Ii8 The Irish Natiiratist. [May, 



The Naturalists' Directory, i899. London: L. Upcott Gill; 



pp. 167. Price is. 



The present issue of this little book is a great improvement on last 

 year's edition. The names of eminent naturalists formerly unaccountably 

 omitted are now inserted, and the list given may claim to be fairly 

 representative of students of the various branches of natural science in 

 the British Islands. We would advise the editor next to turn his 

 attention to the list of magazines. To name only two of the more 

 startling omissions — are the Zeitschrift fur wissenschaftlichc Zootogie and the 

 Archives de Zoologie Experituentale et Generate' not worthy to be mentioned in 

 a list which finds a place for the Sunchildreris Budget ? And we must again 

 raise our humble but decided protest against the insertion of advertise- 

 ments on pages alternating with the text. 



Early Chapters in Science. By Mis. W. Awdry. Edited by 

 Professor W. F. Barrett ; pp. 348, with numerous illustrations. 

 London : John Murray, 1899. Price, 6s. 



This brightly- written little bock is intended, to quote its editor, " to 

 provide young people with an introduction to the two great divisions of 

 Science— biological and experimental -to the world of life and the world 

 of experiment." The first half of the book deals with the form, classifi- 

 cation, and physiology of animals, while plants are discussed in two 

 chapters. Eleven chapters are then devoted to physics, and a concluding 

 chapter to chemistry. It might perhaps have been more satisfactory if 

 the physical sciences, which underlie the science of life, had been dealt 

 with first ; and considering that plants can be more readily studied than 

 animals in a practical waj 7 by young children, botany seems rather 

 restricted as compared with zoology. At the same time there can be no 

 doubt that animals are to most children the most attractive objects in 

 nature ; and we can most warmly commend the bright, natural way in 

 which the outlines of classification are sketched from creatures which can 

 be observed in a garden. The authoress has produced a valuable little 

 book, and it is evident that Professor Barrett has spared no pains to 

 ensure accuracy of statement, having obtained the help of several 

 naturalists in the revision of the different chapters. The original 

 illustrations by Miss Stevenson and Miss Mothersole add both to the 

 attractiveness and usefulness of the volume. 



