46 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8 :1— Jan., 1912 



Hand Book of Nature Study. Anna Botsford Comstock. 

 Pp. XVII+938, with over 1,000 illustrations. The Comstock 

 Publishing Co., Ithaca, N. Y. Price $3.25 ; postage 40 cents. 



It is difficult to write a review of this book without intem- 

 perate praise. It seems quite within bounds to say, however, 

 that it is one of the best single volume of nature study that has yet 

 appeared, best in the comprehensiveness of subject matter, charm 

 of presentation, and adaptability to the teacher's need. Need- 

 less to say, emanating as it does from so eminent a teacher of 

 nature study, that it embodies the true spirit throughout. Part 



I or the teaching of nature study is brief but to the point. Part 



II is on animals and includes studies of birds, fish, batrachians, 

 reptiles, mammals, insects and other invertebrates. Part III 

 covers with equal thoroughness the interesting common plants, 

 both cultivated and wild. Part iV is devoted to earth and sky. 

 The subject matter is presented largely in the form of lessons, 

 two hundred and thirty- four in all; and these aim to help the 

 teacher lead her pupils to discover the facts for themselves. Only 

 years of successful nature teaching with children for pupils could 

 have made possible the selection of so much that is interesting 

 to the child, the elimination of much that attracts the adult but 

 wearies the youngster. The numerous illustrations are apt, 

 well executed and lend an added charm to the text. 



A Leaf Key to the Genera of the Common Wild and Cul- 

 tivated Deciduous Trees of Nezv Jersey. Mary F. Barrett, 

 Upper Montclair, N. J. 6 pages. 10c. A key depending only 

 on characters of the leaf. 



The Home-Life of the Osprey. 54 pages, 32 plates. C. G. 

 Abbott. Witheby & Co., London. 6s. 



This is another one of the series of very excellent life 

 histories of birds issued from the press of this firm. It is a 

 photographic study of the life of our American fish hawk made 

 during "the brief opportunities of a business man." It is an 

 interesting demonstration of what may be accomplished by a 

 lover of birds who is not a professional naturalist, as well as a 

 distinct contribution to our knowledge of the habits of a valu- 

 able bird. 



Boulder Reveries. W. S. Blatchley. pp. 230. 10 plates. The 

 Nature Publishing Co., Indianapolis. $1.10. 



