562 NATURAL SCIENCE. oct.. 



four sections, dealing respectively with the everyday life of animals, 

 their internal activities, their forms and structure, and the general 

 theory of animal life. The style is charming, and the language 

 remarkably simple. The appendix urges the reader to turn his 

 attention to Nature itself, gives a carefully selected list of the special 

 works to use, shows him how to commence and proceed. " Begin 

 with domesticated animals and their history," says Mr. Thomson, 

 " enjoy your seaside holiday, . . . form an aquarium, . . . begin a 

 naturalist's year-book, . . . observe the animals you see on your 

 country walks, . . . work out some subject which attracts you." 

 Let the observer thoroughly understand the principles and spirit of 

 investigation expounded in the four sections of the work ; and then he 

 will be prepared to follow these injunctions both with pleasure and 

 profit. 



Whether employed as the basis of University Extension Lectures 

 or independently read, Mr. Thomson's " Study of Animal Life " ought 

 to inaugurate a new era in Field Natural History in this country ; 

 and we hope it will not be long before we are able to chronicle a 

 sensible improvement in the too frequently aimless and pointless 

 " observations " of the local student of the phenomena of living nature. 



The Dispersal of Plants and Animals. 



While simple, comprehensive Handbooks and University 

 Extension Lectures may tend to remove the reproach to which we 

 have just alluded, concrete examples of the valuable contributions to 

 the Philosophy of Biology within the power of ordinary Field 

 Observers, are perhaps more to the point. It is thus with great 

 satisfaction that we are able to refer to some recent publications by 

 two recognised leaders in such research. This year's Presidential 

 Address by the Rev. Leonard Blomefield to the Bath Natural 

 History and Antiquarian Field Club, lately issued, is worthy the close 

 attention of all botanists who would do something more philosophical 

 than merely record the geographical distribution of the various plants 

 in their district. A paper contributed by Mr. Clement Reid to the 

 new number of the Transactions of the Norfolk Naturalists' Society, is still 

 more suggestive both to botanists and zoologists. Mr. Reid, indeed, 

 may almost be said to inaugurate a new line of research, and this 

 will probably lead to interesting and striking results. He treats of 

 the Natural History of isolated ponds, confining himself to those of 

 artificial origin, usually of quite recent date ; and it is astonishing to 

 find how rapidly these small pools of water become stocked with a 

 varied fauna and flora. Certain aquatic animals and plants 

 seem to be transported with the greatest ease ; and the problem is to 

 determine, not only the mode and means of dispersal, but also the 

 effect of changed environment on the organisms concerned. So far 

 as Mr. Reid's observations have extended, it appears that the main 



