466 NATURAL SCIENCE. Dec , 1893. 



In fine, we can only say of the book to all students of 

 petrography, " get it ! " 



H. J. Johnston-Lavis. 



The Journal of Marine Zoology and Microscopy. Vol. i., no. 1. November 

 1893 [Quarterly]. 8vo. Jersey and London. Price 2s. per annum, post free, 

 or with 14 Microscopical Studies in Marine Zoology, 21s. 



It is unnecessary to call attention to the beautiful microscopical 

 preparations sent out by the Jersey Biological Station, they speak 

 tor themselves ; but it will be interesting to many to learn of a new 

 publication, the chief feature of which will be the illustration and 

 explanation of a yearly series of Messrs. Sinel and Hornell's slides. 

 With this first number are sent out three preparations : Lucemavia ; 

 Tomopteris, the pelagic Annelid; and Salpa mucronata-democvatica. Two 

 plates accompany the descriptions, and though somewhat rough in 

 execution, are amply sufficient for the purpose intended. Mr. 

 Hornell also describes an albino lobster, 14 inches long, taken in St. 

 Aubin's Bay. A list of other albino organisms is given, and a note 

 follows on the colouration of sponges. Some observations on the 

 Octopus are also added, notably information concerning the strength 

 of this mollusc, its food, and the cleansing process of skin-casting 

 from the suckers. The journal consists of 24 pages, the first 14 

 being devoted to the special notes just enumerated. 



The Out-Door World ; or, the Young Collector's Handbook. By W. 

 Furneaux, F.R.G.S. 8vo. Pp. 411, iS plates, and 549 figures. London : 

 Longmans & Co., 1893. Price 7s. 6d. 



Popular books on natural history are so seldom noteworthy for 

 accuracy, that we are glad to draw attention to one that is distinctly 

 above the average. Mr. Furneaux's second title explains the plan 

 adopted, and also accounts for the disproportionate amount of space 

 devoted to certain groups. The volume is divided into three sections: 

 animal life, the vegetable world, and the mineral world ; but three 

 hundred pages are devoted to the first section, which is also much the 

 most satisfactory. Butterflies, moths, and birds' eggs are especially 

 well illustrated, the coloured plates being particularly good for so 

 cheap a volume. Certain of the other groups are not so well done, 

 many of the mollusca, for instance, being scarcely recognisable unless 

 one already knows the species. In a second edition, the botanical 

 portion should be revised. The plan has evidently been altered while 

 the proofs were being corrected, for a chapter on grasses is misplaced, 

 and is illustrated by plates out of the numerical order. We would 

 suggest also that in future editions it would be well to draw attention 

 to the importance of noting the exact date, locality, and conditions 

 under which each specimen was obtained. The recording of these 

 facts is an excellent training for the boy, besides adding greatly to the 

 value of his collection. 



We learn that the first part of Mr. C. Davies Sherborn's " Index to 

 the Genera and Species of the Foraminifera " will appear about the 

 end of this year. This index, which is brought down to December, 

 1889, and which is being published by the Smithsonian Institution, 

 occupied the author over four years, and went to press early in 1890. 

 The second and concluding portion may be expected in 1895. 



