animal life were the objects to which he chiefly devoted his attention. The management and control of the whole Zoological Department of the Encyclopædia Britannica were undertaken by him and most ably executed. His authorship, on this work alone, comprises 900 pages, or equal to nine ordinary octavo volumes. He contributed the articles, Angling, Animal Kingdom, Animalculæ, Entomology, Helminthology, Ichthyology, Mammalia Ornithology, Reptiles and Serpents. He also published "Illustrations of Zoology, with historical and descriptive details," folio 1851"Entomologia Edinensis" 1834; the piscatory part of "The Rod and the Gun" 1840; Illustrations of Scripture by an animal painter, with notes by a Naturalist" 1842. These besides numerous articles on his favourite studies in Blackwood, the North British Review and other Magazines were the products of his pen. The main features of Mr. Wilson's character were, its meekness of wisdom, warmth of affection, and unostentatious allcomprehending kindness. There was in him a happy harmony of contrasted qualities, scientific accuracy without pendantry and an unclogged excursive imagination,-fantastic playfulness with strong affection, and steadfast purpose,-freshness of feeling with width of innocent enjoyment, co-existing with great tenderness of conscience and faith unfeigned. He was preeminently a Christian Naturalist. This Memoir is prepared by one of the most genial and happy writers of the present day, and is a beautiful eloge of one whose character and labours will long be remembered and admired by the students of Natural History. We cordially commend this book to the Scientific and Christian reader as an interesting and delightful record of a beautiful, vigorous and useful life.

A. F. K.

The Use and Abuse of Tobacco. By JOHN LIZARS, M.D., late Professor of Surgery to the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. Philadelphia : Lindsay & Blakston. Montreal: B. Dawson & Son. Eighth edition, pp. 138.

The object of the author in the publication of this little, but most pregnant book, is, if possible, to correct the progress of Tobacco smoking, and other forms of its use. He finds it difficult to estimate the pernicious consequences produced by habitual smoking, on the number of victims, both old and young. The consumption of Tobacco in Britain alone, in the year 1853,

amounted to the enormous quantity of 29,737,561 pounds or more than a pound to every man, woman and child of the population. When we consider that in every hundred pounds of this drug there is one pound of the most deadly poison known to chemistry, it is obvious that much injury must be done to the human constitution by its so extensive use. The first chapter of this book treats of the general characteristics of tobacco-its history, botany, chemistry and physiological effects; chapter second contains practical observations on its use and abuse; and chapter third communications from distinguished physicians, and extracts from medical writings. There can be no doubt that Dr. Lizars has made out an Indictment, against Tobacco, of the most alarming character. It is the fruitful cause of some of the most painful and horrible diseases to which the human frame is subject. Among others he enumerates ulcerations of the mouth, cancer, dyspepsia, diarrhea, disease of the liver, congestion of the brain, apoplexy, palsy, mania, loss of memory, nervousness, emasculation, cowardice, &c. The cases and authorities which he adduces in support of his own large experience are numerous and conclusive. Let no one suppose that this is a quack book. It is written by one of the most skilful and judicious of surgeons—one whose reputation is world-wide. We are persuaded that a perusal of this book will convince the most skeptical that tobacco is a most deliterious drug, whether used in the form of smoke, snuff, or quid, producing effects on society which neither the public nor the medical profession seem yet to have fairly estimated. In page 103 of this book an experienced surgeon says "that the germs of premature decay which the abuse of tobacco is spreading through the country, will ultimately, in my opinion, prove more overwhelming than even the serious abuse of intoxicating liquors." Another says: 66 After fifty years of most extensive and varied practice in my profession, I have come to the decision that smoking is the main cause of ruining our young men, pauperizing the working-men, and rendering comparatively useless the best efforts of ministers of religion." As a scientific journal we deem it right to warn our youth against the use, in any form whatever, of this disgusting" weed." The Virginian Nicotiana tabacum, as well as the Canadian Nicotiana rustica should be regarded by every lover of himself and his kind, as a thing to be absolutely proscribed as both destructive to health and morals. We most cordially recommend this little seasonable treatise. A. F. K.

ARTICLE XXX.-Notes on Egyptian Antiquities presented to the Natural History Society by Hon. Mr. Ferrier. By a Committee of the Society.

(Read at Meeting of Oct. 31st.)

1. Mummy of a Lady, from Thebes.

This is the body of an aged female, in excellent preservation and in a highly ornamented case. Her name (fac-similed on a reduced scale in Fig. I.) is written opposite the portrait on the bottom of the coffin, and may have been "Abothloé."

The body has been prepared by some process (probably immersion in natron) which has had the effect of destroying the muscles, leaving only the fibrous tissues in a dry and spongy condition. The body has been disembowelled previous to embalming. The surface, especially of the lower extremities, has been smeared with some oily or resinous varnish, and above this has been spread a thick layer of ground spices, apparently applied as a paste, and most copiously on the face and chest, where this material has been moulded in such a manner as to restore, in some degree, the original form of the muscles. The spices are coarsely but uniformly ground, and, under the microscope, present slender stalks and fragments of the shell of globular seeds or berries, smooth or minutely pitted on the surface. The appearance is CANADIAN NAT. VOL. IV. No. 6.

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