204 REVIEWS. 



Bancroft's Works : History of California. Vol. I. By 



Hubert Howe Bancroft. 8vo, pp. Ixxxviii.— 744. (London : Trubner and Co. 

 San Francisco : The History Publishing Co.) 



We have before us the first volume of another Section of the works of this great 

 historian. This volume traces the history of California from its discovery in 1542 

 to 1800. The author gives a long bibliographical list of works consulted, followed 

 by accounts of the discovery of California, the origin of the name, the founding of 

 Missions, etc., the succession of rulers, and the progress of industries, institutions, 

 and events. The amount of research exhibited in the production of these volumes 

 is truly astounding. 



Brean Down. Festivals and Events of 200 years ago. By 



Silver Spur. Crown 8vo, pp. 82. (Bristol: William F. Mack.) 



Visitors to Weston-super-Mare will be interested in reading this little book ; it 

 contains a short history of many years of events in the locality. There is evidently 

 more meaning than at first sight appears in the account of the family once owning 

 the promontory and other extensive estates, which perhaps time will unravel. 



The proposed harbour on Brean Down, the bill for which we believe has been 

 passed, will no doubt add very considerably to the value of the property, and we 

 trust that the unfortunate family, a brief sketch of whose history we have before us, 

 may be benefitted. 



The Indians : Their Manners and Customs. By John Mc- 

 Lean, M.A., Ph.D. Crown 8vo, pp. 351. (Toronto, Canada: William Briggs. 

 1889.) Price Si. 



Dr. McLean has spent nine years among the Blood Indians of the Canadian 

 North- West, studying their language, customs, mythology, and traditions ; he has 

 also collected a good library of books on the Indians, and has studied with enthusi- 

 asm among the lodges everything pertaining to the life and labour of the Red Men 

 of the West. He tells us that " the strange life of the dwellers in the lodges, the 

 wonderful mythology and traditions, and the peculiar customs which are peculiarly 

 their own, reveal to us a civilisation which is fascinating, and yet but little under- 

 stood." There are 18 full-page illustrations. 



"Zummerzet" Rhymes. Crown 8vo, pp. vi. — 123. (London : 



Houlston and Sons. Bridgewater : E. T. Page.) 



Some very amusing poems in the West Somersetshire dialect. Three authors 

 contribute to these Poems : "Jan." ("O. P. Q. Philander Smiff") writes seven 

 poems, giving incidents in his life ; a dozen by '' Pommy Nutty," on various sub- 

 jects ; these are followed by others by the late James Jennings. 



W. p. Collins' Catalogue of Scientific Books : Crypto- 



GAMI.\. (London : W. P. Collins, 157 Gt. Portland Street. June, 1888.) 



A very complete collection of Cryptogamic books is here offered. I*- appears 

 to contain most of the great Monographs of Lhrenberg, Smith, Schmidt, Van 

 lleurck, etc. etc., to the smallest pamphlets published on the subject. To those 

 desirous of forming a library of Cryptogamic Botany, a good opportunity is now 

 afforded them. We notice also that Mr. Collins is offering two Vols, of "Studies in 

 Microscopical Science," edited by Arthur C. Cole, for two guineas, original price, 

 /"4 4s. ; and a few copies of the '' International Scientist's Directory," 1882, for 

 2S. 6d., a most useful book, and originally published at five times the amount. 



Report as to the Best System for the Maintenance of Main 



Roads, in the County of Hertford. By Urban A, Smith, County Surveyor of 

 Highways. — Contains information which will doubtless prove useful to surveyors 

 generally. 



Exchange. — Smith's Diatomaceae, Vol. I.; Beal's Micro, in 



Medicine ; Baker's Employment for the Micro., original plates, 1753 "> ^oss' F. Eye- 

 piece ; 12 quarterly parts, P.M.J., 1882-3-4-5 ; 12 slides test diatoms, scales, etc. 

 What offers?— J. E. Lord, Rawtenstall. 



