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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
intellectual lanthorn. It contains, however, some interesting details upon 
fisheries ; and the practical appendix on fishponds, the acclimatization of 
fish, and the art ificial breeding of salmon, may prove useful. The account of the 
salmon is also the best section in the body of the work. The woodcuts with 
which it is illustrated are for the most part indifferent. 
PLANT LIFE.* 
W E do not know why the author of this little work has thought 
proper to publish it anonymously. He has certainly no occasion to 
conceal his name, for the series of chapters on Botanical subjects, which he 
has here brought together, show a sound knowledge of the science, and very 
considerable power of communicating that knowledge in a pleasing and in- 
teresting manner. The book does not profess to be a systematic treatise on 
Botany, but a good method runs through the seemingly desultory chapters ; 
and the general facts of the history of plants will be found to be well 
described in them. The author commences with microscopic plants, and 
then describes the structure and growth of plants, and the mode of fertiliz- 
ation of flowers. Ferns occupy another chapter, and others are devoted to 
the lower groups of Cryptogamia. Becent researches are referred to, such 
as those of Mr. Darwin and others on predatory plants, on the fertilization of 
Orchids, and on polymorphism. Interspersed with these are good chapters on 
the folk-lore of plants, on plants and animals, and on plants and planets, the 
latter an exceedingly amusing and well-written exposition of some of the 
absurdities of the old astrological herbalists. On the whole we have seldom 
seen a book better adapted to inspire unscientific readers with taste for 
the study of a science. With the view probably of assisting those who may 
be induced by his more popular book to commence botanical investigations, the 
same author has published some Easy Lessons in Botany, f which seem ex- 
ceedingly well fitted for the above purpose. What ‘ the requirements of the 
Revised Code, 1880,’ may be we don’t know ; but the little book is said to be 
written to fulfil them. Both these books are nicely illustrated with nume- 
rous woodcut figures drawn by the author. 
MOVEMENTS OF PLANTS 4 
M R. DARWIN in this work investigates and discusses, after his usual 
thoroughgoing fashion, a series of phenomena of movement displayed 
* Plant-life : Popular Papers on the Phenomena of Botany. With 148 
illustrations drawn by the author. Sm. 8vo. London : Marshall Japp & Co. 
1881. 
f Easy Lessons in Botany. By the author of Plant Life. Sm. 8vo. 
London : Marshall Japp & Co. 1881. . 
X The Power of Movement in Plants. — By Charles Darwin, LL.D., F.R.S. 
Assisted by Francis Darwin. 8vo. London: John Murray, 1880. 
