118 



TBE OOLOGIST. 



brief but pointed "Hints to Observers," 

 all of which are so valnaljle that we 

 cannot pick out any particular one to 

 mention here. She especially advises 

 the observer, that, in order to make his 

 study of birds through an opera glass 

 most successful, that he strive to 

 render himself, as much as possible, a 

 part of the landscape, by avoiding 

 bright-colored clothing, by walking 

 slowly and quietly, and by using the 

 trees and foliage as places of conceal- 

 ment. 



The work itself is a marvel in the 

 portrayal of Inrd character, and tliis 

 A'ivid portrayal of character is one of 

 the most pleasing and striking features 

 of the work. 



To give an example, what words 

 could portray to us more clearly the 

 character of the Blue Jay than the 

 words the author uses? She saj's: 

 '.'The Blue Jay comes with a dash and a 

 flourish. Unlike the Chickadee, whose 

 prevailing tints match the winter sky, 

 and Mdiose gentle day-day-day chimes 

 with the softly falling snows, the Blue 

 Jay would wake the world tip." And 

 again: "What a good business man 

 the_ Blue Jay would make? All his 

 notions are like the unique loading up 

 performance— time saving, decided, 

 direct." 



Another excellent feature of the work 

 is the description given the songs of the 

 birds. Illustrated by notation in many 

 instances, and represented by appro 

 priate words in others, they are :ill 

 most strikingly suggestive of the origi- 

 nal songs. 



In reaching the appendix, we find 

 that we are only half done, for here we 

 find the birds treated of in the work, 

 classed into families forming a very 

 handy table of reference. Following 

 this, the general family characteristics 

 of birds are treated. Then follows 

 some arbitrary classifications: First, 

 birds found in certain localities, as 

 about the house, or in thickets, or in 

 woods. Second, classification as to size 

 as compared with the robin. Third, as 

 to colors, whether striking and bright 

 or dull and plain. Fourth, as to songs. 

 Fifth, as to peculiarities of flight. 

 Sixth, as to those birds that have the 

 habit of son^ flight Seventh, as to 

 marked habits. Eighth, birds that 

 walk instead of hopping. Ninth, shape 

 of bill adapted to food. Tenth, classed 

 as to place of nesting; and eleventh, 

 birds that are seen in flocks when not 

 nesting. 



And so we reach the index of the 

 work which tells us where to find any- 

 thing we want and concludes this 

 highly entertaining, instructive and 

 valuable work. 



Up and Down the Brooks. Maky E. Ba.m- 



FORL). 

 In Klverside Library for Young People. Illus- 



I'l^ffl*^- . l^^'^-'. '^^ ^'^^^- Boston: Houghton, 

 Mifflin & Co. 1890. 



Tins work, also .Avritten in a popular 

 style, makes the study of water insects 

 most interesting and pleasing. The 

 author relates in an easy way her col- 

 lecting experiences "up and down the 

 brooks" and tells us in a way that we 

 may all understand, about these lively 

 little water-folk. 



She depicts the invincible small boy, 

 in all his many and variegated phases, 

 to an extent of reality, that brings the 

 "young America' right before our 

 eyes. She devotes a c-rosing chapter to 

 "Frogs. Boys, and other small Deer." 



Taken as a whole, the work is a valua- 

 l)le one and should find a place in the 

 library, not only of all who are interes- 

 ed in entomology, but also of all who 

 enjoy an interesting and readable book. 

 Modern Science and Modern Thought, by S. 

 Saing. 

 Tn two parts, being Nos. iiT and 118 of The 

 Humboldt Library of Popular Science. 4) cents. 

 New Yorlj. December, 1SS9. 



The object of the book is to "give a 

 clear and concise view of the principal 

 results of Modern Science, and of the 

 revolution Avhieh they have ett'ected in 

 Modern Thought." The various chap- 

 ters treat of Space, Time, Antiquity of 

 Man, Miracles, Christianity without 

 Miracles, Practical Life, etc., etc., ete. 



Of course, a work cf such depth of 

 thought as this, is beyond our power to 

 criticise. In all the subjects treated 

 which refer to Christianity, the skepti- 

 cal side is taken and the lines of reason- 

 ing are to that end. The articles which 

 make no particular reference to Chris- 

 tianity, are well worthy the considera- 

 tion of all. 



That New Catalogue. 



Owing to an extra amount of work, we 

 have as yet been unable t® complete our 

 new 100-page Catalogue, but expect to have 

 it out sometime during the current month. 

 Our patrons can depend upon having a 

 copy by first mail after we receive them 

 from the binder's hands. 



Faithfully, FEANK H. LATTIN. 



