REVIEWS. 
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more readable. The professed object of the writer is to furnish the public 
with the means of distinguishing between those animals which are useful, 
and those destructive, in our ordinary gardens. Like all Mr. Wood’s 
publications, it is written in a simple, easy style ; and were it not for his 
frequent sneers at what he terms “ the wish to be thought scientific,” we 
could read it with pleasure. However, it is worthy of note that the 
author desires to be thought scientific himself, and in some few instances, 
where he lays down certain opinions on subjects in comparative anatomy, 
displays a very superficial knowledge indeed : for example, where, in 
speaking of the eyes of the wood-louse he states that they “ are placed 
directly upon the surface of the integument.” We presume he means 
that they are not stalked ; but this negative conclusion does not support 
the positive assertion that they are placed directly upon the integument. 
Regarded as a purely popular work, abounding in amusing anecdotes, 
there are few which can equal it ; but it cannot be considered calculated 
in any way to assist in teaching the grand scheme of Biology. It is a 
book of interesting facts in natural history — nothing more. It comprises 
descriptions of our commoner garden Annulosa, Mollusca, birds, mammals, 
and reptiles ; and, besides the woodcuts scattered through the text, a series 
of plates is appended, containing representations of various insects, Lepi- 
doptera especially. As regards type and other mechanical features, the 
work deserves commendation. 
DICTIONARY OF NATURAL HISTORY TERMS* 
T HE working naturalist occasionally finds himself posed by some 
technical expression, which throws itself in his way, and which, if 
lie stumble over it, leaves him in such a position that his scientific journey 
must be arrested. Ere he can advance a step, this obstacle must be 
removed, and its removal is sometimes a matter of no very great ease. But 
if the man of science finds himself, once in a way, brought to a standstill 
by a word of two or three syllables, how often must the amateur naturalist 
be placed in the same predicament? We answer, frequently, and we 
believe our reply will be endorsed by the majority of our readers. He 
can only hope for a solution of the puzzle by an appeal to some natural 
history encyclopaedia, which is both unwieldy and expensive ; and it now 
and then happens that his search proves a fruitless one. The interruption 
we allude to need no longer exist. The want so long experienced has been 
supplied. Dr. McNicoll’s Dictionary will afford both amateurs and 
workers much assistance, embracing, as it does, an explanation of more 
than fifteen thousand technical terms employed in the kindred sciences, 
Botany, Zoology, and Palseontology. It is not to be expected that a book 
of this kind could be perfect, especially in its first edition ; but the imper- 
fections are remediable, and we trust that, in a future issue, they may be 
* “ Dictionary of Natural History Terms, with their Derivations ; 
including the various Orders, Genera, and Species/’ By David II, 
McNicoll, M.D., &c. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. 1863. 
