26 | eimaleleite 
boomed very loud in this confined space, 
the monkeys disappeared into the black 
recesses aloft in an instant, but they soon 
came down again and followed me for 
miles. They were of both sexes and all 
sizes, and most of the females carried 
young ones on their backs or shoulders ; 
but sometimes these monkeys and other 
spider-monkeys carry the young on the 
breast, with the legs and arms clasped 
round the body. I mention this circum- 
stance because it has been disputed. As 
is often the case, what one traveller sees 
and notes another does not.” 
From the same firm, Messrs. Longman, 
we have also received three volumes of 
“Chatty Object Lessons in Nature Know- 
ledge,’ and three volumes of “Chatty 
Readings in Hlementary Science.” 
Another book from which we take an 
illustration is a neat edition of Gilbert 
White’s classic published by Messrs. Cassell 
. & Co., and illustrated entirely from the 
photographs of the Brothers Kearton, one of whom also supplies several useful notes 
and an introduction. The book is remarkably well produced, and has a very dainty 
appearance. The following are Gilbert White’s remarks on the animal here illustrated :— 
“I suspect much there may be two species of water-rats. Ray says, and 
Linneus after him, that the water-rat is web-footed behind. Now I have discovered 
a rat on the banks of our little stream that is not web-footed, and yet is an excellent 
swimmer and diver; it answers exactly to the Mus amphibius of Linnzus (see Sysé. 
Nat.), which he says ‘natat in fossis et wrinatur. I should be glad to procure one 
‘plantis palmatis. Linneus seems to be in a puzzle about his Mus amphibius, and 
to doubt whether it differs from his Mus terrestris; which if it be, as he allows, the 
“Mus agrestis capite grande brachywros’ of Ray, is widely different from the water-rat 
both im size, make, and manner of life.” 
Concerning the water-rat being web-footed behind, Mr. Kearton remarks in a foot- 
note: “This was a mistake into which Ray and Linneus were led by Willughby. 
There is only. one species of water-rat or vole (microtus amphibius) in this country, 
and by a strange coincidence the specimen figured in our illustration is lifting the 
left fore-foot as if to show the correctness of our author in regard to his being 
non-web-footed.” : 
We have also to notice a volume by Mr. C. V. A. Peel, F.Z.S.—an industriously- 
compiled book on “The Zoological Gardens of Europe” (published by F. EH. 
Robinson & Co.). Mr. Peel, with his camera, visited all the principal menageries on 
the Continent, and has put together a very readable account of what he saw therein. 
Necessarily there is a good deal of sameness now and then, and the book is not, 
perhaps, one of any supreme importance; but those who have the time and money 
might do a good deal worse than take the book as a kind of naturalist’s “ Baedeker,” 
and follow out the authors route. If this is impossible, a ten days’ holiday in 
Northern Hurope would provide a tour (somewhat hurried, it is true) of as many 
excellent Zoos—say Paris (Jardin des Plantes and Jardin d’Acclimatation), Cologne, 
From a photograph in White’s ‘‘Selborne”’ by 
Messrs. Kearton. 
