64 REVIEWS. 



A Year with the Birds. By W. Warde Fowler. Crown 

 8vo, pp. xvi. — 265. (London : ^Nlacmillan and Co. 1889.) Price 3s. 6d. 



The aim of the author of this interesting book has been to help those who 

 love birds, but know little about them, to realise something of the enjoyment 

 which he has gained from the habit of watching for and listening to his favour- 

 ites. His study of birds has been chiefly carried on in Oxford, in a village 

 situate in the Midlands, and a well-known district of the Alps. In the index 

 the scientific names of the birds are given. 



Iris : Studies in Colour and Talks about Flowers. By Franz 

 Delitzsch, D.D. Translated from the original by the Rev. A. Cusin, M.A. 

 8vo, pp. 227. (Edinburgh : T. and T. Clark. 1889.) Price 6s. 



The author tells us that he can scarcely remember the time when he was 

 not irresistibly drawn to observe the refraction of light and to muse on the 

 language of colours. These themes have been collected under the emblemati- 

 cal name. Iris. 



The book is divided into 12 chapters or sections, and treat of The Blue of 

 the vSky ; Black and White ; Purple and Scarlet ; Gossip about Flowers and 

 their Perfumes, etc. etc. 



Our Cats and all About Them : Their Varieties, Habits, 



and Management, and for Show. By Harrison Weir, F.R. H.S. Crown 8vo, 

 pp. viii. — 248. (Tunbridge Wells : R. Clements and Co. 1889.) 



We have before us a most interesting work, and are assured by the author 

 that it is the outcome of over fifty years' careful and thoughtful observation, 

 combined with much research. Mr. Weir, who certainly ought to know, tells 

 us that the small or large dog may be regarded and petted, but is generally 

 useless ; the cat, whether a pet or not, ?V 0/ service. Were it not for our cats, 

 rats and mice would overrun our houses, buildings, and lands. If there were 

 not 77iillio7is of cats, there would be billions of vermin. The standard of 

 excellence and beauty with respect to cats is here described and pictured. 



The Brook and its Banks. By the Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A. 



Small 4to, pp. 319. (London : Religious Tract Society.) Price 6s. 



This is, we are told, one of the last books from the facile pen of the Rev. 

 J. G. Wood. The plan of the book is worked out with all the vivacity of style 

 and copiousness of anecdote and personal experience for which the late ]^Ir. 

 W^ood was so justly noted. The reader is conducted along the banks of an 

 English brook, and taught in the pleasantest of ways how to discover and 

 observe many living creatures which live either in the water or along its banks. 



The volume is handsomely got up and well illustrated. 



Flower-Land : An Introduction to Botany. By Robert 

 Fisher, M.A. Post 8vo, pp. viii. — 240. (London : Bemrose and Sons. 

 1889.) Price 4s. 6d. 



Readers of this little book may hope to find in it a sound, if only an ele- 

 mentary knowledge of Flowering Plants. It is also arranged so as to serve as 

 an introduction to more advanced text-books for those who wish to enter more 

 thoroughly into the science. We quite agree with the author in strongly advis- 

 ing both teachers and pupils to study the book with the actual plants alluded 

 to in the hand at the time. A pocket magnifier will prove an additional help. 

 The book is very nicely illustrated. 



The Preparation and Mounting of Microscopic Objects. 



By Thomas Davies. Edited by John Matthews, M.D., F.R. M.S., etc. 



