326 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
very staple industry of South Africa, and is of interest alike 
to the zoologist, farmer, and political economist. The paper on 
the Ostrich appeared in these pages last year. 
Elementary Practical Zoology. By Franx E. Brepparp, M.A. 
(Oxon.), F.R.S. Longmans, Green & Co. 
Turis small volume forms one of ‘‘ Longmans’ Practical 
Elementary Science Series,” and is intended as a guide to the 
elementary zoology required by the Science and Art Department. 
It might with advantage be used as a school course of zoological 
teaching, for its small compass would not make it too great a 
competitor with other studies, and its contents could be mastered 
by the teacher, which is after all the desideratum of an elementary 
book of science, if it is eventually to reach the pupil. 
Mr. Beddard commences with the Ameba, follows on with 
the Hydra, and then discusses the Karthworm, on which he is so 
well known as an authority ; to which succeeds the Crayfish, ever 
memorable from the classic of Huxley; the Cockroach, another 
type recently investigated by Miall and Denny; and successively 
treats of Insects and their metamorphoses, the Pond Mussel 
(Anodonta cygnea), the Snail, the Frog, and thence to Vertebrates. 
We are not surprised to read that ‘“‘the classification of the 
animal world adopted in this book will be found to differ from 
many schemes of classification in vogue,” and most students will 
agree with the author that this may be “because of the un- 
certainty of our knowledge, and the consequent variability of 
opinions.’ 
An elementary biological fact, not too often emphasised in 
elementary works, is clearly and tersely stated by Mr. Beddard 
with reference to the reputed distinction between animals and 
plants. ‘It is not possible to draw a clear line between plants 
and animals.” How fundamental this appreciation is to any 
intelligent conception of organic evolution it is unnecessary to 
remark; to have it clearly stated in a primer is no small service. 
There are some apparent phenomena which, even now, ordinarily 
educated people only disbelieve because they are told to do so, such 
as the seeming movement of the sun; and such observers will 
feel little doubt of the essential life differences between an Ox 
