276 THE BOOK SHELF 



Butterflies Worth Knowing. By Clarence M. Weed. . 



This attractive volume begins with a very interesting chapter on the structure 

 and habits of butterflies, including their selective color sense, heliotropism and 

 also the rearing and photographing of butterflies and preparing them for 

 collections. Professor Weed discusses each butterfly in his usual lucid and 

 charming manner, bringing out the chief points in its life history. A very 

 important point he makes is to call attention to those phases in the life his- 

 tories as yet unknown, so as to stimulate the observer to make original and 

 useful records and thus add to the sum of knowledge. There are colored 

 plates of 48 species. Many plates are made from Mr. Denton's transfers of 

 scales. However several are made from drawings of Miss Mary E. Walker 

 and Mr. W. D. Beecroft, which include the pictures of the caterpillars. There 

 are many other illustrations from photographs and drawings. Professor Weed 

 has produced a useful and attractive book and one that will be of real use in 

 interesting the public in these beautiful insects. 



The History of Science by Walter Libby, Professor of The History of Science in 

 the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Houghton, Mifflin Co. $1.75. 

 This is a wonderful little volume and makes the reader marvel how so much 

 can be clearly and satisfactorily expressed in the space of less than 300 small 

 octavo pages. The titles of the chapters are a part of the excellent teaching 

 method of the volume, — for the title gives the basic principle of the phase of 

 science discussed under it. The first chapter, giving an account of the science of 

 Egypt and Babylonia, is entitled "Science and Practical Needs," and shows 

 clearly that science is founded on necessity. The Greek science as exemplified 

 by Aristotle is discussed under "The Influence of Abstract Thought." The 

 story of the discoveries of Benjamin Franklin is given under "Science and the 

 Struggle for Liberty," and thus through the twenty interesting chapters of the 

 book. The last two are on "The Scientific Imagination" and "Science and 

 Democratic Culture," both of which are remarkable, and the last should be 

 read and pondered by every thinking American. It is to be hoped that Dr. 

 Libby will sometime expand this work to several volumes. 



The October issue of the Nature-Study Review will be a Tree 

 Number. Do not miss it. 



