REVIEWS. 115 



European Butterflies and Moths. Cr. 4to. (London 



Cassell and Co.) 



Parts I to 7 of this very important work have reached us. Each number 

 contains a superbly coloured plate showing the butterflies in all their stages, 

 together with the food plants of the larvae. No. i contains also a plain plate 

 describing very thoroughly the anatomy of the Lipidoptera. The parts are 

 pubhshed monthly at 6d. each. 



The Birds about us. By Charles Conrad Abbott, M.D. 

 8vo, pp. 288. (Philadelphia, U.S.A. : J. B. Lippincott Co. 1895.) 



A thoroughly interesting book is now before us. In the introduction, 

 comprising about a dozen pages, the author gives a pleasing history of bird-life 

 generally, and hopes that the book may add something towards the growing 

 disposition to cultivate rather than persecute our feathered friends. There are 

 25 chapters, in which the different families of birds are very interestingly des- 

 cribed. We find, also, there are 24 plates, principally showing nests and 

 homes of birds, and 50 illustrations in the text. 



A Dictionary of Birds. By Alfred Newton, assisted by 

 Hans Gadow and others. Part 3. 8vo, pp. 577 — 832. (London: Adam and 

 Charles Black. 1894.) Price j^jS. 



This part reached us just as we were going to press. It covers from Moa 

 to Sheathbill, and gives besides descriptions of those birds whose names fall 

 between these letters, very good articles on the Muscular and Nervous Sys- 

 tems, Nidification, etc. With the publishers' permission we shall hope to refer 

 to this interesting work again. 



The Earth : An Introduction to the Study of Inorganic 

 Nature. By Evan W. Small. Cr. 8vo, pp. viii. — 220. (London : Methuen 

 and Co. 1894.) Price 2/6. 



One of the University Extension series contains the substance of a course 

 of lectures delivered in various centres during the winters of 1884 — 90. They 

 are well adapted for the general reader who wishes to gain a knowledge of the 

 more striking phenomena of the earth. The subjects treated of are, The Earth 

 as a Planet ; The Materials of the Earth ; Work and Energy ; How the 

 Materials of the Earth's Crust were formed ; and the Evolution of the Earth. 

 There are a number of illustrations. 



Ponds and Rock Pools, with hints for collecting and the 

 management of the Micro-Aquarium. By Henry Scherren. Cr. 8vo, pp. 208. 

 (London : Religious Tract Society. 1894.) Price 2/6. 



The chapters in this book have been considerably enlarged from the pages 

 of The Leisure Hour, in which they originally appeared. They treat of Pond 

 and Rock-Pool Hunting ; The Beginning of Life ; Sponges and Stinging 

 Animals ; Worms ; Star-Fishes, Arthropods, and Molluscs ; and The Micro- 

 Aquarium. There are 66 illustrations. 



A Pocket Flora of Edinburgh and the surrounding District. 

 By C. O. Sonntag. Fscap. 8vo, pp. xii. — 246. (London : Williams and 

 Norgate. 1894.) 



We have here a collection.and full description of the Phanerogamic and 

 the principal Cryptogamic plants classified after the Natural System, with an 

 Artificial Key and a Glossary of Botanical terms, besides a folding map of the 

 County of Edinburgh and surrounding district. 



This little book has been compiled with much care, a great number of 

 localities favoured by the individual plants are given, the author only specially 

 indicating his own in the case of rare plants. Botanists, especially those living 

 in the locality, will find this an invaluable pocket companion. 



