308 REVIEWS. 



The instructions here given, which take the form of talks with young 

 children, are in language so plain as to be understood by all old enough to 

 appreciate a lecture on botany, and sufficiently interesting to secure their 

 attention. 



Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien. By A. Engler. Parts 

 131 to 135. (London : Williams and Norgate. Leipzig : Wilhelm Engel- 

 niann. 1896.) 



These parts contain the Rutaceae, Simarubaceas, and Burseraceae, by A. 

 Engler ; Labiateas, by J. Briquet ; and Meliaceae, by H. Harms. In these 

 numbers there are no illustrations, comprising 1082 figures and i fine photo- 

 gravure plate. The price of these numbers is 3/-^ or by subscription 1/6. 



A Handbook to the Birds of Great Britain. Vol. III. 

 By R. Bowdler Sharpe, Ll.D. Cr. 8vo, pp. xiii. — 338. (London : W. H. 

 Allen and Co. 1896.) Price 6/- 



This vol. of Allen's Naturalists' Library continues the description of the 

 order Anseriformes, and further describes the following orders : — Ardeiformes, 

 Gruiformes, and Charadriiformes. It contains also 35 coloured plates. 



The Evolution of Bird-Song, with Observations on the 

 Influence of Heredity and Imitation. By Charles A. Witchell. Cr. 8vo, 

 pp. X. — 253. (London: A. and C. Black. 1896.) Price 5/- 



Mr. Witchell, author of " The Fauna of Gloucestershire," has given the 

 bird-lover much to interest him. The various chapters treat of The Origin of 

 the Voice ; Alarm-Notes ; The Influence of Combat ; The Call-Note ; The 

 Simplest Songs ; The Influence of Heredity in the Perpetuation of the Cries 

 of Birds, etc. etc. ; and in the Appendix we have Transcripts of Music sung by 

 Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Skylarks. 



Chats about British Birds. By J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. Cr. 

 8vo, pp. 209. (London : George Gill and Sons.) Price 2/6. 



In the sixteen chapters into which the book is divided, Mr. Tutt gives us a 

 lot of most interesting and instructive reading. Every page is full of informa- 

 tion. There are also nearly 100 full-page and other illustrations, and the book 

 is very nicely got up. 



Our Country's Butterflies and Moths and How to Know 

 Them : A Guide to the Lepidoptera of Great Britain. By W. J. Gordon. 

 Cr. 8vo, pp. viii. — 150. (London : Day and Son, and Simpkin, Marshall, 

 Hamilton, and Kent. ) Price 6/- 



This is an admirable book for the identification of Butterflies and Moths, 

 its object being to enable the collector to name the specimens he may meet 

 with, so that he may refer more readily to the fuller descriptions in the many 

 other works on the subject. It contains coloured plates giving 1,000 examples 

 of Lepidoptera, by H. Lynn, and many original diagrams. No young collector 

 should be without this book. 



A Handbook TO the Order Lepidoptera. By W. F. Kirby, 

 F. L.S. , F.Ent. S., etc. Butterflies, Vol. 2. Crown 8vo, pp. xxiii. — 332. 

 (London : W. H. Allen and Co. 1896.) Price 6/- 



This vol. of •' Allen's Naturalists' Library " completes the survey of the 

 Butterflies, with the exception of the Hesperiidce, which will be published in 

 the third volume. In the present volume are 31 coloured plates, giving full- 

 sized representations of some 70 or 80 species. Many interesting observations 

 on habits, etc., will be found scattered through the book. 



