230 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [9:7— Oct., 1913 



of the Bird Section participated in six field excursions and four 

 meetings for identification of museum specimens. At the request 

 of the chairman of this section, Mr. Herbert Sargeant, director of 

 the Kent Scientific Musetim prepared cases of mounted birds for 

 distribution in the pubHc schools. A plan of distribution was 

 carefully worked out and tried in the Spring term. A printed 

 description will be added to each mount this year and we believe 

 that this will prove the beginning of a more extended use of 

 museum material in the schools. 



Ora may Carrel, President. 



Book Reviews 



Beginnings in Animal Husbandry, by Charles S. Plumb. The 

 Webb Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minn. 393 pages. Price 

 $1.50. 



We have had a number of books issued in the last few years on 

 agriculture in the schools, and now there begin to appear books for 

 common school use on various special phases of agriculture. Mr. 

 Plumb is already well known as a writer on this topic and this book 

 which he puts out is quite as interesting as its predecessors. Chap- 

 ters 2, 3, 4 and 5 are devoted to the breeds of horses, cattle, sheep 

 and swine; 7 discusses the judging of livestock; 8 and 9 are 

 devoted to judging the horse; 10, 11 and 12 judging cattle, sheep 

 and swine respectively. Chapter 13 (9 pages) discusses heredity, 

 its meaning and influence. Chapter 15 is on pedigrees; and there 

 follows a brief chapter on suggestions to young breeders. Then 

 follow seven chapters on feeding. The last five chapters are 

 devoted to poultry, various types and breeds, poultry judging, 

 egg production, feeding and housing. 



The book is well illustrated. Thfe style is simple and any school 

 boy will appreciate a great deal of the information. Like all books 

 of this type it is necessarily encyclopedic, and unless it is in the 

 hands of an experienced teacher there is every probability that it 

 will be used as an ordinary textbook, studied by memorizing and 

 glibly recited without much reference to the actual materials under 

 discussion. If it can be used merely as a guide in the actual study 

 of the materials discussed it certainly will be a valuable aid in 

 many schools. 



