PERIODICAL LITERATURE 87 



close connection with that field ; but because it will undoubtedly 

 be so classed, with others of its kind, in the minds of many people. 

 The book is a typical Thompson-Seton contribution to animal 

 fiction ; and, of course, it has the characteristic prefatory explana- 

 tion that " the intention is to convey the known truth," but the 

 legal phrase " nothing but the truth " is wisely avoided in an " his- 

 torical novel of Bear life." The author admits that it is not 

 exactly a contribution to pure science. But in spite of all such 

 scientific deficiencies the story will find enthusiastic readers. Chil- 

 dren — small ones and many of larger growth — will never tire of 

 " bear stories " so long as specimens of these interesting animals 

 remain; and readers who are too old for " The Three Bears " of 

 the nursery days will enjoy even the unscientific parts of this latest 

 account of bear life seen through a strong and healthy imagina- 

 tion. From the standpoint of fiction " Monarch " is splendid ; but 

 for real nature-study we prefer the less mighty, but more nat- 

 ural, specimens of the zoological parks. M. A. B. 



NOTES ON RECENT PAMPHLETS AND MAGAZINE 



ARTICLES 



Home Nature-Study Course. In this interesting series of cor- 

 respondence leaflets for teachers conducted by Mrs. Comstock, 

 of Cornell University, five volumes have been completed and No. 

 I of a new series was issued in October, 1904. It contains lessons 

 on Leaf Study ; Seed Distribution — Weeds ; Chipmunk : Alfalfa 

 or Lucerne. No. 2, December, deals with evergreens ; and among 

 other useful points, it gives simple tables for determining our 

 common cone-bearing trees. The leaflets are free to teachers in 

 New York State who follow the course, ten lessons in a year ; 25 

 cents per year to subscribers outside of the state. 



" Beautiful America." Under this heading, Mr. J. Horace 



McFarland, of Harrisburg, Pa., President of the American Civic 

 Association, begins in the Ladies' Home Journal for January 

 the second year of a department devoted to beautifying our homes 

 and towns. Leaflets describing the work of the association will 

 be sent to those who apply, enclosing stamp, to the Secretarv of 

 the Association, North American Building, Philadelphia. Many 



