SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



i ii 



Life and Rock. A collection of Zoological and 

 Geological Essays. By R. Lydekker, B.A., 

 F.G.S., F.Z.S. pp. xi. and 221, 8vo. Illustrated 

 by 53 figures. (London : The Universal Press, 

 1894.) Price 5s. 



This work is a collection of articles which 

 originally appeared in our contemporary, " Know- 

 ledge," and is published in the " Knowledge Series" 

 by Messrs. Witherby and Co. All these essays are 

 most entertaining, and " Life and Rock " will be 

 found to be one of those books one can always take 

 up for recreative reading. The subjects are varied 

 and their treatment pleasantly dealt with. They 

 include such as " Elephants, Recent and Extinct," 

 "Moles and their Like," "Spiny Animals," 

 "Parallelism in Development," "Toothed Whales 

 and their Ancestry," "Ruminants and their 

 Distribution," "The Oldest Mammals," "The 

 Oldest Fishes and their Fins," "The Origin of 

 Flint," and many others. The illustrations are 

 good, two of them we reproduce as examples, by 

 permission of the publishers. They are the bichir, 

 from the Upper Nile, said to be one of the oldest 



Field-Path Rambles. By Walker Miles. West 

 Kent Series. 232 pp., with illustrations and maps. 

 Price 4s. Also Round Dorking. 64 pp. Illustrated. 

 Price 6d. (London : R. E. Taylor and Son, 1893 

 and 1894.) 



To the explorer of his own country the labour is 

 made easy if accompanied by these useful guides 

 in the localities they describe. It is only necessary 

 to follow the paths indicated to find some of the 

 best walks in the respective neighbourhoods. With 

 what can be learned from these pages and what 

 one can observe on the way, walks such as these 

 add a new interest to life. 



Walton and some Earlier Writers on Fish and Fishing. 

 By R. B. Marston. 264 pp. small 8vo. (London : 

 Elliot Stock, 1894.) 



Although this charming and artistically produced 

 little work has no pretentions to be scientific, it 

 savours so delightfully of country-lore that we have 

 no hesitation in including it among our " Books 

 to Read." Mr. Marston's long association with 

 fishing as an art and a sport fits him better than 



The Bichir. (From "Life and Rock.") 



An Extinct Ganoid Fish. (From "Life and Rock.") 



known vertebrate animals now existing in a living 

 state, and another representing an extinct ganoid 

 fish. They are placed in comparison for a study 

 of development of the fins. In a chapter headed 

 — somewhat unfortunately, perhaps, " Living 

 Fossils," as it appears rather like a contradiction, 

 the author gives an interesting series of instances 

 of recent animals which are also found in a fossil 

 state. At the end of most chapters are summaries 

 or general conclusions which are both useful and 

 instructive. 



The Royal Natural History. Super royal 8vo. 

 36 monthly parts. Price is. (London : Frederick 

 Warne and Co.) 



We have already noticed the earlier portion of 

 this fine work [ante p. 16), and have since received 

 further parts, seven of which are already out. The 

 high character of the book is fully maintained, 

 with regard both to letterpress and illustrations. 

 Part VI. is largely devoted to dogs and their allies. 

 The domesticated "races" of dogs are enlarged 

 upon and extensively illustrated. In Part V. are 

 the members of the cat tribe, including notices of 

 those used as household pets. 



any man whom we know to have critically 

 examined and collated what is known about the 

 early literary fathers of the angle. His extracts 

 from their writings, with his careful comments and 

 personal observations, form one of the most 

 delightful additions to the alreadv voluminous 

 literature of the subject, that it has been our lot 

 to read for a long time past. 



The Country Month by Month. By J. A. Owen 

 and Professor G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., F.G.S. 

 May and June. 64 pp. each, Svo. (London : 

 Bliss, Sands and Foster, 1S94.) Price is., and 2s. 

 cloth. 



We have received the current parts of this series 

 of books, these making four out of the proposed 

 twelve months. It may be that the season covered 

 by May and June lends itself to inspiration, for 

 these latter essays are distinctly improved in their 

 interest. For instance, we may take that called 

 "The Old Chalk Pit," which reminds one of 

 Gomshall and some other Surrey sunny spots. 

 The dissertations on the plants and animals to be 

 found in such a locality is good, and suggestive of 

 many visits. 



