13° 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



which ought to do much good in popularising the 

 branches of science on which they treat. The 

 first thought of many who pick up this book will 

 be why should a novelist have been selected to 

 write " The Story of the Plants " ? It must not be 

 forgotten, however, before his earlier work was 

 overshadowed by his successful fiction, Grant Allen 

 wrote in his Canadian home many popular 

 magazine and other articles upon plants and plant 

 life. In this little volume, as he states in his 

 preface, he gives " a short and succinct account of 

 the principal phenomena of plant life," in language 

 suited to the comprehension of unscientific readers. 

 He, however, treats them as having ordinary 

 intelligence and not as children. His facts are 

 quite up to date and based upon the theory of 

 evolution. This is really his text, and a distinctly 

 useful one it is, for we have plenty of text-books 

 dealing with the technicality of botany. This is 

 just the work to found in the reader a lasting love 

 for plants and their ways, without frightening in 

 the earlier stages of the knowledge by dry 

 technicalities and unfamiliar words. The headings 

 of his chapters are suggestive, such as " How 

 plants began to be," " How plants came to differ 

 from one another," "How plants eat," "How 

 plants drink," " How plants marry," " How plants 

 club together," and other interesting not to say 

 "catchy" titles. This is a good if inexpensive 

 present for any intelligent person with a taste for 

 enquiry, whether young or old. J. T. C. 



The Structure and Life of Birds. By F. W. 

 Headley, M.A., F.Z.S. 432 pp. demy 8vo, and 

 78 illustrations. (London and New York : 

 Macmillan and Co., 1895.) Price 7s. 6d. 



The object of this book is to set forth the 

 evidence of the development of birds from reptilian 

 ancestors, traced by the modifications in their 

 anatomy, as they have advanced to a more active 

 life than their earlier ancestors. A further portion 

 of the book deals with the subjects of song, instinct 

 and reason, migration, the principles of classifica- 

 tion, and the best methods of studying birds. The 

 author, feeling that it is exceptional for ordinary 

 students of birds to acquire a specialist's knowledge 

 in every department of ornithological physiology, or 

 anatomy, has producedithis book, so that they may 

 readily grasp the whole recent knowledge of the 

 history of birds and bird life. It is, however, not 

 the work of the professional compiler, but of one 

 who has studied his subject, supervised by 

 specialists in various departments. His language 

 is free from pedantry and quite suited to the 

 ordinary reader who wishes to increase his know- 

 ledge, without having to constantly refer to a 

 dictionary of scientific terminology. The illustra- 

 tions are by Mr. Prendergast Parker and are 

 generally well drawn. Altogether, it is a work 

 which every ornithologist should possess, as it 

 contains much information on subjects which 

 have been sadly neglected hitherto by the "bird 

 collector." It is a book which should go into all 

 the public libraries, rather than the out-of-date 

 picture books too often to be found in them. J. T.C. 



Rambles in Alpine Valleys. By J. W. Tutt, F.E.S. 

 216 pp. 8vo, with 5 plates. (London : Swan, 

 Sonnenschein and Co., 1895.) Price 3s. 6d. 



This is a pleasant account of a passing visit to 

 the Italian side of the Mont Blanc range, written 

 by an observer of nature, who tries to interest 

 others in the district, and " the scientific bearings 

 of some of the many facts which came under my 



notice." Entomology is the leading feature of his 

 pages — after scenery ; the five plates being from 

 photographic views. A good deal of the book 

 applies to observations which may be made in 

 other places than in the Alps, so that those who 

 have not opportunity to pay them a visit, need 

 not be deterred from reading the author's chatty 

 science. 



The Horticulturist's Rule Book : a Compendium of 

 Useful Information for Fruit-Growers, Truck-Gardeners, 

 Florists, and Others. By L. H. Bailey. Third 

 Edition, revised and extended. 302 pp., 8vo. (New 

 York and London : Macmillan and Co., 1895.) 

 Price 75 cents (3s.) 



This is quite an encyclopaedia of horticultural 

 knowledge, with instructions how to practically 

 apply some of it so as to save the disappointment so 

 frequently associated with gardening. Although 

 written for the American Continent, it will be found 

 useful to our readers in Europe who are likewise 

 gardeners. The author wastes few words, as will 

 be gathered from the following epigramatic para- 

 graph, with which the book opens : " The results 

 obtained from the use of any insecticide or fungicide 

 depend upon the operator. Timeliness, thoroughness 

 and persistence are watchwords of success. It is 

 easier to keep an enemy away than to drive him 

 away. The worst foes are often the smallest 

 ones, and the injury is often done before they are 

 detected. Be ready, and begin early." 



Wild Nature Won by Kindness. By Mrs. Brigh- 

 tewen. 230 pp. 8vo, illustrated. (London : Fisher 

 Unwin, 1895). Price is. 6d. 



Mr. Fisher Unwin now issues the sixth edition of 

 Mrs. Brightewen's series of stories of pet animals. 

 It is a charming book to read to children, and one 

 likely to found in them a healthy love of living 

 things, which cannot fail to have a good influence 

 on them in later years. 



A Handbook of the British Macro-Lepidoptera. By 

 Bertram Geo. Rye, F.E.S. Vol. i., Part 2. 8 pp. 

 large 8vo, with two hand-coloured plates, drawn 

 by Maud Horman-Fisher. (London : Ward and 

 Foxlow.) Price 2s. 6d. 



We noticed this handsome work on the appear- 

 ance of the first part (Science-Gossip, vol. i., 

 N. S., page 275). The excellence of the drawing 

 and colouring of the plates is fully maintained, and 

 we are pleased to observe that the artist has over- 

 come the lithographer, for there is a much greater 

 softness in the figures than in Part I. The letter- 

 press is also improving, being more full and descrip- 

 tive. We trust Mr. Rye and Miss Fisher will 

 receive good support in this work, and so be 

 encouraged to make it the success it promises to 

 become. One plate in this part is devoted to 

 Pieris napi and P. daplidice, and the other to Euchloe 

 cardamines, of which eight figures are given. 



Birds, Beasts and Fishes of the Norfolk Broadland 

 By P. H. Emerson, B.A., M.B., M.R.C.S., etc. 

 416 pp. demy 8vo. Illustrated with 68 photographs, 

 by T. A. Cotton. (London : David Nutt, 1895.) 

 Price 15s. 



The publisher and the Ballantyne Press have 

 produced a handsome book, but Mr. Emerson's 

 style is disappointing and often misleading The 

 following is a quotation from page 96 : " When the 

 yellow leaves have dropped like great pale dead 

 butterflies through the low grey skies of autumn, 

 and the canker-riddled cauliflowers and budding 

 sprouts are eaten up, and the millman's garden 

 is a slippery morass of decaying vegetation, and 



