220 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [ 2: 6-sept., 1906 



Mosses with Hand-lens and Microscope. Part III. B\ A. J. 

 Grout. Published by author, 360 Lenox Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. Paper. 

 $1.25. 



This is part of an edition more advanced and complete than the book of" 

 same title reviewed in this magazine for May, 1905. There will be five parts, 

 quarto, finest coated paper and illustrations. It is highly commended by 

 botanists who have carefully examined the book. 



Baby Bird-Finder. Vol. II. Water and game birds and hawks and 

 owls. By Harriet E. Richards. Size z^g by 41^ inches. Leather 

 cover 50 cents; paper 30 cents. For sale by author, Brookline, Mass. 



A pocket guide to identification. Uniform with Vol. I., Song Birds. 

 Mr. Herbert K. Job urges in the introduction that the birds named are too 

 much neglected by the average bird-lover; but admits that their pursuit is 

 somewhat more strenuous than that of the common song birds. 



NATURE-STUDY AND SCIENCE NOTES 



[Editorial Note. — Under the heading "Nature Notes" this magazine has 

 for some time published brief summaries of important new observations in the 

 study of various phases of nature. The suggestion has come to the Managing 

 Editor from several sources that this department should be extended to six or 

 eight pages, instead of two or three. Will readers kindly write their opinion con- 

 cerning the usefulness of such notes, especially considering that probably 75 per 

 cent, of the copies go to teachers who are already familiar with the outlines of 

 science and hence ought to have an interest in the new discoveries?] 



Protection of Chinchilla. A bill passed recently by the Chilean Con- 

 gress prohibits killing this valuable fur-producing animal except in certain 

 seasons. The animal, which is rat-like except its fur, lives in the wilds of 

 the Andes, where it burrows in the ground. Although once common, the 

 species is now threatened with extinction by hunters. Twelve thousand dozen 

 skins were shipped last year from Coquimbo, Chile, the leading port of 

 export. [Journal of Geography, May, 1906.] 



Pearls from Lower California. It is not generally known that from 

 the Gulf of California come large numbers (over two million dollars worth 

 last year) of pearls. An explorer in 1522 found native chiefs with quantities 

 of valuable pearls. Thirty or forty little pearls and possibly one the size of 

 a pea may be found in two tons of the pearl-ovsters, each ovster weighing 

 about a pound. A number of pearls have sold for more than $5000 each, 



