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HA RD WICKE ' S S CIENCE- G SSIP. 



Each vol. is paged, indexed, and can be obtained 

 separately. As a test of the lucid and fullest details 

 of newest astronomical research we advise our 

 readers to peruse chap. hi. (in vol. i.) on " Vulcan " ; 

 and chap. i. (book iv.) on "Comets." Book v., 

 devoted to "Meteoric Astronomy," is remarkably 

 clear, and attractive reading withal. The illustrations 

 to this work are numerous and good. For fulness 

 and perspicacity, as well as for its bringing 

 astronomical facts up to the most recent date, we 

 know of no work equal to Mr. Chambers'. 



The School Manual of Geology, by J. Beete Jukes. 

 Fifth edition, edited by A. J. Jukes-Brown 

 (Edinburgh : Adam and Charles Black). We have 

 had occasion to notice the last two editions of this 

 work, and have now much pleasure in calling 

 attention to the fifth. The latter is sufficient to 

 prove the book has" taken its place among standard 

 works. Indeed, we know of no better school 

 manual of geology extant. In this the latest edition 

 Mr. Jukes-Brown has brought the book up to latest 

 date in all things geological. 



Larva Collecting and Breeding, by the Rev. J. 

 Seymour St. John (London : W. Wesley & Son). 

 We cordially commend this handy little book to all 

 entomological students. To beginners it will prove 

 a prize. The larval stage of Lepidoptera is not so 

 well known as the others, but to those desirous of 

 being guided by experience in this matter Mr. St. 

 John's work will prove very handy for reference. 

 The different food plants of larvae are all detailed 

 and, on the other hand, we have also a full list of all 

 the caterpillars which feed on each plant. 



American Spiders and their Spinning Work, by 

 Dr. H. C. McCook, Vol. i. (Philadelphia : published 

 by the Author). This splendidly got-up volume is a 

 monograph of the orb-weaving spiders of the United 

 States, with special regard to their industry and 

 habits. They are based upon sixteen years' observa- 

 tions and studies. No other American naturalist was 

 so fitted for the patient task as the author, whose 

 well-known researches and observations on various 

 kinds of ants must have been a capital education for 

 studying the spiders. The latter are the reverse of 

 ants, being solitary, whilst ants are social. Dr. 

 McCook in the present volume deals chiefly with the 

 character and construction of spiders' webs or snares. 

 It also includes a careful study and description of the 

 spinning organs of various kinds of spiders. During 

 his sixteen years' study of spiders and their webs, 

 Dr. McCook informs us, he made several thousands 

 of original sketches. Some of the best of these, to 

 the number of nearly 350, illustrate the present 

 volume, and they are all of a high-class artistic charac- 

 ter. Dr. McCook divides his work into seven parts, 

 which include nineteen chapters. The parts are as 

 follows : " Structure and Spinning Organs," " General 

 Characteristics, Construction, and Armature of 

 Webs," " Characteristic Forms and Variations of 



Snares," " Unbeaded Orbs and Spring Snares, '* 

 " Mechanical Skill, Intelligence, and Equipment," 

 "Provisions for 'Nurture and Defence,'" and 

 " Nesting Habits, Protective Architecture, and 

 Development." No more careful or original work 

 on natural history than this has been given to the 

 world for many years. Its perusal is delightful ; and 

 the amount of knowledge concerning the lives and 

 habits of those little-known though common objects, 

 the spiders, is marvellous to a degree. 



The Flowering Plant, as Illustrating the First 

 Principles of Botany, by J. R. Ainsworth Davis. 

 (London : Charles Griffin & Co.). This is an 

 admirably-designed book, intended for use in the 

 London University Matriculation, as well as in the 

 South Kensington Examinations. The author 

 conducts his reader after a simple method through 

 the various departments of botany, beginning with 

 elementary morphology, and physiology, and then 

 proceeding to deal with the root, the stem, buds and 

 leaf arrangements, foliage and scale leaves, bracts 

 and floral leaves, essential floral organs, the 

 physiology of flowers, seeds, and fruits. A good deal 

 of practical work is insisted upon, and the student is 

 carefully instructed therein. There is also a chapter 

 of examination questions, if the reader care to test 

 his own knowledge. The illustrations are numerous 

 and effective. Altogether, we cordially recommend 

 Mr. Davis' little book to all intending students of 

 botany. 



British Fossils, by J. W. Williams (London : Swan 

 Sonnenschein & Co.). This is one of the admirably 

 got-up and cheap "Young Collector" series. It is 

 very well done, considering the small space at the 

 author's disposal, but it will suit nobody but a very 

 " young collector," and it is to be feared that such 

 an one would not be attracted by the multitude of 

 italicised names of various fossils. Mr. Williams 

 gives us chapters on the life of the Primary period, 

 ditto of the Secondary, ditto of the Tertiary, and ditto 

 of the Post-Tertiary (Quaternary). One of the most 

 useful chapters is the short one relating to the 

 collecting of fossils, and the list of geological books 

 likely to be useful ; also the chapter giving a short 

 list or glossary of geological terms. 



A Class-book of Geography, Physical, Political, and 

 Commercial, by W. B. Irvine (London : Relfe Bros.). 

 The author is already favourably known in educational 

 circles by his Geographical Text-book for Beginners. 

 The present volume is intended for intermediate and 

 senior pupils, and it is certainly the best devised and 

 arranged work of the kind we have ever come 

 across. 



Studies in Evolution and Biology, by Mrs. 

 Bodington (London: Elliot Stock). The accom- 

 plished author is well known to our readers, by her 

 contributions to Science-Gossip, as a graceful and 

 thoughtfully suggestive writer. This collection of 

 articles and essays, by a person skilled in the writings 



