194 -^^^ Natural History Books. 



remarkably cheap book to our readers. Though it deals with the ox from 

 the point of view of the naturalist, antiquary, breeder and sportsman, the 

 extinct wild ox is obviously the main theme of the book. The book opens 

 with a useful discussion on the names of the ox and its ancestors, and 

 is followed by a careful description of its zoological position and 

 structure. Mr. Lydekker deals very fully with the question of the ex- 

 tinction of the European ox, which occurred during the middle ages, the 

 last refuge being a Polish forest. Personally we look upon this as the 

 most valuable part of the book. That it is adequately illustrated 

 is what we might expect in a book written by a gentleman who has such 

 ready access to the national collections. 



Wimbledon Common, by W. Johnson. (London : FisherjUnwin. 304 pp., 

 5/- net). It is always a pleasure to read an account of a particular area from 

 its geological, antiquarian, natural history and historical points of view ; and 

 when an author is sufficiently versatile to be able to write on all these 

 points himself, the pleasure becomes the greater. In the present work 

 Mr. Walter Johnson has covered the whole ground well ; and what there 

 is to be known of Wimbledon Common is surely in this volume. We have 

 previously referred to Mr. Johnson's work in these pages, and always with 

 pleasure. In the present book reference is made, in fourteen chapters, to 

 the physical geography and geology, streams, springs, ponds, pre-historic 

 times, early and mediseval history, the fauna and flora from various points 

 of view ; and there is an excellent bibliography and index. The book is 

 well illustrated by maps and photographs ; among the latter, Yorkshiremen 

 will be interested in the view of Lauriston House, Wimbledon Common, 

 where ' the boy William Wilberforce lived for some time with his uncle, 

 and in 1777 returned as owner of the mansion.' 



Wild Flowers as they Grow. Photographed in colour direct from 

 Nature by H. E. Corke, with descriptive text by G. C. Nuttall. Third 

 series. Cassell & Co., 1912. 200 pp., 5/- net. This is the third volume in 

 the wonderfully illustrated series of botanical books, to two of which we 

 have previously drawn attention in these pages. The present volume is 

 in every way equal to its predecessors. Of the illustrations it is difficult 

 to say which me admire the most ; though the Honeysuckle, the Field 

 Rose, the Bramble, and the Peppermint, are perhaps the best. 



We have received the Report on the Present Condition of the Bardney 

 Abbey Excavations for the year 1911, which shews that excellent progress 

 has been made by the Vicar, the Rev. C. S. Laing, and his willing helpers. . 



Cruelties in Dress, b^^ Jessey Wade, is the title of a pamphlet issued 

 by the Animals' Friend Society, York House, Portugal Street, Kingsway. 

 (2d.). It points out the nature of the cruelties practiced in order to be- 

 deck ladies with fine feathers and furs. 



Mr. S. L. Mosley, of Huddersfield, is issuing privately to subscribers 

 only, An Account of the Birds of the Huddersfield District, with 40 crayon- 

 watercolour plates (a new hand process), and 40 distributional maps 

 illustrating all the common kinds. Part I. contains coloured illustrations 

 of the Rook and Magpie, with maps, etc. 



From the Agricultural and Horticultural Association, London, we 

 have received two pamphlets. The first. Window Gardens, by T. W. 

 Sanders, is sold at one penny, and deals with the subject referred to in the 

 title, in all its branches. The second is the One and All Gardening Annual 

 for 1911, and is sold at twopence. It contains articles on Port Sunlight, 

 Shore Gardens, Violets, the Birds of the Air, Intoxicated Plants, etc. What 

 appears to be a photograph of sun spots, on page loi, is labelled ' Hiving 

 a, swarm of bees under difficulties.' 



Naturalist, 



