300 Recent Literature. [ March, l 
Witson’s Witp Animats AND Bırps.!—The boys and girlsof — 
this day as regards natural history literature, are, compared with 
their grandfathers and grandmothers, highly favored. The best 
zoological artists and engravers and naturalists of distinction vie 
in setting forth in word and picture the wonders of the animal 
world, and in retailing for the benefit of the rising generation of 
naturalists the latest views and discoveries in biological science, 
The young will never cease to read with eagerness anecdotes 
about or to study pictures of animals. They do not want to 
shiver over pictures of skeletons, or get sleepy over dry anatom- 
ical descriptions. The interest in living animals, the human-like 
countenance of the monkey, the ferocity of the tiger, the lion 
standing over his victim, the giraffe with his painfully long neck, 
the giant, clumsy form of behemoth, the mammoth proportions 
of the elephant, the horse in motion, birds in flight, fish swimming 
and snakes gliding—it is living, moving nature which captivates 
the child’s imagination, and lends the study of nature unceasing 
delight—hence, zoological writers are among the children’s best 
and life-long friends, and the annual visit of menageries are white ) 
days in his calendar. mn 
What a contrast are the zoological pictures and books of this 
day to those we were brought up upon! Compare Oliver Gold: | 
smiths’ often apochryphal though pleasantly written natural history 
and Peter Parley’s anecdotes of the animal kingdom, Wi) |) 
elaborate specimens of true art and faithfulness to nature, which 
the publishers of this day offer to the young. The child of three 
years, the urchin of ten summers, and the boy in his teens, all are 
offered books which for beauty of illustration and presswork atè 
marvels of art. or 
An excellent example of what is excellent in artistic delineation 
of animals and in pleasant narration is Dr. Wilson’s Wi d Anne 
and Birds. The text is well and pleasantly written, and the ge : 
authorities are cited or levied upon for material. Darw ¢ 
Wallace are often quoted ; and Brehm’s Animal Life and simila 
works are the sources of inspiration. e 
RECENT KS AND PAMPHLETS.—Annales du Musée Royal g’ Histoire ne : 
de Belgique Série Paleontulogique. Tome vit. Description des Ossements Cétacés, 
des Environs vers, Par M. P-J. Van Beneden. Troisieme parti® = 
Brussels, 1882. From the author. foe 
The New Zealand Journal of Science, Nov., 1882. Re 
ied Quarterly Journal of the Boston Zoological Society, Jan., 1883 
- f . i te 
P rg and Literary Gossip, Dec., 1882. S. E. Cassino, Boston. From! 
isher. 
BG 
Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum, 1882, pp. 433-448. shied 
Yarrow. pe. 
of 1882. From’ 3 
1 Wild Animals and Birds: thei ts. B song gs 
> irds » their Haunts and Habits. By Ne Yoik, 1882 
Ilustrated, ell, Petter, Galpin & Co., London, Paris, and 
410, pp. 192. $3.00, - 
Preliminary Rej í ; ee 
fessor A. Guyot. port upon the Princeton Scientific Expedition 
