1896. SOME NEW BOOKS. 129 



any two faces, such as (2 3 4) and (5 6 7) can form a zone, and if two sets 

 of any three whole numbers be taken, it is not true that the ratios of 

 two numbers of each set are in general the same. 



Instructions are given and " nets " provided for the making of 

 crystal-models illustrative of the chief forms and of the crystals which 

 the student meets with during the lessons ; these will do good service. 

 We are less sanguine regarding the utility of the appendix on the 

 blowpipe determination of minerals. 



Arrangements have been made for issuing a small set of specimens 

 and apparatus for use with the book ; these consist of appropriate 

 crystals of common substances to illustrate each crystalline system,, 

 and of simple materials for illustrating crystallographic optics and 

 thermal conductivity. The set will doubtless be of use to students 

 who have to study without assistance, or who are unable to obtain 

 the requisite common minerals. W. J. Pope. 



Selborne for Children. 



The Natural History of Selborne. By Gilbert White, with an Introduction 

 by Edward S.Morse. Abridged. 8vo. Pp. xvi., 251. Boston: Ginn & Co., 

 i8g6. 



Good wine needs no bush, and Gilbert White no commendation. 

 We may, however, notice the handy little edition of the " Natural 

 History of Selborne," which Messrs. Ginn and Co. have just published 

 in their series entitled " Classics for Children." A gentleman at the 

 British Museum has lately had the enterprise to produce a volume 

 entitled, we believe, " The Brownings for Babes." We suppose that 

 it will not be long before we have " Boethius for Boys " and " Newman 

 for the Nursery." In the present series, among the familiar Andersen, 

 Grimm, and Goldsmith, are to be observed such unexpected authors 

 as Lord Chesterfield, Epictetus, Samuel Johnson, and Marcus 

 Aurelius. For our American nephews and nieces we will not venture 

 to speak, but if our own English children are to be considered, this 

 series demands a precocity which we fear they do not possess. 

 Gilbert White, however, is an author whose introduction into the 

 school-room, or, we should prefer to say, the play-room, can produce 

 none but good effects. Complaints have of late years been numerous 

 that the observant naturalist of the old school is dying out, and is 

 being replaced by the section-cutter and the planter of phylogenetic 

 shrubberies. Collectors are turning their attention from butterflies, 

 birds' eggs, and fossils, to posters and postage stamps, being, we 

 suppose, frightened by the extensive learning now required of those 

 who would pursue the paths of science. We must endeavour to re- 

 capture this wasted energy, and without making the claims of science 

 less, to make the love of nature more. As a helper in so worthy an 

 attempt, we welcome this clearly-printed and not over-annotated 

 edition of Gilbert White's famous letters. The country parson is 

 left to speak for himself, with the omission of " certain passages 

 objectionable on account of the plainness of the language, many 

 Latin words, phrases, and quotations, and a few paragraphs of no 

 special worth or interest to the reader of the present day." The 

 explanation of such Latin words and scientific terms as inevitably 

 remain is left to the teacher or parent. Incorporated with the letters 

 are some passages usually printed separately under the heading of 

 " Observations on Nature." Thus the author is made his own 

 commentator. 



