REVIEWS AND EXCHANGES 
17 
it comes from Ceylon, Bombay, and Zanzibar, from the 
Mauritius and Seychelles, from Singapore and Macassar and 
the Maidive Islands. 
It can be readily understood that “ the trade ” is interested 
in maintaining so lucrative an industry, and in hushing up any 
disagreeable exposure of its more revolting details — which may 
explain why so few, if any, protests have been made against it 
in this country. Unfortunately it is difficult to see how the 
cruelty can be stopped ; but if attention is called to it in the 
public press this may possibly be of some avail, and lead to the 
worst features of the system being abandoned, for there is some 
reason to believe that the use of fire in removing the shell is 
unnecessary. The Evening Standard, for instance, refers to the 
process as “ a barbarism which, it is to be hoped, like plucking 
geese, will soon be ancient history.” 
Needless to say, all humane people will share that hope. 
But we trust, in view of the facts cited above, that they will go 
further, and by substituting mineral compositions such as 
vulcanite, or ornamental woods such as ebony, or metal adorned 
with jet or cut steel, will avoid, as far as possible, the use of 
tortoise-shell. 
Humanitarian League, Joseph Collinson. 
53, Chancery Lane, London, W ,C. 
January, 1900. 
REVIEWS AND EXCHANGES. 
A Domestic Menagerie. Translated from the French of Theophile Gautier, and 
illustrated by Mrs. William Chance. Elliot Stock. Price 3s. 6d. 
Certainly there need be no excuse made for giving the English reader a 
translation of so delightful a work as Theophile Gautier’s “ Menagerie Intime,” 
but, were excuse needed, Mrs. Chance’s illustrations would alone be sufficient. 
The translation catches much of the spirit of the original. Cat-lovers will rejoice 
in the book ; but dogs, ponies, chameleons, lizards and magpies come in for a 
share of the author’s attention. 
With a Soittkern Field-Club. By H. Stuart Dove, F.Z.S. Messrs. A. W. 
Birchall, Launceston, Tasmania. Price is. 2d., post free. 
This is an informal narrative of the first season’s doings of the newly-established 
Observers’ Club at Launceston, Tasmania, from the pen of a valued contributor 
to Nature Notes. Containing accounts of various rambles and the finds, both 
botanical and zoological, made in the course of them, it affords an interesting 
glimpse at the natural history of our almost antipodean colony. Though mis- 
prints are somewhat numerous among the scientific names, the general format is 
very creditable to the infant society, to which we wish every success. 
The Mycetozoa and some questions which they suggest. By the Right lion. Sir 
Edward P'ry and Agnes Fry. “Knowledge” Series. Price is. 
A friend has called our attention to the fact that in our recent review of 
Dr. Macbride’s “ North- American Slime-moulds” we omitted any mention of a 
valuable introductory article on the Mycetozoa contributed by Mr. Arthur Lister 
to the third volume of Nature Notes. The handy little reprint before us, of 
articles which we have read with much interest month by month in the pages of 
our learned contemporary, comes as a reminder that Sir Edward and Miss Fry, 
like Mr. and Miss Lister, are living witnesses to the suitability of these lowly 
organisms for the study of man or woman jointly or severally ; that the study 
