[42 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



The inside of the shell and body should also be 

 dusted over with powdered alum. 



In conclusion, I would strongly recommend any 

 young person who is fond of natural history to 

 take up this most interesting branch, and he will 

 find that the summer holiday is much more 

 enjoyable from having a hobby of this kind, 

 besides the winter's work among the specimens 

 collected. 



8, Whitehall Park, London, N. 



RARE ANIMALS IN LONDON. 



A MONG the additions made to the Zoological 

 Gardens during the present year, there are 

 several species which have not previously been re- 

 presented in the society's collection. A female 

 specimen of the tantalus monkey (Cercopithecus 

 tantalus) was received from the Upper Benue River, 

 West Africa. In the " Small Cats' House " there are 

 some examples of the Egyptian weasel (Mustela 

 subpalmata) ; this beast differs considerably from 

 our own species (M. vulgaris), being larger and of a 

 somewhat lighter colour. The bridled wallaby 

 (Onychogale frenata) is a member of a genus of 

 kangaroos, known as "spur-tailed" wallabies; 

 there are three species, which have the tip of the 

 tail furnished with a horny spur, si/nilar to that of 

 the lion. One of them, the lunulated kangaroo 

 (O. lunata), was living in the gardens about thirty- 

 two years ago. The present species comes from 

 Eastern Australia. The new birds include 

 specimens of the Moluccan kestrel (Tinnunculus 

 moluccensis) from Triton Bay, New Guinea; the 

 paradise parrakeet (Psephotus chrysopterygius) from 

 Australia, and the pigmy goose (Nettopus coroman- 

 delianus), of which three examples were presented 

 by Mr. Finn, of Calcutta. Many unsuccessful 

 attempts have previously been made to introduce 

 this bird into Europe. There are also several 

 new reptiles, among which may be noticed an 

 angulated snake (Helicops angulatus) from the West 

 Indies, a Hallowell's tree-snake (Dendraspis viridis) 

 from West Africa, some examples of Sharpe's 

 tortoise (Testudo emys) from Borneo, and a Cuvier's 

 scolecosaure (Scolccosaurus cuvieri) from Trinidad. 

 Guy Mercer, F.Z.S. 



200, Adelaide Road, South Hampstcad, N.W. 

 September 2nd, 1897, 



White Stork in Sussex. — Our local taxi- 

 dermist, Mr. Richardson, has on his premises, 

 where it may be inspected, a fine male specimen of 

 the white stork (Ciconia alba), which was picked 

 up dead, on August iSth, on New Barn Farm, 

 Colgate, about four miles north-east of Horsham. 

 It was found to have been shot — Chas. J . Marten, 

 30, London Road, Horsham. 



NOTICES BY JOHN T. CARRINGTON. 



A Guide to Zermatl and the Matterhorn. By 

 Edward Whymper, 212 pp. 8vo, profusely illus- 

 trated. (London; John Murray. Geneva: Georg 

 and Co., 1897.) Price 3s. 



On taking up a guide-book to a popular Swiss 

 tourist district, one hardly expects to find one of 

 the most fascinating stories it has been our 

 pleasure to read for many a year past. Written, 

 as it is, by the most experienced and trustworthy 

 of Alpine climbers, it has the additional advantage 

 of being a true story. In this unpretentious Guide 

 will be found a history of indomitable persever- 

 ance, crowned by ultimate success. It is the 

 story of the conquering of the Matterhorn, 

 that terrible and fatal Alpine peak which 

 has cost so many lives to surmount. Mr. 

 Whymper writes so graphically and vividly that 

 one loses the remembrance of reading and imagines 

 oneself present at the incidents he relates. There 

 is no attempt at word-painting, but we have seldom 

 met with word-pictures that fix themselves so 

 sharply on one's imagination. His story of his 

 ultimate success, accompanied by a party of seven 

 others, including three Englishmen, Lord Francis 

 Douglas, the Rev. Charles Hudson and Mr. Hadow, 

 the rest being experienced guides, is one to read 

 over and over again. The fatiguing difficulties 

 of the ascent ; their frantic joy on reaching the 

 summit ; their dangerous descent ; the slipping of 

 Mr. Hadow, the startled exclamation from the 

 guide, Croz, and the descent of both with Hudson 

 and Lord Francis, with a sharp snapping sound of 

 the connecting rope, then the sheer drop of four 

 thousand feet of these four men, is something to 

 dream about. Hardly worse, is his description of 

 the terror and unnerved condition of the survivors. 

 The historical part of this Guide is indeed a series 

 of exciting narratives of daring and doing, which 

 should be read by all conditions of people, whether 

 travellers or those who stay at home. The book 

 is a mixture of common sense, useful instructions, 

 bright anecdote and pathetic stories of terrible 

 storms, danger and death. This Guide-book is far 

 more than its name pretends. The illustrations 

 are well chosen and highly instructive. 



Humane Science Lectures. By various authors 

 181 pp. 8vo. (London: George Bell and Sons, 

 1897.) Price 2s. 



In this little work, which is published for the 

 Humanitarian League, are four lectures : (1) " The 

 Need of a Rational and Humane Science," by 

 Edward Carpenter ; (2) " The Humane Study of 

 Natural History," by J. Arthur Thomson, M.A. ; 

 (3) "The Treatment of Prisoners," by Rev. W. 

 Douglas Morrison ; (4) " Suggestion : Its Place 

 in Medicine and Scientific Research," by Dr. J. 

 Milne Bramwell. There is an Appendix giving a 

 short report of a lecture by Prince Peter Kropotkin. 

 It is hardly necessary here to say more about these 

 lectures than that they were given under the 

 auspices of that excellently well-meaning society. 



