436 REVIEWS. 
HE POPULATION OF AN OLD PEAR TnEE.*—The author in these charming 
Stories of insect life relates his experience with various forms of insects 
which visited an old pear tree in his garden, weaving in many satires 
Itis an admirable book to place in the hands of boys and girls. The 
vi aa suns are uri i reminding us of the grotesqueness and strong 
ffects seen in Doré's drawings on wood, and form a marked feature and 
attraction of the dod 
THE AMERICAN Museum OF NATURAL History.t— Under this title 
there has been established in the city of New York a museum in whose 
list of trustees we recognize many names well known to the citizens of 
the metropolis. e we honor these gentlemen for their public spirit 
we do not see even rok their report how it was that they n suddenly: 
became tnim of such a determined desire to found a museu 
ve that New York will eventually possess the finest e largest 
museum nd the country, just as they now have the most beautiful park. 
There is, however, one mistake’ which we might notice, the futility of 
forts of the directors, or whoever has in charge the large collections in 
the third story of the arsenal building, we should say that they do not 
seem to possess even that slight knowledge which five minutes criticism 
from any competent scientific man would have giyen them. We have 
never in our experience of the unscientific attempts to build museums 
seen anything so entirely unfit for its purpose as the large two-storied 
ease which occupies the centre of the arsenal hall. No one but à phys- 
ician, or a committee of such, well acquainted with hospital practice and 
it vinee 
lyrpioue, would presume to attempt the erection of a hospi gi 
are generally called upon to build railroads and steam APEND but in 
natural history all this is reversed, and we do to have yet 
e 
learned that it requires a naturalist to plan a natural MS building. 
We understand, however, that efforts are being made to place some well 
visitors, but this does not seem to have been thought of. he board of 
management, also, appear to be drifting to stuffed skins of birds and 
dq vv IT LEE 
*The Population of an old Pear Tree: or Stories of Insect Life. From the French of E. 
van Bruyssel. Edited by the author of the “ “Hele of Redclyffe.” With numerous illustrations 
by Becker. 12mo, pp.221. New York. Macmillan & Co. 1870. 
t First Net of the Trustees, 
i .$8inee | the above _was written, we have become part, ig that the Commissioners have 
CEP SEN ia ee x 
