232 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



(Acridium (Schistocerca) paranense) ; in one case the average was 

 a Locust to a pound of the Alfalfa (Lucerne) hay which was 

 landed from Buenos Ayres ; in another instance there were no 

 fewer than two hundred specimens in one truss. Such food, it 

 need scarcely be pointed out, is at least highly suspect for 

 Horses. We might multiply extracts to show that these reports 

 are of the first interest to agriculturists, farmers, and rearers of 

 stock, whilst to the naturalist and entomologist they embody a 

 series of faithful life-histories. 



A Text-Book of Agricultural Zoology. By Fred. V. Theobald, 

 M.A., &c. Wm. Blackwood & Sons. 



Not only the farmer and the agriculturist, but also that 

 numerous class whose urban prosperity permits rural residence 

 and pursuits, frequently seek — and sometimes vainly — for some 

 authentic information respecting the animal friends and foes 

 with whom they are brought in contact. As a rule, farmers are 

 not zoologists, nor are all country residents naturalists, conse- 

 quently the few books which now exist on the subject — and we 

 must not overlook Miss Ormerod's excellent contributions — may 

 be well supplemented. Mr. Theobald's profusely illustrated 

 volume is a compilation which contains much scientific matter 

 over and above animal biography and narrative. It grapples 

 largely with modern animal classification, detailing some anatomy, 

 but more physiology. And as the book is likely to fall into 

 the hands of those who have received no particular biological 

 instruction, it should serve a good purpose. To such readers 

 it is most opportune to show that zoology and botany are only 

 divorced sections of natural history, not necessarily distinct 

 sciences. When Mr. Theobald discusses animals and plants, he 

 is forced to acknowledge : — " In fact, there is no hard-and-fast 

 line to be drawn between these two organic groups. Such lowly 

 creatures as Volvox are treated by botanists as plants, whilst the 

 zoologist includes them in the Protozoa." Organic nature lends 

 herself to the systematiser, or she could neither be studied nor 

 understood, but she still remains one and indivisible. 



A good word is said for the usefulness of those furred and 



