358 The American Naturalist. 
WATKINS, J. E.—Report on the Section of Transportation and Engineering’ 
United States National Museum, 1888. Ext. Rept. Nat. Mus., 1887-88. From 
Smithsonian Institution. AB 
HEELER, H. J.—Soils and Fertilizers. Bull. No. 8, Agri. Exp. Stat., Rh. 
WHE 
State Agri. School, Sept., 1890. j 
WILSON, T.—A Study of Prehistoric Anthropology. Ext. Rept. Nat. Mus., 1887- 
PP. 597-671 ; 
—Results of an Inquiry as to the Existence of Man in North America during the 
Paleolithic Period of the Stone Age. Ext. Rept. Nat. Mus., 1887-'88. From the Smith- 
sonian Institution. l 
WOODWARD, A. S., and C. D. SHERBORN.—A Catalogue of British Fossil Verte- 
brata. From the authors.. : 
; — A 
a RECENT LITERATURE. 
To THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN NATURALIST : 
Dear Sir: I have just seen the review of the ‘‘ Guide for Science- 
Teaching,” No. VIII, on “Insecta,” in the January number of the 
ERICAN NATURALIST. One sentence of that review cannot be 
passed unnoticed by those who are laboring for the cause of science- 
teaching. When Mr. Kingsley says: ‘‘ We cannot help wishing 
we had some really first-class text-book of entomology which would 
attack the subject from every side,’’ I must reply, emphatically, that 
this was the very thing we did not aim to write, and which we did not 
think was needed. 
As is well known, the “Science-Guides ” are written for the 
body of teachers of our public and private schools,—that is, for teaches 
of the young from five to eighteen years of age. Do these tea 
need a text-book which shall attack the subject from every side, 0f 
guide to show them how to make their pupils attack the subject from í 
sides? Will boys and girls trained from early childhood to do 
text-book when they enter college? I think not. Nowhere along 
way is a text-book needed, even if it be “first-class,” and | 
should it be placed between nature and the child. It may be tha 
special student in college or the professor would find a reference 
presenting the subject from every point of view, very convenlenis 
it is not for specialists that those most deeply interested in the 
science-teaching are working. These recognize the fact that 1 ‘i 
science primer, conceived in the scientific spirit, but treating the 
ject from a few sides, may shoot far below the minds of spec 
reference book, treating the subject from every side, wouie ~ 
heavy weight upon the teachers of the young, because it would 
their imperative needs. | y 
