EE VIEWS OE BOOKS. 



541 



insects in general, and of each family of insects, is given, and fuller notes 

 upon the habits of those which are useful or injurious in any human 

 industries. A chapter on insecticides and the methods of applying them 

 is given at the end, and a second appendix provides lists of useful entomo- 

 logical works. Figures of several insects illustrating the different orders help 

 to give some idea of the great diversity of form found among these creatures 

 and assist the reader in identifying the forms under discussion. The 

 book may be heartily recommended to all cultivators of plants who are 

 interested in insect life or its suppression — and who of those who grow 

 plants is not ? 



" Agricultural Zoology." By J. Ritzema Bos. Translated by 

 J. R. Ainsworth Davis, M.A. 8vo., 312 pp. (Methuen & Co., London.) 

 3s. 6d. 



That this book has reached a third edition proves that it has met a 

 want. The main subdivisions of the animal kingdom are passed in 

 review, greatest attention being naturally directed to the animals of the 

 farm. The parts most interesting to horticulturists are undoubtedly those 

 dealing with birds and with insects and eelworms, and at times one 

 wishes that the accounts given of some of the creatures might have been 

 longer. The large number of illustrations (155) materially assist in an 

 understanding of the text and allow of more brief verbal treatment. 

 Probably the most interesting part of the book to the general reader 

 interested in questions of economic zoology is to be found in the appendix, 

 where an essay on "Conditions which determine the appearance of 

 harmful animals," followed by an account of the " General principles 

 regulating the means to be employed against harmful animals " is to be 

 found. Both of these show the hand of a master of his subject and are 

 alone worth the price charged for the book. A copious index adds 

 greatly to the value of the book. 



" The Plants of the Bible. Their ancient and mediaeval history 

 popularly described." By the Rev. Professor G. Henslow, M.A., F.L.S. 

 8vo., 294 pp. (Masters, London.) 6s. net. 



The venerable author has so long been before the public as an 

 authority on botanical and horticultural subjects, and brings so much 

 originality to bear upon anything that he takes in hand, that there is 

 always a certainty of finding in his publications much of interest and 

 instruction. Being also a Hebrew scholar and a clergyman, no one could 

 be better fitted to deal with the botanical problems of the Bible. 

 Although there are several works on the subject, as well as articles in 

 encyclopaedias, the author has still something fresh to say about the 

 almug, apple, melon, borith, cockle, chalamoth, the red dye, the rose, 

 saffron, the unfading plant, and the wild vine. In other cases, where 

 he has nothing new to add to previous knowledge, he has brought so much 

 collateral information to bear that the articles are fall of interest, and 

 make very pleasant reading. 



In the speculative portions of the work in which philology is utilised, 

 it is difficult for those who are not familiar with Hebrew to follow the 

 author. Philology is too much like a will-o'-the-wisp to be safely 



