REVIEWS. 249 



The object of the author of this little book has been to bring all, and espe- 

 cially young people, who may read it, to the rational conclusion and firm 

 resolve, that in whatever form, as an article of "diet," of luxury, or as a 

 beverage, alcohol is tiseless and Iniytfid^ and that they will not take it. 



Food Materials and their Adulterations. By Ellen H. 



Richards. Cr. 8vo, pp. 183. (Boston, U.S.A. : Estes and Lauriat. 1886.) 



We are told that the book before us is compiled from various sources, and 

 is the work of ten years' experience in laboratory examination of food. Mrs. 

 Richards is a strong believer in vegetable diet, and tells of a young woman 

 who lived and flourished for a whole year on Indian corn-meal cooked in 

 various ways, with only one dinner a-week at a friend's house, and that her 

 whole living did not exceed $10, or about two guineas, a year. 



Microbes, Ferments, and Moulds. By E. L. Trouessart. 



Cr. 8vo, pp. xi. — 314. (London : Kegan, Paul, Trench, and Co. 1886.) 

 Price 5s. 



This useful volume of the "International Scientific Series" enters very fully 

 into the subject of Microbes. It is divided into eleven chapters. Chapter I. 

 treats of Parasitic Fungi and Moulds : their habitat, station, and destructive 

 habit, parasitic fungi of the skin and of insects. Chapter II. treats of fer- 

 ments and artificial fermentation. Chapters III., IV,, V., and VI. treat of 

 Microbes, strictly so called, or Bacteria, the Microbes of the Diseases of 

 Animals, of Human Diseases, and of Protection against them. Chapter VII. 

 is a valuable one, describing the methods of laboratory research and culture of 

 Microbes. The work contains 107 illustrations. 



The Romance of Natural History. By Philip Henry 



Gosse, F.R.S. First and Second Series. Cr. 8vo, pp. xiv. — 344 and 363. 

 (London : J. Nisbet and Co. 1886.) Price 3s. 6d. each. 



The wonderful and entertaining stories contained in these volumes have 

 much interested us. They embrace natural history in all its varied phases, arid 

 are illustrated by some 24 plates. No one reading these books will be likely 

 to vote natural history a dull study. 



Our Fancy Pigeons and Rambling Notes of a Naturalist : A 



Record of Fifty Vears' Experience in Breeding, and Observation of Nature. 

 By George Ure. Cr. 8vo, pp. xvi. — 282. (Dundee : James P. Matthews and 

 Co. London: vSimpkin, Marshall, and Co. 1886.) Price 6s. 



Mr. Ure is not only a "fancier" in the way that that term is generally 

 used ; he is thoroughly a naturalist, and the volume before us is interspersed 

 with interesting anecdotes and notes. Chapter IV., on Shows and Showmen, 

 abounds with admirable advice, and is specially worth reading. The last 70 

 or 80 pages are devoted to our native song-birds and other more common 

 species. The volume is illustrated with six nicely-engraved plates. 



Upland and Meadow. By Charles C. Abbott, M.D. Crown 



8vo, pp. viii. — 397. (New York : Harper Bros. 1886.) 



Dr. Abbott is a naturalist, and one who possesses the rare gift of descrip- 

 tion and the al:)ility of making his readers perceive the scenes and curiosities 

 almost as if he were guiding them at the spot. He tells us that "To realise 

 what a wealth of animal and vegetable life is ever at hand for him who chooses 

 to study it, let a specialist visit you for a few days. Do not have more than 

 one at a time, or you may be bewildered by their enthusiasm. I have had 



