1896.] Recent Literatre. . - - 1033 
. nature herself. This was the education, the author thinks, which made 
_ Shakespere really great. The study of nature is certainly of value, 
and the author’s recommendations, together with the practical exercises 
in sense-training which he gives, will doubtless be an aid to this culture. 
But in these days of the supremacy of science, it is far more important 
to begin early to lay the foundations of habits of correct scientific 
thinking. The possession of clear and vivid mental imagery is a factor 
in correct thinking, of course; but unless accompanied by the logical 
treatment of ideas it is quite as likely'to lead us in the wrong as in the 
right direction. 
As a manual on the education of the central nervous system Mr. 
Halleck’s work is very incomplete ; it must be supplemented in several 
directions, and notably by a considerable amount of that very “ book- 
learning ” which the author treats so lightly. The treatment of motor 
education is inadequate, being confined to a single short chapter at the 
end of the book. By way of minor criticism, we may notice the author’s 
fondness for repeating the same illustrations (e. g., pp. 82,248). Some 
of his deductions are based on very inadequate data (e. g., p. 64); but 
this is rather the fault of his authorities. His list of great men who 
began to show talent at an early age, though large, calls to mind so 
many exceptions as to throw considerable doubt on the position which 
jt seeks to establish. 
The chapter entitled: “ How Shakspere’s Senses were Trained,” is 
interesting to the student of literature, though somewhat too detailed. 
Throughout the book there is a wealth of quotations from Shakespere, 
Milton, and other writers, which add to its ee finish, if they do not 
improve its scientific quality. —H. C. 
Lydekker on the Geographical History of Mammalia.'— 
I have already referred to this work in the last number of the Naru- 
RALIST in a paper on the Geographical Distribution of Batrachia and 
Reptilia of North America. I then pointed out that the author adopts 
the three Geographical realms of Huxley with the reasons why in my 
opinion the Ethiopian should constitute a fourth Realm. The divisions 
of the Notogzeic Realm of Lydekker’s system, are the Australian, Poly- 
nesian, Hawaiian and Austromalayan. The Neogæic realm has a sole 
region, the Neotropical. The Arctogæic is divided into the Malagasy, 
the Ethiopian, the Oriental, the Holarctic, and the Sonoran. Having 
otherwise disposed of the Ethiopian and its subdivision the Malagasy, 
1 The Geographical History of Mammals; by R. Lydekker A. B., F. R. S., V. 
P. G. S., ete. Cambridge University Press, 1896. 8vo. pp. 400 
