14 
NATURE NOTES. 
SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
A VERY pretty book on gardening in its various aspects comes to us from across 
the Atlantic in Mrs. Van Rensselaer’s A 7-1 Out-of- Doors (London, T. Fisher Unwin). 
It is pleasingly written, and the views advanced are in accordance with good taste, 
and show a wide acquaintance with very different conditions of cultivation. It is, 
however, mainly concerned with gardening on a large scale ; and although Mrs. 
Van Rensselaer is anxious that no one should consider that her book might have 
been aptly called “ Every man his owm landscape gardener,” there seems to be 
ground for thinking that this title would not have been an inapt one. We note 
that Mr. William Robinson’s views receive some criticism ; but there is room for 
great diversities of taste in gardening matters, although the absence of all taste 
(which one sometimes encounters) is a thing to be deplored. The book is mainly 
written for Americans, but its publication in London shows that it may fairly claim 
a hearing in the old country. 
Nature’s IVoiuier- IVorkcrs, by Kate R. Lovell (Cassell & Co., 5s.) is not quite 
a new book, but is one which should find a place in the Selborne library. We 
have short life-histories, abundantly illustrated, of many of our common insects, 
as well as of others, not properly insects, which are often popularly included in 
that category, such as spiders. The headings of the various chapters are somewhat 
eccentric: “Earth-stars” introduces us to the glow-worms ; “ Dragons ” to the 
dragon-flies ; the cricket figures as “ a domestic minstrel ” ; and “ Pandora’s box ” 
contains a sketch of the development of butterflies. The illustrations, numerous 
and full of information as they are, are by no means beautiful ; there is a hardness 
and blackness about them which renders them unattractive, and not such as we 
expect to find in Messrs. Cassell’s books. 
Professor Miall’s Object Lessons from Nature, which we receive from the same 
publishers, do not fall short in this way; the illustrations, although not all new, being 
well printed and attractive. These two excellent little books (is. 6d. each) have 
already reached a third edition, and well deserve the favour that has been accorded 
to them. Prof. Miall insists very strongly on the importance of the children for 
whom these books are intended actually seeing and handling for themselves the 
various objects described, and he considers pictures, although useful, by no means 
an efficient substitute for this. If his suggestions were acted upon, we should find 
the school museum a real aid to education, instead of the congeries of miscel- 
laneous and often quite useless objects w hich it too often is at present. Selbor- 
nians who are willing to work and to put their principles into practice, will find 
ample opportunities for doing so in connection with the schools of their neighbour- 
hood ; they may either get together a collection of objects in illustration of Prof. 
Miall’s books, or may use his lessons in connection with objects already existing. 
The intelligent teaching which he provides with regard to the principal types of 
the various branches of natural science is just w'hat is wanted to make our 
children observant. 
Messrs. .S. W. Partridge send us the annual volumes of the Animal World 
and the Band of Alercy, each of them resplendent in red and gold covers, the 
former costing 3s., the latter 2s. Beautilully illustrated, and full of interesting 
matter, one cannot but wish for each an extended circulation, whether in monthly 
or annual issues. Each, as is generally known, is an organ of the Royal Society 
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the A)iimal fFw/cf being intended for 
adults, and the Band of Alercy for children, especially those belonging to the 
organisation so called, of w’hich we hope to publish an account in our February 
number, from the pen of Lady Tennyson. We have every sympathy with the 
objects of the Society, but we are inclined to regret the publication of such nar- 
ratives as “The Researches of Ilerr Ilardthardt,” which appears in the first- 
named work. Little good, it seems to us, is done by familiarising people with 
the cruelties which are sometimes perpetrated in the name of science, nor is the 
impression conveyed of scientific men either fair or just. With this exception, 
the contents of the volume are admirable, and a great many of the verses, if not 
of the highest degree of poetic merit, are pleasant, and suitable for learning. 
