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REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 



British Non=Marine MoUusca. By E. W. Swanton. 134 pages. 

 Charles Mosley, Lockwood. Price 2/6. 



In this compilation Mr. Swanton gives a detailed and somewhat technical 

 description of the various species of non-marine moUusca to be found in the 

 British Islands, ' including fossil forms which occur in the Post-Pliocene 

 deposits, excepting the Forest-Bed series.' It is unfortunate that two or 

 three qualities of paper have been used for printing this small volume, as its 

 appearance is not thereby improved. 



A Pocket Book of British Birds. By E. F. M. Elms, 150 pages. 

 West, Newman, & Co. 2/6. 



This book is ' intended solely for the purpose of reference in the field, 

 and has been very carefully compiled by the combined aid of well-known 

 ornithological works, coupled with practical observarions and notes made 

 by the author from time to time in various parts of the British Isles. The 

 book is of small size, and should be carried in the pocket, where it would 

 always be handy.' The compiler appears to have done his work carefully, 

 and gives his information concisely, under heads of plumage, language, 

 habits, food, nest, site, materials, eggs, etc. 



The Natural History of Selborne. By the Rev. Gilbert White. 



266 pages. Re-arranged and classified under subjects by Charles Mosley. 

 Elliot Stock. Price 6/- net. 



The number of editions through which Gilbert White's Selborne has 

 passed speaks well for the popularity of that work, as well as for the interest 

 taken in natural history generally. By the various editors who have 

 supervised the issuing of the work it has generally been thought desirable 

 to copy White's letters as nearly in their original form as possible. Mr. 

 Mosley, however, strikes out a new line, and in the present volume he has 

 endeavoured, for the benefit of the student, to make extracts from White's 

 letters and arrange them under headings according to species. In this way 

 all the particulars respecting owls, doves, newts, etc., are brought together ; 

 and if it is likely that the student should wish to read all the references to 

 any species included in W'hite's Selbourne, then Mr. Mosley's volume is 

 useful. One cannot, however, but feel that whilst the volume may be useful 

 as an index, it has lost much of the charm of the hundred or so earlier 

 editions where the letters remain intact. Mr. Mosley appears to have done 

 his work conscientiously, and in whatever the form all naturalists must 

 welcome this further monument to Gilbert White. 



NORTHERN NEWS. 



The University of Durham has conferred the honorary degree of D.Sc. 

 upon Prof. G. A. Labour. 



Mr. T. Midgley has been appointed Curator of the Museum, and borough 

 Meteorologist for Bolton, in place of his father, Mr. W. W. Midgley, who 

 has resigned. 



Mr. M. B. Slater has reprinted ' An account of the Mosses and Hepatics 

 of the North Riding of Yorkshire,' from Baker's ' North Yorkshire,' recently 

 issued by the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. 



An obituary notice of the late Prof. J. F. Blake, well known for his work 

 on the Yorkshire Lias and on Yorkshire Geology generally, appears in the 

 September Geological Magazine. A list of his papers, etc., is also given. 



igo6 October i. 



