72 NATURAL SCIENCE. JAN., 1893. 
is maintained both in the text and illustrations. We notice that 
Casuarina now figures as a tribe of Conifers, though with a query, and 
the remark that wherever placed they constitute a distinct group, which 
has been compared on as good grounds with the Cryptogams. We 
regret that the author has followed the change of nomenclature 
recently introduced by Kuntze, which substitutes Podocarpus, the 
accepted name ofa large and well-known genus, for the equally well- 
known, but very different, Phyllocladus, makes the Sequoia an Arthrotaxis, 
and for Welwitschia writes Tumboa. : 
Dr. P. L. Scrater has issued a privately-printed New List of Chilian 
Birds, compiled by the late Harry Berkeley James. Some time ago 
Messrs. Sclater and James agreed to co-operate in the preparation of 
a work on the Birds of Chili, as a companion volume to Sclater and 
Hudson’s Argentine Ornithology. The lamented death of Mr. James 
last July arrested progress, and his preliminary list of birds, com- 
piled as a basis for the work, is now published by Dr. Sclater, and 
prefaced by a short biographical notice. 

Messrs. GrorGE Puitip & Son’s Child-Life Almanac (price 1s.) will 
interest not only children, but nature-lovers of all ages. The aim is 
to provide kindergarten teachers with suggestions for lessons and 
observations. The recurring facts of natural history, and the prin- 
cipal events in the social, political, and intellectual life of the country, 
will serve as pegs on which to hang instruction. The idea is well 
carried out. The twelve sheets, each 11 X 8 inches, record not only 
a goodly number of events of common or special interest, but also in 
a parallel column, a list of phenological observations, the times of 
appearing of flowers, birds, and insects, of the singing or departure of 
the birds, the leafing or leaf-fall of our common trees, and many 
other facts which should be of interest. Hints are also given as to 
out-of-door work available for the time of year, and general observa- 
tions on pond-life, moth-hunting, bees, or gardening. 
Finally, two prizes of a guinea, one for adults and one for 
children, are offered for the most complete set of phenological notes 
for 1893, prepared from actual observation, confirming or supple- 
menting those of the almanac. We hope Messrs. Philip will receive 
a goodly number of sets. Efforts to increase the interest in the study 
of Nature deserve support. The almanac is very neatly arranged and 
printed in a somewhat effective cover. 
