234 
NATURE NOTES. 
writer describes a congregation, mosti)’ of women, coming out of Church, and 
“ nearly every one of the fair worshippers carried a bird impaled on her hat.” 
“ Now it happened to be one of these days when the sons of God came to present 
themselves before the Lord, and with them came Satan also. And as those 
sweet bird-like voices ascended, and the Lord inclined His ear to listen, and 
was pleased, then Satan whispered to Him and said : ‘Behold, now, how three 
hundred of Thy handmaidens, the fairest and the best beloved of the land, come 
unto Thee, each with a platter upon her head, and upon it the sacrifice of a bird.’ 
And when the Lord looked, and then turned away His head, Satan smiled, and 
again went to and fro in the earth and up and down in it. One is apt to wonder 
why ladies indulge in this habit, seeing that it is giving encouragement to a 
cruel trade (for the receiver, says the adage, is as bad as the thief, and the wearer, 
we imagine, must be equally guilty). But the answer is not far to seek. They 
have been called angels so long that they naturally feel that it is about time they 
began to develop wing ; and doubtless it is — if they are ever to be angels. But, 
dear ladies, it should not be on the head. You can’t get a strong upward flight 
in that way. Y'ings so placed are more likely to topple you head over heels — 
down, down ! I am loth to finish with this suggestion of poor ladies descending 
headlong, like Icarus, in ruffled plumes, and borrowed ones too. But what is 
one to do ? This slaughter of the innocents lies at their door.” 
^Messrs. Chatto and Windus have re-issued at popular prices (paper is., cloth 
IS. 6d.), Mr. H. J. Jennings’ “biographical sketch” Oi Lord Tennyson, with 
a chapter bringing the contents up to date. Its publication in this form is very 
opportune, and we are not surprised to learn that it has already met with the 
large sale which it deserves. 
Probably Mr. Robinson’s Ha 7 -dy Flowers (37, .Southampton Street, W.C., 
Svo, pp. X., 341) is the cheapest shillingsworth of its kind ever published. It 
consists of three parts : first, a general introduction to the subject : next, an 
alphabetical arrangement of the most ornamental hardy flowers ; and then a 
number of selections for various purposes : the whole concluding with a glossary 
and an index of English names. It may be warmly recommended as a profitable 
investment ; but why should a book issued in November, 1S92, bear a false date 
— 1S93 — on its cover and title page ? 
The following volumes, of which notices will appear as soon as the pressure 
on our space will permit, can be recommended to those who, at this season of the 
year, are accustomed to spend money upon books as Christmas or New-year's 
presents : — 
British Neio Guinea, by J. P. Thompson. \Vith over 50 full-page and other 
illustrations, and a coloured map. Medium 8vo., cloth, 21s. (George Philip & 
.Son.) A notice of this, with illustrations, will appear in our January number. 
The Great Worlds s Farm, by Selina Gaye : some account of Nature’s crops, 
and how they are grown. With a preface by G. S. Boulger. Post Svo., pp. 
366, ss. (Seeley.) 
The Beauties of Nature ; and the Wonders of the World we Live in. By 
the Right Hon. Sir. John Lubbock, Bart. ^Yith illustrations. Crown Svo., 6s. 
(Macmillan.) 
The Toilers of the Field, by R. Jefferies. Post Svo., pp. 330, 6s. (Longmans.) 
The Study of Animal Life, by J. A. Thomson. Svo., pp. 375, 71 illustrations, 
5s. (Murray.) 
Beast and JLan in Lndia, by J. Lockwood Kipling. Svo., pp. 360, with 
illustrations, 7s. 6d. (Macmillan.) 
Science Stories, by Andrew Wilson. Svo.,pp. 269, 5s. (Osgood, Macilwaine& 
Co.) 
A ^Lendip Valley, b)- Theodore Compton. Demy Svo., pp. 2SS, with illustra- 
tions. (Stanford.) We regret extremely to have left this veiy pleasant book so 
long unnoticed, but we hope to review it in our next issue. 
