99 

 NEW NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS. 



The number of new books dealing with natural history, from a popular 

 point of view, now being published, is appalling. It is wonderful how well 

 they are produced, and at such low prices. The ne.xt generation should be 

 a good one for our natural history societies 1 



From j\Ir. Andrew Melrose we have received The New Book of Birds, 

 by Horace G. Groser (309 pp. 6 '- net). It is a magnificent volume, with 

 large type, large pages, and plenty of illustrations, including a dozen 

 coloured plates by George Rankin, each of which is a gem. The more 

 remarkable of the birds are dealt with, e.g., the ostrich, pelican, albatross, 

 eagle, bustard, stork, vulture, raven, etc. ; whilst the kingfisher, lark, 

 robin, etc., are also described. The descriptive matter is pleasantly 

 written, and appears to be free from the glaring inaccuracies of some books. 



A Book of the Zoo, by Eric Parker, is published by Messrs. Methuen, 

 Tondon. (307 pp. 6/-). 



This is unusually well written, and besides being a hand}' guide to the 

 collections in the possession of the Zoological Society, also contains much 

 valuable information likely to appeal to many who are not able to visit 

 the gardens. Most of the important species are well described, and in a 

 thoroughly reliable manner. The volume is improved by several excellent 

 illustrations from photographs by ]\Ir. Henry Irving, who seems almost as 

 successful with his photographs of animal life as he is with his views of 

 trees. 



The Animals and their Story, by W. P. Westell. London : Robert 



Culle}-. ;^Z2 pp., 5,'- net. 



The first impression one gets on opening this book is that it is very 

 similar to the previous volume, but better. So far as the illustrations are 

 concerned, that impression remains after a close inspection. In the 

 advertisement we learn that in this ' worthy addition ' to the ' Nature 

 Story ' series, the author ' has struck out in an entirely new line.' We fail 

 to see it. He has certainly described animals only usually found in the 

 Zoo, whereas formerly he kept to the British fauna and flora ; but the 

 style, the ' originality,' shall we say, is the same. At the rate Mr. 

 Westell is turning books out this is hardl}- to be wondered at. His 

 reputation would be much better if he paid a little more attention to 

 his style. Though the book is entitled ' Animals ' and their story, it is 

 obvious that the author has fallen into a general error, and means 

 ' mammals.' He also, as usual, promises ' following up the story by further 

 volumes.' Apparently this is the first book that has appeared since Mr. 

 Westell got his bronze ' ]\Iedaille de 2d Classe, 4th section,' and 

 pretty certificate (which beats the B.E.N. A. badge), from the Societe 

 Nationale D'Acclimatation de France ; and so a photograph of the obverse 

 and reverse of the medal, and of the certificate, appear at the beginning 

 of the book ; though, as these were granted for a work on popular 

 entomology, it is difficult to xmderstand why they appear here. The 

 book is dedicated to the French Society by the author, ' as a token of his 

 high regard for the splendid work which the society has accomplished.' 

 But so long as Mr. Westell is successful in securing excellent illustra- 

 tions, his books will sell. In the present case there are eight coloured 

 plates by Mr. W. S. Berridge, and a hundred photographs taken in 

 the Zoo by the same gentleman. These, particularly the former, are 

 perfect, and alone arc worth the money. Without them we fear the book 

 would have a ' struggle for existence ' amongst the writings of Lydekker, 

 Ingersoll and Selous, in which the author has delved deeply. 



Nature Walks and Talks, bv T. Carreras. London : Partridge & Co. 



2S6 pp. 2/6. 



The author of this book dilTers from many recent writers on ' Nature 

 Study,' inasmuch as he is thoroughly acquainted with the moths, butter- 



igio Feb. i. 



