EEVIEWS RUGBY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, ETC. 225 



Of these we note one on " Continuous Edges," by H. Weisse, which is 

 highly ingenious and interesting. Others on " Snakes, " by R. C. 

 Cordiner; "Local Names," by H. F. Wilson; and "Autumn Moths," 

 by J. Lea, show good powers of observation. The Rev. T. N. Hutchinson 

 contributes an article on " Corroded Limestone in Yorkshire," illustrated 

 by two beautiful plates drawn on stone by himself. The same contrib- 

 utor has also given a graphical representation of the Meteorology of the 

 year as a frontispiece, but to this the Hthographer has altogether failed 

 to do justice, ^n interesting note on " Beavers in Bute " is illustrated 

 by a humorous papyrograph drawing of " a beaver family engaged in the 

 production of one of their well-known beaver hats," in which we recognise 

 the skilful hand which enriched the 1875 report with some capital 

 drawings of owls. The reports of the section include exhaustive lists of 

 Rugby fossUs, and of insects, birds, and new plants noted during the 

 year. The report concludes with an account of the new Temple 

 Observatory, where Messrs. J. M. Wilson and G. M. Seabroke, assisted 

 by Mr. Percy Smith, will, we hope, long continue the excellent work 

 which they did under the old and cramped conditions. The Observatory, 

 as is well known, contains the Rev. Mr. Dawes' ("eagle-eyed Dawes") 

 magnificent SJin. refractor, Alvan Clarke's masterpiece, which was 

 purchased (a great bargain) byjMr. Wilson, for 400 guineas, and presented 

 by him to the school. Altogether the report shows a most satisfactory 

 state of things, and goes far to explain the numerous distinctions won at 

 the Universities in Natural Science by Rugby boys of late years. If 

 Martin (see " Tom Brown ") ever revisits his old school, his deUght and 

 satisfaction must, we should fancy, be unbounded. — W. J. Haeeisox. 



The BirmingJiam Saturday Half Holiday Guide, with a Map. Third 



Edition for 1878. Birmingham : W. Walker. Price Sixpence. 

 Wk wish there was as useful a guide book to the pleasant and interesting 

 places within easy reach of every large town as the one named above is 

 to the districts to which it relates. The plan of the book is admirable. 

 From Birmingham, as a starting point, the places within easy walking 

 distance surrounding the town are first disposed of ; next, more distant 

 places are described, most, however, being such as may be easily reached 

 by a railway ride. Then follow a series of most excellent and suggestive 

 papers on the Natural History of the locahty, mainly contributed by 

 members of the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society. 

 These articles relate to Botany, Conchology, Entomology, Geology, and 

 Ornithology, while one, which is particularly good, points out the objects 

 easily found which can only be examined by means of the microscope. 

 Boating, Bathing, Bicychng, Cricket, and Fishing, as suitable spoi-ts for 

 half holidays, are next dealt with, and complete one of the cheapest, 

 most useful, handy, and interesting books ever written for the encourage- 

 ment of healthy out-door occupations. The inception and completion of 

 this volume are due to Mr. Joseph Sturge, who has spared no pains to 

 make it a thoroughly trustworthy guide to the hohday seeker. There 

 is a good map (reduced from the ordnance map) of the country for 

 more than twenty-five miles around Birmingham. 



c c 



