80 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Camping in Crete. By Aubyn Trevor-Battye, M.A., F.L.S., 

 &c. Witherby & Co. 



Mr. Trevor-Battye has written a most interesting book on 

 an island well known for its archaeological treasures. Its 

 zoology is also peculiar and important in its derivation, for we 

 have been already told by Dr. Scharff that "no less than seventy- 

 seven molluscs of Crete out of one hundred and twenty-one 

 inhabiting the island are peculiar to it." Mr. Trevor-Battye 

 himself has added a Shrew (Crocidura canea) to the list of its 

 mammalian fauna, and has compiled an interesting list of the 

 birds seen or obtained between " March and the end of June." 

 He has also given an enumeration of the conspicuous plants 

 which he observed or collected, with the very justifiable remark 

 that his list may be found useful by future visitors to the island 



The reader will soon find himself on intimate terms with the 

 author of this volume. He writes of " terrestrial animals (other 

 than man)," a philosophical conception not always apprehended 

 by claimants to the absolute distinction of Homo. Mr. Trevor - 

 Battye's experience at a certain monastery is distinctly enter- 

 taining. He mentioned to the priests and deacons therein how 

 interesting the story of the visit of Paul to Crete and the ship- 

 wreck chapter as detailed in the " Acts " must be to them. " The 

 Prior admitted that he had heard it." The deacon also was 

 extremely hazy on the incident. Fortunately on the shelves were 

 several volumes of the " Epistles of the Apostles" in a somewhat 

 unused condition, and by their aid, and the inducement of our 

 author, the deacon read the shipwreck story to the brothers and 

 servitors, to their delight and information. 



Mr. Trevor-Battye narrates an instance of a well known 

 protective resemblance which he observed at Fume's. He had 

 been collecting seed of a shrub in which the seed-capsules 

 are thickly grouped above the nodes of the branches. His 

 boy brought him one having apparently a double set of 

 seed. " As soon as I had it in my hand, I noticed that the 

 lower set was not composed of seeds at all, but entirely of little 

 snail-shells, so closely imitative of the seeds that they might 

 quite easily deceive any snail-eating bird." The shrub is known 

 as Vitex agnus-castus. 



