five have portions of the skull more or less preserved, and in more than twenty it is in good condition. The author has endeavored in his plates, and nearly two hundred woodcuts in addition, to give accurate illustrations of type specimens; and all the important specimens now known are represented, and at least one figure is given of every species.

The New Crisis. By George W. Bell. Des Moines, Iowa: Moses Hull & Co. 1887. Pp. 350.

The object of this book, as the preface declares, is "to prove the existence of a class conspiracy, the design of which is to subvert the principles of our Government by a monopoly of wealth." In other words, it is an anti-monopoly polemic, and has the usual characteristics of such works in a somewhat extreme form, but with little in it that is specially new.

Infants, their Chronological Progress. By Professor Stanford E. Chaillé, M.D. Pp. 20.

Believing that the inquiry is useful with reference to many points, Dr. Chaillé has collated in this pamphlet, as nearly in their order as may be, the various manifestations of infant life, activity, consciousness, and disposition, from birth up to the age of three years. This record is followed by notes on the color of the eyes and hair, and on growth as shown by height, weight, and chest-girth.

Results of the Observations made at the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory, Massachusetts, in 1886. By A. Lawrence Rotch. Pp. 45, with Plates.

The Blue Hill Observatory is a private establishment, which is claimed to be one of the best-equipped meteorological stations in the United States. It is situated on Great Blue Hill, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, at an elevation of six hundred and thirty-five feet, making it the highest point within ten miles of the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida. The present report gives a full account of the equipment of the observatory, and records of "general results," prevalence of winds, velocity of winds, and atmospheric pressure, for every day of the year, with annual summaries under each head, and several plates of tracings.

Elementary Microscopical Technology. Part I. The Technical History of a Slide. By Frank L. James. St. Louis: Medical and Surgical Journal Company. Pp. 107. Price, 75 cents.

The present number is a part of a work on general microscopic technology, the other parts of which will appear in time. It is intended to teach in detail the processes and manipulations for preparing the materials for a microscopic mount. For this purpose it takes the crude materials the object to be mounted, the chemicals, gums, bits of glass, etc., entering into the structure of a slide and carries them by minute descriptions through the processes of hardening (or softening), imbedding, section-cutting, staining, etc., up to the final mounting for the cabinet. It is purposed thus to give the student a general outline idea of the work, and a knowledge of the names,