SEPT. 19, 1921 POPULAR BOOKS IN SCIENCE 359 



list as this. They are most interestingly written, and while they are not free 

 from minor inaccuracies, no book dealing with so complex a subject as a 

 living organism can hope completely to avoid that criticism. 



Peckham, S. W., and Peckham, E. G. Wasps, social and solitary. 310 

 pp. (Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1905.) A well written record of the 

 habits of our common wasps. Mr. and Mrs. Peckham spent years in careful 

 and patient observation, and have written some of our standard manuals, 

 as well as this very popular work. 



Maeterlinck, Maurice. Tlie life of the bee. (Translation by Alfred 

 Sutro.) 427 pp. (Dodd, Mead and Co., New York, 1902.) The author 

 is more widely known as a poet and dramatist than as a zoologist, but he 

 is also a careful student and observer and has contributed in this work one 

 of the reliable books in its field. 



Darwin, Charles. The formation of vegetable mould through the action of 

 worms. 362 pp. (D. Appleton and Co., New York, 1892.) A model of 

 the scientific method of attacking a biological problem. 



Blatchley, W. S. Gleanings from nature. 348 pp. (Nature Pubhshing 

 Co., Indianapolis, 1899.) One of the few books that give a popular and at 

 the same time accurate account of our common reptiles. The book contains 

 also observations of many other animals and plants. 



Abbott, Charles C. Upland and meadow. 397 pp. (Harper and Bros., 

 New York, 1886.) A charming book by an author who devoted his life 

 to the study of living organisms as they appeal to the "naturalist" — a type 

 of scientist which has become, temporarily, we may hope, almost extinct.* 



Mayer, Alfred G. Sea-shore life. 181 pp. New York Aquarium Nature 

 Series. (A. S. Barnes and Co., New York, 1906.) A book intended for read- 

 ers who may be unfamiliar with the technical terms in use among specialists. 

 Ever}- dweller or visitor at the sea-shore will find it of interest, though most 

 of the illustrations are of species along the northern Atlantic coast of the 

 United States. 



Uncounted multitudes of species of living organisms have risen 



and then declined in past ages. Their study is far from being the 



dry subject that the word ' 'bones' ' suggests : 



Lucas, F. A. Animals of the past. 258 pp. (McClure, Phillips and Co., 

 New York, 1902.) A very entertainingly written book about a few of the 

 better known or more remarkable of the extinct animals of the ancient world, 

 written partly "to ease the strain on these venerable animals, caused by 

 stretching them so often beyond their due proportions." 



Hutchinson, H. N. Extinct monsters and creatures of other days: a 

 popidar account of some of the larger forms of ancient animal life. 329 pp. 

 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1910.) The field selected by the author is 

 that part of paleontology which is best adapted for arousing and holding 

 the interest of the general reader. Technicalities have been omitted as far 

 as possible. A fairly good idea is given of the progress of animal life through 

 the geologic ages. Copiously illustrated, with many restorations. 



* Good books of travel, exploration, and adventure written by scientists, or by persons 

 who are keen observers of natural phenomena, are fairly numerous. Such are Thomas 

 Belt's The naturalist in Nicaragua (.306 pp., Button and Co., New York, 1911), and Lyell's 

 Travels in North America, but as librarians usually place such books with "travel and de- 

 scription" or some similar classification, no attempt at a selection will be made here. The 

 Academy could do a service by preparing a list of reliable books of this kind. 



