78 



well spare. The present work, however, is a worthy representa- 

 tive of its class, and will certainly serve a useful purpose in 

 directing the attention of many to the remarkable contrivances for 

 defence and other purposes occurring in the organic world. It is 

 quite impossible in a short review to give an adequate idea of the 

 very varied character of the multitude of facts dealt with, but 

 some notion of the scope of the book may be obtained, perhaps, by 

 a reference to the titles of the eight principal sections. These 

 are as follows : — " Sextons and Scavengers " (Burying Beetles, 

 and Scarabs); "False Pretences" (Devil's Coach-horse pretending 

 to be a scorpion, etc.) ; " Plants that go to sleep " ; " Masquerades 

 and Disguises " (real and false Hornets, Bees, etc.) ; " Some 

 Strange Nurseries " (Stickleback's nest, etc.) ; " Animal and 

 Vegetable Hedgehogs " (Hedgehogs, Cacti, Sea-urchins, etc.) ;, 

 " The Day of the Canker-Worm " (the seventeen -year Cicada). 

 Although it is not a book on microscopy, it is not at all a bad 

 book for microscopists among others, and the excellent illustra- 

 tions by Mr. Enock will certainly be viewed with pleasure by his 

 very many friends among the members of the Q.M.C. — D. J. S. 



Handbook of Practical Botany. By Dr. E. Strasburger. 



Translated and edited by W. Hillhouse, M.A. Fifth edition : 



re-written and enlarged. 8| x 5g in., xxxii + 519 pages, 



162 figures in the text. London, 1900 : Swan Sonnenschein 



& Co. Price 10s. 6d. 



To those who have given even a slight amount of attention to 



the study of Structural Botany at any time during the last 



fifteen years, " Strasburger's Practical Botany " will need no 



recommendation from us. They will have been forced to refer 



to it in some way or another, and to use the book is to learn to 



appreciate it. It may not be so well known to microscopists 



generally, however, that this book, apart from its excellence 



as a botanical text-book, is also one of the best introductions 



to practical microscopy that can be mentioned. It is crowded 



from beginning to end with all kinds of valuable hints as to the 



preparation and microscopical examination of vegetable structures, 



and it would scarcely be going too far to assert that any one 



who conscientiously followed the instructions given and verified 



the points referred to, would have obtained no inconsiderable 



