126 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



inorganic and the organic world are explained with 

 remarkable 'simplicity. Even scientific men, who 

 have already done Darwin and Spencer, will be 

 thankful to Mr. Clodd for enabling them at any time 

 to rapidly go over the old ground again. 



Holiday Letters of a Geologist, by James Shipman 

 (Nottingham : Carrick & Young). The author is a 

 well-known and diligent field geologist, who herein 

 shows that he can not only work well but write well. 

 They are genuine "holiday letters," and have the 

 fresh and joyous flavour of holiday time about them. 

 Intending ramblers in North Wales, the Isle of Man, 

 the Norfolk coasts, and the southern coasts of 

 England, should forthwith procure Mr. Shipman's 

 book. 



The Flora of West Yorkshire, by F. A. Lees 

 (London : Lovell Reeve & Co.). A bulky, handsome 

 volume, the result of years of labour, by one of the 

 most diligent, capable, and painstaking labourers in 

 the botanical field. The above work gives a sketch 

 of the climate of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and 

 shows the limits imposed by its various factors upon 

 the flora. It also connects the facts concerning soils 

 snd rocks, in respect to their behaviour under dis- 

 integration, with the plant-life. Lastly, it furnishes 

 to students and collectors a list of all the species 

 found in the Riding, which is not merely a guide to 

 the localities where they grow, but a history of each 

 species as well. Dr. Lee's appendices are as valuable 

 as the general text. The above work is one of the 

 best of its kind which have yet appeared. 



A Flora of Hertfordshire, by the late A. R. Pryor 

 (London : Gurney & Jackson, successors to Van 

 Voorst). The late admirable and indefatigable 

 author of this large and important volume was a 

 frequent contributor to our magazine. It was well 

 known that he had been at work on the subject for 

 some time, and perhaps there is not a county in 

 England (except Sussex) with such a varied flora as 

 Hertfordshire. When Mr. Pryor died, his MS. was 

 bequeathed to the vigorous and growing Natural 

 History Society for the county. After waiting some 

 time, the work was edited by Mr. B. D. Jackson ; 

 and Mr. John Hopkinson wrote an introduction on 

 the Geology, Climate, and Botanical history of the 

 county. The result is a most valuable work, both to 

 the county and country at large. There is prefixed a 

 very useful map of Hertfordshire, showing its river 

 basins as adapted for botanical districts, each river- 

 basin having a district elevation and a geological 

 sketch map of the superficial geology, which is that 

 most influential on the distribution of plant life. 

 Mr. Hopkinson's preliminary essay is a model of its 

 kind for completeness, grasp, and generalisation. 

 Of the late Mr. Pryor's labours it is impossible to 

 speak too highly. This very work shows that no 

 honest worker lives in vain. 



Notes on the Birds of Herefordshire, by Dr. H. G. 

 Bull (London : Hamilton & Adams). This hand- 



some volume contains the notes which the late genial 

 Dr. Bull was wont to read at the Field meetings of 

 the Woolhope Club. The members were in the 

 habit of increasing their ornithological importance by 

 contributing their own observations. When they 

 had assumed a somewhat bulky importance, Dr. Bull 

 thought of publishing them, but died before he could 

 do so. The members of the Woolhope Club have 

 therefore carried out Dr. Bull's intentions, and have 

 generously published the work under his name. 

 Like all bird-books, it is delightful reading ; but we 

 would suggest there is too much " poetry " in it, as 

 much of quotations from the poets as is nearly equal 

 to the "Notes." Phil Robinson has done that sort 

 of thing so much better in his " Poet's Birds." 



The Creator and What wc may know of the Method 

 of Creation, by the Rev. Dr. Dallinger (London : T. 

 Woolmer). For twenty years past, in the teeth of 

 opposition, we have contended that the doctrine of 

 Evolution, instead of being atheistic or even agnostic 

 in its tendencies, was a distinct gain in one's reverent 

 comprehension of God. Those who fear the opposite 

 should read the present work, by one of the most 

 distinguished scientists of the day, as well as one of 

 the most ardent evolutionists. Dr. Dallinger is a 

 Wesleyan Divine (or, as he would doubtless prefer 

 to be called, a Methodist parson) ; and this nicely got 

 up brochure is the "Fernley Lecture," delivered 

 before the Wesleyan Conference last year. It is 

 simply a fine and eloquent pleading before the Fathers 

 of his church for the new philosophy. 



The Microscope in Theory and Practice, by Professor 

 Naegli and Professor Schwendener (London : Swan 

 Sonnenschein & Co.). The names attached to this 

 volume are high guarantee for good work. It is a 

 wonder its translation has not been attempted before, 

 and we are indebted chiefly to Messrs. Crisp and J. 

 Mayall, of the Royal Microscopical Society, for its 

 present appearance. To advanced workers, this 

 volume is indispensable. Everything connected with 

 the microscope, optical, mechanical testing, technical, 

 etc., is here contained. It is a Microscopical 

 Encyclopaedia, in short. 



Bees and Bee- Keeping ; Scientific and Practical, by 

 F. R. Cheshire (London : L. Upcott Gill). This is 

 the second volume of Mr. Cheshire's thoroughly 

 exhaustive work on the subject. We duly noticed 

 the first when it appeared. It will be a long time 

 before another work, of such a thorough character, 

 will be issued on the subject. Mr. Cheshire has left 

 no wind for anybody else's sails. This second 

 volume is entitled "Practical," and deals with the 

 management of bees, their hives, control, artificial 

 aids, controlled increase, raising, etc., of queens, 

 production of honey, wintering, diseases, races, etc. 



Lectures on Bacteria, by A. De Bary (Oxford : 

 Clarendon Tress). This is a translation of the second 

 edition of the famous lectures of the Strassburg 

 Professor, done by Mr. II. E. F. Garnsey, and 



