236 The Field Naturalisfs Quarterly Aug. 



refreshing, earnest, and practical. The second edition — which we expect 

 will soon be demanded — will not suffer by some compression. This 

 book will make its way on its merits, which are indisputable, and we 

 congratulate the author and his publishers on giving to the English- 

 speaking public this epitome of an entrancing subject. 



Wild-Bird Protection and Nesting-Boxes. By John R. B. 

 Masefield, M.A. Leeds : Taylor Brothers. Price 5s. 

 This is a delightful book, written by a well-known field naturalist. 

 Mr Masefield is vice-president of the North Staffordshire Field Club, and 

 chairman of its Zoology section, and some of his contributions to the 

 club's annual report are noticed elsewhere. We are particularly glad to 

 draw the attention of our readers to this book just now, since the quest- 

 ion of wild-bird protection is discussed in our pages of this issue, and is 

 one which much engages the thought of field naturalists at the present 

 time. Of the many methods of encouraging the breeding of wild birds 

 in gardens and woods, none are more interesting than those described 

 here by Mr Masefield, and so excellently illustrated. The nine plates 

 show some of the various designs of boxes and brackets that have actually 

 been used by wild birds as nesting-places, and the exact situations on 

 trees or buildings in which they were placed. In addition to this the 

 book contains a full list of the Orders made under the Wild Birds Pro- 

 tection Acts on the application of county councils, with the names of 

 the species protected in each county — a most useful section of the work. 

 The result of the methods described can best be judged by the fact that 

 Mr Masefield mentions no less than thirty-six species of land birds that 

 he has induced to nest in and around his own garden, shrubbery, and 

 buildings, in two or three years. A most delightful record of practical 

 ornithology from the field naturalists' point of view. 



Elementary Physical Geography. By William Morris Davis. 

 Boston and London : Ginn & Co. Price 5s. 6d. 

 This book, by Professor Davis of Harvard University, is a reduction in 

 size of the same writer's ' Physical Geography,' by omitting the more 

 advanced problems, and simplifying the treatment of the remainder. 

 The Atmosphere is, however, treated at greater length than before, and 

 a new chapter added on The Distribution of Plants, Animals, and Man, 

 so that the total bulk is not much less than the original volume. This 

 new chapter is one of the most interesting in the volume, and deals with 

 Life on the Earth, Geographical Factors in the Struggle for Existence, 

 Variation of Plants and Animals, Life in the Seas and on the Lands, 

 Life on the Continents, and Races of Mankind. Life on Islands, and 

 the influence of Climate on Distribution of Plants and Animals as well 

 as on the Customs of Savage Tribes, are headings of thoughtful para- 

 graphs, while Seasons, Mountains, Deserts, and Oases are all allotted 

 their place in the distribution of organic forms. There is an Appendix 

 of references for supplementary reading and references for maps. The 

 original ' Physical Geography ' and this ' Elementary Physical Geography ' 

 are both very serviceable volumes for teachers and students of the subject. 



