226 



Reviews in id Book Notices, 



jNIessrs. Casscll & Co., who have done so much to popularise science, 

 are now pubhshing a beautiful natural history work in fortnighty parts, 

 viz., 'British Birds' Nests: how, where and when to find and identify 

 them,' by R. Kearton, with illustrations by C. Kearton, and with coloured 

 plates of eggs. The work is to be completed in sixteen fortnightly parts, 

 at one shilling each, and judging from the three already received, the 

 work bids fair to be exceedingly cheap. The plates of eggs, printed by 

 the three-colour process, are excellent. 



Truth : Experimental Researches about the Descent of Man, 

 by H. M. B. Moens. London: A. Owen & Co., 1908. 26pp., i/- 



In this pamphlet the author outlines some extraordinar}^ experiments 

 he proposes to make with anthropoid apes and negroes in the region of 

 the Congo. The results of these experiments he hopes will have a great 

 bearing upon the origin of the human species. The object of the pamphlet 

 is an appeal for funds, and we would recommend the matter to the notice 

 of those interested in experiments of this nature. 



The Report of the Scarborough Philosophical and Archaeological 

 Society for 1907 is to hand. 



It is good news to learn that the society has a substantial balance in 

 hand, and that for ' the first time for twenty-three years, bank interest has 

 been received.' Some much-needed improvements in the Museum and 

 Librar}^ have been made — the latter now being a very useful and valuable 

 asset. The publication includes the Report of the Scarborough Field 

 Naturalists' Society in which are many valuable local natural history 

 records. j\Ir. W. J. Clarke's Zoological notes are particularly interesting. 

 We are glad to notice that the committee has determined to prevent, even 

 by legal action, if necessary, the destruction of wild flowers in the district. 



Proceedings of the Darlington and Teesdale Naturalists' Field 

 Club, Vol. I. Edited by A. C. Boyde. 1907 [published Jan. 1908], 

 120 pp., plates, price 3/- 



In his presidential address to the Darlington Society last year, Mr. 

 J. Turnbull reviewed the work which had been accomplished by the Club 

 since its formation in 189 1. A wish was then expressed that some per- 

 manent record might be made of the Club's proceedings. Mr. Boyde was 

 appointed editor, and with the valuable help of Mr. Edward Wooler, the 

 present publication has been produced. Our Darlington friends are to be 

 thanked for placing on record so many important facts, and congratulated 

 upon producing so interesting a volume. It is well that the record has been 

 made whilst there was the opportunity. The volume commences with a 

 list of the lectures delivered to the Society, which is followed by memoirs 

 of the late James I'Anson and Dr. Taylor Manson. These are accompanied 

 by photographs. There are also portraits of Messrs. A. C, Dixon, E. Wooler 

 J. Turnbull, W. Lear, and G. H. S. Hampton. Mr. Turnbull's presidential 

 address, already referred to, is printed, and there are summaries and 

 abstracts of other papers, many of great local value. We regret that space 

 does not enable us to enumerate all the items, but the following will give 

 an idea of their nature : — ' Outhnes of the Geology of Darlington,' by [the 

 late] R. Taylor Manson ; ' Life on a Window Pane,' Rev. W. J. Wingate ; 

 ' Coal and Coal Formation ' ; and ' The Antiquity of Man,' by J. Turn- 

 bull ; ' Bulmer's Stone, Darlington,' by A. Haward ; ' Phallic Worship,' 

 and ' The Romans in and around Darlington,' by Edward Wooler ; ' The 

 Cleveland Dyke ' [with analyses] by S. Smith ; ' The Ordnance Survey of 

 Great Britain,' by J. A. Woodward, etc., etc. There is also a ' Local 

 Plant List (common varieties omitted) ' by T. M. Thompson, which would 

 have been much more valuable had the area defined by the word ' local ' 

 been given ; and a ' List of the Club's collections ' [geological, etc.], b}' 

 S. Smith. We were surprised to find the imprint ' Norwich ' on the cover 

 and title of this publication, and can only presume the Darlington printers 

 were not able to do the work cheapl}''. 



Naturalist, 



