SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
237 
she speaks of the delight of “ rambling with Mr. White over his own parish of 
.'^elborne, and forming a friendship with the fields and coppices, as well as with 
the birds, mice and squirrels who inhabit them,” and in a footnote speaks of 
Selbonie as “one of the most fascinating books ever written.” By the kindness 
of the publishers we are enabled to give a specimen of the illustrations. 
Although in some senses more suitable for a summer prire, we hope that many 
schoolmasters will choose Mr. Furneau.x’s The Out-Door World, or Young 
Collectors Handbook (Longmans, 7s. 6d.) as a Christmas reward for such of 
their pupils as show any taste for natural history. Its cover and edges blaze with 
gilding, its pages swarm with illustrations, there are numerous coloured plates, 
and the letterpress, so far as we can judge from a somewhat hurried inspection, 
is nearly all that can be desired. Perhaps the division is a little unequal : “ animal 
life” has 320 pages; “the vegetable world” about 70; while “minerals and 
fossils” have to be content with to between them, and no pictures save of geological 
hammers. We should like to have seen a little gentle disparagement of “ collect- 
ing,” save as means to an end ; but perhaps it is hardly reasonable to expect this 
in a “collector’s handbook.” A good many of the cuts are old friends from very 
various sources, and some of them might have been dispensed with, while the 
coloured plates of wild flowers should be improved or omitted — indeed the 
botanical section would be the better for revision. But the object of a book like 
this is to stimulate observation, and to prepare the way for more systematic study, 
and this Mr. Furneaux has attained. 
Messrs. Longmans have added to their “Silver Library” — an admirable 
collection in all save the binding, which clothes Cardinal Newman and Mr. Rider 
Haggard in precisely similar di'ess — Richard Jefferies’ Wood Magic, with a 
delightful frontispiece by our valued contributor “ E. V. B.” We do not know 
what children think of this book, in which toads, grasshoppers, thrushes, weasels, 
squirrels, and the like tell their stories, but many “ of a larger growth ” will find 
much to delight them in its pleasant pages. A reprint, however, cannot claim 
extended notice in the present overcrowded state of our shelves. 
A new book by the “ Son of the Marshes ” is always welcome to many, 
though some are beginning to fear lest the defects of over-production should be 
manifest in the work of this most prolific writer. We have no space in which 
to notice With the Woodlanders a?id by the Tide (Blackwood, 6s.), but this 
mention of it will serve as a reminder to Christmas-boxers, and a fuller notice will 
follow at as early a date as possible. 
SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
We note with satisfaction that Messrs. Macmillan have brought out a cheap 
edition (is. paper, is. 6d. cloth) of Sir John Lubbock’s Beauties of Nature. We 
noticed this pleasant book at p. 131, on its first appearance, and only call atten- 
tion to it now with a view of securing for it a new circle of readers. Even those 
who do not accept Sir John’s ingenious theories about plants and animals cannot 
fail to enjoy his appreciative comments on “ the wonders of the world we 
live in.” 
We have received the first part (is. net) of what is likely to be an important 
addition to our popular works of reference. The Royal Natural History, which 
Messrs. Warne have just begun to issue, is under the editorship of Mr. Lyddeker, 
whose name is sufficient guarantee for the accuracy and thoroughness of the work. 
Each part is to contain two coloured plates, very numerous illustrations, and 96 
pages. We hope to say more of the book during its progress. Meanwhile our 
readers should send for a prospectus. 
The Society for Checking the Abuses of Public Advertising, which has not 
yet been able to hit upon some less formidable name, has resolved upon publishing 
