are seldom found but in technical works, where their meaning, if they have one that is definite, is at once made evident." Hence many local names, except those which have found their way "into some sort of literature," are omitted. Yet, though arbitrary, the author has tried to make his method tend to utility. The longer articles consist chiefly of descriptions of birds, with notices of synonyms, and excellent papers on bird anatomy. A map of the world on Mercator's projection shows the bird regions and their boundaries.
A Popular History of Astronomy in the Nineteenth Century. By Agnes M. Clark. Third edition. New York: Macmillan & Co. Pp. 573.
The revision called for by the great number and importance of the astronomical discoveries that have been made since the last previous edition of this book was published has been made with great care and pains, and with the aim, not only of furnishing the new information, but also of so completely incorporating it with the pre-existing text as to leave no gaps in the narrative suggesting interpolations. The book has thus grown and been brought down to date "by a process of assimilation rather than of mere accretion." The foot-note references have been multiplied; the index has been made more copious; the chronological table has been considerably extended; and several new tables of data have been appended.
The Ore Deposits of the United States. By James F. Kemp. New York: The Scientific Publishing Company. Pp. 302. Price, $4.
The claim is made for this book that it fills a vacancy in our scientific literature, for no complete review of the ore deposits in our country has appeared since the publication of Whitney's Metallic Wealth in the United States in 1854. Yet within the last forty years enormous developments have been made in new mining districts, the relative importance of different regions has changed, and great advances have been made in our theoretical knowledge regarding the origin and formation of ore beds. The present work has been conceived with such considerations as these in view. A twofold purpose is to supply a condensed account of the metalliferous resources of the country which shall be readable and serviceable as a textbook and book of reference; and to treat the subject in such a way as to stimulate investigation and study of the phenomena. The ore deposits are taken according to the metals they yield. The treatment is geological, and the principles of origin have been made prominent. To the descriptions of others the author adds observations made by himself in travel during the last ten years.
Camp Fires of a Naturalist. By Clarence C. Edwords. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Pp. 304. Price, $1.50.
Prof. Lewis Lindsay Dyche, of the University of Kansas, enjoyed in his boyhood and youth the life of a pioneer on the plains. He lived in close communion with Nature, among the animals and plants, and grew up a naturalist. He acquired a school and college education largely by means of his own efforts, was graduated from the university at the head of his class, and became an assistant and afterward professor of anatomy and physiology there, of zoölogy and animal histology, curator of the natural history museum, and director of the taxidermical work. In the museum stands, according to Mr. Edwords, the finest collection of mounted animals in the world—his creation. This book is devoted to the relation of the story of the incidents and adventures of his fourteen expeditions after North American mammals. It is taken from his note-books and diaries, with nothing added to the facts he has recorded. The adventures are not of a thrilling kind, but present the life of the woods as it actually is, in a dramatic form, with sketches of scenery and the life of the hunting camp, and information about the character and habits of the animals hunted.
Socialism and the American Spirit. By Nicholas Paine Oilman. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Pp. 376. Price, $1.50.
The development of socialism in the United States is thoroughly discussed in the thirteen chapters of this volume. Whether the American spirit conforms to Mr. Oilman's outlines is a doubtful matter. He may de-
