1 903 The Field Naturalist's Library 1 8 1 



AvicULTURAL MAGAZINE for March. It is by \V. P. Pycraft. The 

 plates accompanying this article are the most helpful things on this 

 subject we have seen. 



The most important contributions to the NATURALIST of late are 

 Notes on Holderness Birds, by T. Petch (February); North Lancashire 

 Botanical Notes in 1902, by S. Lister Petty (March) ; Mosses and 

 Hepatics of Baugh Fell, by W. Ingram (March); West Yorkshire 

 Botanical Notes, by L. Rotheray (April) ; Beavers in Yorkshire, by 

 H. Speight (April) ; and Northern Mosses, by Rev. C. H. Binstead. 

 There are other numerous papers of value and local interest. 



NATURE Study for March and April contains articles on the Pine- 

 bark Beetle by E. \V. Swanton (illustrated), and on Meteorology, Ge- 

 ology, Mollusca, and Entomology, these latter being in the department 

 of Nature Study Handbooks. We were under the impression that sheep 

 became infected with the liver-fluke by eating grass upon which the 

 parasite was encysted, rather than by swallowing the water- snail in 

 which the earlier stages of the fluke are passed. 



The Animals' Friend for March contains an article entitled "Humble 

 Helpers," by " E. C," which deals with the part played by snakes in keep- 

 ing the balance of nature. We are very glad to see the writer regretting 

 the craze for killing our harmless reptiles. It is a pity that the article is 

 spoilt by inaccuracies, such as the statement that " the viper does not 

 carry with him a dose of poison powerful enough to kill a healthy man 

 or even child." A reference to the literature of the subject would have 

 prevented the error, which might have the effect of causing some persons 

 to be very careless in handling the viper. " E. C." also states that 

 " vipers have been frequently tamed, and in this condition never injure 

 those whom they have learnt to trust." We have kept as many vipers 

 as most people, and have never known one yet that became tame or 

 amenable to kind treatment ; on the contrary, they are most dangerously 

 treacherous in captivity in our experience. The ring snake, on the 

 other hand, becomes most sociable under similar conditions. 



The Naturalist's Library Guide is a new quarterly magazine 

 edited by Percival Westell, which is intended to bring under the notice 

 of naturalists the publications of the quarter. These, both books and 

 magazines, are reviewed. In fact the 'Guide' is precisely on the lines 

 of the Library column in this journal, except that a column for ex- 

 changes is added. We wish it all success, but doubt whether there 

 will be sufficient support for a natural science review pure and simple, 

 without articles as well. The price is 6d. 



