127 



SOME NEW BOOKS. 



Small Greenhouses, by T. W. Sanders, F.L.S., (29 Long Acre, W.C.) is 

 number 35 of the useful penny publications issued by the London Agricul- 

 tural and Horticultural Association. 



The Night-Skies of a Year, by Joseph H. Elgie, F.R.A.S. Leeds • 

 Chorley & Pickersgill. 247 pp. 



This excellent book is written in non-technical language, and is illus- 

 trated by over a hundred diagrams. The author, whose contributions to 

 the Yorkshire Post are well known, has adopted the novel plan of describ- 

 ing the constellations month by month, as he has observed them in the 

 vicinity of a large Yorkshire city. With this book in hand even a beginner 

 can get much useful information in reference to the stars, and doubtless 

 will, at the same time, catch some of the author's enthusiasm. 



Who's Who in Science (International), Edited by H. H. Stephenson 

 London : J. and A. Churchill. 323 pp., 6/- net. 



As might be judged from the title, this is a carefully compiled list of 

 the principal scientific workers of the world, arranged in alphabetical 

 •order, and under each name appears particulars of his or her work. It is 

 based on the lines of the Who's Who, but contains much information not 

 available in that work. In addition, there is an obituary list for the past 

 year, a list of the world's universities, etc. Amongst the biographies there 

 are some names we did not expect to see, and also, there are not some names 

 we did expect. But apparently' this is inevitable in a work of this kind. 

 It has certainl}- been carefull}' and conscientiously compiled, and the 

 book is by no means dear at six shillings. 



A Naturalist on Desert Islands, by Percy R. Lowe. Witherby & Co. 

 230 pp., 7s. 6d. net. 



From this firm we usually expect a book to be interesting, original, 

 and well printed on good paper, and in each respect we are not disappointed . 

 The author had an unrivalled opportunity of visiting many of the out-ol- 

 the-way islands in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of jNIexico, during six 

 winters, whilst on board Sir Frederic Johnstone's yacht. Whilst man\- 

 islands were visited which might well have done duty for a Robinson 

 Crusoe, the author is able to give no account of shipwrecks, adventures, 

 struggles with natives, or desperate straits. But the book is a charming 

 narrative of the wild and natural aiiimal and plant life met with upon these 

 islands, which have not as yet been ' improved ' by civilised man. The 

 birds and fishes especially interested the author, who [gives particulars 

 of many rare forms. The story is a fascinating one, and particularh- 

 appeals to a naturalist. There are thirty two excellent plates. 



Byways in British Archaeology, by W. Johnson. Cambridge Universitx 

 Press, 1912. 529 pp., 10/6 net. 



Mr. Johnson's work has always a delightful freshness. He traverses 

 untrodden fields, and is remarkably up-to-date in his information. From 

 the numerous references and footnotes it is apparent that he has drawn 

 from an incredibly large number of books and periodicals for the facts 

 upon which he bases his narrative. The present work is equally interesting 

 to antiquary or naturalist, and has chapters on ' Churches on Pagan Sites ' : 

 ' The Secular Uses of the Church Fabric ' ; ' The Orientation of Churches 

 and Graves ' ; 'Survivals in Burial Customs ' ; ' The Folk-lore of the Cardinal 

 points ' ; ' The Churchyard Yew ' ; ' The Cult of the Horse ' ; ' The 

 I^bour'd Ox,' and ' Retrospect.' Whilst each chapter is a complete 

 essay in itself, the whole form a connected .story. Readers of this journal 

 will find much that will particularly appeal to them, as Mortimer's ' Fort\- 

 Years' Reaearches,' The Naturalist, and other similar sources have supplied 

 information. The chapters dealing with the horse, ox, and yew, are 

 especially valuable to naturalists ; though personally we find it difficult 

 to say which arc the most interesting. 



1912 .\pril I. 



