130 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ing in touch with their guide when they have attempted to regulate their 

 conduct by religion. Perhaps they may be able to do so in the future, 

 but we think the evolutionary process which Mr. Kelly believes is ended 

 must go on some time longer before man can afford to dispense with the 

 aid which the scientific method gives him. 



The bird-loving amateur need be at no loss for guidance. Three man- 

 uals adapted to his wants have come to us recently, the latest being a 

 charmingly attractive one entitled Birdcraft.* Emerson's query, "Hast 

 thou named all the birds without a gun ? " is its motto, and any one who 

 will identify half the species it describes, or verify half it tells about their 

 general appearance, habits, and song, will have occupation enough for sev- 

 eral seasons without paying attention to the matters that can be learn'ed 

 only from the dead bird. The sprightliness of the smaller birds makes 

 them delightful subjects of study, their elusiveness adds zest to their pur- 

 suit, while the various mental and moral traits indicated by the actions of 

 all kinds well deserve the attention of the psychologist. This instance of 

 the extreme politeness ascribed to the cedar waxwing was observed by the 

 author : " A stout green worm (for they eat animal as well as vegetable 

 food) was passed up and down a row of eight birds ; once, twice it went the 

 rounds, until halfway on its third trip it became a wreck and dropped to 

 the ground, so that no one enjoyed it a commentary, in general, upon 

 useless ceremony." Much pains is taken to represent the songs of the 

 birds described ; thus the song of the red-eyed vireo is given in the words 

 of Wilson Flagg as " You see it ! you know it ! do you hear me ? do you 

 believe it ? " The bluebird seems to murmur, " Dear, dear, think of it, think 

 of it ! " The Carolina wren cries joyfully, " Sweetheart, sweetheart, sweet ! " 

 while there are several versions of the bobolink's rippling song to choose 

 from, and any one may make another to suit his fancy. The song birds by 

 no means monopolize the volume ; birds of prey, game birds, shore birds, 

 and waterfowl are all represented by species to be seen in southern New 

 England. Fifteen double-page plates, each bearing from seven to twenty 

 figures of birds in their natural colours, greatly enhance the value of the 

 book. 



GENERAL NOTICES. 



In Dr. Kernels Natural History of 

 Plants f all the features of the growth, 

 structure, and metamorphoses of vegetation 

 are examined in their relations to one an- 

 other. Interest was first excited in plants, 

 we are told, by the question of their uses. 

 Other avenues to botanical knowledge have 

 been man's sense of beauty and .the impulse 

 to investigate structural differences even 



Birdcraft. By Mabel Osgood Wright. Illus- 

 trated. New York and London : Macmillan & 

 Co. Pp. 317, small 8vo. Price, $3 net. 



t The Natural History of Plants. From the 

 German of Anton Kerner von Marilaun. By F. 

 W. Oliver. New York: Henry Holt & Co. Half 

 Volumes I and H. Pp. 777. Price, $7.50. Lon- 

 don : Blackie & Son. Price, 25*. net. 



down to their most minute characteristics. 

 This has brought the science to its present 

 condition. In addition to these steps, the 

 passion for collecting has been developed. 

 In the later stages of the growth of botany 

 observers have become convinced that every 

 plant undergoes a continuous transformation 

 which follows a definite course, and every 

 species is constructed on a plan fixed within 

 general limits and exhibiting variation in ex- 

 ternals only. The systematic arrangement 

 that has grown out of the application of 

 these principles starts with the idea that 

 rather than by similarity between adult 

 forms the relationships of different plants 

 are more correctly indicated by the fact of 

 their exhibiting the same laws of growth 



