242 JOURNAL OF THE KOYAL HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



whole structure of a bird very clearly. There are also several figures 

 of birds, their eggs, &c. The reptiles naturally follow the birds, and 

 then the amphibians. Figures are given of the transformations of frogs 

 in various stages. With the fishes the account of the vertebrates closes. 

 Earth-worms and some insects are the subjects of the later chapters, 

 the wasp being taken as the insect to be described in detail and figured. 

 Other insects are mentioned in the second volume, bees, ants, gallflies, 

 aphides, and gnats sharing the honours. Centipedes, millipedes, spiders 

 and mites are not forgotten. Snails, slugs, and fresh-water mussels 

 are the subjects dealt with in two chapters, the latter being illustrated 

 by a "dissected model" given as a frontispiece to the volume. Plants 

 and animals which may be reared in a fresh-water aquarium have each 

 a chapter and many figures devoted to them. Various inhabitants of 

 the sea are then described, and a chapter on the haunts of animals 

 completes the second volume. 



Vol. iii. contains chapters 1 to 4, written by Miss Laurie, on " The 

 Life and Growth of the Shoot from the Bud " ; " The Growth of Plants 

 independently of Seeds"; The importance of Hairs in Plant Life"; 

 and chapters 5 to 7, by Dr. Lang, on " Some Common Flowering Plants," 

 e.g. " Spring Flowers and Early Summer Flowers." 



Several of the statements made in connection with the work of the 

 chloroplasts are somewhat loose, mainly through an endeavour to avoid 

 circumlocution. 



The chapters on the "Growth of Plants independently of Seeds" 

 and on " The importance of Hairs in Plant Life " are excellent. 



The second part by Dr. Lang should have come first, just as the 

 examination of common plants should precede the study of the seedling 

 and physiological processes and their effects upon plants. 



The flowering plants described are among the commonest of the 

 country-side. The writer lays great stress upon the study of their life- 

 history and their ecology. Technical terms are used judiciously ; the 

 diagrams are very clear and distinct ; the coloured illustrations, although 

 few in number, are exceedingly good. Those who wish to obtain an 

 introduction to botany might well make a start with this book. 



Volume IV. is in three sections : — 



Section I. deals with " Some Common Flowering Plants," by Dr. 

 Lang, and is a continuation of Vol. III. Among the plants described are 

 the cow parsnip, the potato, the foxglove, the heather, the rose bay 

 willow herb, the dodder, and the mistletoe. 



Section II. consists of chapters on ferns, mosses, fungi, lichens, 

 moulds, yeast, and bacteria, by Dr. Cavers. 



Section III. on ecology, by Miss Laurie, describes woodland vegeta- 

 tion, plant associations, and the vegetation of commons, heaths, and 

 moors. 



The illustrations, particularly those in Section III., are very fine 

 indeed, and of great assistance to the text, whilst the diagrams in 

 Section II. are a delight to follow, they are so beautifully clear. 



We think Miss Laurie has excelled herself in the ecological sectioD, 

 whilst those sections written by Doctors Lang and Cavers made us wish 

 we had had their valuable help when we commenced our botanical studies. 



