REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 475 
_ stories of the strength and voracity of the “killers,” popularly 
current among seafaring men, seem now hardly exaggerations of 
the truth. Though apparently only rarely attacking the larger 
_ cetaceans, they prey with great rapacity upon their young and the 
smaller species, as well as also upon seals and the larger fishes. 
Even the powerful old male sealions and the full grown walruses, 
are said to endeavor to avoid them, while their ability to kill the 
largest of the baleen whales seems fully established. The species 
_ of“ killer” chiefly referred to in this article appear to be the Orca 
ater and O. rectipinna of Cope, though possibly a third species is 
figured. The same enterprising magazine has at former times 
: furnished us with other articles of value from Capt. Scammon’s 
Nady pen, respecting other marine mammals of the Pacific 
Coast, among them valuable papers on the Sea Otter (“ Overland 
Monthly,” Vol. 1v, Jan., 1870, pp. 25-30), and the sealions and 
seabears (Ibid., Vol. vir, Mar., 1872, pp. 266-23). We are glad 
to learn from Captain Scammon (incidentally in a letter to the 
Writer) that he proposes soon to collect his various articles on the 
“als and whales of the Pacific and republish them in book form, 
“companied with illustrations and much additional matter, —a 
York which his long familiarity with them eminently qualifies him - 
‘© prepare, and which will be heartily welcomed by naturalists, 
*Swell doubtless as by the general public. — J. A. A. 
: How Prayts Benave.* —Dr. Gray has just given us, under this 
title, a most charming continuation of his Botany for Young Peo- 
Commenced in the well known volume, ‘“ How Plants Grow.” 
= that volume it gives a simple and well illustrated account of 
i phenomena of plant life, all the more to be enjoyed, because 
Premie scientific eminence guarantees its entire agreement 
"4A the last established facts and theories in Botany. The plan 
k S is thus stated in the preface : 
while ere is a study of plants and flowers admirably adapted, 
o Cxciting a lively curiosity, to stimulate both observation and 
ht, to which I have long wished to introduce pupils of an 
Pei The time has now arrived in which I may make the 
Mpt, and may ask young people to consider not only ‘How 
for fires has Young People: Part II. How they move, climb, employ insects to work 
cago. Ivison By Asa Gray. . 46. 12mo, with 40 illustrations. New York and Chi- 
Pgh Blakeman, Taylor, & Co 
