November 20, 190 2 ] 



NA TURE 



55 



as the fact that the Derby is a race for three-year-olds 

 (p. 255) and that female foxes are properly called vixens 

 (p. 305) is perhaps somewhat superfluous, for English 

 readers at any rate ; and we rather fail to see why pigs 

 are called cousins of opossums (p. 149). 



To the naturalist, the most interesting chapters are 

 those on wasps and ants, the "possum," quail and 

 partridge, and insects generally, the account of the 

 habits of the opossum being especially good. In the 

 chapte on fox-hunting, the author confirms the statement 

 of other writers that the so-called red fox (the American 

 representative of the European species) cannot be run 

 down without a relay of dogs, or, as we should say, 

 hounds. Whether, however, this is due to the greater 

 speed of American foxes or the inferior pace of American 

 hounds remains to be told. In teaching people how 

 much is to be learnt from the intelligent observation of 

 ordinary surroundings, the book before us is clearly a 

 step in the right direction. R. L. 



L'Age de la Pierre. By G. Riviere. " Bibliotheque 

 d'Histoire et de Geographic universelles." Pp. 183. 

 (Paris : Schleicher Freres.) Price 2 francs. 

 In this book we have a popular account of the Stone age 

 following the traditional lines of French archaeology. 

 The author does not pay much attention to any dis- 

 coveries out of France, but the French evidence being so 

 complete this does not matter very much, especially as 

 the book is not intended for students. The transition 

 between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic ages is recognised, 

 and the author brings out clearly the culture of the 

 immigrant Neolithic brachycephals. The statement on 

 p. 136 that "certain peoples of Oceania still use very 

 similar sticks [to the curved throw-stick of Egypt] 

 which they call boomerang" is inexcusably vague. A 

 description of megalithic monuments closes the account 

 of the Neolithic age. The last chapter deals briefly with 

 trepanation as a surgical method in Neolithic times. The 

 author still employs the absurd term " batons de com- 

 mandement " for the carved perforated antlers found in 

 the caves ; surely he must have known of the conclusive 

 paper read by O. Schoetensack before the Congres 

 International d'Anthropologie et d'Archeologie at Paris 

 in 1900, in which the author demonstrated their similarity 

 to the bone dress fasteners of the Eskimo. In addi- 

 tion to twenty-six figures in the text, there are four half- 

 tone plates, three from the paintings of Jamin and one 

 from Cormon, which illustrate in a dramatic manner 

 various incidents in the life of the men of the Stone age. 



Flora of the Liverpool District. By C. T. Green. Pp. 



xii + 207. (Liverpool : D. Marples and Co., 1902.) 



Price 5-r. net. 

 The present work replaces a previous " Flora of Liver- 

 pool," which was originally published in 1872 and to 

 which, later on, appendices were added. The revision of 

 previous records and the compilation of recent data have 

 been undertaken by members of the Liverpool Naturalists' 

 Field Club, under the direction of Dr. Green. An 

 original feature of the book consists of illustrations 

 specially drawn by Miss E. M. Wood. These are for 

 the most part characteristic and lifelike, and the figures 

 of certain less common species such as Ranunculus 

 Lenormandi, Viola carpatica, Jtmcus supinus and others 

 are very useful, but in many instances the important 

 features of the plant are omitted, or at any rate not 

 emphasised, eg. the root of Lathyrus matrorhizus. 

 In the case of localities where plants are now extinct, as, 

 for instance, Oxton Heath, it would have been well to 

 notify this more definitely. It will be observed that 

 comparatively recent strangers are being admitted, 

 notably Lycium barbarian, while Solatium rostratum 

 lepresents a quite modern American invasion. The geo- 

 logical chapter does not serve to dispel the impression 



NO. 1725, VOL. 67] 



that the book is too much of a dry catalogue, and even 

 the submerged forest at Leasowe receives but a brief 

 mention. 



Examples in Algebra. By C. O. Tuckey, B.A. Pp. 



viii + 178. (London : Bell and Sons.) 

 In making this collection, Mr. Tuckey has kept in mind 

 the recommendations of the committee on the teaching 

 of mathematics appointed by the Mathematical Associ- 

 ation, and the result is seen in various welcome inno- 

 vations. Thus, for instance, exercises on the use of 

 graphs are given, some at quite an early stage ; there are 

 problems to show the application of algebra to geometry, 

 mensuration and elementary physics, and so on. Checks on 

 accuracy are frequently suggested, and there are numerous 

 questions to be answered orally. Particularly good sets 

 of questions are those on " Formulae" (p. 23) and " On 

 the Use of Theory of Form as Check" (p. 93). Merely 

 artificial conundrums are happily rare ; the worst we have 



noticed is "Simplify 2 l + x a-h + A -«-~c-" Undoubtedly 



abc 



this is a very good collection, which may be recommended 

 without reservation. 



Children's Gardens. By the Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Cecil 

 (Alicia Amherst). Pp. xv + 212; with illustrations 

 (London : Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1902.) Price 6s. 

 The object of this daintily produced volume, with its 

 profusion of beautiful illustrations, is to teach children 

 enough about gardening to enable them to find pleasure 

 and profit in the study and cultivation of plants. The 

 book is written in a simple, practical way, and should 

 be of real assistance to those who are able to indulge 

 their taste for horticulture without too much attention to 

 expense. Judging from the style of the book, we should 

 say that the author will succeed in winning and retain- 

 ing the interest of young children, who will, by the way, 

 find occupation for the winter months as well as for the 

 brighter seasons of the year. Directions are given as to 

 how to utilise the leisure hours of winter in reading 

 about the plants, in manufacturing garden seats and 

 so on, for use in the garden during the days of summer. 

 Altogether a pretty gift book. 



School of the Woods : some Life Studies of Animal Ln- 



stincts and Animal Training. By William J. Long. 



Illustrated by Charles Copeland. Pp. xiii + 364. 



(Boston, U.S.A., and London : Ginn and Co., 1902.) 



Price 7s. 6d. 

 Mr. Long believes that an animal's successor failure in 

 the ceaseless struggle for life depends, not upon instinct, 

 but upon the kind of training which the animal receives 

 from its mother. He has written most of the sketches 

 contained in this attractive volume in the woods, with 

 the subjects themselves living just outside his tent door. 

 The result is that we are provided with an interesting 

 book which will go a long way to make all who read it 

 lovers of nature and sympathetic, intelligent observers of 

 animal life. Mr. Copeland's excellent pictures will help 

 very much to make the book a favourite with children. 



Macmillan's Short Geography of the World. A New 

 Handbook for Teachers and Students. By George F. 

 Bosworth. Pp. vi + 197; with maps. (London : Mac- 

 millan and Co., Ltd., 1902.) Price \s. 6d. 

 This little book deals in a brief manner with the chief 

 facts in the physical and political geography of the 

 countries of the world. Numerous clear maps will enable 

 the beginner to find many of the places mentioned in the 

 text without the aid of a separate atlas. There is scarcely 

 enough information about the many subjects included in 

 the book to make the geography lesson interesting to 

 children, but as a summary the book may be useful 



