BOOK EEVIEWS. 



81 



tions are good and attractive, and make one wish to see the wealth of 

 flowers in the Alps. Mr. H. Correvon writes an appreciative preface, 

 but on the whole we are inclined to think that the volume does not add 

 much to our knowledge. 



" The Naturalist in Nicaragua." By Thomas Belt, with an intro- 

 duction by Anthony Belt, F.L.S. 8vo. 306 pp. (Dent, London.) 

 Is. net. 



Eeaders with a taste for books on travel and natural history are 

 greatly indebted to Messrs. Dent for including in their admirable 

 " Everyman's Library " Belt's well-known work, " The Naturalist in 

 Nicaragua." First published in 1874, this work appeared to Darwin 

 to be " the best of all natural history journals that have ever been 

 published." It also won the approbation of such eminent scientists 

 as Hooker, Lyell, LIuxley, and Wallace, and other leaders of the 

 scientific world of that day. An outline map of Nicaragua is included 

 in the volume, and the original illustrations have been reproduced. 

 The moderate price at which the volume is obtainable makes it possible 

 for every student of natural history to include it in his library. 



"An Intermediate Text-Book of Botany." By Ernest Evans. 

 8vo. 394 pp. (Longmans, London, 1911.) 6s. 



This book has been written for students studying for the Inter- 

 mediate Examination in Science of the London University. The usual 

 types are well described and illustrated, but, making all due allowance, 

 it does not cover the syllabus of the University. Particularly is this so 

 with reference to Ecology, to which only eighteen pages is devoted. 

 This important section should have been treated more fully. The 

 enzymes, a most important group of substances, are dismissed in 

 thirty-five lines. 



An excellent feature are the numerous comparisons and diagrams 

 showing the alternation of generations, &c. 



We think the author has tried to cover too much ground. 



We notice several printer's errors — viz. p. 57, " hypa " for 

 "'hyphae"; p. 190, fig. 143, Pulmonaria " agustifolia " should be 

 angustifolia" ; p. 324, fig. 251, " Orobanche ramose" should be 

 Orobanche ramosa; fig. 267, " Mimosa pudisi " should be M. pudica. 

 The ihustration on p. 19, fig. 10, does not help the text, and those 

 under the head of Ecology are not clear. 



Here and there are vague statements such as " Magnesium is of 

 service in building up certain compounds," &c., but these will, no 

 doubt, be remedied in future editions. 



"Practical Botany." By E. Cavers, D.Sc. 8vo. 408 pp. 

 (University Tutorial Press, London, 1911.) 4s. 6d. 



^ In reading this book we were particularly interested in Chapter II. 

 — " Cell Contents and Cell WaUs." This is an excellent introduction 

 to the " Bio-Chemistry of Plants." We have tried the chief reactions 

 VOL. XXX VIII. n 



