36 Reviews — Agassiz, Seaside Studies. 



To the student of Palgeozoic fossils this volume, like its prede- 

 cessor, must be a valuable and necessary work, as well as to the 

 naturalist who wishes to become acquainted with the singular forms 

 of these ancient Cephalopodous Molluscs. 



Those who best know M. Barrande, and are aware with what 

 self-denial he has, alone and unaided, carried out these protracted 

 scientific labours, and the great expense he has incurred, will 

 readily join us in awarding him all honour due for this magnifi- 

 cent and costly work, for the completion of which we trust his life 

 and health may be spared. — J.M. 



TTT. — Seaside Studies in Nattjeal Histokt. 



By Elizabeth C. Agassiz and Alexander Agassiz. London : Triibner and Co. 

 Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1865. Eoyal 8vo., pp. 155. 186 woodcuts. 



'HAT Harvey's " Seaside Book " is to Britain, and Gosse's 

 various works are to different localities around its shores, 

 this volume is to a limited district on the east coast of the United 

 States. It is almost too dainty to be used by wet hands on the sea- 

 shore, and more like the drawing-room table, for it is a handsome 

 volume, beautifully printed on thick toned paper, and profusely 

 illustrated, chiefly with negative woodcuts, which are, perhaps, better 

 suited to exhibit the transparent jelly fish and the hydroid polj^ps 

 than the cuts generally used. 



This volume is limited, not only to locality, but to subject as 

 well. While the works to which we have referred introduce their 

 readers to the remarkable organisms on the shores — animal or 

 vegetable — this is confined to the Eadiate family. But this is a 

 recommendation, as it permits the authors to do more than 

 simply satisfy the cravings of open-mouthed enquirers introduced 

 to a novel world on the sea- shore. They have made their work 

 a really good introduction to this interesting family. It is 

 scarcely any drawback to the English student that the illustra- 

 tions are all taken from the tenants of Massachusetts Bay, only 

 one or two of which are referred to species found on the shores 

 of Britain ; for all these are so nearly allied to the forms which he 

 will meet that facts as to structure, development, and classification 

 are as clearly exhibited to him as if the British species were 

 employed. The volume will be found to be as practically useful at 

 IKracombe or Brodick as at Boston, Mass. The simple and clear 

 style employed by Mrs. Agassiz will make it a favourite on both 

 sides of the Atlantic. Every chapter abounds with examples of the 

 facility which she has in expressing in happy terms the most recondite 

 matter. The exposition of the structure and relations of the various 

 parts of PJiysalia and Nanomea, two genera of the order Siphon- 

 opherce, must convince the reader that they are rightly united to 

 Hydroid Polyps, differing from the ordinary members only in being 

 free and floating. 



This work is not intended as a systematic introduction to the 



