x THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
much advance can be made the specialist student of Nature 
must have contributed his share. 
It is considerations like the above which lead one to view with 
satisfaction the production of such a work as the present, devoted 
to the popularization of a group of animals familiar, unfortunately 
at times too familiar, to all in South Africa. For years the writer 
has made a special study of snakes, their habits and instincts, and 
has done much to popularize a rational interest in them and other 
groups of animals; indeed, it may truly be said that no one in 
South Africa has within recent years more successfully laboured 
to bring the facts of Nature in an attractive form before a people 
naturally responsive to them. It is much to be hoped that the 
book will succeed in stimulating a still wider and more intelligent 
interest in this special group of animals, and also give encourage- 
ment to the production of further works devoted to other groups 
These will then serve as so many means for introducing Nature 
knowledge to the rising generation in an attractive form, as 
well as for supplementing the experience already gained by 
those of more mature age. 
J. E. DUERDEN. 
Rhodes College, Grahamstown, 
Cape Colony. 
