BOOK REVIEWS. 



241 



" The Book of Nature Study." Edited by J. Bretland Farmer, D.Sc, 

 F.K.S., assisted by a Staff of Specialists. Vols. I. to IV. 8vo., 212 + 

 222 + 228 + 210 pp. (Caxton Publishing Co., London, 1908-09.) 

 7s. 6d. net. each. 



This book, which is being issued in six volumes, is composed of 

 contributions from ten scientists, all of them experts on the subjects on 

 which they write. The first two volumes, which are those now under 

 review, deal with the animal world, and treat of the habits and structure 

 of animals and the reasons for the difference between various animals in 

 form and coloration, though each is made on a very similar plan to the 

 others. The work is written primarily for the use of teachers, but it will 

 be found to be very interesting by those who have a love for natural 

 history, but have not had any definite instruction. In the preface the 

 editor speaks of nature study in the following terms : " Amongst the 

 studies that deserve to take a high rank in the educational subjects, that 

 of nature study ought to occupy a high place, especially in the case of 

 young people. It is concerned with all the phenomena of the world 

 around us, and its problems are those which confront us everywhere in 

 our daily life." 



The first chapter opens with four questions which are asked by 

 naturalists when studying an animal or a portion of one. The first, 

 what is this ? Second, how does it act ? Thirdly, whence is this ? 

 Fourthly, how has this come to be as it is ? 



It is a great pity that the majority of collectors, when they have 

 found an addition to their collection and have answered the first 

 question to their satisfaction, are quite contented and do not take any 

 trouble to answer the others, and except the names of their specimens 

 cannot tell you anything about them. Such persons do not in any way 

 deserve the title of naturalists. They only collect natural history objects 

 in the same manner as persons collect stamps, &c. It is really much 

 better to know something about an animal or plant, and not to know its 

 name, than to know its name and nothing else about it. Of course it is 

 important to know the name of a specimen, as otherwise it is difficult to 

 make others understand what animal or plant you may be alluding to ; 

 and those persons who spend their time in naming things and in deter- 

 mining in what sequence they should be classed are doing very useful 

 work, and are rather to be pitied as they spend their lives over such dry 

 details. This work is a most interesting one, and suggestive of how the 

 study of nature should be carried on even in channels which are not here 

 indicated, and should have the effect of stimulating the reader to study 

 natural objects instead of merely collecting them. 



After this preliminary matter a chapter follows on " Mammals or beasts 

 of the field," giving their chief characteristics and showing how they 

 differ from others, and the peculiarities of certain types. Birds are then 

 described much in the same manner. Some interesting figures are given 

 showing the formation of feathers and the arrangement on the wings. 

 The frontispiece is a dissected model picture of a nigeon, consisting of 

 four coloured pictures placed one over the othei : the uppermost one 

 shows the bird as usually seen, the next represents it plucked, the third 

 the skeleton, and the last the internal organs. This model shows the 



