84 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly -Feb. 



Nature Studies (Plant-Life). By G. F. Scott Elliot, M.A., B.Sc. 

 London : Blackie & Son. Price 3s. 6d. 



"Every detail in the structure of a plant has both a history and a 

 meaning. My aim has been to point out how the student of nature 

 can follow part of the history and discover the meaning." The book 

 " has been written with the view of helping those non-professional lovers 

 of Nature Study who are really interested in the mystery of plant-life." 

 "All students of plant-life . . . are appalled at botanical language. 

 Too often they obtain the impression that the mere description of a 

 plant, or part of a plant, in scientific terms, constitutes the end, instead 

 of the very beginning, of the Science of Botany." 



The above quotations show clearly the spirit in which this excellent 

 little book has been written, and there is no doubt that the author has 

 put his finger on the weak spot in botanical teaching as a rule. One of 

 the best chapters is that on Microbes, Moulds, and Yeast, in which a 

 very clear description is given of the main functions of these organisms. 

 Mr Elliot classes all the microbes as plants, but in the case of the lower 

 forms it seems better to us to regard them as below both true plants and 

 animals, a group possibly occurring before any differentiation had taken 

 place into plant and animal. Ferns, Fern Allies, and Fossils is the title 

 of another very interesting chapter. The illustrations, some of which are 

 from photographs, are good, and altogether we anticipate that this book 

 will become a favourite with field botanists. 



Observations on Popular Antiquities. By John Brand. London : 

 Chatto & Windus. Price 3s. 6d. 

 One cannot but admire the industry necessary for the compilation of 

 the 800 odd pages of information in this book. An examination on its 

 contents would be a formidable undertaking indeed : but the work is 

 not one to be read and learnt, it is rather a book of reference to a 

 multitude of subjects. It is quite impossible to even mention a tithe of 

 them, but it may be stated generally that they chiefly illustrate the origin 

 of our common customs, ceremonies, and superstitions. Among the 

 saints' days and other festive occasions are some titles which probably 

 very few people know — for example, St Blaze's Day, Hoke Day, St 

 Virus's Day, St Roch's Day, and many others. The associations of all 

 these are dealt with in a most interesting manner. A number of 

 Marriage Customs, Customs at Deaths, and Drinking Customs are 

 explained ; whilst another section deals with a large number of Sports 

 and Games, and their origin and significance. Field Naturalists, who of 

 all people are apt to interest themselves in the customs of their respective 

 counties, will find this book a veritable mine of curious and out-of-the- 

 way information. 



Open-Air STUDIES. By Prof. Grenville Cole. London : Griffin & Co. 



Price 8s. 6d. 



This is an introduction to field geology, the kind of work that we 



have often been asked for by field naturalists. The first chapter is chiefly 



a reminder of what may have been learnt at school, but if not, must be 



