1902 The Field Naturalist's Library 235 



plants), and lastly Bacteria. Perhaps the most interesting chapters 

 to the general biological reader are the three dealing with Reproduction 

 and Breeding, in which the phenomenon which we know as Heredity is 

 discussed, and in which many examples are given of the results of self- 

 fertilisation, cross-fertilisation, hybridisation, variations in offspring, 

 rexersion or " throwing-back," and degeneration of varieties. These 

 are problems which are much in the biological air at present, and we 

 advise those who wish to get a clear description of these phenomena in 

 the plant world to carefully study these chapters. Every cultivator of 

 flowers, fruits, or crops should possess this valuable book. It well 

 deserves the success it has already met with. 



Nature Study and Life. By Clifton F. Hodge, Ph.D. London : 

 Ginn & Co. Price 7s. 



A treatise such as this, consisting of over 500 pages and illustrated 

 with nearly 200 sketches and pictures, written by a teacher to teachers 

 and scholars, deserves the name of an epitome of the subject. The 

 binding and letterpress are in good style, and the illustrations are par- 

 ticularly good in the section dealing with insect life. 



Mr Hodge's work is on sound pedagogical lines ; and, indeed, it 

 would be less than just were the pioneer work of America in this branch 

 of literature not frankly acknowledged. 



The subject of Nature Study has exercised the teaching profession on 

 this side of the Atlantic for years. What to leave out is a troublous 

 question ; while what to include, and how to do it, is perhaps an even 

 more difficult problem. Mr Hodge's book goes a long way towards the 

 direct solution of both these questions, and is full of suggestiveness. 



To know things, he advocates, is better than to know about things ; 

 and to know things at first hand is better than to know them only as 

 illustrations, however well shown, in class lessons. He rightly places 

 the book of Nature first and perhaps alone, as the teacher's guide. 

 Consequently the keeping of pets by children is regarded as of high 

 importance in bringing the child into sympathy with nature. The home 

 and how to support it and beautify it with the products of cultivation ; 

 how to rid these and protect them from the inroads of pests ; the life-history 

 of these pests, and what conduces to their superabundant propagation ; 

 sanitation in relation to plant and animal life as aiding or militating 

 against human existence ; taming animals, common and uncommon, — 

 all these are made the subjects of lucid remark, philosophic observation, 

 and — not least — of practical laboratory instruction. The guidance 

 given on bee-keeping, school gardens, grafting and budding, the mount- 

 ing of insects and the preservation of specimens (although " mounting " 

 and " specimen " do not occur in an Index generally good) is deserving 

 of high praise. 



The opening chapter of " The Point of View " might well have been 

 compressed into a two-page introduction, and the Introduction, as it 

 stands, omitted. The titling of paragraphs, stricter regard to style, and 

 the inclusion of certain charts and tables in an appendix instead of in the 

 body of the text, would enhance the charm of a work which is thoroughly 



