176 



HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OS SIP. 



'to natural objects, a feature of character which is by 

 no means unknown in Lancashire. Mr. Mitchell's 

 book is an account of the birds occurring in the 

 county, about which he gives notes of the observa- 

 tions of others and his own, and many local names, 

 and other interesting information. By text and 

 •illustration he shews, also, how the birds fall victims 

 to the deceitful ways of men. 



Elementary Text-book of Entomology, by W. F. 

 Kirby (London : Sonnenschein & Co.). This is a 

 handsome book, illustrated by 87 plates which con- 

 tain a large number of uncoloured figures. The 

 table of contents, showing a tabulated list of the 

 families, grouped under seven orders, is followed by 

 an introduction of about a dozen pages, giving a 

 brief account of insects in general, their zoological 

 position, structure, physiology, occurrence, &c, and 

 lastly their classification. Then follows the main 

 body of the work, over 200 pp., in which the families 

 are taken in succession and described. Last of all 

 come the plates. It is a pity ihat so good a book 

 as this appears to be, and which even as it is may 

 be of great use, should have its usefulness diminished 

 by the absence of alphabetical indexes of scientific 

 and popular names. As it is, if a student wishes to 

 see, for example, what is said about ladybirds, he is 

 at a loss to do so if he does not know to what 

 family they belong, and if he succeeds he cannot 

 then tell from the text whether a figure is given or 

 not in the plates. But, in spite of this drawback, 

 the book can be made of great service. The butter- 

 flies and moths treated of are mostly of foreign 

 species. 



Physical Expression, its Modes and Principles, by 

 Francis Warner, M.D. (London : Kegan Paul, Trench 

 •<& Co.), 5j. This book is not everybody's reading. It 

 gives detailed observations of various modes of ex- 

 pression, as shewn by movements and postures, by 

 the head, face and eyes, and by the attitudes of the 

 hands. The physiology of expression is noticed, 

 and reference made to Dr. Ferrier's vivisectional 

 -experiments on the brains of monkeys and dogs ; while 

 among the illustrations are some shewing apparatus 

 for obtaining graphic records of limb-movements. 

 Perhaps it is the condensed style in which the author 

 has written which makes his book rather hard to 

 follow, and allows the attention readily to wander 

 for want of more expanded illustration. 



Walks in Epping Forest, edited by Percy Lindley 

 <London : 123-5 F1 eet Street), 6d. This little book is 

 published in a form convenient for the pocket in stiff 

 paper boards. Its object is to afford a guide to 

 Tamblers in the forest, and with this view, after a 

 short and pleasantly-written introduction, comes a 

 sketch of the History of the Forest, and then one of 

 <the Geology (by Mr. H. B. Woodward, F.G.S.) ; 

 followed by "The Forest as it is " ; Cycling routes 

 .(by J. Wilson) ; an Account of Chingford, walking 

 .routes in or near the Forest, and the Fauna and Flora 



of the Forest, &c, most of these articles being con- 

 tributed by A. H. Wall or the Fditor. At the 

 beginning a folding map, at the end contents and 

 an index ; and as if all this were not enough for 

 the price, numerous illustrations are given of views 

 in the forest or neighbourhood, some of which form 

 attractive pictures. A visit to Epping Forest is to 

 the writer of this notice still an unknown experience, 

 but he hardly expects to have a handier and more 

 entertaining guide, for such a visit, than this of 

 Mr. Lindley's. 



The Metaphysical Aspect of Natural History, by 

 Stephen Monckton, M.D. (London : H. K. Lewis). 

 This is a well-printed little book of over forty pages, 

 and consists of an Address delivered to the Rochester 

 Natural History Society, the object of the author 

 being to show that a student may advance from a 

 sure point, by sure steps, drawing only on the re- 

 sources of scientific observation and admitted history, 

 to the conclusion that there is in nature an intelli- 

 gent will-force, which is also the Author and subject 

 of the Bible. The familiar figure given of the Paper 

 Nautilus is apt to perpetuate the old idea, that it 

 hoists its " sails " to the wind. 



The Moon and the Weather. The Probability of 

 Lunar Influence Reconsidered, by Walter L. Browne 

 (London : Bailliere, Tindall, & Cox), y. The 

 influence of the moon upon the weather is once 

 more brought under discussion in Mr. Browne's book. 

 "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," or, to 

 use the phrase Mr. Browne adopts : " Prevision is the 

 test of true theory," and he boldly prints at the end of 

 his book a list of predictions of depression areas for 

 last April, May, and June, on behalf of which he 

 suggests comparison with published weather-maps. 

 The book was received when about half that time 

 had elapsed, and readers have in this list the oppor- 

 tunity afforded them of judging of Mr. Browne's 

 success in predicting storms. 



The Microscope in Botany; — a Guide for the Micro- 

 scopical Investigation of Vegetable Substances. From 

 the German of Dr. J. W. Behrens, translated and 

 edited by Rev. A. B. Hervey ; Dr. R. H. Ward 

 assisting (Boston : S. E. Cassino & Co.), price 5 dols. 

 This will prove, to all appearance, a very useful book. 

 It consists of about 450 pp., clearly printed on good 

 paper, and furnished with contents and index, it 

 deals with microscopes, microscopical accessories, 

 preparation of microscopic objects, microscopical 

 reagents, and microscopical investigation of vegetable 

 substances. References to makers of particular pieces 

 of apparatus are for the most part American, being 

 the work of one of the editors, the matter introduced 

 by them being placed in brackets. Microscopic 

 drawing and measurements receive attention, as also 

 the preparation of objects, section-cutting, mounting, 

 turn-tables, labelling, Sec, detailed directions being 

 given. The fifth and last chapter is devoted to the 

 microscopical examination of vegetable substances, 



