BOOK REVIEWS. 



255 



Kewensis." The book is a welcome addition to the indispensable com- 

 panions of the gardener, amateur or professional. 



"Botany for Matriculation" By F. Cavers, D.Sc, F.L.S. 8vo., 

 568 pp. (University Tutorial Press, London, 1909.) 5s. 6d. 



This is an excellent book of its kind, full, clear, and concise, and 

 contains an admirable exposition of ecology. The majority of elementary 

 text-books of preceding years dealt solely with structure with the view to 

 classification, but since ecology has become a subject of examination, 

 students are compelled to study plants from a new point of view. The 

 author says in his preface : " The fact that I regard ecology and physio- 

 logy as the aspects of plant life which should be chiefly presented to 

 beginners will explain — and, I hope, justify — the inclusion in this book of 

 a good deal of information which is given in works of chemistry, physics, 

 meteorology, and geology." Looking at it from a beginner's point of 

 view, we think Chapter II. should have been postponed to p. 516, and 

 precede, or even follow, the chapter on ecology ; but the fact is no book 

 on botany can be read straight through. The student studies various parts 

 of plants as he can get them. He can study seeds in the winter, then 

 germination in spring, &c. ; but ecology he can pursue at all seasons, 

 whenever he can take a walk into the country. He thus gathers his 

 knowledge as it is possible, and may study any part of the book before 

 us as he requires it. The author rightly describes types, not in any 

 trictly classificatory sequence, but just as a student must study them in 

 nature. There appears to be a few omissions, such as the anatomy of 

 the insertion of stipules, an infallible clue to their origin and nature. No 

 mention is made of the special rays concerned in transpiration, viz. violet 

 and red ; yellow and blue are rightly stated as necessary for photosyn- 

 thesis. In answering the question, "Is light required for starch forma- 

 tion? " the use of sugar in the reformation of starch in tubers, without 

 light, might be alluded to. The author seems to still hold Darwin's 

 original, but not later, view of the injurious effects of self-pollination 

 (p. 267) ; but on p. 288 he describes the special arrangements for it. The 

 fact is Darwin made a mistake ! 



We can heartily recommend this book to all who will use it as a help 

 and a guide to their study and examination of living plants. 



"Agricultural Botany." By Prof. J. Percival, M.A., F.L.S. 3rd Ed. 

 8vo., 806 pp. (Duckworth, London, 1907.) 7s. 6d. net. 



This is perhaps the best book upon agricultural botany, and the fact 

 that it has reached its third edition shows that its value has been appre- 

 ciated by students. This edition has been further improved by a short 

 but lucid account of the Mendelian law of inheritance. 



"The Bird-life of London." By Charles Dixon. 8vo. 335 pp. 

 (Heinemann, London, 1909.) 6s. net. 



This book describes 135 species of birds as from time to time coming 

 within the neighbourhood of London, though a few of these, as the raven 

 and the peregrine falcon, are only of historic interest. The book is 



