THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [November, 1894. 



mostly rather stupid animals. The llamas of South America and the 

 giraffes of Africa live in herds, but are by no means intelligent 



to 



creatures. 



(To be continued.) 



REVIEWS. 



" Les Peckerus et les Poissons de la Mediterranee," par Paul Gourret ; 

 docteur es sciences, sous-directeur de la station zoologique de Marseille. 1 vol. 

 in-16 de 360 p., avec 109 figures, cartonne ( Bibliotheque des Connaissian ces utiles). 

 J. B. Bailliere et fils, Paris. 

 Students of Natural History would do well not to confine themselves to the 

 investigation of pure science alone, but walk abroad somewhat into the region of 

 applied zoology, and develop some of those practical questions appertaining thereto. 

 Amongst the numerous subjects this deviation from the main track of pure science 

 introduces us to, perhaps none is more interesting, as bearing on the food question, 

 than, fish culture. M. Gourret, of the Zoological Station at Marseilles, has pub- 

 lished a small handbook dealing with the coast fisheries of the Mediterranean, and 

 which is illustrated by numerous original drawings. The work is divided into five 

 sections : in the first the author discusses, marks out, and limits the localities of the 

 fishing industry, treating also of the geological structure and features of the coast 

 line, the nature of and variation in the waters, the alterations in depth, and the effects 

 brought about by wind influences and the variation of currents, concluding the section 

 by giving a scientific resume on the habits of the local and sedentary fishes, and the 

 various migratory species. The second part deals with the various appliances used in 

 this industry, aud the different methods adopted, i.e., line-fishing, basket and pot-fishing, 

 harpooning, torch light attraction, deep-sea fishing, and the various methods of 

 trawling. The detrimental effects to which the fish fauna is subject, arising from the 

 alteration of coast line, river deposits, Sec, and voracious enemies, constitute the 

 third part of the work, and complete the list of those distinct influences 'more 

 or less direct which affect the fishing industry. Those protective measures, 

 regarded as necessary for the revival of the littoral waters to their original state of 

 prosperity, are fully discussed in the fourth part. The fifth and concluding section 

 of the work is set aside to a list of those fishes frequenting the waters of the Gulf of 

 Marseilles and neighbouring localities, with the scientific and popular names. A 

 short dissertation on the frequency and rarity of the various species and the methods 

 adopted for capture brings this useful work to a close. Numerous woodcuts specially 

 drawn from nature embellish the book, and add greatly to the interest of the subject 

 treated of, which, while being a study of practical utility, is nevertheless one which 

 forms attractive reading. 



" A Monograph of the Land and Freshwater Mollusca of the British Isles " 

 (by John W. Taylor, F.L.S.). 



The first part of this long-promised work is at last in the hands of the subscribers. 

 This part, one of the four which will form the first volume, treats of classification, 

 nomenclature, and the structure of various forms and varieties of shells. Its 138 figures 

 are drawn with remarkable clearness and fidelity to nature, each being, in fact, a good 

 example of the form described. Of the coloured plate which accompanies the part it would 

 be difficult to speak too highly. The clearness and accuracy of the drawing are all that 

 could be desired, and the colouring is true to nature. This will undoubtedly become t 

 favourite text-book of the student of the British non-marine mollusca. — W. A. Gain. >-•-* 



