446 



Northern News. 



Mr. Alexander Ramsey perseveres with his * Scientific Roll and Magazine 

 of Systematised Notes ' (Bacteria), No. 24 of Vol. II. of which has recently 

 been published. ' The Scientific Roll ' is a classified bibliography as 

 elaborate as that being conducted by the Royal Society, as detailed as 

 that of the ' Concilium Bibliographicum ' of Switzerland, and in bulk (so 

 far as its MS. condition is concerned) greater than that of the 9th and loth 

 editions of the ' Encyclopaedia Britannica.' 



In part 35 of Cassell's excellent Nature Book a writer on ' Fossils and 

 their Story ' is evidently more familiar with his camera than his hammer. 

 His first illustration is of Gryphea [sic] incurva, ' shewing operculum,' 

 there is a ' fossil sponge in flint chalk ' ; a Gault Ammonite figured as 

 ' fossil Nautilus ' ; he cannot spell Hugh Miller's name correctly ; Stroph- 

 omena is ' a Brachiopod Shell Fish ' ; and Lias Limestone with gryphoeas 

 is called ' gryphite ' limestone. As photographs, his illustrations are 

 excellent. 



The Home-life of a Golden Eagle. By H. B, Macpherson. London : 

 Witherby & Co. 44 pp. and plates. 2/6 net. 



Messrs. Witherby & Co. know how to produce an attractive book, 

 and the reproductions of the thirty-two photographs by Mr. Macpherson, 

 mounted on tinted paper with wide margins, certainly are all that can be 

 desired. Judging from the plates, the author might almost have lived in 

 a hut within a couple of yards of the eyrie, and taken repeated snap-shots 

 from the time the eggs were laid to the flight of the young bird. We never 

 remember seeing a more complete series of photographs of bird life — they 

 are truly remarkable. How they were secured can be ascertained by 

 reading the pages of letterpress. In common with most bird-photographers, 

 Mr. Macpherson gives accounts of his dangers and escapes from death. 

 They all escape. 



Studies in Fossil Botany, by Dr. Dukinfield He Scott. Second Edition. 

 Adam and Charles Black. 1909, 683 pp., 10/6 net. 



Some years since at an important conference, one of the members was 

 missing, and was not seen for a whol<e day and night. The next morning it 

 transpired that he had received Dr. Scott's ' Studies in Fossil Botany,' 

 and had locked himself in his room in order that he might not be lured 

 away from it. That was eight or nine years ago, and since then a whole 

 army of workers has been contributing much useful information relating to 

 the structure and affinities of fossil plants. Dr. Scott's ' Studies ' were 

 founded on a series of lectures delivered at the University College, London, 

 and in their present form they embody all the discoveries since made. 

 They are essentially concerned with the morphological and evolutionary 

 aspects of Fossil Botany, in connection with the study of which such great 

 strides have been made in recent years. Dr. Scott's essays are illustrated 

 by over two hundred blocks from micro-photographs and drawings ; some 

 of the latter being by Mrs. Scott. Students of this fascinating branch of 

 palaeontology are fortunate in having one so capable as Dr. Scott to present 

 the views of recent investigations in such a readable and scholarly form. 

 There is an excellent index, and the price of the book is very reasonable. 



We regret to learn of the deatli of J. Ogden, the President of the Oven- 

 den Naturalists' Society. 



The report of the excursion of the Yorkshire Geological Society to 

 Lincolnshire, which appeared in the Yorkshire Observer has been re- 

 printed locally. 



At the Annual Exhibition of the Royal Photographic Societ}^ of Great 

 Britain in the New Gallery, Regent Street, W., the Yorkshire Naturalists' 

 Union was strongly represented, the following members having had 

 pictures accepted and hung in the Scientific Section : — R. Fortune, 3 ; 

 T. Roose, 4 ; G. A. Booth, 3 ; W. Wilson, 2 ; J. Atkinson, i ; Digby Led- 

 gard, I. As about five times the number accepted are rejected each year, 

 these gentlemen are to be congratulated upon their success. 



Naturalist, 



