76 



NATURE 



[May 



1903 



OVR BOOK SHELF. 



Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology. Vol. ii. 

 Edited by J. M. Baldwin. Pp. xvi + 892. (London : 

 Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1902.) Price 21s. net. 

 This, the second of the three volumes of Prof. Bald- 

 win's dictionary, completes the text, for_ the third 

 volume is to consist wholly of bibliographies. As in 

 the case of the first volume, many of the articles are 

 of high merit, but the standard of achievement varies 

 pretty widely. The editor has taken a very liberal view 

 of the range of subjects that call for notice, with the 

 result that the ground is very completely covered, and 

 place is given to a considerable number of topics in 

 physical and biological science which a generation ago 

 would hardly have been mentioned in a dictionary of 

 philosophy or psychology. Perhaps the most valuable 

 articles are those written by Dr. Stout and Prof. Bald- 

 win conjointly, and forming a fairly complete series 

 of careful definitions of psychological terms. We 

 should like to have seen recognised the claims 

 of psj'chology to rank as an independent science, freed 

 from its ancient bondage to metaphysical philosophy, 

 and if all that pertains to psychology had been 

 Brought together in a separate volume it would have 

 formed a more useful, because more manageable, work 

 of reference for the psychologist. The treatment of 

 some topics suffers through being distributed under 

 many separate headings, e.g. social science is treated 

 of under that heading, but also under social dynamics, 

 social evolution, social philosophy, sociology, social 

 ethics, &c. Other subjects, again, suffer through 

 being treated by too many hands, working not con- 

 jointly, but separately, and with imperfect coordin- 

 ation, so that we even find definitions begun by one 

 writer or writers and finished by another, and in some 

 cases conflicting views within the limits of one article. 

 This is especially the case in the long article on vision. 

 The biographical notes are unsatisfactory, because so 

 very brief, and we note some slight inaccuracies, e.g. 

 the description of G. H. Lewes as an English positivist, 

 of R. H. Lotze as professor at Leipzig. These, how- 

 ever, are but small blemishes in a work that should 

 be found very useful, not only by the philosopher and 

 general reader, but by all students of psychology and 

 the other biological sciences. It is interesting to note 

 that " psychical research " receives formal recognition 

 as a legitimate subject for study and research by the 

 inclusion of several excellent articles from the pen of 

 Mrs. Sidgwick. 



How to Attract the Birds. By Neltje Blanchan. Pp. 

 244; illustrated. (London: W. Heinemann, 1903.) 

 Price 55. net. 

 Whether the author of this book should be addressed 

 as Mr., Mrs., or Miss, and whether the name which 

 appears on the title-page be real or assumed, we 

 cannot determine, but we have little hesitation 

 in saying that this and other works by the same 

 pen have a charm and a freshness by no means 

 apparent in all the bird-books which have come under 

 our notice. Although written in America, and treat- 

 ing solely of American birds, the present work, like 

 its predecessors, can scarcely fail to appeal to 

 the English reader and bird-lover; and many of 

 the hints given as to the best mode of attracting 

 and keeping birds in. gardens and plantations on 

 the other side of the Atlantic will be equally 

 applicable in the case of our native British species. 

 On one point the author is very emphatic — 

 namely, the impossibility of getting a large number 

 of shy and attractive birds to frequent and build in 

 a garden when a cat is also kept on the establishment. 

 Not only are such attempts unsuccessful, but they are 

 also cruel. In America, where garden crops and pro- 



NO. 1752. VOL. 68] 



duce suffer perhaps even more damage from insect 

 than is the case in this country, the small expenses coi 

 nected with populating an estate with birds are mo; 

 than compensated by the accruing advantages to fru- 

 and flowers by the destruction of insect life. 



" One pair of chickadees (whatever these may bi 

 in an orchard," writes the author, " will destroy mor. 

 insect eggs than the most expensive spray in i^ 

 machine." Apparently, indeed, the author will no; 

 allow that any bird can do harm in a garden ; but then 

 he (or she) has probably never seen a flock of bull- 

 finches in a gooseberry plantation, or witnessed thi 

 mischievous devastation inflicted on a primrose-bordi 1 

 by sparrows ! 



An attractive feature of the book is, of course, th( 

 numerous, and for the most part exquisite illustra- 

 tions, more especially those of nests and eggs. In 

 the case of some of the adult birds represented in 

 foliage, we have a shrewd suspicion that they havi 

 been " faked up " by means of stuffed specimens, but 

 even then the general effect is in most cases good. 

 While devoting much attention to the proper subject 

 of the book, the author by no means omits referent 

 to the scientific aspects of ornithology, and the observ- 

 ations with regard to the white " recognition marks " 

 on the loins of birds like oar own wheatear are worth \ 

 of all attention. As a whole, Neltje Blanchan 's latf^t 

 work may be pronounced a charming and attracts 

 volume. R. L. 



Telephone Lines. By W. C. Owen. Pp. xvi + 3<,' 



(London : Whittaker and Co., 1903.) Price 5s. 

 This book deals in a thoroughly practical manner wi- 

 the construction and erection of overhead telepho:. 

 lines and the laying of underground cables. The 

 author's long experience as a telephone engineer 

 enables him to write with authority on the subject, 

 which he treats in all its important engineering aspects, 

 from the best methods of preserving the wood used for 

 poles to the final electrical testing of the finished line. 

 American and continental practice is described as well 

 as British methods. Telephony has always been re- 

 garded as a branch of applied science in which this 

 country can by no means claim to be to the fore ; the 

 perusal of Mr. Owen's book certainly lends support 

 to this belief, as the examples of continental methods 

 which are quoted show in many instances considerable 

 superiority. The theoretical explanations which are 

 here and there required to show the necessity of certain 

 methods of construction are expressed in clear and 

 non-technical language well suited to linesmen and 

 others who are not technical experts, for whom the 

 book is largely written. A large number of illustra- 

 tions help to explain the text; the book should prove 

 very useful to those engaged in, or having anything 

 to do with, telephone work, and may, moreover, be 

 read with interest by all who care about the practical 

 applications of science. M. S. 



The Globe Geography Readers. Intermediate. Our 

 Island Home. By Vincent T. Murch^. Pp. 293. 

 (London : Macmillan and Co., ^.td., 1903.) Price 

 IS. 6d. 

 In the introductory and junior readers belonging to 

 this series, already noticed in these columns, the 

 young pupil is provided with simple explanations of 

 the general principles underlying the study of geo- 

 graphy; the present volume deals specifically with the 

 physical and political geography of the United King- 

 dom in fifty-six short lessons, the subject-matter of 

 which is varied and discursive, ranging from an 

 account of the prehistoric inhabitants of Britain to a 

 description of Irish scenery. The lessons are written 

 in an interesting, conversational style, and are accom- 

 panied by an abundance of instructive illustrations, 

 including sixteen coloured plates. 



