176 
NATURE NOTES. 
debt to the gentlemen who have been busy in placing these stations on the 
Railway Pilgrim’s Way from Oxford (and everywhere else) to London. They 
have provided a reductio ad ahsurdum of the doctrine that “ a man may do 
what he likes with his own.” The deviser of sky signs gave the signal for revolt : 
to the specialist in field placards we are indebted for the final provocation that 
ensures the triumph of the Revolution. 
A number of practical suggestions bring this interesting little 
volume to an appropriate conclusion. 
SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
One of the most recent additions to Messrs. Longmans’ “Silver Library” 
is a new edition (the third) of Mr. George Milner’s Country Pleasures (3s. 6d. ) — 
a title which is amplified by the description, “ the Chronicle of a Year, chiefly in 
a Garden.” There is no need to commend at length a book which has already 
gone through two editions, and which is therefore presumably known to many 
readers of Nature Notes. But there may be some who, like ourselves, have until 
now been in ignorance of this delightful volume; these will thank us for bringing 
it to their notice. This charming garden — “ large and old, extending over several 
acres, and having considerable variety in the shape of wood and water, orchard 
and lawn, dingle and meadow ” — is situated at Moston, in Lancashire, and the 
year 1878 is that which is chronicled. The book is one more illustration of 
“ eyes and no eyes.” There must be very many up and down the country who 
have opportunities of observation equal to those enjoyed by Mr. Milner, and 
many, let us hope, who appreciate their gardens, but there are few who have 
enabled others to share their enjoyment. Aided by a large number of apt and by 
no means hackneyed quotations, Mr. Milner guides us through the year, pointing 
out to us the flowers as they expand, the birds as they build their nests ; taking us 
for a holiday jaunt to the Lakes, in North Wales, or Arran, and thereby with- 
drawing us against our will from the Lancashire garden, which contains so much to 
observe and admire. It is as simple and true a record as Jefferies could have 
penned, and we can give no higher praise. Yet grateful acknowledgment must 
be made of the excellent index of contents, to which is added a very useful list 
of quotations. 
We can find nothing to criticise save in the “miscellaneous notes,” which 
occupy three pages at the end of the book, and which contain the few mistakes we 
have noticed. I'he Woodsorrel has small claim to be considered the Irish Sham- 
rock ; the Bluebell is Campanula rotundifolia (not heterophylla) ; the Bird’sfoot, 
in the passage cited, is not Ornithopus, but Lotus corniculatus ; and Yarrellii 
(not Garrellii), is the specific name of the Pied Wagtail. The mention of these 
slight blemishes shows how little there is to find fault with in this excellent book. 
The Rev. F. A. Malleson sends us a copy of his Holiday Studies of Words- 
worth, a nicely printed volume, containing pleasantly-written sketches of delightful 
places at home and abroad, with an intimation that the few remaining copies may 
be had from the author at Broughton-in-Furness, at the reduced price of 4s. post 
free. 
The botanical visitor to Dorking, Haslemere, Guildford, and the neighbour- 
hood will welcome the handy and compact little Flora of South-west Surrey, 
by Mr. S. F. Dunn, which has just been published by Messrs. West, Newman 
& Co. (3s. net.) It is very well done ; the author is evidently well acquainted 
with the district, and the enumeration is free from those errors which sometimes 
disfigure local floras. Mr. Dunn’s “principal object” has been to produce “a 
portable field-guide, suitable for the study of botany in South-west Surrey,” and 
he may be congratulated on the success with which this object has been attained. 
