i84 ^■ 



REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 



The Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society, Vol. II., Part 2_ 



69 pp., 2/6, contain a number of papers bearing on the Bristol area> 

 Profs. Lloyd Morgan and S. H. Reynolds give a sketch of the Geological 

 History of the Bristol District ; Mr. F. E. Fritsch and Miss F. Rich write 

 on ' Biology and Ecology of the Algae Flora of Abbot's Pool, near Bristol ' ; 

 Messrs. C. K. Rudge and H. J. Charbonnier describe the local mammals ;. 

 Mr. J. W. White gives ' Notes on Bristol Plants,' and there is an abstract 

 of a paper on ' Physical Disturbances in the Somerset and Gloucestershire 

 Coalfield.' 



Indian Insect Life : A Manual of the Insects of the Plains (Tropical 

 India), by H. Maxwell-Lefroy, assisted by F. M. Howlett. , London : 

 W. Thacker <S: Co. 786 pp. 30/- net. 



We do not remember ever previously being so much impresse \ by the 

 beautv and extraordinary variety of tropical insect life, as we are by a 

 perusal of this massive tome. Its authors, the first and second entomologists 

 respectively of the Department of Agriculture for India, are excep; -•-'Ur 

 well qualified for the task, and the work is published by Govei 

 authority, from the Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa. Thei. .j 

 of illustration and letterpress call to mind the publications issued bj;^ '^ 

 various Institutes in the United States ; and it is pleasant to find t., ^t 

 India is similiarly able to suitably present the work of its naturalists 'for 

 the benefit of the scientific world. There is a very interesting Introductic"' 

 to insect life ; classification, nomenclature, the zoo-geographical div^, ^ 

 sions, ' insects and man,' etc., are dealt with ; and the remainder of the ■ 

 volume deals with the various natural orders. No expense appears to 

 have been spared with regard to the illustrations, there being considerably 

 over five hundred, and in addition there are no fewer than eighty-four 

 4to plates, most of which are reproductions by the three-colour process. 

 As a means of identifying exotic insects, alone, the book is well worth the 

 money, and should appeal to collectors, museum curators, etc. The only 

 part of the volume we don't like is the cream-coloured cloth cover, which 

 makes the volume all too conspicuous on the book-shelf. It also seems tO' 

 convey the impression that the book is of the ' cheap and nasty ' kind, 

 whereas it is quite the reverse. 



Erosion of the Coast and its Prevention. By F. W. S. Stanton. London ; 



St. Bride's Press. 68 pp. 



In this little book is reprinted a series of articles which recently appeared 

 in 'Public Works.' The book is divided into three, viz., (i) 'General 

 Observations,' in which the author discusses the question as to how the 

 cost of protecting the coast should be borne ; (2) ' Agents of Destruction 

 and Construction,' and (3) ' Land Reclamation and Coast Defence.' 

 There is also an appendix dealing with the Thaines estuary. We notice 

 the author accepts the statement that much of the material derived from 

 the Holderness coast is washed into the Huinber (p. 15). As is unfor- 

 tunately not infrequently the case with engineers, his geology is a little 

 faulty. ' From Berwick to Tynemouth ' we learn ' the formation is of 

 Carboniferous Limestone, Yorkshire rocks,' etc. Between Saltburn and 

 Whitby ' the new red sandstone and lias predominate,' and ' bands of 

 chalk and upper green sand cut the coast line at Flamborough Head ' ; 

 and a map (p. 23) shews the greater portion of Flamborough as made up 

 of ' Up-greensand.' Between Bridlington and Spurn Point the land ' is 

 entirely of glacial drift, overlying boulder clay,' etc. A valuable part of 

 the work is the discussion of the best methods of protecting the coast. 

 In this we observe that the system of box gro\Ties loaded with rubble, at 

 Bridlington, ' is not only of large initial cost, but also incurs constant 

 work of maintenance and costly repair.' There are several plans and 

 sections, and altogether the work is one which should be consulted by any- 

 one interested in the erosion of our coast, and its prevention. 



Naturalist) 



