2 o8 THE NA TURE- S TUD Y RE VIE IV [, : 7_oct., 1907 



last strongly flavors of the sentimental attitude, which is clearly shown in the 

 vague paragraphs headed ^'standpoints with regard to the child;" and in various 

 quotations, (page 44) "we desire to help the children in this process of 

 spiritual evolution without detracting from the wonder of the phenomena by 

 any questions or explanations which may destroy vigor of mind;" (page 

 139) in describing a burning log, "our beautiful fir-tree was giving us back 

 the little sunbeams which it had stored up during its life in the forest;" (page 

 6) where the fruit of the plane tree is called "Nature's own little ball on a 

 string" (Children under nine would not voluntarily and understandingly 

 use the word "Nature," nor would the word, if given by the teacher, add 

 anything to the child's pleasure in the ball and string idea). Such lessons as 

 those given on pages 49, 59, 90, and 92 indicate that too much time is 

 spent on details and that the teachers talk too much. 



As to the illustrations, it is probably not too severe a criticism to say that 

 the book as a nature-study book gains little by their use. Miss Latter is so 

 fond of her *'tinies," as she calls them, that she fails to recognize the same- 

 ness of many of the illustrations; or the lack of force or appropriateness in some 

 of the titles of pictures, such as the quotation "There are more things in 

 heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in our philosophy" under the picture 

 entitled "transplanting carrots" on page 87; or the one opposite page 166 

 (a child sleeping) where "gentle sleep" takes too prominent a part for live 

 nature-study work and the wide-open mouth of the child suggests to medical 

 readers a case of adenoids demanding immediate attention, rather than any 

 other title. 



Teachers College, Jean BroaDHURST 



Columbia University. 



Entomology with Reference to its Biological and Economic 



Aspects. By J. T. Folsom, Philadelphia: Blakiston. 1906, pp. 485, 

 300 figs. ,<g3.oo. 



This new book does not compete with the well-known Comstock's 

 "Manual of Insects" and Keljogg's "American Insects," for these give 

 great attention to classification while Dr. Folsom emphasizes biological and 

 economic relations as illustrated by common insects. Although intended as 

 a text-book for students specializing on insects, it is well adapted to general 

 readers who want a fairly complete account of the general biology of insects. 



Half Hours with Mammals. By Charles Holder. New York: 

 American Book Company, 253 pp., ill. 60 cents. 



In this, the latest addition to the series of Eclectic Readings, the story of 

 the mammals has been presented in simple and untechnical language, and in 



