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|THE BOOK SHELF 



Field Book of Insects. Frank E. Lutz, Ph.D. 509 pages with about 800 

 illustrations, many in color. G. P. Putnam's Sons. Price, $2.50. 



The Putnam's have added another attractive volume to their Field Book 

 series, and which is perhaps the most ambitious of them all since it covers a field 

 so large as to seem discouraging at first sight. However, Dr. Lutz has done 

 his work well and has made a felicitous choice of insects to describe in his book. 

 Dr. Lutz is a curator in the American Museum and has had much correspon- 

 dence about insects with the laiety and has therefore been able to judge well 

 of the kinds of insects that they find interesting. The plan of the book is like 

 that of the Field Book of American Wild Flowers; it is plentifully illustrated 

 by Mrs. E. L. Beutenmuller whose pen drawirtgs are graphic and accurate. 

 The colored plates are very attractive and well done. On a page in the near 

 vicinity of its picture is a description of the insect and its habits. Dr. Lutz 

 writes in an attractive style and makes his subject interesting. The book has 

 many keys to families but we venture to say these will not be used much by the 

 untrained naturalist. The great value of the book to the public are the 

 graphic and condensed descriptions, the pictures and the size which permits 

 it to be carried in the pocket. The volume is a valuable addition to 

 popular entomological literature. 



The Third and Fourth Generation. Elliot R. Downing. 164 pages. The Uni- 

 versity of Chicago Press. Price $1.00. 



The young people of this day and generation certainly have a chance to walk 

 with eyes open avoiding pitfalls. This compact little volume by an eminent 

 scientist and teacher has been written especially for young people and is 

 intended to be used in the Sunday Schools and the public schools. In it are 

 given in simple and understandable terms the scientific facts regarding eugenics. 

 As Dr. Downing so well says in his introduction: "This book is intended pri- 

 marily for young people. They can most readily break w T ay from the whims 

 and prejudices of the past and adopt a new set of ideas as adequate grounds for 

 new habits. They live only in this sicentific age when we have an increasing 

 respect for facts, reason on them to correct conclusions, and base on them our 

 sense of duty. They are practical optimists, and what seems an impossible 

 dream of the visionary to an older generation, hide-bound by preconceived 

 notions and social tradition, comes to be, for valorous youth, a simple accom- 

 plishment dictated by good sense." 



The following topics are discussed in separate chapters: Some famous 

 racers and the problems they suggest ; male and female ; some laws of heredity ; 



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