Reviews and Book Notices. 259 



We only venture to make one criticism. We should have 

 liked to have seen the nomenclature of the fossils broug'ht more 

 completely up-to-date. But we feel sure that a second edition 

 will soon be called for, which may be even better than the first. 

 But the book as it stands will be as valuable and indispensable 

 to the learned g-eolog"ist visiting- the locality as to the general 

 reader who makes his first acquaintance with geoloi^ical science 

 by a perusal of its pag^es. 



For the specimen illustration and plate we are indebted to 

 the publishers. J. H. 



The Victoria History of the Counties of England.— Northamp- 

 tonshire. — Entomology. Archibald Constable & Co. Limited. 



We have received the Eiitomolou-ical portion of another of these county 

 histories, which, like the two already noticed in this journal, is edited 

 by Mr. Herbert Goss, F. L.S., Secretary to the Entomolog-ical Society ot 

 London. Compared with the two previous histories (Hampshire and 

 Surrey), one cannot help noticing- the meagreness of this list, which shows 

 clearly how little is yet known ot" the insect fauna of Northamptonshire. 

 The only order, indeed, which seems to have been fairly well worked is the 

 Lepidoptera, and that only applies to the ' Macros,' the ' Micros ' having- 

 evidently been almost neglected. We notice, indeed, the entire absence 

 from the list of three species which we took ourselves fit Barnwell Wold in 

 June 1881, and which were duly recorded in the 'Entomologist's Monthh- 

 Mag-azine,' and certainly ougfht not to have been overlooked. We allude 

 to Nola crisiiilalis, Botys lanceolalis, and Pterophoriis galactudactylus , the 

 first and last of which were tolerably common. The part is g-ot up in the 

 same admirable manner as its predecessors, under the same editorship ; 

 but its chief use should be as a stimulus to the local entomolog-ist to remove 

 the reproach from a county which, from our own experience and knowledge, 

 must be a productive area in this branch of its natural history. — G. T. P. 



-»>^ 



Nature Studies (Plant Life), by G. F. Scott Elliott. Crown Svo., 

 pp. vii. +352. Blackie & Son. 3s. 6d. 



The author states that ' this book is written with a view of helping those 

 non-professional lovers of ' Nature Study ' who are really interested in the 

 mystery of plant life.' To such the book will not only be helpful but 

 stimulating, and will suggest to them many new lines of thought and work. 

 It will also be found useful for the professional nature student, who often 

 is not really interested in the mysteries of plant life, but if he were to 

 read carefully through these pages, and use his eyes arig-ht, could not fail 

 to become interested. The work is illustrated by numerous diagrams, 

 usually very clear and striking, also several from photographs. Bionomics 

 is its dominant feature, and in this respect reminds us of several with 

 which American botanists have recentl}- made us familiar. Field 

 botanists, wishing- to become acquainted with the numerous biological 

 problems necessary for successful survey work, will find here much of 

 value. Teachers too will obtain many hints from its pages which will serve 

 to fill with interest the dry morphological details of many text books. It is 

 essentially an account of living things as distinct from a mere glossary. 

 We can heartily recommend the work to all students who wish to widen 

 their conceptions of plant life. The author has had considerable experience 

 as traveller, collector, and teacher, and although at times speculative, we 

 can generally rely on his version of the facts. Unfortunately, he has 

 ■attempted to cover a very wide field, and consequently several important 

 features have been summarily dealt with. 



1903 July I. 



