^y^ The h'ish Naturalist. [Oct., 



protective devices whereby the entry into the flower, and spoliation of 

 the honey, by insects incapable of rendering assistance in cross-fertilisa- 

 tion is prevented. Here, too, in connection with the Trefoils, we learn 

 something of the extraordinary symbiotic relationship between 

 Leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 



Scene X. is laid ''In the Home of the Alpines" in the English Lake 

 District, and treats of the characteristics of the plants of the high 

 mountains. The size and brilliancy of alpine flowers brings up the 

 general question of the colours of flowers, which is clearly summarised, 

 and references given to other, fuller, sources of information. 



The final Scene of this interesting book transports us into the heart of 

 a great city, to a bare cheerless spot amidst squalid buildings, where the 

 flotsam and jetsam of the city have been shot down in unsightly rubbish- 

 heaps. Truly a strange place to select for a study in wild-flowers ! Yet, 

 under the guidance of our enthusiastic leader, even in this forbidding 

 spot our interest never flags for a moment, and we come away with a 

 fuller comprehension of the reality of that great *' struggle for existence" 

 which is always going on among plants, as among animals, than we 

 could obtain from a visit to fairer and more favoured scenes. 



The volume closes with a useful glossary of technical terms, and a very 

 full index. The proof-reading has been carefully done, only two errors, 

 as far as we have noticed, having escaped correction. In fig. 24 (page 

 83), the reference numbers of the fruiting spikes of the two species of 

 Reseda have unfortunately been transposed ; and on page 234, line 5, the 

 Black Nightshade is, correctly, designated Solatium nigrum, but a few 

 lines further on it is referred to as S. nigra. We may remark, in passing, 

 that ' calyxes' as the plural of * calyx' is scarcely preferable to the more 

 usual calices. 



The work is illustrated by numerous excellent drawings from nature 

 by Miss Praeger, and the seven beautiful plates of " wild-flowers at 

 home," from photographs by Mr. R. Welch, are a particularly attractive 

 and valuable feature. In general ' get up ' the book leaves nothing to 

 be desired, but we fear that the high price— and 7^. (xi. is high for a 

 popularly-written volume of 266 pages, even when the admirable 

 illustrations are taken into account — will seriously interfere with the 



wide circulation which it so thoroughly deserves. 



J. W. Cariu 



