128 REVIEWS. 



discovery of the origin, and historical records with the common names are also 

 important, though by no means infallible. M. de Candolle gives an extensive 

 list of 240 plants, discussing their origin in each case, and arranging them under 

 the heads of plants cultivated for their subterranean parts, for their stems and 

 leaves, their flowers, their fruit, and their seeds. 



The Orchids of New England : A Popular Monograph. By 



Henry Baldwin; pp. 159. (New York : John Wiley and Sons. 1884.) 



This work, well and profusely illustrated, has evidently been a labour of 

 love to the author. He has plucked with his own fingers all the specimens of 

 which he speaks, and seen with his own eyes the exquisite forest-nooks which 

 he so graphically describes. The curious flowers of which the book treats, with 

 their peculiar modes of fertilisation, are well described in popular language, 

 enriched with quaint fancies and charming scraps of poetry. New England 

 appears to possess more plants of this order than our own country, especially in 

 the genus Habenaria, of which they have thirteen species, while we have but 

 three ; and, on the contrary, the beautiful and quaint forms of the bee and fly 

 orchids seem to be absent from the New England flora. This choice work 

 deserves a place in our libraries. 



Studies in Life. By H. Sinclair Paterson, M.D. ; pp. 187. 



(London: Hodder and Stoughton. 1884.) 



The author of the book before us unmistakeably shows us that the book of 

 Nature and the book of Scripture are in harmony with each other. This fact 

 is well argued out in the eight chapters into which the work is divided, viz. : — 

 Nature and the Study of Nature ; Life and its Characteristics ; The Origin of 

 Life ; Varieties of Life ; The Record of Life ; The Natural History of Life ; 

 Enemies of Life ; and Results of Life. Having led the reader on by these 

 easy stages, he concludes by the statement that " Nature craves for a Revela- 

 tion, and the revelation which God has given us in Scripture explains, com- 

 pletes, and dignifies the lessons which we have learned in the lower school." 

 Too much cannot well be said in commendation of this little book, the price of 

 which is only one shilling. We hope to notice two others of the same series in 

 our next. 



Helps to Health : The Habitation, the Nursery, the School- 

 room, and the Person ; with a Chapter on Pleasure and Health Resorts. By 

 Henry C. Burdett. With 19 illustrations; pp. X. — 252. (London: Kegan 

 Paul, Trench, and Co. 1885.) 



The aim of the present volume is to give with sufficient amplitude, but in 

 the fewest possible words, precise information concerning matters which affect 

 the health and comfort of every class, from childhood to old age. This has 

 been well carried out in the book before us. Several chapters are devoted to 

 the Choice, the Structure, the Interior arrangements, and the Ventilation of 

 the House. The author's purpose has been well carried out, and the book will 

 doubtless be welcomed by the housekeeper. 



The Diet Question, giving the Reason Why. By Susannah 

 W. Dodds, M.D. ; pp. 99. (New Vork : Fowler, Wells, and Co. 1884.) 



This little book is taken from a larger work, entitled " Health in 

 the Household, or Hygienic. Cookery," and strongly advocates food reform, in 

 which all kinds of animal foods are to be utterly renounced, preference being 

 given to Fruits and to " Whole Meal," prepared in various ways. 



