64 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



We trust, however, that this is only a pioneer volume from Mr. 

 Slater on this subject, and that he may be encouraged by the success 

 this little book so well deserves, to give us ' A History of Birds of 

 Iceland ' a work that has long been, and is still, a great and 

 growing desideratum in European ornithology. 



LIFE BY THE SEASHORE : AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL 

 HISTORY. By Marion Newbegin, D.Sc. (Lond.). With many original 

 illustrations by Florence Newbegin. (London : Swan, Sonnenschein, 

 and Co., Ltd., 1901.) 



A modern book on this very attractive subject has long been a 

 distinct want. It has now been supplied in a manner that is most 

 satisfactory by Dr. Marion Newbegin. 



The volume commences with a chapter on the general char- 

 acteristics of shore animals, their conditions of life, peculiarities, 

 means of distribution, etc. etc. ; and is followed by a suggestive and 

 useful one on their study, and a sketch of their classification. Then 

 follows what may be termed the main section of the book, consisting 

 of a series of chapters wherein are described the structure, life- 

 histories, haunts, etc., of the very varied animals which inhabit the 

 littoral zone of our British seas, from sponges and zoophytes to 

 tunicates and fishes. In these a vast amount of information of both 

 a popular and scientific nature is afforded in a lucid and particularly 

 pleasing style ; and aided much by the excellent drawings, mostly 

 original, by the author's sister. 



The book is such a useful one that further editions will doubtless 

 be demanded. If this should be so, we venture to suggest that a 

 short chapter should be added on methods of collecting and pre- 

 serving specimens of marine animals. Most people, especially the 

 young, begin the study of natural history by collecting specimens, 

 and the seashore affords a happy and prolific hunting-ground ; but 

 special methods for the preservation of the captures are necessary. 

 Then we are in doubt as to the value of the keys for identification. 

 They are clear and concise, it is true, but, in our opinion, are of 

 little use to any but experienced naturalists. If, however, they were 

 accompanied by a series of outline drawings, such as appeared in 

 Gosse's Marine Zoology, a further measure of usefulness would, we 

 believe, be added to L)r. Newbegin's most excellent little volume. 



