248 



NATURE 



[August 24, ign 



came near, with groat cautiun, to drink some of the drops 

 from the grass. Having quenched her thirst, she got under 

 prinkler for a shower bath. Being disturbed she flew 

 away, but came back for a second bath, and later for a 

 third. 



Ibis morning she returned, apparently for another bath, 

 waited a considerable time, but as no water was forth- 

 coming flew away. 



To me this is quite a novelty; possibly other readers 

 have had similar experience. Charlie Woods. 



" Vectis," 2 Wellmeadow Road, Lewisham, S.E., 

 August 16. 



A HANDBOOK OF BURMA.' 

 \\TITH the conspicuous exception of Japan, 

 ' * scarcely a country has been more written 

 about, in proportion to the extent to which it has been 

 visited; than Burma; yet we are in agreement with the 

 publishers of this book, that there is room for one of 



he goes on to say that it is certain that the book, 

 can be greatly improved, and expresses a hope that his 

 critics and the public will write to show how this 

 can be done, rather than indulge in mere carping 

 and fault-finding. Yet it is hardly possible to suggest 

 improvements without indicating faults, and in read- 

 ing through the book there seems to us to be three 

 conspicuous faults or possible improvements, accord- 

 ing to the point of view. 



First, we must regret that the course adopted for 

 the flora, fauna, and other special subjects was not 

 followed in the case of the geology; secondly, \\ e 

 suggest the provision of a more satisfactory map of 

 Burma than the very poor little effort which the pub- 

 lishers have provided ; and, thirdly, the omission of 

 the word commercial on the cover of the book. The 

 title-page describes the work merely as a " handbook 

 of practical information"; on the cover this becomes 

 "practical commercial and political information," but 



the character prepared by Sir George Scott. The 

 ctherealised visions of Fielding are fascinating read- 

 ing, but give a very inadequate impression of the 

 reality, and the ordinary book of travel is unsatisfying 

 and inaccurate ; yet between these and ponderous 

 tomes, ol which the weight and bulk make them 

 unportable and repellent to all but the serious student, 

 we have had no book which would give the visitor 

 to Burma an idea of the history, administration, and 

 sociology of the Burmese and other races, or oi lie' 

 aspect and productions of the country itself. 



In his preface, Sir George Scott disarms criticism. 

 After stating that the sections ol .Mr. Oates on the 

 fauna, of Captain Gage on the flora, ol Mr. Bruce 

 on the forests, oi Mr. Richard on means of transport, 

 and of Mr. Mariano on music could only he excelled 

 bj those who might have larger space allowed them, 



' " Burma : a Handbook of Practical Information." By Sir J. George 

 Scott, K.C.I. E New and Revised Edition. Pp. x + s2o. (London: 

 Alexander Moring, Ltd., 1911.) Price ioi.6rf.net. 



NO. 2l82, VOL. 87] 



there can be little commercial value in statements 

 based on statistics of no later year than 1905, and the 

 deficiency in the case of Burma is especially striking, 

 for the petroleum industry has been so revolutionised 

 in the last three or four years that the description on 

 p. 240 represents a condition of things which has 

 passed away, and in the section devoted to agriculture 

 no mention is made of the ground-nut, which, within 

 the last few years, has risen to importance as a crop 

 in upper Burma and an article of export from 

 Rangoon. 



For the rest we must perforce agree with the author 

 that the book can be improved, for nothing human is 

 perfect, but with this reservation we confess that the 

 margin for improvement seems very small. It is not 

 merely the best book in existence on Burma, but as 

 nearly an ideal book as is conceivable for the purpose 

 i; is intended to fulfil. For the traveller or the intend- 

 ing resident, who wishes to have an intelligent appre- 

 1 iation of what he will see and come in contact with, 



