SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
17 
SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
The Great World's Farm: some account of Nature’s Crops and how they are 
grown, by Selina Gaye, with a preface by G. S. Boulger, F. L. S., &c. (London : 
Seeley & Co., 8vo, pp. 365. Price 5s.) Glimpses into Nature's Secrets; or. 
Strolls over Beach ami Down, by Edward Alfred Martin. (Svo, pp. 131.) 
Amidst Nature's Realms: a series of Zoological, Botanical, and Geological 
Essays, by the same. (London: Simpkin, hlarshall & Co., Svo, pp. 157. 
Price 2s. 6d. each.) 
“ Our readers expect an honest estimate of the books noticed in these pages. 
Perhaps they never thought of the pain that such notices often bring to the 
reviewer. It is hard to tell a well-meaning author, who does not apprehend his 
own ignorance or his unfitness for the task he has undertaken, that his work is 
worthless. On the other hand it is a real pleasure to the reviewer to introduce 
and commend a thoroughly good book to his readers. .Such a pleasure we enjoy 
in calling attention to Miss Gaye’s work on The Great World's Farm. It was a 
happy thought that led her to look at the world as a great farm, and she has 
ably developed her idea in her story of Nature’s crops and how they are grown. 
The early history of our globe, and the work of the physical agents which modified 
the surface so as to fit it for the support of life, are clearly explained. Thereafter 
the plants which hold and bind the soil are described, as well as the vertebrate 
and invertebrate workers which are ever moving and rearranging it. The relation 
of water and climate to plant life are dealt with ; the structure of the plant, and 
the functions of its various organs, the mysteries of cross fertilisation and the 
assistance of animal agents, in the work are all clearly expounded. The appliances 
for seed distribution, the dangers that beset the living organism from physical 
agencies, and from the attacks of enemies belonging to both the animal and 
vegetable kingdoms, and the influence of man’s operations are all fully investigated 
and clearly recorded. The authoress has a thorough apprehension of her subject, 
and having a lucid style she has produced an admirable introduction for students 
of Nature, and an interesting and instructive volume for the general reader. The 
illustrations are original and very good. 
Mr. Martin’s two little volumes are very different. He has a facile pen, and to 
a careless or ignorant reader the perusal of the works may afford some entertain- 
ment. but it is scarcely possible that they can give much instruction. The author 
is no doubt fond of nature, but he begins too soon to teach — words and phrases are 
used by him to cover want of knowledge ; when a teacher has nothing to say he 
had better not say it. Take a specimen from his chat on the cod-fish. “ In both 
fishes [the cod and the herring] we find numerous loose bones piercing the flesh 
which do not seem to have any connection with the backbone at all, but which 
give us considerable trouble in dissecting the flesh for consumption. Many people 
have almost abandoned fish food because of the trouble the numerous bones give. 
If they knew the positions of the bones and their uses, and were able to take an 
intelligent interest in the creatures set before them, they would have little difficulty 
in separating them from the llesh, and would then succeed in adopting a semi- 
scientific methodical manner of doing so. These seemingly useless bones are really 
the supports to which the fins are fastened as to an anchor, and sometimes they 
are as long as those of the fins themselves. Now, in the cod, there are no less than 
ten fins, and, of these, three on the back and two beneath the body rec|uire support 
from these inter-spinous bones as they are called.” 'I'he structure of the internal 
organs of the cod is thus expounded : “Who has ever noticed the heart of a fish, 
and how many know where it is situated ? Its flesh is so valuable to us for food 
that we neglect all know ledge concerning its vital organs. Its heart is situated 
just beneath its head, and consists of little more than a double enlargement of the 
most important artery. It consists of only two chambers, that of the human species 
consisting of four. Yet there is one organ which the cod possesses of wdiich all have 
heard, and it is that from which we obtain the celebrated cod-liver oil.” The 
“glimpses into Nature’s secrets” proceed thus throughout the two volumes. 
Everything is freely dealt with, but no information worth acquiring is supplied, and 
there are not a few' positive blunders which the author appears to be unable to 
detect, as, for instance, that Limiioria terebrans is an acephalous mollusc, and that 
Elephas primigenius is the mastodon. W. C. 
