192 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



BOOK NOTICES. 



The Elementary Principles of General Biology. By James 

 Francis Abbott. The Macmillan Company, New York, 1914 ; pp. 

 xvi + 329. Price 6s. 6d. net. 



Many a naturalist in these days of specialisation is apt, in the study 

 of the intricacies of one group of animals or another, to lose sight of 

 the wood on account of the trees. Professor Abbott reminds us that 

 the great mass of detailed facts which has resulted from recent research 

 is bound together by generalisations of far-reaching importance. These 

 fundamental principles of life he describes with full knowledge and 

 charming simplicity. The study of the nature of living matter, of its 

 workings and modes of growth, is made the basis for further investiga- 

 tions into the gradual specialisation of the organs of animals and plants, 

 and into the laws which appear to regulate their inherent qualities of 

 variation and inheritance. The adaptations exhibited by living things 

 are graphically described, and a critical summary is given of modern 

 views of evolution. In the discussion of these generalities the author 

 makes full use of recent biological research, and while the volume is 

 primarily intended to supplement a practical course of biology, its 

 clearness and terseness and the admirable diagrams and pictures with 

 which it is illustrated make it an excellent guide for the general reader 

 who would learn something of the great forces of life. J. R. 



Bird Studies, in Twenty-four Lessons. By W. Percival Westell, 

 F.L.S., M.B.O.U. Cambridge Nature Study Series, University 

 Press, 1 91 4. Price 2s. 6d, net. 



This little book is an original and stimulating" Primer on bird life. 

 We say stimulating advisedly, as the author lays great stress on the 

 pupil developing his own powers of observation. Mr Westell groups 

 his "lessons'' into four parts, corresponding to the seasons of the year, 

 and taking for each lesson a locality or subject suited to the- season. 

 He writes in a light and easy style, and draws his pupils' attention to 

 almost every phase of bird life. The idea of compiling a bird census 

 of some particular locality, as suggested in Lesson 5, is an excellent 

 one, and should prove a pleasant task for any ornithologist, old or 

 young. The book is well illustrated throughout, and has ten appendices 

 which contain much useful information and many valuable practical 

 hints, as well as a list of books and journals likely to be useful to the 

 student. G. E. G. M. 



