REVIEWS OF BOOKS. 



319 



"An Introduction to Nature-Study." By E. Stenhouse, B.Sc. 8vo., 

 pp. 432. (Maemillan, London.) 3s. 6d. 



u The aim of nature-study is not primarily the acquisition of the facts 

 of natural history ; it is rather a training in methods of open-eyed, close 

 and accurate observation, especially of familiar animals and plants, which 

 shall teach the student to see what he looks at, and to think about what 

 he sees." "We quite agree with the author, and his little book is in 

 thorough accord with the above extract from the preface. It is more 

 than many books on nature-study profess to give, for it practically 

 consists of elementary courses on botany and zoology. Not only are all 

 the parts of plants described but experiments are suggested and the uses 

 of structures (now caired ecology) to the plants themselves are mentioned, 

 though this aspect might be perhaps even more insisted upon. On 

 p. 63 it might have been explained how it is that after the floral axis has 

 fallen off, a lateral bud takes the lead, and so assumes a similar or 

 apparently a terminal floral-bud for next year. On p. 92, the author 

 is still under the influence of Darwin in saying " Botanists havd proved 

 that a flower produces more and also better seeds when it is fertilised by 

 pjllen from another flower of the same species." The mistake arose from 

 Darwin's supp osing what was only a temporary stimulus in his experi- 

 ments to be a general result. Self-fertilising weeds, as groundsel, shep- 

 herd's purse, etc., will soon kill out, by smothering them, plants requiring 

 to be crossed. In speaking of the opening of buds in spring, the way the 

 young leaves place themselves vertically to avoid injury by radiation is 

 an object of much interest to be observed. The part on animals is 

 equally good. We can thoroughly recommend this book for what might 

 be called a second stage in nature study. 



" Entomology with Special Reference to its Biological and Economic 

 Aspects." By J. W. Folsom, Sc.D. 8vo., 485 pp. (Rebman, London.) 

 14s. net. 



This work by Dr. Folsom fills a place in ent )mological literature 

 which has not previously been occupied. The title describes very ac- 

 curately the nature of its contents. It is profusely illustrated. Besides a 

 coloured frontispiece giving examples of "protective mimicry among 

 butterflies," there are no fewer than 600 very good figures given in the 

 text, most of which, however, are more or less diagrammatic. The ter 

 minology unfortunately is far from popular ; in fact, it is very technical, 

 and no glossary is given ; this is a great omission in a work of this nature, 

 which is likely to prove of great interest to many whose knowledge of 

 entomology and technical terms is very slight. The book is divided into 

 thirteen chapters ; the first three give a very clear and concise account of 

 the classification, anatomy, physiology, and development of insects. 

 Then follow chapters on coloration, "origin of adaptations and of 

 species." Perhaps the two most interesting chapters to horticulturist aw 

 those on "insects in relation to plants " and " insects in relation to man." 

 There is nothing actually new in these chapters, but the subjects are 

 treated in a very terse and interesting manner. The first part (on 

 tropisms) of the chapter on "insect behaviour " is open to much criticism ; 

 •in it the author quotes othtr writers to show that the movements of 



