NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



RATS AND MICE. 



For the low price of is. the British Museum (Natural 

 History) has issued No. 8 of its Economic Series, dealing with 

 ' Rats and Mice as Enemies of Mankind ' (63 pp.). As the 

 author is M. A. C. Hinton we are not likely to be able to find 

 anything but of the best. There are excellent plates showing 

 the characteristic features of the Black Rat and Brown Rat, 

 and illustrations of parts of voles and mice, etc. Our readers 

 will find the pamphlet most useful. 



YORKSHIRE TYPE AMMONITES. 



We are glad to observe the re-appearance of Mr. Buckman's 

 Monograph on Yorkshire Type Ammonites, two parts of which 



A. semicostatus. 



have recently been published, and we trust that this valuable 

 work will soon be completed. Part 16, just to hand, contains 

 a description of A. semicostatus, A. rotifer, A. bifrons, A. rugosus 

 and A. vertnmnus, which are admirably illustrated by plates 

 from photographs by Mr. J. W. Tutcher. We are able to 

 reproduce one of the smaller illustrations herewith. 



NATURE A-MUSINGS. 



Punch gives some ' Nature Musings ' in his impression of 

 August 2ist : — ' August 15th. This is a halcyon day, and tQ 

 measure its charms aright one should spend it on the banks of 

 a river . . . Suddenly a kingfisher shoots across the pool, like 

 a living jewel, snaps an insect from the glassy surface and shoots 

 on . . . No trout are rising, but a water-rat plops into the 

 stream, and at intervals the scuffle of dab-chicks is heard . . . 

 We miss the cuckoo's ' two-fold shout/ but cuckoos are rarely, 



1918 Oci 1. 



